Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince...

[fembuck]

So, I just got back from seeing it and the movie was  .... pretty okay.

What I liked:

- The Spinner's End scene.  No offense to the youngings, but it was nice to see a scene with experienced actors being awesome.  That being said, Helen McCory was woefully miscast as Narcissa.  Despite my bitching pre-movie, I was really hoping to find that I actually liked her in the role, I really wanted her to be able to overcome that hair ... but she couldn't.  She's a good actress, and I've seen her in other stuff and I liked her, but it can't be denied that she was no Narcissa Malfoy.  *sigh*
        -> That being said, the Blackcest shipper in me did very much enjoy Bellatrix resting her head on Narcissa shoulder and cooing.  They are so totally doing it.

- Draco.  Tom Felton was amazing in this movie.  He made Draco really, really sympathetic.  I didn't really give a shit about Draco in the book, but his storyline was probably my favorite in the movie.  Felton really delivered.  He's the best of the young actors for sure.  Also, I liked his suits.

-  The young Tom Riddle's, especially the youngest one.  I thought that little kid was really good, very creepy.  And I've heard the middle Tom being described by some as like a fancy lesbian or something, but I liked the kid.  I liked how fully of affectation he was.  Tom's rough childhood accent was became smooth and cultured.   I liked the evolution the second actor showed in Tom.  And I thought that he was very creepy too, his boyish almost femine good looks making him even creeper because you wouldn't think such an angelic looking kid could become the magical Hitler.

-  The scene at The Burrow was pretty cool.  Loved Bellatrix being a crazy fuck.  Greyback was suitably creepy.  When he came up on Ginny all I could think was, "Somebody's gon' get raped" before Harry showed up.  It really felt like Tonks and Lupin were thrown in there by the producers to show the audience that they remembered the characters existed though ... which brings me to my next point ...

-  Hi, Tonks!  Bye, Tonks!   Natalia Tena is hot, I would've liked to see her on screen more, but whatever.  Also, I liked her other hair better.

- The last sequence with the Draco/Dumbeldore and the Death Eaters and Dumbeldore was awesome.  The shot of Dumbledore falling was beautifully shot, and everything leading up to that moment was really well acted and well done.

-  Katie Bell was pretty hot.

- Luna was odd and awesome as usual.

- Cormac was smokin'.  I don't care if he was a bit of a douche, when he had me at hello.  Actually he had me when he licked that whipped cream off of his finger.  And while we're at it, Blaise was quite attractive too ... in the five seconds he was on screen.

What I didn't Like:

- Harry Potter 90210.  I never really liked Harry/Ginny in the books, and they were just as 'meh' here as they were there.  And I somewhat liked Ron/Hermoine in the books, but their love subplot bugged the shit out of me in the movie.  I ship (not really, I'd just prefer) Harry/Hermoine in the movies.  Emma is far more tolerable when she's around Dan, but then again that could be because when Hermoine interacts with Harry she doesn't have to convey much emotion other than amusement or consternation.  And when Hermoine's around Ron, Emma is actually trying to emote ... and failing horribly.  As a matter of fact, I'd take Harry/Luna anyday over Harry/Ginny (Bonnie Wright isn't spunky enough!  There I said it!  She's just not spunky enough.  I liked Ginny in the books, but Bonnie bores the hell out of me.  Done).

- Going along with the point above ... Lavender Brown *shudder*  The actress was actually super good.  She acted circles around our main three actually.  The character of Lavender was just *excuse me while I go vomit with Hermoine*  She's the type of teenage girl that drives me insane.  I was so fucking irriated by this character.  Again the actress was really talented, the character was just super fucking annoying.

-  This isn't specific to this movie ... but I just don't understand how Hogwarts can be the ONLY wizarding school in England.  The Great Hall looked downright miniscule in this movie.  How can the number of kids we saw in the Great Hall after they arrived on the Hogwarts Express be ALL of the of age children of the wizarding world in ALL of England????  How many new kids are added to each house every year, like twenty or so?  
            -> Related point:  Because of the super small number of students at the school, it really bugged me in this movie that the characters were acting like they'd never talked to people that we SAW them in class with, and whom they'd been going to school with for SIX YEARS?  How the hell had Cormac never even said like "Hi" or "Can I borrow a quill?" to Hermoine.  How had Ron never even met Romilda Vain when they were in the same potions class?  I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND!!!

-  Those bastards, they burned The Burrow down!  WTF???  It's like, yes it was a cool visual, but I already knew that the Death Eaters were dicks, and where is like Fleur and Bill's wedding and shit supposed to happen next year?  Seemed unnecessary to have Bellatrix literally blow the house to smithereens.  I'm sure it'll give Molly extra incentive to killinate her in the last movie movie though.

And I'm tired now so I'm going to stop rambling!

FMT/FYT:

Comments

[gespawcho.livejournal.com]

I really actually loved the movie. I think three's still my fave, but I think this was the first time an HP movie managed to have fucking good pace, and didn't feel front-loaded or woefully anticlimactic.

I thought the director really nailed the mood, and I thought it was the funniest, well-balanced Potter film so far.

I looooved the youngest Voldemort, who, if I'm not mistaken, has the distinction of being named Hero, and of being Ralph Fienne's nephew. The acting is in the genes, baby!

