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Did you guys see the new Harry Potter movie this weekend? Fair enough. We should all be so lucky dot dot dot. And now is your chance to talk about it with other adults who also saw it for some reason. “Isn’t being an adult cool?” “Totally. I love being a total adult.” “You’re such a Hermione.” Etc.
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Can I instead talk about the sad state of cinema right now? This was the first time my wife and I have been able to go see a movie together since our baby was born, so we were quite excited. We ended up seeing Due Date, because there was literally NOTHING else either one of us wanted to see. I’m not sure what looks worse, Love And Other Drugs, or The Next Three Days, but they both look very bad!
PARTY PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I accept that monday mornings are not my strong thinky time, but what’s up with PARTY PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!? It is too early and overcast and freezy to be a party person!
And sticky floors, amiright?
I think Hollywood has been playing the old switcharoo on us for some time now.
I thought it was the best film since #3, although it had a lot of things that would be confusing to folks who hadn’t read the book (what happened to Pettigrew? What’s the deal with the broken mirror?)
Yeah, I’ve read the books and seen all the movies, but I can’t remember a lot of that stuff. Fortunately, I had someone with me who had read all of the books like 50 times and explained everything. I loved it and immediately wanted to see it again! But I also really had to pee by the end of the movie. (Too much?)
Also, thanks G!
Yea, what the hell Pettigrew, you can’t even kill yourself properly. Sirius & James would so make fun of your uselessness if they weren’t already dead (because of you).
Also, #FictionalPeople
I saw it! I wasn’t particularly thrilled, but I felt the same way about it that I felt about the first half of the last book, so I didn’t go into it with extremely high hopes. Basically too much call-back which is meaningless to those who hadn’t read/watched the other HP’s, but overly detailed and irritating to those who had. Too long for its purpose, which is basically to build tension for the second part of the finale. Overall what I expected so I wasn’t disappointed, but still not a great movie on its own.
I respectfully disagree. I thought it was the most innovative stylistically of all the HP movies. I want to marry the animation sequence about the deathly hallows! Considering the long passage in the book of just the power trio searching for horcruxes, the movie was fairly quick paced. I say well done to everyone involved. I am (however) deeply disturbed by my wanting to jump Ron Weasley in one of those tents. Accio prison cell!
I liked the animation sequence a lot, too, but it was also so out of keeping with the style of all the other movies that it was a bit disorienting.
Also, my feelings about it may have been influenced that earlier that day I’d driven 5 hours, gone to a funeral and a wedding rehearsal and drank some beers at the rehearsal dinner. I’m sure I’ll see it again in a more lucid state.
5 Weddings and a Funeral II: One Wedding Rehearsal, a funeral and the Premier of the Penultimate Harry Potter Film? (Nailed it!!!)
i celebrated my birthday with unlimited mimosas and then shared two buckets of beer during the movie. i just saw it again sober, and it is FOR sure my favorite of the movies. i too adore the animation sequence. and the attention to detail! all those “M” buttons and pins for the ministry workers. the continuity! as the golden snitch follows harry out of the snatcher’s pocket. the heart-breakingness! as hermione ends the dance with harry and listlessly walks away.
I agree with Katerina. While the stylistic direction of the movie was a break with previous installments, it does fit with the different take. There’s not in Hogwarts and they thried to show them coming to terms with the maturing that should go with it. I enjoyed the long shots of them stranded in the woods, feeling more and more hopeless. And yes, that animation was beautiful.
I also agree with Steve Winwood that Emma Watson is very pretty.
Agreed. I was underwhelmed. I get that it was setting things up for the final movie, but there were too many camping scenes and a lot of nothing happening. But the animation scene for the dealthy hallows was amazing.
I went to the same school as J.K. Rowling
I’ve been to ‘Hogwarts’
That is all.
I would just like to point out that the Bing results for Daniel Radcliff and Emma Watson at the top of the thread all have to do with Emma Watson’s nipples or Daniel Radcliff’s penis….so there’s that.
Bing, I have someone I would like you to meet.
(yes, they are adults now, but still Bing, yikes.)
I heard Radcliff is hung like a house elf.
I wouldn’t throw a sock at it.
#ubernerdysexualharrypotterdobbyjokes
This made me spit out my soup with laughter. Well played, sir.
I took my little sister to the midnight showing (yes, I take my little sister to Harry Potter movies. Single line, ladies.) and I had an absolute ball. I’m pretty sure we’ve all reached the point where we understand that these movies are hit-and-miss, but they’re infused with so much collective goodwill that they’re all our favorite thing in the entire world. Also, “keep talking about the ball of light going into your heart” made me LOL.
Yes! That part was awesome. Ron really amped up the looking-at-Hermione-with-longing-eyes thing, and Rupert Grint did it really well.
Also, Emma Watson killed it. She’s really good at that trying not to cry.
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You spelled Daniel Radcliffe wrong.
My friend and I cringed a bit when he was telling the little ball of light story, but Harry saying that made it all worth it. lol And let’s not forget the gloriousness of the exchange that came right after it: “A wand?” / “Yeah. 10 inches. Nothing special.” Bahahahahaha
P.s. Where does this line begin?
Sorry, isaidwhat25, but the line begins AFTER ME. And helloooo Huckabeast! I got you something for our anniversary:
It was really good!
But they should never, ever let Harry and Hermione dance again. You’d think they would have a spell for making them better at that.
