MOVIE; the book, the movie, Hermione and Lily - post from Kemper

Tue Jul 19 01:20:46 UTC 2011

No: HPFGUIDX 190958

Hey guys, I am reposting this on Kemper's request, he previously posted it on Movie, but since it talks about canon and movie, I am reposting it here. Thanks.

First, reader beware, spoilers follow.
Second, I've donned my dementor's cloak and patronuses (patroni?) have no effect
on me. I'm Superdementor and only kryptonite and nine inch nails can weaken me
and hang me up but even then only for about three days when strength and life
returns.

Ok, let's role back our boulders and fly out of the cave and into the night of
the truth!

My disappointment in the last book left me hoping for a rewrite in its movie
adaptation. Part I left me even more hopeful, what with my feelings of
validation regarding my interpretations of Hermione's character and her
willingness to inflict her will on others without a safeword or their consent
(I've given canon evidence once or twice in this group) The movie shows
Hermione sneaking up on her parents from behind and obliviating them,
obliterating their life. Yes! That's exactly what my mind's eye saw. No convo
about alternative actions like going to Australia with full awareness of what
little danger they would be in. In my last listen of the books, I found canon
support for this possibility when Aberforth suggests to Harry that he flee and
go abroad. Aberforth seems to think Voldemort's influence is limited to Britain
and maybe Slavic speaking countries. So anyways, Part I left me squeeing for
Part II because what I was more interested in seeing was an abashment of Harry
for his use of the Cruciatus, Slytherins represented in force against Voldemort,
a redemption for Draco, and something else I'm sure I'm forgetting.

So on to Part II
Gringotts
Much of the events at Gringotts was so well done. Better than the book even! 
I'm going to focus on the Goblins and their comeuppance from the dragon. When
we first see the dragon, we see it has wounds. It reminded me of abused dogs or
horses with their leashes and tethers so tight for so long that once removed you
see the fir and skin have been essentially rubbed off. It's disgusting, and
Hermione the moral compass (wai wha?) says as much. You feel for the creature
and want the Goblins to be punished. And they are! But the first Goblin to go
up in flames? Well that particular death is a bit wanky. The Goblin is still
under the Imperious cast by Ron who upon seeing his cursed Goblin ablaze
essentially remarks, 'that sucks'. And it kind of does. Is Ron resposible for
the Goblin's death or is the dragon (as much as a wild creature can be blamed
for acting in accordance to its biology)? Or is it the Goblin's for abusing or
tacitly agreeing to abuse the dragon? Does it even matter? I don't know, but a
shadow of doubt crept up on my hope.

Hogsmead
Thank goodness for Aberforth. It's a bit different than the books as is
Gringotts but differenter :D The portrait of Ariana and her roll is the same
from the book. She fetches Neville and he comes out of the portrait looking
looking a bit beat up and all yummy if I'm reading the din of squee that went up
from the horde of het fangirls in the audience. As HRH and Neville walk in the
tunnel, he's telling them how the tunnel is new and how cruel are the Carrows:
torturing first years (OMG) and Seamus looking way worse than Neville (oh noes).
They get to the other end of the tunnel where we know the Room of Requirement
is. Will this pass my Slytherin inclusion test?

Hogwarts
The portrait opens and there are no banners of any houses hanging anywhere. 
There's nothing to say which houses are in the room. A bunch of hammocks hang
between pillars. A cluster of kids are huddled together. Neville walks out and
talks to someone who says something kind of funny and you know its Seamus. He
looks great! Are his injuries internal or something cuz I don't get what's
wrong with him. Even though I was let down with the ambiguity (not really) of
Slytherin, there's a little bit of funny (the only funny in the movie, really)
so I don't give it a fail. Wait. I do fail that scene, but not for the lack of
Slytherins.

For some reason, Luna's in the room. And so is Ginny. And so is Cho. You would
think that could get a pass because it's the movie and they need to move things
along. I get that. Ginny tells Harry 'Hey Snape knows you're here'. The next
scene shows the students of Hogwarts lined up military style in their dress
robes. And, hey, there's Seamus. And Cho! Were they not in the Room of
Requirement? Where the eff were they and why are there hammocks if they aren't
hiding from Snape and the Carrows? Stay back shadow!

