My review of OOTP - Page 5

[Finch]

Originally Posted by jeca

Hey speak for yourself.

Oh alright I'll be a uber geek when it comes to HP.

hey speaking of which this guy told me one day when he found out I was a HP geek that i don't look like I would read Harry Potter, what the hell does that mean?

Snort. He probably meant you are attractive and don't appear to be an uber geek...you know, the general fantasy fiction fan stereotype....like Trekkies.



: :

[Viriditas]

I saw the midnight showing with my mom. I'm seeing it again with dh tonight.

I have to admit, I was disappointed. I LOVED Luna, really liked Umbridge, and I liked the DA scenes. Overall I thought it was so disjointed and choppy, and kind of tedious. And I went in with spoilers about what they had cut, so I was prepared.

I'm hoping I'll warm up to it tonight. With the others I was initially disappointed, too, but once I got over the initial shock at seeing the books mutilated, I liked the movies more. Maybe that will happen this time, too.

I especially liked the last scene with Harry and Luna (as well as the other Harry-Luna scenes), detention with Umbridge, and even though I didn't like the look of grawp too much, I like what they did in the first scene with him.

Oh, yes, and the line they created for Harry in the forest with Umbridge. That got a HUGE cheer from my audience.

I didn't mind most of what they cut, but I was really looking forward to Snape's worst memory, and I was really bummed it was cut so short.

[Plady]

Argh, I was SO disappointed!!!! I cannot believe how generally good the reviews have been! I can completely understand leaving out small details and noncritical subplots to keep the time shorter but honestly, the people who are flocking to see this are mainly fans of the books and people they drag with them, they aren't going to complain that they get an extra hour for their money! The whole movie felt like the Cliff Notes version. The most important info was packed in haphazardly and often out of order and it just lacked so much richness and depth that the book had. The books will certainly create a new audience for the movie but this movie is not going to inspire any new readers of the book.

Originally Posted by gealach

But, I do really hate it when they add things. The very long, overly dramatic "action-packed" dragon-chasing-Harry scene in GOF, for example. In the book, that scene was all of 3 or 4 pages and not that dramatic.

ITA! Even if they can't play a scene out fully it would be nice to get some mention of things they otherwise cut.

Originally Posted by moonfirefaery

I hated it. Many characters, even big ones, had almost no role at all. They didn't even introduce the new characters.

Yeah! Poor Ron! He had virtually no part and this was supposed to be the plotline where he actually has some of his own successes!

Originally Posted by KaraBoo

Hmmm, not dark enough? This makes me sad. And isn't this director coming back for the next film? Not a good sign.
Can someone spoiler the scariest bits for me?

Yeah, I'm bummed that this director is coming back. It was definitely my least favorite of the movies. Nothing was very scary in this movie.

Warning :: Spoiler Ahead! Highlight to read message!

---

They didn't go anywhere in the DOM except that hall of Prophecies and the arch room, so no time-turners and no floating brains. Hermione was not injured at all, let alone badly enough to wonder if she was alive, Neville wasn't hurt, Ron wasn't attacked. The dementor scene wasn't any scarier than anything in POA. And that was it for anything remotely scary. The 'big' battle with LV at the end was pretty dull. Grawp was cuter than pie, not scary. The centaurs were only these shadowy figures, not scary. They didn't show Umbridge and her gang go after Hagrid, set his hut on fire and attack McGonagall. They didn't even give a split second to show how scary it would be to ride a thestral for the kids who couldn't see them! I mean, how hard would it be to have Hermione scream? And I think it was a real mistake to have Umbridge sigh about how she hates children but not to explain that it was she that ordered the dementor attack!

---

Originally Posted by mummyto3girls

But seriously, this can't be worst than GOF, right???

Oh and can someone please spoil me, how much screen time Sirius has?? is his death distrubing???

This IMHO is worse, because whereas they cut out a lot of detail in GoF at least it was interesting to watch. But this was boring a lot of the time. And Sirius' death was not very disturbing, it is almost like he's hit by a stray curse.