Speaking of spells they should have… Why a haicut with scissors, wizards? Amiright?
But you know who should NEVER STOP DANCING???
Rhys Ifans for the win!
Awesome!
http://pics.livejournal.com/crazyvictoria/pic/006fqwrg
I liked the version of this I saw somewhere this morning that was labelled “high-fiving a million angels”.
What, you mean those glorious five minutes where it became some sort of highbrow indie drama, complete with Nick Cave soundtrack?
Seriously, the movie was a terrific mashup of cinematic styles to match the varying moods, almost all of them great.
Highlights:
-Dry British gallows humor
-Gorgeous landscape shots made bleak by scratchy radio transmissions
-The Brazil-like bureaucratic terror of the Ministry
-The horcrux demon, which felt straight out of the Raimi playbook
Lowlights:
-Creepy overly slick naked Harry/Hermione ghosts getting it on (I picture the supervisor for the effects on this shouting “shinier! smoother! I want Ron to see his reflection in Harry’s ass, damnit!)
-The digicam quick cuts and speeded up bits in the forest chase scene (A Twilight homage? Parody? I do not know!)
Overall, let’s get to the end of this. I’ll be there at midnight, with a half-assed construction paper wizard hat, hoping for Tom Waits in the soundtrack this time (it could happen, right?)
I actually blocked out naked Harry and Hermione, thank God. Even dirty old women have standards. And “Cold, Cold Ground” really would have added to the gravitas of the Dobby burial!
Or “Green Grass”, if you’re feeling sentimental. (Basically, Tom Waits has more songs about being buried than most men have songs period, is what I’m trying to say.)
Yes to all of the above! It was cinematographically so great, it really magnified the hopelessness they were experiencing and that dancing scene was both heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. Nice job, David Yates.
One thing I didn’t like was the effect the locket had was copied straight out of Lord of the Rings in the way it was portayed. Really, whispers AND the rolly-eyes AND the mood-swings? C’mon son!
There could never be enough weird, naked kissing if you ask me. Especially if it’s between two people who you can see as 10 year olds on any given weekend on ABC Family.
I actually liked the dancing scene, but I was scarred from the naked Harry and Hermione nightmare kiss.
When ghost Harry and ghost Hermione started going at it, I leaned over to my best friend and said, “This movie just took it to a place right now,” to which she replied, “I don’t think my eyes can ever come back from that place.”
I was absolutely dying to see it, but couldn’t find a group to go with. I’m hoping to see it with my older sister who will be back in town this week for Thanksgiving break, I can’t wait!
I ended up seeing it by myself. I woke up Saturday morning with the urge to see it, so I saw the local1115am showing because it was six bucks and I am pretty broke. I’ll probably see it again with some friends soon if I end up winning the Triwizard Tournament.
So was I the only one who stayed home this weekend, drinking scotch, smoking cigars and complaining about the price to stamps to anyone who would listen?
#oldgum
No, you weren’t.
I did that too, except for when I ventured out for fixodent and wurthers originals.
What is wrong with me that this sounds like fucking shit-kicking good time?
teacherman, you have an open invitation to Casa Lloyd Wrong at any time. (Baby Friday can come too, as long as she doesn’t try to steal my dog.)
I’m stealing your dog. Count on it.
Loved it. Kind of want to see it again. That animated Deathly Hallows part was brilliant, kind of wish they do that for the entire Beedle the Bard. And was I the only one who thought the whole “naked Harry & Hermione smoke monster thing” was creepy? I guess I still look at them as kids.
Stated above, but it bears repeating:
I picture the supervisor for the effects on this shouting “shinier! smoother! I want Ron to see his reflection in Harry’s ass, damnit!”
Went for ghostly, wound up with greased? Ew, I think I’m in jail now.
I would totally go see The Tales of Beedle the Bard if it was animated thusly. Maybe it’ll be a DVD extra. And Smoke Monster Hermione reminded me of Jean Grey/Phoenix in X3. (And yes, I thought it was creepy.)
I was terrified by Bathilda Bagshot–I was peering through my fingers that whole time. And my whole theater applauded after Dobby’s speech, and then I just heard sniffles.
I’m so glad someone mentioned the Bathilda Bagshot part! It was so good, and especially fun to watch with a midnight audience. I think most people in the theater I was in had read the books because as soon as Harry and Hermione got into Godric’s Hollow everybody in the audience started to curl up into little balls and hide their faces under their hands or sweatshirts because we just knew she was going to be creepy as fuck. lol And then the first time you see her up close, when Harry’s looking at his house then she’s just there, everyone screamed. It was fantastic.
I agree about the animation, it felt very Dave McKean-y to me.
During the Harry/Hermione nightmare-kiss my best friend kept saying “SOOO awkward!” over and over again.
I hope I wasn’t the only one (along with my girlfriend) who had to contain my laughter at the shiny, naked-ghost makeout, because I was certainly the only one in the packed theater I saw it in.
Don’t worry, thedrizzle. There was a lot of mumbling and giggling during that scene in the theatre I was in – so perhaps you and your girlfriend just found your way into a theatre that finds looking at shiny naked teenagers making out to be a very normal thing.
Did the Deathly Hallows animation remind anyone else of that season 7 episode of Buffy where they explained how the First Slayer was created? Because to me it looks like fools straight ripped it off, only way way way better.
I thought it was a fantastic film! The pacing was great and the suspense level was high!