I also thought the middle Tom Riddle was good. I thought he was perfectly malevolent, and the baby-facedness of him just made him all the more creepy.

I agree about Narcissa's casting. It just didn't work.

Did you love the visual of the Unbreakable Vow? I thought that was really cool. I loved the scars it left behind. And you're right. Seeing three veteran, *adult* actors working and playing off each other is a nice break from the raw, untested acting you get from the kids. It's nice to see them really biting into the roles and stuff.

Cormac is a babe! If I was Hermione I'd throw Ron over in a heartbeat for Cormac.

I also agree with you that Bonnie doesn't have nearly enough pluck or moxie to fully inhabit Ginny's character. I've never ever been a Ginny/Harry fan, and I'm way more into the idea of Harry/Hermione.

I too think it's kind of weird that the kids run around and ostensibly don't know each other. Even if you argue that there's a lot of freedom in the classes they take. ALl Gryffindor first years presumably take like, Potions and DADA together. Oh well.

Also, if I'm not mistaken, Katie Bell was recast for this one? She used to be played by a different actor.

I think this film also just *looked* really cool. I loved the beginning, and I had chills when Bella and Fenrir were flying around wreaking havoc on the Muggle bridge and stuff.

I also loved the Fire in the cornfield or whatever the hell, as an alternative to what we had in the books as the penultimate scene happening at Hogwarts and Bill getting savaged by Greyback. I thought it was cool that they didn't gyp us entirely out of an emotionally scary scene just because they'd never really introudced us to BIll or really played up the Order involvement.

This way, we got a scene of Bella being genuinely scary, and I thought it was played really well. It was really tense.

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

I really actually loved the movie.

I liked it, but didn't love it. I can't really explain it, but it just kind of felt like filler to me, which is weird cause I loved the book.

I looooved the youngest Voldemort, who, if I'm not mistaken, has the distinction of being named Hero, and of being Ralph Fienne's nephew. The acting is in the genes, baby!

Ooh, very cool. I didn't know he was related to Fiennes. I thought he was fantastic though.

I agree about Narcissa's casting. It just didn't work.

It was pretty awful. I was hoping to be able to look past it but I couldn't. In my head for the last little while she ...

has been my mental Narcissa, and so this film version just didn't cut it with me at all. McCrory just wasn't Narcissa.

Did you love the visual of the Unbreakable Vow? I thought that was really cool. I loved the scars it left behind.

I loved that scene, and I loved the visuals for that. I loved the visuals, Bella prowling around, the way Narcissa kind of looked at her hand after it was over was really cool too. It was a small little choice by McCrory, but it was a nice moment (as was that little kiss she gave Draco at Birkins).

If I was Hermione I'd throw Ron over in a heartbeat for Cormac.

This. The whole movie, I was just like "Hermoine, you're a fucking idiot. Cormac is hot stuff!" Seriously, Ron wouldn't have been a blip to me if I was Hermoine. I would have been calling him Wallenby like Slugghorn was and making out with Cormac every chance I got. Freddie Stroma is unf-ilicious.

I also agree with you that Bonnie doesn't have nearly enough pluck or moxie to fully inhabit Ginny's character.

It wasn't that noticeable in the other films. But this is the one where Ginny was supposed to become awesome ... and she just didn't.

ALl Gryffindor first years presumably take like, Potions and DADA together.

It really doesn't make sense at all. They should know each other. They shouldn't all know each other super well, but scene like the:
Ginny: It's Katie.
Harry: Who?
Ginny: Katie Bell.
were stupid. It's like Katie Bell is on the fucking Quidditch team isn't she? How could Harry not know who she is?

Also, if I'm not mistaken, Katie Bell was recast for this one? She used to be played by a different actor.

Yeah, she was totally recast. This chick was hotter than the last one if I remember though.

I think this film also just *looked* really cool. I loved the beginning, and I had chills when Bella and Fenrir were flying around wreaking havoc on the Muggle bridge and stuff.

I'm with you on that one. It looked AMAZING. And I loved the Death Eaters method of travel. The Death Eaters are such dicks though. When they destroyed that bridge, I was like "Oh, you guys!" You know they just did it for shits and giggles, and meanwhile London is thrown into choas.

as an alternative to what we had in the books as the penultimate scene happening at Hogwarts and Bill getting savaged by Greyback.

I liked the book action better. I LIKED Bill getting savaged by Greyback. But, I can see how it wouldn't really have that much impact since they haven't introduced Bill. Overall, the movie people have done a good job trying to cram most of the stuff in the books into feature lengths films. They can't get everything and I understand that. I just felt the stuff that was left out more in this film than in the others.

[gespawcho.livejournal.com]

It wasn't that noticeable in the other films

Probably because nobody (except JK) had an idea of quite how pivotal Ginny was going to become, and I don't know how much of the early casting was left up to Chris Columbus (but I like to blame shit on him), but I think he went with a lot of bland choices that another ballsier director like Cuaron might not have made. Obviously, when you're picking kids who are gonna go through seven movies, it's a bit of a gamble, but Bonnie started out perfectly cute, which was fine, given how small her role was, and then just ended up about as charismatic as my a stump.

