How Satisfied Are You With The Cast?

[stephab67]

--- In HPFGU-Movie at yahoogroups.com, "dazz_arlonsy" <dazz_arlonsy at ...>
wrote:
>
> OK, how do you assess these casts (according to OWL), and WHY
> 
> O = Outstanding
> E = Exceed Expectation
> A = Acceptable
> P = Poor
> D = Dreadful
> T = Troll

I'm going to stick with the main cast, and anyone I expect to see
again in HBP and/or DH. I'm also sticking to acting only, as the
actors themselves can't help how they look or what age they are.
Overall, I think WB has done a great job with the casting, so I didn't
award anything less than an A.   
 
1. Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter : Just barely an E.  If I could
give an E- I would, as he still sometimes looks as if he's acting
Harry Potter, not that he IS Harry Potter.  I did think he made a vast
improvement between GoF and OotP, though, and I hope to give him an E
without reservations next time.  
 
2. Rupert Grint as Ronald Weasley : E.  He's the best of the trio,
IMHO.  He IS Ron and never looks like he's acting, so it's a shame he
gets so few lines.  I'm looking forward to his increased role in both
HBP and DH, where we'll see what he's truly capable of as an actor.

3. Emma Watson as Hermione Granger : A.  I think she personally
understands Hermione, and I love her attitude about the role and the
films overall.  I've also never been bothered by the fact that she's
prettier than Hermione.  However, she still doesn't have total control
over her eyebrows and she's oddly out of breath in some scenes (12 GP,
when Sirius speaks to them out of the fire in the Gryffindor common
room) - too overwrought for what's actually happening.  However, an A
is a vast improvement over the D-level acting she did in GoF.  

4. Richard Harris as Albus Dumbledore (movie 1-2) : A.  He had the
personality of DD down, but not the energy.  However, I attribute that
to his illness, not to his skills.  Unfortunately, if he had lived WB
might have had to replace him anyway because I'm not sure he would
have been able to handle the duel between DD and Voldie in OotP.

5. Michael Gambon as Albus Dumbledore (movie 3-7) : E.  I know, most
people hate him, but I don't have a problem with him, even if he's not
as warm and fuzzy as people think DD is supposed to be.  And given the
fact that we now know what DD was really like, I think he's even more
spot-on.  Only really OOC moment was when he yelled at Harry in GoF.

6. Robbie Coltrane as Rubeus Hagrid : O.  Coltrane actually made me
like Hagrid, and I find Hagrid deeply annoying in the books.  He's
great, and I wish there would have been more of him in OotP.

7. Alan Rickman as Severus Snape : O.  Even though I thought he was a
bit old to be playing the character, he's been perfect throughout. 
And, again, there hasn't been enough of him.

8. Maggie Smith as Minerva McGonagall : E.  No comments, except to say
that she IS McGonagall.  Not enough of her in the films, though.  I'm
hoping she gets her big scenes at the end of DH, though.

9. Tom Felton as Draco Malfoy : A.  I've actually downgraded him from
the earlier films.  He would have gotten an E for the first three, but
I thought he started going over the top in GoF. Sadly, there wasn't
enough of him in OotP for me to reassess him.  

I'm skipping the Dursleys as they've been minimized.  I have no issues
with Griffiths, Shaw or Melling, though.

13. Matthew Lewis as Neville Longbottom : A.  He's fine.  I'll have to
wait until DH to give a real evaluation of him.

14. Julie Walters as Molly Weasley : E.  She's the perfect
loving-yet-totally overprotective mother.  She's going to be great in DH!

15. Bonnie Wright as Ginny Weasley : A.  I like Bonnie, but she hasn't
had enough lines for me to give her anything higher than an A.  

16. Jason Isaacs as Lucius Malfoy : E.  Pretentious.  Arrogant.
Dismissive. Awesome!

17. Mark Williams as Arthur Weasley : E. He's great as the slightly
goofy but level-headed Arthur.

I've skipped Gary Oldman as Sirius is dead. Sorry, Gary!  Liked you,
though!

19. David Thewlis as Remus Lupin : E.  I really like David, so it's
too bad we don't get to see much of him.

20. Timothy Spall as Peter Pettigrew : E.  He's one of the most
versatile actors out there, and bless WB's heart for casting him. 
Anyone who can play both a rat-like baddie and a luvvie light opera
singer is A-OK in my book.

21. Emma Thompson as Sybill Trelawney : E.  She makes Sybill both
annoying and sympathetic at the same time.  

22. James and Oliver Phelps as Fred and George Weasley : A.  They're
fun, I just don't think they're great actors.  

23. Ralph Fiennes as Voldemort : O.  Again, great casting by WB.  

24. Brendan Gleeson as Alastor Moody : E.  Too bad we didn't see more
of him.

29. Katie Leung as Cho Chang : A.  No problems with her.  

I'm skipping the Potter parents as I just don't care.

32. Imelda Staunton as Dolores Umbridge : O.  Absolutely brilliant!

33. Evanna Lynch as Luna Lovegood : E.  This was hard because I'm not
sure that Evanna is actually acting. She really nails Luna, though, so
props to her. 

34. Natalia Tena as Nymphadora Tonks : A.  Haven't seen enough of her
to judge yet, but I liked the little I saw.

35. Helena Bonham Carter as Bellatrix Lestrange : E.  Who else can
play psychos like HBC?