However, my favorite part was that our entire audience laughed at ALL OF THE PREVIEWS and Cowboys and Aliens had the most mockery!
#AmericanCinemaIsLame
Anyone want to talk about the Venture Bros finale, instead? Because holy shit was that a great episode (and it’s getting renewed! YAY!).
my favourite part was when i released they were all wizards (now i am through the looking glass).
Seriously naked smoke monster Harry/Hermione was a little bit too much. Although Daniel Radcliffe is totally into the nudey thing now…so maybe its accurate.
Fred (George?) walking in on Harry & Ginny kissing was a pretty great LOL moment too.
God, my nerd colors will are on full display, bc I actually remember:
It was George is missing an ear. Fred is the one who… um nevermind, if you haven’t read the books
don’t remind me
Some chick was talking about this when I left the theatre and I was like “Stop ruining the final for people who haven’t read the books!”
And then I realized I was yelling at a 14-year-old. (A 14-year-old who lacks common sense and decency.)
yea I almost felt bad about talking about *spoilers* (in front of friends who had read the books but didn’t remember the everything) but at the same time it’s been three years… you haven’t read the books yet? too bad
I thought it was pretty great, especially in terms of the acting. Those kids have really improved since the beginning of the franchise (thank GOODNESS!) And maybe I’m super lame but I basically started crying when Hermione obliviated her parents and kind-of didn’t stop for the rest of the film. SO EMOTIONAL!
That being said, I do have a pretty hard time with the differences between the books and the movies. While I understand that up through when they filmed Order of the Phoenix, the books weren’t finished so the writers, producers, etc had no way of knowing what kind of information would wind up being important later on (such as basically the majority of the things that went on in Sirius’s house, like finding the locket while they were cleaning, the backstory of Kreacher, etc, the two-way mirror that Sirius gave Harry that they randomly included in this film without ever mentioning before), I still get really frustrated with how they speed up the storytelling and just randomly try to super quickly explain things that they excluded before. And I also get annoyed with what they continue to exclude, such as the entire Dumbledore subplot from this film. They totally glossed over Grindelwald and figuring out who had the elder wand was so much more mysterious and suspenseful in the books.
Anyway, I probably should have prefaced this with a huge NERD ALERT warning because I am a big Harry Potter geek. So basically what I’m saying is that I enjoyed the movie (and actually, the parts that they added in that weren’t in the book, like showing Hermione obliviating her parents and that touching dancing scene with Harry and Hermione were pretty good additions, IMHO), but I just have to learn to take them with a grain of salt and not expect them to line up with the books. It just strikes me as so bizarre when I think about how much knowledge Book Harry has in comparison to Movie Harry, who honestly, based on what they’ve decided to exclude, is pretty damn clueless.
Also, in case it wasn’t clear by the small paper I wrote on the subject, I did go see it at midnight complete with a crimson and gold Gryffindor scarf that I knitted myself.
it’s amazing how many people at my showing had gryffindor scarves (myself included)
We didn’t have many Hogwarts students at my showing, but Neville was there, along with Trelawney, Dumbledore, Dobby, and two dragons.
I wore my Gryffindor tie to the movie. (wore it to work)
I only read this book once (ok twice), and it was many years ago now, so caveat lector. But: I think the movie did a really good job with the Hermione’s-parents problem, which was one of my main beefs with the book.
As I recall, in the book, Hermione has to be coaxed into performing a memory charm on the Death Eaters in the diner, or otherwise somehow refuses to do a memory charm on somebody, I forget. And sometime later, oops, she explains about what she did to her parents.
Now, it could have been Rowling’s intention that Hermione’s reluctance to memory-charm folks leads directly from her regret about doing it to her family. But here is the thing: these are not subtle books. Not the sort of books where somebody makes an offhand comment and you are expected to extrapolate a rich inner life from that. EVERYTHING gets talked out in these books. So the fact that Hermione’s parental memory crime is mentioned casually (and never explicitly connected with her previously-expressed distaste for memory charms) felt like a gaping hole. But in the movie, her ambivalance about the whole thing is right there on her face, and I think is depicted wonderfully.
/nerdalert
real-type nerd alert: hermione actually says that she erased her parents’ memories back at the burrow, but when they’re in the cafe with the stunned death eaters, she says she’s never erased a memory before. what gives?!
i only know this because i just re-read the book on friday. my man-friend and i went to our local midnight showing and the film reel MELTED right when shit started to get heated before ron left. i kind of bad for the people who worked at the theater because people were ripshit pissed, but at the same time, what the fuck, theater. so i re-read the book as a stop-gap measure for my harry potter blue balls, and then when we actually got to see the whole movie i couldn’t stop mentally critiquing it for not matching up.
They didn’t spend much time on the Dumbledore aspect of the book in this movie, but I’m willing to bet they’ll spend more time in the next movie, which at this point will be just Gringotts and Hogwarts stuff. Granted that’s a lot of stuff, but with two and a half hours I think they would be able to satisfyingly fit it in.
This movie was great for all the reasons everyone else listed, but man, the next movie is going to be even more great! The greatest, definitely.
Only minor complains, like the lack of Pettigrew redemption and the clunkiness of Harry announcing he’s going to bury Dobby without magic.
Big ups to Rupert Grint and Emma Watson’s smooth CG boobs.
I don’t know, I thought some of the effects were a bit cheap.