I LIKED Bill getting savaged by Greyback

I definitely, always prefer the canon of the books, but I can definitely appreciate the limits of having to condense the books into a two or three hour block. So, in the long run, would it have been more satisfying to me to have had all of the Weasley bros introduced so that there would have been an emotional payoff to seeing Bill at the mercy of Greyback? Oh, yeah. But, in the interest of time, I really think this movie was craftily adapted and convinced. I thought the plot was very deft, whereas for me, the fourth one for example was really shittily budgeted for time and information.

To me, HBP is now up there with the 3rd and 5th ones for a) not making it feel like you're moving directly from big event to big event to big event, but giving us some time to breathe within, and creating some of the behind-the-scenes stuff with the kids. Showing them sort of hanging around and being teens.

ANd I meant to say: Tom Felton? Awesome. He really brought it in this one. The scene in the bathroom utterly murdered me, and he really impressed me.

Also! Jim Broadbent! I love him so much. It's hard to choose a fave moment, but possibly when he said to Hermione, "All hands on deck, Granger!"

As much as I love the Trio, it's the adults who really really make Potter worth watching.

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

Probably because nobody (except JK) had an idea of quite how pivotal Ginny was going to become, and I don't know how much of the early casting was left up to Chris Columbus (but I like to blame shit on him), but I think he went with a lot of bland choices that another ballsier director like Cuaron might not have made.

This is true. Ginny was basically background until this book/movie, and so all Bonnie really had to do was stand there and look cute and redheaded. And it's true that she's a significant enough character that recasting wasn't an option. The other directors did get stuck with what was established in the first film to a certain degree.

and then just ended up about as charismatic as my a stump.


LOL!

I thought the plot was very deft, whereas for me, the fourth one for example was really shittily budgeted for time and information.

lol! I'm the exact opposite. The fourth movie is probably my favorite of the films. And I found the passage of time really jarring in this one. To me it felt like they got to school, had a class and then it was the dead of winter, and everything seemed to just go by in blur for me without major incidents really standing out.

Tom Felton? Awesome. He really brought it in this one. The scene in the bathroom utterly murdered me, and he really impressed me.

This. He was great in that scene. Also the confrontation with Dumbledore. You could really see how tortured Draco was, having to choose between his own life and Dumbledore's.

but possibly when he said to Hermione, "All hands on deck, Granger!"

That line was awesome. Broadbent really was very good. I liked the depth he was able to give Slugghorn. I didn't care much for Slugghorn in the book, but I felt for him in the movie.

As much as I love the Trio, it's the adults who really really make Potter worth watching.

Word. It's almost mean making the kids act opposite these people. I mean what Maggie Smith can convey with a twitch of her lips like eclipses everything Emma Watson did all film, lol (Oh, Emma, I'm sorry to pick on you so much, that crying scene was just really, really awful)

[amluv.livejournal.com]

seems like we nailed pretty much the same points, but i liked it a lot more than you did.

the point you made about the middle riddle plus the fact that i mentioned slugghorn and not being uncle bad touch, it just occurred to me that there was an air inappropriate student/teacher relations between the 2. that scene played out like a seduction now that i think about it. and now i've really just creeped me out. but yeah, that kid looks like kd lang.

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

but i liked it a lot more than you did.

Yeah. I didn't dislike it, and I was more than 'meh' about it, but not much. It felt like a filler movie to me, which surprised me because I remember liking the book a lot.

i mentioned slugghorn and not being uncle bad touch

lol! He totally was a creepy uncle sort (I mean, all of that stuff about collecting children just made him seem like a total creeper).

it just occurred to me that there was an air inappropriate student/teacher relations between the 2. that scene played out like a seduction now that i think about it. and now i've really just creeped me out.

"You're not like the others. They wouldn't understand." HOW COULD YOU SAY THAT SOUNDS LIKE A COME ON?!?!?!?! LOL. KD Voldemort was totally putting the moves on Slugghorn and he was too dazzled by Tom's girlish good looks to mind.

[amluv.livejournal.com]

you win the internets for kd voldermort...*laughs hysterically*...ah j you slay me...:)

[(Anonymous)]

me wants a KD Voldemort icon..

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

Glad to be of service, my dear :D

[lightbluenym.livejournal.com]

KD Voldemort was totally putting the moves on Slugghorn and he was too dazzled by Tom's girlish good looks to mind.- Dear god...someone's going to fic this. I can feel it...

LOL @ KD Voldemort!

[novak_fan]

I don't know why this movie left me a little disappointed. I mean, it isn't bad and I had fun but I feel like something was missing. Also at the end I was like WTH?? I mean I haven't read any book for that matter (I'm spoilered on the last one though)but still... I was like come on! IS Dumbledore right? Not even a little fight? meh! Agree on mostly everything you said though.
Personally I think that it's a shame that Bella have so little onscreen time because (even if she isn't really one of my favs) HBC is AWESOME like Bella. Such a shame really.

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

I don't know why this movie left me a little disappointed.

Me too. It was a little flat to me. It felt like filler, and it focused on the parts of the books I was 'meh' about instead of the plot stuff that was actually interesting to me.

I was like come on! IS Dumbledore right? Not even a little fight? meh!