Speaking of. The Carrows are behind Snape as he asks the students about Harry
and threatens them. A student walks out of line. It's Harry! And in dress
robes? Some exposition ensues to catch the viewer up on what happened two
movies ago. Spoiler alert. Snape killed Dumbledore. Wands are raised and
McGonagall steps in front of Harry. Ahh! She sends nonverbal abracadabras and
hocuspocus at Snape who deflects them. And does he reflect them at the Carrows
behind him? I don't know, but they end up on the floor. More props than
characters, those two. I'm annoyed by this because I wanted Harry to use the
Cruciatus. A flawed hero is an interesting hero. And I wanted to see McG abash
him. So I guess it's a wash. Snape flees. Voldemort pulls a Prof X and
telepathically mind whisper-screams at everyone: i can has harry in one
meower... i belly empty. need eat cheezburger rite meow.
Slytherin Slytherins are Slytherin and are thus told to gtfo.

The teachers set up to defend the castle at this dire time. McG casts a
transfiguring spell is all, like, 'I always wanted to do that. Teehee.' And
smiles at the silliness of her utterance. Oh shadow, no!

Deep breaths. Not all is lost. There is another Skywalker. And her name is
Draco.

Luna. Asexual? No. Out of the blue, she's been shipped.

Draco. Room of Requirement. Crabe kindling. Draco rescued.

Snape. Voldemort. Nagini. Pretty gruesome. I likey. Memory tears. And
'look at me.'

Pensieve. Adorable Snape. No skeeziness. Young man Snape. With one chin! 
Lily's dead. Snape wept. Missing 24 hours! Well, sort of.
Ok... Voldemort just became less than the meanest ghost. Snape enters the
house. Walks past the body of James. Goes up the stairs and enters Harry's
room. Sees Harry standing and crying in his crib. Sees Lily dead on the
ground. Ignores the toddler and instead kneels down by Lily's side to hold her
and sobs. The uncomforted Harry and Snape share a cry. Ah. There's the
skeeziness. I laughed out loud a little bit at the absurdity. Older, chinnier
Snape. He's Dumbledore's man through and through. And it looks like Alla,
Zanooda, Miles, Bookcrazzzy, Mike, and Pippin's reading of 'For /him/?' is
validated. Boo. I still prefer my version as I like my Snape less icky. Le
sigh.

Fred's dead, baby. Fred's dead.

Harry. The forest again. AK. DD and King's Cross. Exposition. Is he dead? 
Narcissa. Is Draco alive? Nod. A march to Hogwarts.

Voldemort. Draco. Redempt-meh. Ok Shadow, you win. Neville. Sword of
Gryffindor. Tada! Harry's alive. A game of chase. Not it! Harry runs. 
Duels. Runs. Duels. Runs.

Bellatrix. Molly. Bitch. Confetti!Bellatrix. Molly's weird smile.

Voldemort. Harry. Murder/suicide attempt. Alone on the grounds.

Neville. Sword of Gryffindor. Confetti!Nagini.

Harry. Confetti!Voldemort.

Aftermath. Molly smiles. Fred's dead, Molly. Fred's dead. Neville/Luna
shippers have their day. Squees from the crowd. Did they even read the books? 
HRH walk the empty grounds. Exposition on wands. Elder wand snapped. HHR hold
hands where the second H is Hermione. They say nothing, and I wonder if Ron and
Harry have ever shown physical affection before. Have they in the movies or
books? I've been up forever, so maybe they have. But a pat on the shoulder
doesn't count. The only boy on boy affection I can think of is Seamus rushing
to hug Dean in DH the book.

19 years later. Way better than the book. Ok, just better. Mostly because
there's no talk about confunding a Muggle. Everyone squees for the next
generation. Harry and Ron look dadly. Ginny and Hermione look like they're
playing dress up.

Roll credits. Stay for the end. The kids are talking on the train and the
sweets cart rolls by. But instead of the candy lady, it's Nick Fury and he
wants to talk to them about a thing.

Kemper