I really liked it. Maybe it’s because it’s been so long since I’ve read the books that I’ve grown out of being upset at every plotline they leave out. But this is the first film for me that didn’t have awful childhood acting, bad haircuts, or insanely creepy scenes (snape/harry mind reading stuff always looked wrong to me).
Picked up the first 36 minutes that leaked and have watched it many times since midnight thursday. love it.
I loved it. The only parts I was annoyed about being cut were the Dursely goodbye and Ron & Harry’s talk after Ron destroyed the locket.
“No, he knew you’d always want to come back.” TEARS, always.
Can we talk about Nick Cave? Because Nick Cave.
#nickcavegum
I really liked it! I’ve been having trouble articulating this but I kind of feel like I grew up with these books and movies and regardless of my age I’ve always felt like everything lines up, maturity-wise, you know?! (still having trouble, clearly). OVERALL: I like what they have done, but I probably would have liked it no matter what!
I didn’t want to deal with the crowds so I saw “Skyline” instead and HOLY HELL is it the WORST pile of shit I’ve seen in… I can’t even remember. Respectfully submitted for WMOAT.
For those of you that liked the Deathly Hallows animation (read: anyone with good taste, because oh my god you guys) the guy that directed it, Ben Hibon, also made this short film back in 2006. It’s not as full of General Grievous people as the Deathly Hallows is, but it’s still damn good.
http://www.onecoolthingaday.com/today/2010/11/22/did-you-like-the-animated-sequence-in-harry-potter-7-heres-a.html
I gave the animated sequence 9/10, with one point subtracted because one of the Hallows Bros looked distractingly like Abraham Lincoln.
Some of the action sequences left me spatially confused. But holy hell, was that one good-looking movie! The interiors! The exteriors! The costumes! And yes, the acting! I have always been a fan of the adult acting in the Potter movies, but the kids are growing on me. In particular, I have always been a non-fan of Rupert Grint, but this movie could change my mind.
Not enough Alan Rickman, though we know we’ll get some quality time with him in the next one.
I forgot to tell you guys the most important part of my experience watching this film: I, an adult, went to see this movie in Park Slope, Brooklyn, a neighborhood for children. Right behind me in the theaeter was a big family, the youngest member of which was probably +/- 18 months. This poor kid would periodically pipe up, as they are wont to do. I settled in to take it as an opportunity to practice patience–imagine being 18 months and taken to see a movie that is 2.5 hours long; that is like a serious proportion of your life right there! Or alternately, imagine being the mom whose 8-year-old is crazy nuts to go see the new Harry Potter but you’ve got to bring his little sibling along because childcare + movie tickets = prohibitively expensive. I figure, I am an adult in a matinee of a kids’ movie; this is sometimes just how it goes.
But not every adult in Park Slope sees it from my point of view, apparently. And then the kid started to cry during the Godric’s Hollow sequence. This woman sitting next to me turns and, in her outdoor voice, proclaims “Take the child outside! You’ve RUINED the entire movie!” And I was like, no, the kid ruined a small portion of the movie; YOU have now ruined the entire movie for that entire family. Sometimes I wish I had a little stash of Relax pills to hand out as needed.
You are obviously a wonderful person. That lady is not.
Thanks, but not being wonderful is the reason I have to *practice* patience. Like, really hard some days. But that lady definitely needed some Perspective Glasses to go with her Relax Pills.
Alan Rickman as Severus Snape is never not:
Not to be all insensitive to people sitting at a more balanced place on the nerd/not nerd continuum than me, BUT: can we just decide to be OK, at this point, with these movies kind of assuming that you’ve read the books? I can’t think of a series where that would be more of a safe assumption, and they’d just be kinda clunky if they had to spell everything out.
Also, hey, what do we think the chances are of Pettigrew going out like he did in the book? I was a little bummed that that got skipped.
My Potter buddy is a huge nerd, huge Potter fan, but not a super good reader. He has never read even one of the books! So when we see one of the movies, I accept that my role is to explain things afterwards that he didn’t understand. And that his response is going to be “They should have made that more clear!” To which my response will be “The movie is already three hours long; how much clearer could they be?”
Point: it is likely that the distinct minority of people seeing these movies who have not read the books definitely have a friend who has and can fill them in.
Right? As I was listening to the most recent mugglenet podcast (Nerd alert!), they kept talking about how things wouldn’t be clear for someone who isn’t a FAN fan, and I came to the realization that FUCK YOU IF YOU ARE OLD ENOUGH TO READ AND DON’T READ THE BOOKS. What on earth! How could you not read the books, then go see the movies and think to yourself, “Yep. I’ve had my fill. I’m not curious enough to go home and read all the books one after another with only bathroom and food breaks.” So yes. I am definitely okay at this point with the movies assuming you have background information on the characters, story, etc.
Having not yet seen Deathly Hallows Part 1 (my boyfriend and I are waiting until right before the release of Part 2, then we will marathon all 7 movies like true nerds, cause that’s more fun, and I basically forget everything that’s happened, besides, well, WE ARE WIZARDS), I am having some interesting expectations based on all these fine comments.
Particularly naked ghosts.
#excitedgum
Harry Potter movies may not be the best or most accurate to their source material, but these days you have to go see the new ones just because this is a story that has taken 10 years to tell in film. It’s a pretty amazing event really. Hurrah for not being disenfranchised or bitter about something in the entertainment industry despite their brash awfulness!