Yeah. I think there's an explanation for why Dumbledore didn't fight back. I think he knew Snape had to kill him or something like that, but it was kind of like "the greatest wizard in the world couldn't take on Snape?"

Personally I think that it's a shame that Bella have so little onscreen time because (even if she isn't really one of my favs) HBC is AWESOME like Bella. Such a shame really.

Yeah. Bella didn't get enough time in the books or on screen. She's just so much fun. Completely unhinged, but fun. And HBC is perfect. Her scenes are always my favorite.

[madndizzee.livejournal.com]

Helen McCory was woefully miscast as Narcissa

agreed. i just can't see it, made her scenes a bit visually discordant to me. HBC, however, is awesome as Bellatrix. it was a pleasure to watch her. and yeah, Bella resting her head on Narcissa's shoulder was adorable. i thought Bella was older than Narcissa though but in the movie Narcissa looks older. am i wrong?

yar, Draco held his own. and his suits are nifty, made him look like a right dapper English gentleman.

oh yeah, the young Toms looked creepy, especially the youngest one. neither of them look to be up to any good. can't understand why not a single teacher saw the evil in their eyes.

haha barely noticed Tonks and Lupin. they're like, here one second, gone the next. Bellatrix was sinister and crazy as heck! Harry should really have better control though. he's so easily baited.

Luna was odd and awesome as usual

yes lol. i loved Luna. such an odd duck, like she inhabits a world of her own and sees things others don't. having a conversation with her would either drive you crazy or make you laugh madly.

Harry/Ginny does not work for me. pretty blah. neither does Ron/Hermione. ugh! what in the world is Hermione supposed to see in Ron?

is Lavender Brown the one that liked Ron? if so, good lordy. i'd run a mile to get away from that. psycho in the making, that one.

hmm maybe there aren't that many people with magical abilities lol. oh, i had the impression that Cormac and Romilda were new students tranferred from elsewhere. although the not talking to people in your class does happen. kids have their little cliques. course, suddenly you're full of hormones and want to talk to people you've never given two cents about in the past lol.

yeah, pity about The Burrow. it was a pretty visual though lol.

i had a wtf at the end of the movie about the title. it's got half blood prince in the title so you'd think most of the movie would be about him, but no. i haven't read the books so don't know if there's more that's missing. the revelation about Snape at the end was just so out of the blue. the movie title was pointless.

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

i just can't see it, made her scenes a bit visually discordant to me.

mte. I loved this scene in the book, but it lacked a certain impact for me in the movie (even though it was beautifully acted) because that woman just wasn't Narcissa at all.

i thought Bella was older than Narcissa though but in the movie Narcissa looks older. am i wrong?

You're not wrong. Bellatrix is the oldest of the Black sister. Narcissa's supposed to be the youngest, and Andromeda is the middle sister. So, yeah, that casting was really horrible, because even though McCrory is only like three years older than HBC she looks quite a bit older. It throws the Bella/Cissy interplay off. Like I said before, Narcissa was just woefully miscast. I know they owed McCrory, but they screwed us fans over.

made him look like a right dapper English gentleman.

That's what I liked. It made him look like a rich git, and really sold the idea of him trying to fill Daddies shoes and be a man.

can't understand why not a single teacher saw the evil in their eyes.

I think that the teacher's probably realized he was a bit off, but other than Slugghorn hearing him talk about making 7 horcruxes, they couldn't really have known how evil he'd become. It's like, I had a kid in my class that was a throat stabber this year, but I wouldn't imagine that he'd turn into Hitler and he's displayed actual violence, whereas Tom I think was just a little creepy (in a posh, polite kind of way).

haha barely noticed Tonks and Lupin. they're like, here one second, gone the next.

Yeah, it was like "Hi ... Bye" I swear they only showed them to let us audience members know that they remembered the characters.

having a conversation with her would either drive you crazy or make you laugh madly.

I know! I think I like watching conversations with her, more than I'd like having a conversation with her though.

what in the world is Hermione supposed to see in Ron?

This. Hermoine seems way to mature for him. I don't hate Ron, but I just do not see the appeal of him to Hermione. Really I find, Harry/Ginny and Hermoine/Ron far too convenient. And it doesn't help that the kids have no chemistry together (well, at least with who they're supposed to have chemistry with). Consequently I hated all the romantic stuff in this movie, which is why I feel like I didn't like it as much as some of other people. I just really didn't give a shit about who hooked up and their romantic woes.

is Lavender Brown the one that liked Ron? if so, good lordy. i'd run a mile to get away from that. psycho in the making, that one.

That's Lavender and she was super creepy and annoying. I'm just gonna assume she put out or something, cause otherwise I don't know HOW Ron put up with her for so long.

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

i had the impression that Cormac and Romilda were new students tranferred from elsewhere.

Nope. Romilda at least I know has been around for a while. I can't say for sure about Cormac, but he's probably been there from the beginning as well. Slugghorn mentioned his family was well known, and Hogwart's is the only wizarding school in England, so I don't know where he would have come from.

although the not talking to people in your class does happen. kids have their little cliques.

