I have to begin this review with simply saying that I loved this movie! I am one of those Harry Potter fans that likes both the movies and the books. The actors and actresses are how I picture the characters in my mind, I think this is because I started to read the books and movies when I was young (though I did see the movies after the first couple books). So that's one reason I like all the people in the movies, I think. And for the most part, I've always loved the movies, maybe because I am just so glad to see the books in movies? But really, I do love the movies for their quality separately. Sure, I am slightly resentful for the fourth movie leaving out a lot of scenes and the sixth movie for having a random beginning, but for the most part I have always loved the movies!
I really think that this new movie might possibly be my top favorite movie, though. It stayed true to the book-always a good thing. There were points where there were actually quotes from the books! I had a mental list of scenes and lines I wanted there to be, and a lot of the important ones were in the movie! And a lot of the scenes that they added in were pretty good also. So let's begin, shall we?
Beginning!
The beginning was very dramatic I thought. I was just staring into his eyes! The whole speech he was making, about how the Ministry would be strong was what I felt was kind of ironic. I mean, the Ministry hushed up the whole death eaters following Harry thing, and was taken over days after the speech.
The scene where Hermione erases her parents memory is a scene that I have heard a lot of people like, and I think they, including myself, like it for the best reasons. Hermione mentions erasing their memories about once, in the book, and mentions her parents maybe once more. In the movie we got to see how emotional and how difficult it must have been for her. And then she kept mentioning them throughout the movie, like in places they had gone. I don't know if this was just myself, but I thought they were on her mind a lot more in the movie it seemed, which made perfect sense to me. If I was her, I would miss my parents too, and they don't even remember her, so I could see why her thoughts kept going to them.
I miss the whole Dudley scene, but I survived. Many people wanted to see Dudley somewhat apologize, and I did too, but I also wanted to see Hestia Jones. I just like her character, and her name, and I wish I could have seen more of her in the movie and book. I know that would have been random in the book, "Harry's scar hadn't hurt him... and oh yeah, Hestia survived the Dursleys-which can't have been easy."
Kreacher/Dobby
One of my favorite all time Harry Potter moments is Kreacher's story line in the seventh book. I love how he becomes a nice and caring house elf, pretty much proving Dumbledore right. I just thought it was such a sweet moment when Harry gave him Regulous's locket, and Kreacher was just so happy. In the movie Kreacher was still cute. I loved how he poked Mundungus with the fork while he was talking-weirdly cute. But I forgave the movie people because his story line was replaced with Dobby! I love Dobby, always have, and always will. He had some of the best lines in this movie, and I was so happy he could get his time before he proudly saved Harry Potter (and his friends) life. He had the best scenes, really and truly.
Ron!
A note on the acting. I don't know if any of you think of any of the actors and actresses as bad actors, but I think they are all good! But in this movie, I really liked Ron. His whole story line was very emotional and I thought he was great. Rupert really did superb!
Ron using the radio was a great idea. It probably came from the idea of him tuning in to Potterwatch in the books. I thought the idea of him listening to not hear bad news was a really... what's the right word... deep? idea. It sounded like something his character would do, and it told the audience information. The list of deaths was really an important thing, it showed how many people were actually dying, since you couldn't really see much of that while they were camping.
Harry's Journey to the Burrow!
The Seven Potters scene was just hilarious. I thought it was one of the funniest moments in Harry Potter, and you have to admit, it was nice. They were still on a serious trip, but at least we could all laugh at how there were a bunch of half naked Dan Radcliffes on the screen. And the, "Don't look at me, I'm hideous" and "We're identical" and "Just trying to ease the tension" couldn't possibly ever be unfunny.
I liked how Hedwig died trying to save Harry's life. It was nice that she could be doing something heroic instead of dying in her cage. Either way it was sad, but I didn't cry. I don't know why I didn't, but that doesn't mean it wasn't sad to me. I just didn't.
Malfoy Manor Scene!
Okay, I somewhat lied. I also want to talk about the running chase that was previous to this. It was just really intense, it had the whole "running for your life" feeling to it, and the silence that went along with it worked really well I think. If there had been music to accompany it I don't think it would have had the same affect (effect?) really.
Now back to the Manor for real! I liked how Draco, the whole time, was unsure about who to side with. He didn't want to betray the trio and probably get them killed, but he didn't want to side with them either, because he really doesn't even like him. I feel sorry for Draco. I don't really like him, but I do feel sorry for him. He's a mean person, and pretty much a coward, but he doesn't deserve all the pressure Voldemort gives him. I don't think he really knew what being a Death Eater was really going to be like, and since his family is in disgrace, it isn't any easier either.