I geeked out all of last week re-reading the last book and talking to anybody who would listen about the intricacies of HORCRUXES. Then i rounded up 11 people and forced them all to buy advanced tickets and come with my to the release. Perhaps my love of the series blinds me, but i thought the film was fantastic, the best yet probably. They really took their time showing the good parts of the first half of the book since they didn’t have to squeeze everything into 2 hours this time. The actings gotten to be a lot less mechanical and the entire tone has matured just as it did in the seventh book. And Alexander Despat made a phenomenal soundtrack.
The Harry-Hermione make out scene was pretty surreal, also LOL on emma watsons CGI’ed side boob. I was actually really impressed with the 3 actors that the trio transformed into at the ministry, especially the guy who played Harry. Also, the Nick Cave song they just threw in where Radcliffe gets to awkward dance with Emma? That sort of sealed the deal for me.
Yup. im probably going to spend the next month re-reading all the books, sobbing over how part 2 will be the END for real and get drunk on Heineken while telling myself its butterbeer and ultimately be a mess by the time July rolls around.
Ugh, I can’t believe I came late to the thread where we were actually prompted to talk about Harry Potter (which is literally the only thing I want to talk about for the rest of my life).
In other news, Hot Neville At the Premiere is now my facebook profile picture because of how he is hot now. And yes, I’m an adult woman. (And since I mentioned a Videogum dating site, I’m now understanding why it is that I’m single…)
I loved the half-second of screen time Neville got. My roommate gave me this knowing look, as if all I had been talking about the whole hour before the movie was how cute these boys have gotten over the past nine years. I don’t know what she was trying to say.
“Hey losers, they’re not here.” Stop being the BEST, Neville. (Now that I read his quote over, it’s clear he was talking to us.)
I don’t know about hot, but I was thinking that Neville Longbottom shares many qualities with my fantasy husband–unassuming demeanor belying balls of steel, does the right thing without expecting a medal, loves plants. Can I join you on the Videogum dating site? “Nerd seeks fictional character.”
You don’t know about hot?
(I don’t actually know how to add images because I’ve apparently been too busy reading books like a nerd, but do me a favor and LOOK AT HIM. Just…look at him. Even if it means copy and pasting.)
I did it! I did it! And now Neville will own this thread! King Neville! (I should put myself to bed.)
I’m sorry, but I’ve already called Neville as my forever boyfriend (no pedo), and I did it way back in the or 5th book BEFORE he got hot, so it’s true love.
I came late too, whyareyouyelling. I’m so ashamed! But in other news, while everyone was here discussing the film with random online people, I was at Peter Piper Pizza almost crying with my friend in real life as we talked about Harry Potter and how much we love it. I truly think I need help.
But hey guys, here are my thoughts, because everyone cares and this is important. I loved the movie so much and I am finally okay with things being left out because I know the back stories for everyone and I don’t care if lazy bums who don’t read the books don’t know what’s happening. And also, Harry and Hermione dancing was my favorite thing I’ve ever seen. Least favorite thing I’ve ever seen: Harry and Hermione in silver paint and making out INTENSELY. I just threw up typing that. i wonder how tall the platform was that Harry had to stand on so it didn’t look like Hermione was kissing a child.
Loudashope, I definitely left a comment in the last Monsters Ball about how I want to be friends because you also want to beat up teenagers (basically). I’m clearly stalking you because I think we need to start an East to West Coast Videogum Harry Potter Coalition.
Ok, about the dancing. I have to admit that when I was watching the movie, I raised my hands and looked at my friend and we mouthed, “WHAT IS HAPPENING?” But, upon reflection, I decided that it was a great artistic decision. First of all, it kind of shows how the stakes have changed a bit and how they’re adults now. There’s tension, there are feelings, and sometimes, there is dancing. (Also, what a great song.) As far as the nudity–that was a very odd moment (a very long, odd moment) but I think it was meant to show just how evil Voldemort is (and also the adulthood thing I mentioned). I mean, I don’t know about you, but this movie made me want to pee my pants, and I think that’s because it really stepped up the realistic factor–he feels like a real threat just like in the book. So I didn’t like it but I get it, I guess.
I actually thought this movie was most true to the book. Even though it will be torture waiting for the last, I’m so glad they will be covering as much as possible by splitting it up.
OOPS I just saw it! Yes, let’s definitely be friends forever. I don’t think friendships need anything more than a mutual love for Harry Potter, but I do have some bad news for you. I am only 19 so technically, you want to beat me up. Yikes! I’m sorry I hid this from you, but now that we are best friends, I figured you should know.
I did literally the exact same thing when they were dancing – hands up and asking “What is going on? Is this really happening?”, but then when Harry did the first little dance step I think I started immediately crying. The song was so so good. I think if it had been playing during their kiss, I wouldn’t have found it weird even (jk yes I would have)! But looking back on it, I also sort of really liked that they made you think Harry and Hermione were going to DO IT because there was a moment where they could have, and turning to each other out of loneliness/for comfort could have been a real possibility, and it looked like they were considering it at the end, BUT the fact that they didn’t solidified Hermione’s love for Ron and both of their devotion to him as a friend, which I thought was a very good thing to include in the movie because so many people who haven’t read the book expect it to happen. “Did Harry and Hermione start dating yet?” – My mom. And I definitely do see what they were doing with the kiss, and it was basically just a very very sexual embellishment of what happened in the book (they kissed in the book too, right? I’m like, 99% sure), but it was the whole seeing it with my own two eyes that really made me barf.