This is true, but these kids are 16/17 now, and they've been going to school with the same set of people since they were 11. It seems like the class sizes at Hogwarts are pretty small as well. Like in a given year it seems like there might only be 100 or so kids, and then there classes seem to be around 10-15 people, and with numbers like that everyone would have some kind of interaction with everyone else in SIX YEARS, cliques or no cliques.

it was a pretty visual though lol.

That it was.

it's got half blood prince in the title so you'd think most of the movie would be about him, but no. i haven't read the books so don't know if there's more that's missing. the revelation about Snape at the end was just so out of the blue.

The movie really blew this. In the book there were clues leading you to the revelation of who the half-blood prince was. The movie was like, "Oh, by the way it's Snape", whereas the book actually had a built up so it wasn't a WTF revelation.

Honestly, I would have liked it if the movie had concentrated on giving us more plot (clues to Snape, more on the horcruxes and the search for them, etc) then spending so much time on romantic issues I didn't care about.

[hyperandblonde.livejournal.com]

Honestly? I adored the movie. I thought it was one of the best Harry Potters yet. I was very upset there was no Dumbledore Funeral though. Very very upset. That just seemed to wrap the book all up for me and it was very touching and COME ON. Dumbledore is the shit. D: He deserves a funeral at least, damn it. No, instead all he gets is everyone pointing their wands up towards the sky. Its a wonder the damn Knight Bus didn't come crashing down on his corpse. ...I can see Stan Shunpike shuffling out of it asking who needed a ride as they all stand there, staring, mortified and wondering who to blame...

...I'm bitter.

Anyhow.

Bellatrix may have made this movie for me. Her level of crazy was so much fun. I went opening night with all the die hards and everyones crying pretty much cause Dumbledores dead...And then theres me. Laughing...Because Bellatrix felt the need to walk on one of the tables in the Great Hall and break all the china :)And then she felt the need to sing while they were traipsing through the woods...You gotta love her. You really really got to love her.

Harry on speed aka liquid luck was wonderful :D Harry needs to learn that drugs are bad. That was one my favorite parts.

I still personally think Nicole Kiddman would've been an awwwesome Narcissa. D; I dunno. She might be too young. I think she would've worked out well though.

Draco needed a hug. Really. He did. Tom was nothing short of amazing. For real. I don't remember particularly feeling sorry for him at all in the book. Because he was always an asshole and when you read, you aren't hearing the exact emotions, so I figured he was just being an asshole again most of the time...But Tom...Tom made me feel the frustration and fear he was feeling and I actually felt really sorry for him. For sure.

D: Um. Was the burning of the burrow even in the book? Because I don't remember it at all and I thought it was ridiculous as nice it was to see Bella. Poor Molly. :(

Ginny and Harry...Never have I liked them. Ever.

-LAST BOOK SPOILERS-

I think at the end of the last book Harry should've been married to some chick we never met. "Theres Ron and Hermione and their kids...And then theres Harry and Sarah and their kids. :D" Maybe we could've avoided the catastrophe of names that was Albus Severus Potter then...

-LAST BOOK SPOILERS-

Thats how poor Tonks was in the first film in my opinion. "HEY GIRL WITH THE PURPLE HAIR. Ohhh your name is TONKS. ...Annnd you're gone." D: They never even explained why she could shapeshift. She just...Starting doing it at the table and anyone who hasn't read the book was probably like "Wtf is that..." Its funny. I had to lean over to my friend when Tonks first came on screen in this film and ask who she was...Awesome, right?

Lavender Brown can stay far far away from me. For serious. Holy shit. I'd have fucking killed her.

All in all, best HP in my opinon though. :) I really did like it.

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

Honestly? I adored the movie...I was very upset there was no Dumbledore Funeral though.

You're not alone, a lot of people really liked it. Even in this post there are a lot differing opinions on it.

I too was really sad there was no Dumbeldore's funeral. But it goes along with the problems that I had about them focusing a lot of time on shit I didn't care about that much.

Bellatrix may have made this movie for me. Her level of crazy was so much fun...Laughing...Because Bellatrix felt the need to walk on one of the tables in the Great Hall and break all the china :)

This! I'm so glad that HBC got cast. She is consistently GREAT as Bellatrix. Every scene with Bellatrix just automatically becomes one of my favorites in the film because she is so good. And like you, I was totally giggling at all of Bellatrix's antics, even during parts where I knew I shouldn't be finding her so amazing. Her singing, trapsing through the woods and how gleefully she set Hagrid's on fire on really cracked me up even as I was all "Aw, Hagrid's cabin".

Harry on speed aka liquid luck was wonderful :D Harry needs to learn that drugs are bad.

Actually, I was thinking Harry needs to take more drugs. He was far more entertaining when he was high. When he was all, "Then by all means come along, Sir" I was like, 'ooh, I like spunky!Harry'. And DanRad's little 'pincers' movement cracked me up. And I was to say, I appreciate DanRad being able to poke fun at his height by having Harry like swinging his legs around on the stool like a three year old, lol.

I still personally think Nicole Kiddman would've been an awwwesome Narcissa. D;

Nicole Kidman would have been great. Nicole as Mrs. Coulter reminded me so much of what Narcissa should be. The only problem with her is that she would tower over HBC, even more so than McCrory did. That's why I'd through Naomi Watts name out as well. I think she would have been great too, she's got a Kidman-esque vibe about her, and she's about HBC's size, and a little bit younger than HBC. Honestly, I think almost any name you throw out there would have been better than what we got.

