imaginarycircus

I'll keep this vague so as not to spoil other stragglers.

We (finally!) went to see OotP last night at the 11pm showing at our local ghetto theatre. There were maybe 30 people in the audience. We sat in front of some very loud people, one of whom did a play by play commentary and then dropped his extra large jumbo soda and I was so grateful we were not directly in front of him because I was wearing flip flops and a long skirt. There was also someone two rows in front who kept using her cell phone and the light was so bright it was distracting. Also someone brought their 2 year old. The two year old was actually the best behaved - or perhaps they left? Who knows.

I really liked the movie. A lot. The performances were brilliant - Gary Oldman, Imelda Staunton, blew me away, even Dan Radcliffe was very good in this one. The directing and writing was good. And the editing and sets blew me away. They made so many clever choices. I wish all the films had been like this from the start - smart and challenging. My only real complaint was that the pace was so quick and breathless that we almost never had a moment to linger, to stare at the sets, the characters. I don't think an extra five seconds here and there would have made the film lag at all. The moments in which the film diverged from the book felt uncomfortable as they were happening, because I wanted the film to be the book. And I realize that is not fair or realistic. After I considered those moments I think the writer and director made smart choices that kept the story moving, kept the conflict high. I need to see it again without the play by play or the chick landing a plane with her cell phone.

Neville! <3's but where was Trevor?! Did I miss him?