[HPFGU-Movie] OotP: my favorite parts

[Valerie Flowe]

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> I saw OotP twice this weekend on IMAX. The first time we had awesome  
> seats; the 2nd time we only got there 20 min. before the film started  
> and had to sit in the 2nd row...my neck still has a crick!! They were  
> playing the OotP soundtrack in the theater beforehand, which was  
> awesome!

My first impression after the first viewing was that this film was a  
bit anticlimactic after GOF. But then I remembered feeling that same  
way after reading OotP. I recall thinking "how are they going to make a  
movie out of this one?!" It was all emotions, and not much action,  
except at the MoM. GOF is, IMO, probably the best-written HP story. The  
plot has a definite beginning, 3 tasks, then end. OotP was too long,  
meandered around and was hard to absorb. I had to read it 3x before I  
really liked it (for all of it's detail).
That said, I think the director/writer did a great job of condensing  
this huge book into a concise, and yet still exciting movie. I thought  
the long sweeping camera shots were gorgeous, particularly the ones  
that went up, up, up, (of outside Hogwarts with the swirling snow;  
portraying how huge the hearing room was and how poor Harry was sitting  
all alone on one side, while all these judges were staring him down.  
How intimidating!!! Anyone care to comment on why the Wizengamot (sp?)  
were dressed in 2 different colors??

My favorite parts:
- The way the RoR door carved into the plaster, then turned into a  
solid dark wooden door. Awesome CG!!
- Funny when this door got smaller and smaller as Draco, Filch and the  
gang are running faster and faster to try and catch it; then it turns  
into a broom closet. Ha!
- Snape dragging Harry by the arm down, down, down to the dungeon...I  
never pictured it quite that dramatic, but what a visual!
- McG stepping up one step, then Umbridge, then McG...nicely  
choreographed! I loved McG in this, though her scenes were short.
- Flitwick pumping his fist when the Weasleys sailed off, leaving  
behind a spray of fireworks in the shape of a 'W'.
(this really showed how ALL the teachers hated that darn Umbridge!)
- Snape/Rickman delivered his lines beautifully, as usual...
Umbridge: "You applied for the DADA position?"
Snape: "Yeeeeesssss".
Umbridge: "But you didn't get the job"
Snape: "OBvioussllly", like he wants to kill Umbridge. Ron sniggering  
at this!
- Lucius was gorgeous...though of course I despise his character! Love  
that blond mane! He delivers his lines as beautifully as Rickman.
- Luna/Ivanna: perfectly cast! I love when Hermione accidentally calls  
her "Loony", and how the others are looking at Luna like she's from  
another planet. Very, very touching how she holds Harry's hand at the  
end (in canon they always talk about direct she is; saying and doing  
things that others wouldn't dare. This illustrates that very well. I  
felt so sorry for her and her stolen things! And Harry asking twice if  
he can help her find them shows what a kind, good-hearted hero he is!
- Loved Fudge's "HE'S BACK!!" What a dweeb! The audience howled at this.
- Loved the fight scene between the 2 greatest wizards of all time,  
Dumbledore and Voldemort. How intense! Tho, as someone mentioned  
earlier, it was quite reminiscent of Star Wars: Vader and Obi-Wan.
- I was glad Emma wasn't overacting as much in this one, though the  
heavy panting was a bit forced, as a way to show her anger or anxiety.
- Rupert's smile is infectious. Love the "you have the emotional range  
of a teaspoon" or whatever exactly Herm. said to him. He looked so  
abashed, then they all cracked up!
- Loved Rupert pigging out: "I'M HUNGRY!"
- And Dan...sigh....I just love him! His acting, IMO, greatly improved.  
I really felt his angst, his confusion, his being tortured in his  
nightmares. I thought it was interesting how they drew the parallel of  
GOF when Crouch Jr. licks his lips, while impersonating Moody, which  
causes his Dad to think he recognizes him, after the 2nd task. Very  
good cinematic effect. This time around, they show Voldemort at the  
train station twisting his neck, as he did when he first came back to  
life in GOF. Then it makes more sense to the movie viewers when Harry  
twists his neck spasmodically we realize his mind is being infiltrated  
by Voldemort.
- The best realized film, acting-wise, IMO: Umbridge, with her back  
turned to Harry, her eyes watering with twisted, cruel anticipation of  
Harry's forthcoming pain (wow, Imelda!!!); then the look that Dan gives  
her after his hand has been gouged; bewilderment at how this woman  
standing before him could be so evil and cruel. Brilliant, Dan!!!  I  
could almost feel the pain of that quill!!  Then she says "You know  
deep down that you deserve to be punished". I think everyone in the  
audience wanted to collectively kill her in that moment!!
(I am a bit bummed that they diluted that wonderfully-acted scene with  
the detention scene of everyone else getting their hands gouged by the  
quill. Blaaa...how unnecessary was that!?)
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OK, I'll have to put my dislikes in another e-mail, as this one got  
waay too long and I have to get up for work in less than 4  hours!!
Valerie, in absolute HP Heaven, this week and next! :-)