Um. Was the burning of the burrow even in the book? ...Poor Molly. :(

No, it wasn't in the book. I remember the beginning of Deathly Hallows takes place at the Burrow. And I totes agree, with "Poor Molly". I love Molly, and Julie Walters playing her. I'd totally love to hang out at the Burrow.

I think at the end of the last book Harry should've been married to some chick we never met....Maybe we could've avoided the catastrophe of names that was Albus Severus Potter then...

I like to pretend that the epilogue never even happened. At all. I thought it was awful. BUT, that being sad, I thought that Ron/Hermoine working out was way more implausible than Ginny/Harry. Ron/Hermione on a long term basis just blows my mind. I cannot for the life of me see them lasting together.

Thats how poor Tonks was in the first film in my opinion.

Yeah, Tonks was shafted in her first appearance as well. She'll be shafted in the next movie as well, as will Fleur (who was also wasted), and I'm deathly afraid that they're not even going to bother putting Andromeda in the script at all. Minor characters just do no fare well in this series unless they are part of one particular major event because there's just always too much stuff to cover.

Lavender Brown can stay far far away from me...I'd have fucking killed her.

I know. The fact that Ron went out with her for so long, just made my respect for him dip a lot (and there wasn't much of it to begin with). She was horrifying. The actress was really good though.

[sicaria0.livejournal.com]

I basically agree with everything you said.

The feeling I get from reading people's reactions is that the more strongly they remember the book, the more dissatisfied they are with the movie. I sadly don't remember the book that well, so I didn't have set expectations for the movie to conform to. I was happy to go along with the movie's take on the universe.

Soon as I saw Narcissa, I thought she was miscast. But you're right, Spinner's End was great and I inevitably thought of you and your fics. Hooray Blackcest.

As for the kids not knowing each other... that's just a problem with Rowling's universe. One thing I've found amusing about reading mistful's fics is that she plays this off as Harry being terribly self-absorbed and not very socially observant. Funny, but still baffling how she could introduce brand new -students- in the sixth book.

On the other hand, I was -very- disappointed with the noticeable lack of Tonks and other characters. How about Neville (who is a total BAMF in the next book!!) who only appears as a server in the party? I was disappointed that Lavender got so much more screen time :P

Oh well. I was very happy with the characters that were there, though. Draco and Luna, mainly. Of course, (both) Tome Riddle(s) were great. But I absolutely loved Tom Felton. I've always been a Draco fan and I thought the movie handled him very well. The sixth book in general was a triumph for Draco/Harry shippers (which I am) and though the movie didn't convey the extent of Harry's obsession, I still think it did their characters justice. The dynamics between the two are great, even though they're barely explored in the books :P

I think gespawcho is spot on about the mood and directing. It didn't feel too rushed and it was much smoother than the other movies. That's probably one of my favorite things about this movie and why I like it best so far.

For me, I loved just about everything they -included-. I loved the actors, the visuals, and the scenes they included. And again, since I didn't remember the book that well, missing scenes/characters weren't as big of a deal.

My biggest problem was 1) The missing Hogwarts battle, which I think would really have brought home the danger of the war and 2) The confrontation between Snape and Harry. Cut waaaaayyy short. But again, those are omissions and I try not to cry too much about omissions when it comes to adaptations.

Anyway, definitely looking forward to the last two!

Rambling is so much fun!

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

The feeling I get from reading people's reactions is that the more strongly they remember the book, the more dissatisfied they are with the movie.

Actually, I have a terrible memory and barely remember the book at all. I just felt like there was stuff that I MUST have been missing, because the movie seemed to be rushing through events, and I have a memory of just really, really liking the book and being relieved it was good because I hated OTP so much. But I can't really remember details about it.

that's just a problem with Rowling's universe. One thing I've found amusing about reading sarahtales's fics is that she plays this off as Harry being terribly self-absorbed and not very socially observant.

lol! That's a good cover for it actually. Hermoine always seems to know who everyone is, and is usually explaining it to Harry. Ron would have to be really self-involved too, but that's not a stretch either. Honestly, Harry usually has enough on his plate that it's kind of understandable if he doesn't really pay that much attention.

I was -very- disappointed with the noticeable lack of Tonks and other characters. How about Neville (who is a total BAMF in the next book!!) who only appears as a server in the party? I was disappointed that Lavender got so much more screen time :P

Minor characters just get shafted in the movies. Unless they are one of the DA professors who have an important role to play, they just get shafted. There's just too much in the books to develop them in the films, but it's still frustrating nonetheless. I'm terrified that they're not even going to put Andromeda in the next movie, and I know that Fleur is gonna get shafted for screen time, as will Tonks, and probably my baby Narcissa (though because of the miscasting I'm not as devastated by that as I should be).

Anyway, definitely looking forward to the last two!

For sure. I'm definitely excited for the next two. I'm so glad there's still new Harry Potter injections coming up :D

IT'S CREEPY!!

[(Anonymous)]

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!Narcissa looks like Bellatrix's mother!!!!!!!!!