…I think about Harry Potter a lot. I’ll show myself out.
Ok I’m way too excited about this discussion and need to RELAX. Anyway, I can’t believe you hid your true identity from me, but at the same time, you should know by “teenagers,” I mostly meant young people who were NOT taking the movie seriously enough. You obviously do not fall into this category. I guess, if anything, I should be ashamed that I go and wait in premiere lines and then yell “GET OFF MY LAWN!! Also, where did you get that wand?”
I’m glad we agree about the dancing and the nudie kissing–I’d hate for the Coalition to be divided on this. I think maybe it was disturbing because they have been more or less asexual throughout. (Plus, Daniel Radcliffe’s sexuality in general confuses the fuck out of me. Did I mention that I saw him naked in Equus? And then stood in a line afterward too? Because I’m an adult and that’s what adults do.) I guess it’s very clear in the book that Harry and Hermione are friends (and more like siblings), and I think that’s why die-hard fans feel so resistant to any HINT of anything else. (We are HP fundamentalists.) But the dancing scene was very Un-Harry-Potter-Movie and I think that’s why I loved (but was confused by) it.
Yes, I think I’ve been very clear about just how seriously I take Harry Potter. Maybe TOO CLEAR. And no no no, you should never be ashamed of anything, ever, especially not your love for Harry!
Is it weird that I’m jealous you saw him naked in real life? I only saw a grainy camera phone picture, but you better fucking bet I hunted that down. Also can we skip the Chris Hansen talk since he’s older than me? This is when the benefits of being a child make themselves known. And yes, I agree about the dance scene. It’s very awkward to watch a scene that implies something that goes against an absolute truth, but I still think it was effective and I want to own that clip on a DVD and watch it every morning when I wake up.
I want to continue this conversation (it’s so rare to find someone who GETS IT), so my next question: How did you feel about Dobby’s death? OKAY SINCE YOU ASKED, I WILL TELL YOU MY OPINION. I thought it was very very good and authentic and touching for book fans, but very very weird and out of nowhere and confusing for non book readers (they still exist? weird). Obviously I care very little about their thoughts, feelings, and opinions, so I ultimately loved it and wept like the child that I am. Also, he looked so good while he died. Up until that point he looked sort of strange and very animationy (duh) to me, but when he was dying he looked so real. So sad. RIP.
I’m super late to this thread and only signed up to comment on vgum (been reading forever) because of the HP7a thread. I humbly submit my application to join the Coalition and loudly proclaim my undying love for Ron, Whyareyouyelling, so Neville is all yours!
That being said I totally agree with you guys on the dancing, I thought I was the only one who initially had the “WHAT IS THIS?” moment to find out that my more rational post-HP thinking self loved it. My friend just kept squealing “Nick Cave, Nick Cave” so I don’t think she actually was watching the movie at that moment.
I made a conscious effort to not re-read the book because I did that before HP6 and I HATED HP6 which mostly came from me going, that didn’t happen! That’s not right? Really you’re going to burn down the burrows before they spend a quarter of the next book hiding out there really? So yeah, I decided against repeating that mistake, which was a mistake because I think this was a GREAT movie and very faithful (as much as a movie could be) to the book.
And yes, Chris Hansen tapped me on the shoulder and escorted me out of the theater during the Harry/Hermione kissing scene, hey dude I’m only 3 years older than them, this is my generation I screamed, who’s going to comfort Ron! The cops didn’t care and cuffed me anyway.
essay over, thanks for reading. Love you all
I loved all this HP talk! All you guys are ace.
I hate when the thread stops having reply buttons. Why is it punishing us? (I get why it’s punishing us.) In response to the new HP pals, you can all join the coalition (because the coalition is obviously something I made up last night and is therefore ready to expand). Maybe we can take this elsewhere where there is an infinite number of reply buttons and we can talk about HP forever. (Yikes. Sorry. But also, can we?)
Loudashope: You know I loved the Dobby scene. As much as someone can love something that RIPS THEIR HEART OUT. I love that the movie didn’t sweep over it and was like, “Oh yeah. He’s digging a grave. This is momentous.” Also, at your premiere, did everyone squeal and clap every single time Dobby showed up? It was lovely. And like you, I have absolutely no interest in the opinions of people who didn’t read the books because COME ON, read a book, you people. It’s so weird how some go to every movie but won’t even try the books–this isn’t Lord of the Rings, just read them. I have members of my family who started them but never finished. After, like, book 6. This just baffles me. READ IT FEVERISHLY IN ONE NIGHT AFTER WAITING IN LINE FOR IT or it didn’t happen.
Even though Hedwig was given less time in the movie, I still cried. I know this is weird, but I have a one-year-old dog, so when Hedwig and then Dobby died, it felt like they were my dog. (Is that weird? Am I typing this on a public forum?) I think the scene that got me emotional though I wouldn’t have expected it was Hermione being tortured by Bellatrix (and also seeing the sexual threat of the snatchers). Like I said previously, the violence and fear felt so real in this one. (I’m pretty sure I’m having nightmares about Bathilda every single night.)
