imaginarycircus: (Default)
imaginarycircus ([personal profile] imaginarycircus) wrote2007-07-14 01:46 pm

OotP

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?

[identity profile] cosmorific.livejournal.com 2007-07-15 08:56 am (UTC)(link)
Imelda Staunton NAILED that part, man. It would have been beautiful to watch if Umbridge hadn't been so evil.

I also adore the girl who played Luna. ADORE I SAY.

[identity profile] imaginarycircus.livejournal.com 2007-07-15 04:17 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh my good lord. LUNA was brilliant. Did you read the NY Times review? They loved her too. Apparently the actress was a huge fan of the books and decided that she was the best person to play Luna. She auditioned and was right!

[identity profile] cosmorific.livejournal.com 2007-07-15 05:14 pm (UTC)(link)
Really? That is FANTASTIC. Go her!

[identity profile] imaginarycircus.livejournal.com 2007-07-16 12:59 am (UTC)(link)
Seriously. She was spot on. Her line delivery? Amazing.

[identity profile] cosmorific.livejournal.com 2007-07-16 01:09 am (UTC)(link)
Even her "Hem, hem!"s were perfect.

[identity profile] imaginarycircus.livejournal.com 2007-07-16 01:26 am (UTC)(link)
Hee! I meant Luna and was very confused for a second. Yes, Umbridge was probably the best in the whole damn film.

[identity profile] cosmorific.livejournal.com 2007-07-16 01:55 am (UTC)(link)
Oh! Sorry, I think I also got confused. But Luna's skipping was adorable.

[identity profile] piperki.livejournal.com 2007-07-15 09:33 pm (UTC)(link)
ITA, she was perfect.

[identity profile] imaginarycircus.livejournal.com 2007-07-16 12:58 am (UTC)(link)
the skipping! :D

You know while 90% of fandom identifies with Hermione - I identify with Luna. I was totally made fun of for being day dreamy and spacey as a kid. Unlike her I cared and got upset that other people thought I was weird. Until I was about 15 and decided that it was dumb and I would be as weird as I wanted and everyone else could take a flying leap. Harrumph.

[identity profile] piperki.livejournal.com 2007-07-15 09:33 pm (UTC)(link)
Several times while I was watching, I thought I can't wait to get this on DVD so I can pause and look at the sets!

[identity profile] imaginarycircus.livejournal.com 2007-07-16 01:01 am (UTC)(link)
YES! And I am hoping there is a longer version of the flashback scene with young Snape and James. I want to see young Lupin and Black! And Lily!

I hope someday someone makes a series out of these books. In like 10 parts for each book - so that all the details can get in. Well, more of the details anyway.

[identity profile] piperki.livejournal.com 2007-07-16 01:51 am (UTC)(link)
Hey, in canon does Sirius say "Good shot, James" during the big fight at the end right before he dies? I should go look that up...

I was dizzy after watching that whole thing though and Moe had a headache! I'm glad it wasn't an IMAX show.

[identity profile] imaginarycircus.livejournal.com 2007-07-16 01:56 am (UTC)(link)
No, he doesn't. I just read that this morning. I think they threw it in the film there because it emphasized the recurring thing in the book. Mrs. Weasley and Hermione both say that Sirius is treating Harry like he is James.

I felt it in my chest when Gary Oldman said it. OUCH.

[identity profile] piperki.livejournal.com 2007-07-16 02:26 am (UTC)(link)
I just thought wow, they compressed a lot of backstory into one little bit of dialogue.

[identity profile] imaginarycircus.livejournal.com 2007-07-16 02:32 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah, I thought it was kind of brilliant though. Because I felt it more deeply than I did in the book - except when Sirius says you aren't as much like your father as I thought when he is in the fire that is pretty OW! Especially because he said that in front of Ron and Hermione.

And man Grawp in the movie annoyed me much less than book Grawp.

[identity profile] piperki.livejournal.com 2007-07-16 02:36 am (UTC)(link)
All Grawp is annoying. I was glad movie Grawp was on screen for a mercifully short interval. The Scholar agrees that giants had better have some kind of minor but vital part in the final chapter or else why the hell did we all waste our time on that...

The utter lack of Draco was kind of weird, though. Was he even visible for more than 60 seconds altogether?

[identity profile] imaginarycircus.livejournal.com 2007-07-16 02:38 am (UTC)(link)
There was very little Draco. And also Ron didn't say much at all?!

[identity profile] piperki.livejournal.com 2007-07-16 02:42 am (UTC)(link)
Yes, but I thought Ron was a lot less the goofy foil for Teh Starz this time. They seemed to use his appearances more wisely. I mean, there wasn't much Snape time either but again, enough to get all of the important Snape stuff in.

[identity profile] imaginarycircus.livejournal.com 2007-07-16 02:44 am (UTC)(link)
The Umbridge Snape scene was ELECTRIC. OMG! I punched David. I was so excited.

[identity profile] piperki.livejournal.com 2007-07-16 02:47 am (UTC)(link)
[livejournal.com profile] katrionaa and I were laughing.

Lots of times we were the only ones laughing...I think we annoyed people. Yay!

[identity profile] imaginarycircus.livejournal.com 2007-07-16 02:51 am (UTC)(link)
I laughed several times and was the only one laughing. When Lupin popped up behind Sirius I cracked up! :D

But there were only like 25-30 people in our ghetto theatre.