Re: IT'S CREEPY!!

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I know. It's ridiculous. The casting for Narcissa is just baffling (well, not baffling, I know they gave it to McCrory because she got knocked up and couldn't play Bellatrix, but the fact that they cast her without any thought as to how well she fit the character baffles me. Bella and Cissy should be almost exact opposites, so the fact that she was originally cast as Bella should have told them she was no Narcissa).

And yeah, with casting HBC as Bella, they really should have gone quite a bit younger for Narcissa since she's the youngest and Bella is the oldest.

[aeris113.livejournal.com]

I was rather disappointed by the movie. I know that there is a never a smooth transition from book to film, but of all the HP movies, I felt like this one was the worst. It seemed like I was watching "Harry Potter: Halfblood Prince: The Cliff Notes" because it just seemed like they tried to hit on the main points without creating any real cohesion from one scene to the next.

It seemed like there were individual actors/characters that were very well done (Draco, both Toms, Lavender), but aside from those few, the cast really seemed to fall flat. Snape's whole scene of "Yes, I'm the Halfblood Prince" killed me. I love Alan Rickman, but Holy God. I wanted to die. It was like nothing came off well. I didn't even give a shit when the big D died. And I cried when I read the book! But in this, it just seemed like another plot point.

I still think that, out of the two last books of the series, *this* is the book they should have split into two movies. There was so much more information that just didn't get passed on in the movie (and they spent waaaay too much time focused on all the love triangles and *gag*).

I don't know, maybe I'm just a picky bitch, but I really felt let down.

[(Anonymous)]

I must be in the minority but I LOVED Bonnie in this film. Ron however, can go far, far away and never come back. I hate that character with the passion of a thousand suns. In my world Ginny would wind up with Hermione but I'm quite alright with Harry and Ginny. But seriously Hermione, Ron Weaseley of all people?!

[aeris113.livejournal.com]

I probably liked her more in this movie, now that she's kind of grown out of her gawky/awkward stage, but I think Ginny's character was so... meh when it certainly could have been better. Maybe I've read too much fanfiction, but I always imagined Ginny being a bit more of a firecracker. And I liked that we got to have more of her in the movie, but I kind of wish that she had scenes where she wasn't there purely to interact with Harry.

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

I like the Ginny character, but we'll have to agree to disagree about Bonnie. I find her really boring.

Ron bugs though. I can't imagine how IRRITATING he's going to be in the next film. I remember loathing Ron for the majority of Death Hallows and Grint isn't a good enough actor to make him sympathetic (at least I don't think he is, maybe he'll surprise me, but I doubt it)

I'm with you on finding Ron/Hermoine incomprehensible though. Ron's immaturity in this movie really drove home how bad a couple they'd make. And I didn't appreciate the movie making Hermoine into a whiny harpy over him as well. Do not drag Hermoine down to Ron's level of idiocy.

Ginny/Hermoine would be good. I liked that little moment between them when Ginny stole the potions book and they shared a little "sister's doing it for themselves" moment. But honestly, I'd have gone for Hermione/Cormac any day over Hermoine/Ron, if only because they would have been really, really pretty to look at.

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

but of all the HP movies, I felt like this one was the worst.

I agree with this. The pacing actually felt really off to me in this one. There were just no really major events to mark the passage of time for me, and so I was constantly like "what time of year is this? How much time has passed?" I thought they did a brilliant job making OoTP better paced than the book, and I felt like this was the opposite, in that they took a book that I liked and made it pretty boring.

It seemed like there were individual actors/characters that were very well done (Draco, both Toms, Lavender), but aside from those few, the cast really seemed to fall flat.

lol! The problem is that the Trio just grew up to be passable actors instead of good ones, so like everyone (except for Ginny) out shines them. It's tough when casting young actors, I'll give them that. But it's sad, that we didn't get a Freddy Highmore, or Dakota Fanning among them.

I didn't even give a shit when the big D died. And I cried when I read the book! But in this

Yeah, it lacked the kick I thought it would have. But that's what the whole movie was like for me. Kind of flat and 'meh'.

maybe I'm just a picky bitch, but I really felt let down.

If you are, then I am too. The movie was okay, I didn't want my money back afterwards, but I didn't love it and was a bit let down by it.

[billy-rose.livejournal.com]

huh. I haven't seen it yet, but is there a reason that narcissa looks way older than bella? at least in that pic ya have there she does...

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

Bad casting.

Honestly that's the only reason. The actress they cast is very adept at her craft, but basically everything about her was wrong for Narcissa.

Also, I think HBC is just aging really well, because the two actresses are basically the same age.

[ishfeeny.livejournal.com]

Those bastards, they burned The Burrow down!

All I have to say to this is...WUT?

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I know. I have no idea what the reasoning behind that is, other then the FX people getting turned on by creating huge fires.

Nosing In!

[lightbluenym.livejournal.com]

The FX team was having a constant orgasm in this movie. First the bridge, then the Slughorn scene, then the Burrow...

[lightbluenym.livejournal.com]

Spinner's End Does Bellatrix have her arms around Cissy in that picture??? Also, I enjoyed the fact that she actually called her "Cissy" in the movie.

We've already been over my love for TF...