Potterologist: I actually just reread the series recently and then watched the movies. I used to be able to separate them and not get so upset, but having everything so fresh in my mind, I found I didn’t enjoy the 5th and 6th as much because they were so off path. That’s how I know the 7th was good because I wasn’t thinking about the glaring differences–they were mostly minor things and the integrity of the story was there. Agreed about the burrows–and I love when in the beginning of the 7th, they’re like, “Erm, this is Bill…? Have we not mentioned him before…? He likes his meat rare…?”
I guess I’m replying to myself, because it’s a reply button recession too, the economy effects EVERYONE you guys, even reply buttons. Yes, no patience for people who haven’t read the books then complain that things aren’t clear..really, HP was assigned reading for me in COLLEGE, they’re a real thing. Whyareyouyelling: not only read it feverishly the night after the book is released, but grab unsuspecting strangers the next day who are still reading (what, did you sleep? there’s no taking your time on this!) and make them discuss the book while it’s still fresh in their mind and they’re looking at you wide eyed and terrified.
Everyone in my theater clapped everytime Dobby came on screen and then I did that ugly uncontrollable heaving cry when he did, WE’RE SUPPOSED TO TAKE CHILDREN TO THIS???
I lol’d at the intro of Bill too, not only did they introduce him but then I was thinking about how I had to explain like 6 times to my friends that the guy that helped Bellatrix burn down the Burrows (WHY???) was Greyback because if you go back an watch 6 they NEVER say his name, then Bill’s like Greyback bit me, who? Read the books!!! Lol. That’s it I’m quitting my real life and committing myself to talking about this movie, wonder what the 401K is for this glorious career.
I know, the commenting section on this site is very weird. You would think that a site that relies very heavily on the commenting would have a better system? Like where we could be friends? And talk forever without feeling annoying on the thread because NO MORE REPLY BUTTONS, which obviously means the conversation should be over at this point. Forget it Jake, it’s Videogumtown. I’m not sure where we could move this coalition to, but if you have any suggestions, I would be happy to comply!
Yes, everyone in my theater was cheering for him during his speech too! It was so powerful. That’s one of the things I love about the midnight premieres – everyone is so happy and open about their happiness because there is inevitably someone there much creepier and nerdier than you. And holy shit, yes. I haven’t even mentioned the people who read some of the books and then stop. HOW COULD YOU POSSIBLY DO THAT? Especially when they stop after the fifth or sixth, when everything comes together and you realize the complexity of the world. Ugh. It’s so weird. I have no patience for non-readers.
Hedwig’s death was very sad and that comparison to your dog is very apt, because my dog I’ve had since I was six just died like, a week or so ago. Yikes. But so, yes, it was very much like that feeling. I could definitely relate to that death a lot and it was very very sad. (This is awkward now, right? Whoops. Whatever.) Hermione being tortured was so incredibly intense, I felt so uncomfortable. It was slightly hard to watch. I don’t remember where (I’ve watched/listened to way too many Harry Potter interviews recently), but it was mentioned that that scene was shortened for the film and that the extended scene would be on the DVD which nnnNNNnnnNNNnnnNNNNNnNnN I can’t wait. Also: Bathilda, woof! I have nightmares from just reading that (jk?) so seeing it was so spooky! Even if the movies leave out things I would love to see on screen, they always manage to pluck scenes out of my head, because everything (with a few exceptions – I’m looking at you, prefect’s bathroom in the Goblet of Fire) looks exactly like I imagined it when reading. It’s insane.
I am so glad we have more members in the coalition now! We are so popular. Potterologist: I didn’t read the book before this movie either, for the same reason! Honestly, why did they burn down the burrow? I mean, I get what you were going for, but no. I am rereading it now though and so far I haven’t been disappointed by the movie. I’ve read this book way too many times, because it’s my favorite, so I had a pretty clear remembrance of it without seeing the movie and I still wasn’t disappointed. I understand the things they left out, and I’m okay with it. I’m more worried about the things they’ve left out in previous movies, though (No Kreacher back story, no Snape/Lily back story, etc.)
……THIS WAS TOO LONG. GOODBYE.
Ok guys, I have a lot more things to say re: my main problem with the 6th movie and the missing pieces of the 7th (and also general HP nerdery that I am more than willing to explore). So how should we continue (if you do indeed want to and aren’t just appeasing me because I’m clearly [CLEARLY] insane)? An option: a gmail conversation because those can go on forever and ever. I’m pretty sure no one is reading this but us losers so I don’t really have a problem putting my email out there if you guys want to email me with yours. ANOTHER option: I have a blog (of course I do) which can be found on my Vgum profile; I haven’t really written much lately but I could put up a post about HP and we could comment on that every day until we die. Actually, my email is found through there too. Thoughts? Feelings?
email seems great because then we can be alerted when the conversation continues and not have to keep coming back to this page. I’m a bit nervous because my email is my name, but what the who, if someone is scrolling this far down to steal my identity, congrats! you’ve earned it!
email: robyn.jordan08@yahoo.com
I’m so down to continue this convo off site, I vote email since I like being alerted when someone has responded and I’m feeling increasingly nerdy checking this thread all the time.
i’m kind of iffy about including my email on here because it’s my full name, but i figure if someone has searched through the vgum comments to steal my identity, they earned it. Way to put in the work!
email: robyn.jordan08@yahoo.com
Ummmmm I’m replying on this one because it’s the only one left with a button!!!
Can I just say that I’m loving this conversation (and add me to this list of people who only made a vgum account so they could leave this comment…)??!!