I really love the Malfoy family story in this movie. It showed at the beginning, when Voldemort took Lucious's (sp?) wand. I was actually sad when Voldemort snapped off the part of his wand. You could tell that extravagance is really the Malfoy's thing, and I felt bad that Voldemort made him look so stupid by making fun of that. The whole wand in the cane thing was actually kind of interesting if you think about it. Makes a nice disguise, right? In the sixth movie, Draco had his father's cane, so does that mean he also had his wand? I think it's sweet that Draco wanted to keep it, to remember his father?
The torture scene wasn't very intense, but I still thought it was very moving. I liked both of the actresses, and I thought Emma really stepped it up. Her character went under something totally new, and I don't think Emma has ever had to be tortured before, so it couldn't have been easy to act. I wish Ron had been freaking out more, that would have been really neat. The "mudblood" written on the arm was my "favorite" part. It wasn't like I enjoyed it, but I just thought it was something Bellatrix would totally do, and it was just a really sad and mean thing.
Dobby saved the day-but then he died. I really disliked Bellatrix for that. I just was really angry at her. And Dobby's death was so sad. I cried, many, many tears. The whole happy because he was with a friend thing was completely Dobby. He wasn't in the movies as much as the books, and I was really glad to see him in this movie for a change. I just wish he didn't have to die to make it to the movie.
The Animation!
While Hermione read the story of the three brothers, the animation playing during that time was completely unexpected. I had been expecting Ron to interrupt, or maybe Harry's questions, to keep it from getting to be boring. I thought the animation was a very creative idea to have while she told the story, however. I am not sure if I was crazy about the actually pictures though. They seemed rather dark, and I wasn't sure if it was the right style for me personally. It was still very nice to watch and I was glad that there was something in there no one would have expected since nothing like it had ever been in the movies before.
Ginny, Ginny, Ginny.
And so the awkward scene begins. Ginny just couldn't find anyone else in the house to zip her dress? I mean, I am a girl, and sometimes I can zip my own dresses. Something makes me think she didn't try that though. I can't say Harry really complained though. Just looked up and didn't even hesitate! He was totally touching her shoulder and everything too. But I still like that couple, and so I was somewhat happy when they kissed. George, of course, was so funny with his watching and "morning." It made the scene funnier, where instead it would have just been awkward through and through.
The Wedding!
I liked Fleur's wedding dress! Girl moment. (Also, I loved Hermione's style throughout this movie. I want to go buy sweaters now.)
I also wished the wedding had been longer. Maybe some Ron and Krum jealousy? And Ron and Hermione dancing. Either Ron would have been a bad dancer and Hermione could be cutely teaching him (like when she tries to teach him the piano) or he could be a surprisingly good dancer! It would be funny either way.
In the book, Kingsley's patronus interrupts the wedding. In the movie I wasn't fully sure what it was. It was like the color of a patronus, but more of an orb? It also seemed to have people coming out of it? I wasn't fully sure what was going on there.
Harry/Hermione!
I am sure the people who like the pairing, Harry and Hermione, left this movie all happy and thinking that they are in love. But they aren't! I think they just become great friends in this movie.
I liked the dancing after Ron left. While some people might think there was something besides friendship there, I don't. Harry was just trying to cheer Hermione up! I thought it was really sweet and the dancing was cute. Some time when I am sad maybe I will have a Dan to dance with me like that!
I will admit, when I read that Emma had to kiss Dan I was freaking out for awhile. I was thinking the movie people added a kiss in, like after Ron left? And I was thinking, no that's not how it was! But then I remembered the horcrux, and I hoped it was just that she was talking about. And I was right! But I must say, I was not expecting the Horcrux to be like that. It seemed to explode and was frightening... and then Harry and Hermione were totally making out naked? I loved how when Ron saw that he seemed to charge at them, and I really thought he was going to cut in between both of them or something. Yes? No...
And finally, the ending!
Voldemort has gotten the elder wand and he shot up some freaky looking spell thing into the sky! It was all very dramatic, and when it happened I knew it was going to be the ending. A perfect place to stop really. And of course it left me wanting to see the second half so badly. Of course I am worried that I will cry to badly in that movie 1, because of all the deaths, and 2 because it will be the ending of the movies. But that's for another blog post some other day.
As always, I am sorry if I forgot something! Tell me what you thought of the movie, and long comments are welcomed!
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