When he came up on Ginny all I could think was, "Somebody's gon' get raped" before Harry showed up. Me too! I was like, "WTF was she thinking? Someone hurry and find her!"

Nat Tena is hot. This. Especially when she has messy hair. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0YHg6ae7Sc&feature=PlayList&p=7E191C6478CA9F93&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=3

[artithena.livejournal.com]

The epic length of the movie was a good way to break up the drudgery of summer. However, I think of this movie more of as a mixed bag: it wasn't the best HP movie, but it wasn't the worst and it provided some much needed levity to counterbalance the general darkness of the coming war. The CGI was once again amazing, but at some points of the movie it felt as if the pacing was off due to the sheer amount of material that was being crammed into the film as well as the lingering scenes of teenage drama.

It was nice seeing the young actors deliver a more mature product than previous films, though I also agree that Bonnie’s portrayal of Ginny needs to get spunked up. Luna was once again spot on in her airy, not-quite-there sort of way, and surprisingly, Draco came across as a sympathetic character. Tom Felt’s portrayal of Malfoy’s inner turmoil over his assigned task was perhaps one of the stronger, more genuine characterizations throughout the movie (HBC’s brief stints onscreen as the gleefully insane Bellatrix were also highly enjoyable). Most of all, it would be a definite plus to see the older actors get more screen time rather than the on-stage, walking-across stage, off-stage scenes that seemed all too common in this film a la Tonks, Remus, and McGonagall. They need more dialogue. Yes, there is a very large ensemble to deal with, but this movie in particular struck me as rather random with the cast swelling even more due to the introduction of new characters that don’t really seem to drive the plot forward.

I enjoyed the flashbacking memories to Tom Riddle’s childhood as it provided long-awaited background information on the origins of Voldemort (I have yet to read the books, so it was helpful having the past fleshed out), and both young actors managed to convey a great deal of all-around creepiness. Speaking of creepy, Prof. Slugghorn was mildly disturbing with his after-school dinner parties and mention of his ‘collection.’ Is the collection simply photographs of his top students or something else entirely? Either way he pings my ick-scale.

Overall, I didn’t love the movie as my friends led me to believe I would, but I didn’t hate it, and I look forward to DH.

[artithena.livejournal.com]

PS - "...That being said, Helen McCory was woefully miscast as Narcissa."

Agreed, 100%. I had been hoping for Nicole Kidman in the role, but it was not to be. Instead, I played Photoshop-make-believe to remedy the situation =)

[(Anonymous)]

I agree wholeheartedly. She was too old, and she didn't pull off the frostiness of Narcissa's character. She didn't seem the type to normally suppress her emotions, and what the devil was with her hair?

That being said: Bellatrix. Holy god, Bellatrix. Her scenes are always my favourite, and HBC is brilliantly twisted.

[lightbluenym.livejournal.com]

Your icon is the best thing I've seen all week :D

[cyandragonfly.livejournal.com]

Nice screencap there. Not with you on the Bonnie hating but I'm glad someone else notice Katie Bell.

Main problem - not enough Snape

[afro-dyte.livejournal.com]

One of the main problems I have with the films since about the end of GoF is that they treat Snape as an insignificant character. JK Rowling dropped the ball in the same way in DH, but I digress. When you examine at the characters purely from their narrative purpose and their importance to the plot ("Will Harry Potter defeat Lord Voldemort?"), Snape is clearly the strongest character in the series aside from Harry Potter because his choices and actions matter to the outcome of the story. He's the fucking Darth Vader of the Harry Potter novels! You cannot ignore him and have the story make sense, let alone maintain the same emotional gravity.

In fact, you could easily shoe in HP characters with Star Wars characters - not based on their personalities, but how they function in the story. Harry is Luke. Voldemort is Palpatine. Dumbledore is Obi-wan Kenobi. Ron and Hermione are Han and Leia. Hagrid is Chewbacca. Snape is Darth Vader.

The revelation that Snape is the Half-blood Prince should've been the "I am your father" of these movies. But since OotP, this twist was bound to fall flat.

This surly bastard who's been fucking with Harry and his friends since they were 11 years old turns out to have been a follower of the man who killed his parents! And Harry has nothing to say about it? This same man became a spy for the Order of the Phoenix - or is he a double agent for Voldemort? Who can be sure about his loyalties? Isn't he Slytherin? Aren't they supposed to be cunning and duplicitous? Can he be trusted to keep the Order's secrets? What proof do we have? Harry seems nonchalant about this in the films - he takes this in without so much as a "WTF!?!?!?!" or rather, "I knew it!" - but he certainly wasn't in the books.

And on top of this, in OotP, Harry consents to being alone in a room with Snape while this man attempts to break into his mind. Let me rephrase this. There is a man who hates Harry's guts and could still be a follower of Voldemort who repeatedly invades Harry's mind, and Harry lets him without so much as a token resistance. On purpose.

Granted, OotP had a lot more pertinent ground to cover, but HBP really should've focused on Harry's relationship with Snape (both as teacher and the Half-Blood Prince) a bit more.

But apparently Quidditch tryouts and Ron's romantic misadventures are more important.

So I'm prepared to be thoroughly disappointed in the DH movie.