My friends totally bailed on me for the midnight movie which led to a horribly annoying situation in which I saw it today with other friends who had already seen it (because WHO HASN’T?)…so every time I would look at them expecting them to be surprised/scared/flipping shit, they would just be laughing. Ok, I understand laughing during the makeout scene (at least after it was still happening after 10+ seconds), but LAUGHING WHILE DOBBY IS DYING?! Unacceptable…I literally pulled my friend’s ear until he screamed (then hit him for good measure). It’s probably also unacceptable that I resort to violence in the face of people who aren’t SIRIUS (I changed the spelling of that three times, but you guys can’t actually make fun of me for leaving it this way!) abut HP.
Also RE: Dobby…the thing that bugged me the most about the entire movie was that they didn’t show his freaking headstone: “Here lies Dobby: A Free Elf,” because that’s the greatest thing ever (and the thing that totally made me sob when I read the book).
Also it’s 4:15 AM and I’m reading/adding to a HP discussion comment thread…awesome.
And I’m marrying Neville.
Ummmmm I’m replying on this one because it’s the only one left with a button!!!
Can I just say that I’m loving this conversation (and add me to this list of people who only made a vgum account so they could leave this comment…)??!!
My friends totally bailed on me for the midnight movie which led to a horribly annoying situation in which I saw it today with other friends who had already seen it (because WHO HASN’T?)…so every time I would look at them expecting them to be surprised/scared/flipping shit, they would just be laughing. Ok, I understand laughing during the makeout scene (at least after it was still happening after 10+ seconds), but LAUGHING WHILE DOBBY IS DYING?! Unacceptable…I literally pulled my friend’s ear until he screamed (then hit him for good measure). It’s probably also unacceptable that I resort to violence in the face of people who aren’t SIRIUS (I changed the spelling of that three times, but you guys can’t actually make fun of me for leaving it this way!) abut HP.
Also RE: Dobby…the thing that bugged me the most about the entire movie was that they didn’t show his freaking headstone: “Here lies Dobby: A Free Elf,” because that’s the greatest thing ever (and the thing that totally made me sob when I read the book).
Finally, Sorry I’m so confusing with my comment name change…this comment system is indeed weird.
is there an offsite HP discussion happening right this minute? WHEREVER this is through WHATEVER MEDIUM, please include me.
street_riot@hotmail.com (laugh it up kids, i made the email in highschool, when i was obviously a rioter).
obviously i am too late for even the off-site discussion but in reply to loudshope:
I understand the things they left out, and I’m okay with it. I’m more worried about the things they’ve left out in previous movies, though (No Kreacher back story, no Snape/Lily back story, etc.)
i think about this WAY too much. some random spring day, i’ll be at work and i’ll think, WHY, why did they not talk about the gaunt family in HP6. oh well, SURELY they’ll have enough time since the next book is split into TWO movies.
but no. and then all those people who only watch the movies will never truly appreciate the depth of harry potter.
awee man i want to be a part of the coalition. you guys look like your having so much fun DISCUSSING hp. and theres actually nothing better than DISCUSSING hp.
I laughed really hard when the lead Snatcher said “Don’t just ‘ang about! Snatch ‘em!”
I mean you wouldn’t want anyone to forget why you’re called Snatchers.
Gotta snatch them all.
Am I alone in thinking Lucius Malfoy was channeling Sad Don Draper in the scene where Voldemort commandeers his wand?
I’ve already been laughed at for this observation, but it’s totally there!
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what.
Every time I see this, I laugh. Also, why haven’t you joined the coalition yet?
Wait wait, where is this? I missed out on this coalition and no one I know cares to listen to me talk about Harry Potter anymore… “So remember in book 4 when he cuts off his hand and then Voldemort gives him another one? A shiny silver one? And you know how in book 3, when he morphed from Scabbers, Harry stops Sirius and Remus from killing him? So then they fight in the last one and Harry is like ‘WTF BRO, YOU OWE ME!’ and he hesitates for a second, and then his OWN HAND turns on him and CLUTCHES HIS THROAT! Voldemort hand kills him for insolence! And they didn’t include it in the movie! Isn’t that crazy?”
“You’re crazy.”
Can I join in the discussion?
Hi! Come join! My email is lms847 on gmail. Or leave yours here and I’ll find you. We’re just emailing back and forth for now.
oh what i got a coalition INVITE? I’m in. can we have nicknames? can i be Sirius Awesome.
We went to see it in IMAX (6 stories high screen is the way to go)
true story – when the movie began and it goes through that long loud screechy fly through the WB logo the dude next to me sneezed so loud at the exact moment that bill nighy’s (2 story) giant eyes showed up on screen that everyone in the theatre both jumped and immediately started laughing though the seriousgum “these are dark times” speech
It was a nice theatre bonding moment
So I’m a little late to this party, but was it just me, or were Ginny and Hermione ALL about looking really, really ridiculously good looking and stuff?
This movie was significantly different than the first one.
Remember how shitty the CG was in that movie? Compare that cartoonish troll to the sad scene at the end of HP 7 with Dobby.
Also, nothing really happens in this movie, if you really think about it, but it was still considerably engaging.
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He’s dead.
Snape killed him.
Or did you not see him lying dead in his tomb?
Asshole….
#notreallyseriousbutkindofgum
we’re talking about Harry Potter people, no need for name calling.