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Post by Test Card Girl on Jul 24, 2007 23:38:24 GMT 10
WOW!!!!! I love David Yates. He was responsible for two amazing TV minniseries - State of Play and Sex Traffic both of which are characterised by edgy grim suspense and OttP has got this in spades. The opening sequence was very well done with the weather suddenly changing and the truly spooky scene with the Dementors in the tunnel. It set the whole atmosphere of the film very well. Not a lot of joy in this one. Not the usual breathless joyful excitement setting off on the train to Hogwarts. I liked the claustraphobic way David Yates filmed Harry's nightmares with all those close up shots of the skin of his face and neck. Added to the tension. And don't you love Imelda Staunton as Umbridge? Scary. I especially loved the scene with her standing in front of the swinging pendulum. Brought back ghastly memories of exams. The teenage actors have grown - both physically and in their acting. Loved Dudley. Neville was good. The twins were good. For the sake of the series I'm glad Percy got some screen time although he didn't say anything. Luna was spot on. The final battle sequences were brilliant. Great special effects. The soundtrack was brilliant. Very atmospheric and not as showy as John Williams. I'm going to have to watch it again.
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Raven
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Post by Raven on Jul 24, 2007 23:54:21 GMT 10
It grew on me actually. The first time I saw it I was a bit... "Eh?" - the 2nd time I was still "eh" but more "ooooh". And the 3rd time, I was thinking "COOOOOL" I think it helped also that I bought the soundtrack and I've been listening to it a lot, and relating the music back to scenes in the film - it really is brilliant - similar to the brilliance of the Goblet of Fire ST.
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4213
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Post by 4213 on Jul 25, 2007 20:34:21 GMT 10
I loved it.
I think Imelda was brilliant. I love the cats on the plates, I must admit I found her character a little ripped off from Dahl 'The Witches' but no she was great to watch.
Luna was lovely. I especially liked the concept of those touched by death could see other frequencies. A lot of subliminal messages in her writing.
So lovely to see Bohnham Carter and Fiennes in the final shots, great villains. I really did enjoy the kids against the adults in this. I'm sure as a kid that was great to watch too.
Thoroughly enjoyable, the darkness is truly showing more now than the lighter earlier films.
Those dementors freak me out!
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Meg
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Post by Meg on Jul 25, 2007 20:57:52 GMT 10
My youngest son loved it. He's now waiting for my daughter to finish Deathly Hallows so he can find out what happens next. This is major. I can't remember the last time he read a book that wasn't for school.
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Post by Test Card Girl on Jul 26, 2007 10:52:16 GMT 10
I also like the way the memory sequences were done. Wonderful to see how Yates used footage from previous films and to compare baby-faced Daniel Radcliffe from the first film to now! I also liked how the scene where James Potter led his friends to bully Snape echoed Dudley leading his friends bullying Harry.
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4213
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Post by 4213 on Jul 26, 2007 19:28:37 GMT 10
Ah yes I suppose we have tended to think James was holier than thou, but that gave an insight into Snape a lot more.
My word though what about Richard Griffiths weight! My goodness. I loved him in Withnail *smiles*
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Post by Test Card Girl on Jul 26, 2007 21:02:24 GMT 10
I suspect a lot of that was padding with RG. I loved how Vernon had let himself go really - eating ice-cream straight from the fridge like that with an enormous gut. RG was also good in A Private Function - which also starred the wonderful Maggie Smith and Michael Palin - written by Alan Bennett. I am an Alan Bennett TRAGIC but didn't quite get into The History Boys.
Loved the King Kong and the Matrix references. I suppose its trendy to have pop culture references nowadays and I love them myself - makes you feel you get the in-joke with the filmmakers.
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Raven
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Post by Raven on Jul 27, 2007 21:03:03 GMT 10
I also like the way the memory sequences were done. Wonderful to see how Yates used footage from previous films and to compare baby-faced Daniel Radcliffe from the first film to now! I also liked how the scene where James Potter led his friends to bully Snape echoed Dudley leading his friends bullying Harry. I would have preferred that part to be more like the book to be honest. Also, Lily was cut, which is a right shame...
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Post by Test Card Girl on Jul 29, 2007 9:40:23 GMT 10
Yes! I was disappointed with that as well, considering how important that scene is to Snape's overall story. Watching PoA again, it was interesting watching that bridge scene between Lupin and Harry that was in the film and not in the book - where Lupin talks about Harry's parents and especially about Lily's character and I remember reading somewhere that Rowling was very specific about that scene when discussing it with the screenwriter. I'm sure Rowling must have worked out all of Snape's story right from the start.
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Raven
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Post by Raven on Jul 29, 2007 19:39:48 GMT 10
Yep... I heard ages ago that she spoke to Alan Rickman about Snape as well - I wonder if she told him about the character's history and future?
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Post by Test Card Girl on Jul 30, 2007 11:36:01 GMT 10
Alan Rickman plays Snape so well. I really can't imagine Snape in any other way. I wouldn't be surprised if Rowling did tell Snape something about his character and why he hates Harry and his father so much. I found it very interesting going back and reading various Snape/Harry scenes throughout the whole series knowing what we know now about Snape. And the scene at the end of PoA when Snape confronts Sirius in the Shrieking Shack considering at that point Snape still thinks it was Sirius who was responsible for the Potters' deaths. haha, yeah I know.. I'm a nerd.
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Raven
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Post by Raven on Jul 30, 2007 15:45:50 GMT 10
Haah I didn't think of that... I might have to re-read that book as well.
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