[Rhonwyn]

Loved it. I have read the book but it was a while ago. Ds loved it too though he missed the portable swamp. The casting was brilliant.

Of course Peeves wasn't in it. He hasn't been in any of the movies and it would be a little late to introduce him now.

[zoebird]

but are you saying that all therers have the movie in 3-d? That would be so cool! But didn't someone else say they did the last 20 min. in 3-d,not the whole movie?

not all theaters have the movie in 3-D. it's likely that the IMAX theaters will have 3-D versions.

the main point of my post is that there's a movement in hollywood to get more, many, or most movies made in 3-D because they're "more realistic" and "harder to pirate." i think it's more for the second reason.

i think it would be sad if more, many, or most movies only came in 3-D versions, because then i wouldn't be able to watch movies. and that, to me, would be sad, seeing as i love movies.

[JessicaS]

I did end up taking dd to see it, she never actually saw GoF because I felt it was a little too scary but she wasn't scared at all in OotP, well..the Dementors at the beginning...she doesn't like Dementors but that was it.

Did anyone else feel annoyed about..

Warning :: Spoiler Ahead! Highlight to read message!

---

Bellatix used Avada Kedrava On Sirius? I couldn't believe that

I was also irritated about the using levicorpus in the DA and Ginny's huge powerful curse being reducto She is good at the Bat-Bogey hex..that is said multiple times (which I assume involves bats flying out someone's nose OW!)

: It annoys me when they switch the spells around.

---

I was sad about the portable swamp...I love that part. Also they didn't blow up the fountain. That part seemed rather symbolic IMO.

Why didn't they blow up the fountain? I actually whined a little louder than I meant to about the fountain still being there and people around me laughed.

KaraBoo,

Warning :: Spoiler Ahead! Highlight to read message!

---

IMO, the scariest part was the Dementor attack and it is the ONLY part where dd was a little scared, the fight at the ministry didn't seem that scary.

Bellatrix does use the incorrect curse on Sirius, but like in the books he just sinks into the Veil.

---

[jeca]

Originally Posted by Plady

! The whole movie felt like the Cliff Notes version.

Yeah! Poor Ron! He had virtually no part and this was supposed to be the plotline where he actually has some of his own successes!

Warning :: Spoiler Ahead! Highlight to read message!

---

They didn't go anywhere in the DOM except that hall of Prophecies and the arch room, so no time-turners and no floating brains. Hermione was not injured at all, let alone badly enough to wonder if she was alive, Neville wasn't hurt, Ron wasn't attacked. The dementor scene wasn't any scarier than anything in POA. And that was it for anything remotely scary. The 'big' battle with LV at the end was pretty dull. Grawp was cuter than pie, not scary. The centaurs were only these shadowy figures, not scary. They didn't show Umbridge and her gang go after Hagrid, set his hut on fire and attack McGonagall. They didn't even give a split second to show how scary it would be to ride a thestral for the kids who couldn't see them! I mean, how hard would it be to have Hermione scream? And I think it was a real mistake to have Umbridge sigh about how she hates children but not to explain that it was she that ordered the dementor attack!

---

ITA! Some of these are big things that should have been in the movie IMO.

[Rhonwyn]

I think they did the death curse instead of only falling through the veil because it is easier for the audience to understand.

What they will do if Sirius isn't dead, I don't know. Of course they can always use the excuse that Bellatrix didn't really mean to kill her cousin.

[tinybutterfly]

Overall, I enjoyed it. I really try to keep in mind that the movies have to cut so much out to keep it under 5 hours...wish they had extended versions like LOTRs did.

It was choppy and seemed rushed, and I have NO idea how people, like my husband and younger son, who have not read all of the books can even begin to understand what is going on. Yes, they were confused. I had to explain things to them when we got home.

But...I will buy the movie when it comes out. I will watch it along with the others and enjoy it for what it is...the movie version.

I loved the casting for Luna and Bellatrix LaStrange!

Oh, and has anybody mentioned the kiss between Harry and Cho? I thought that was pretty good...might make it into my list of terrific movie kisses.

The kitten plates were a hoot!

[KaraBoo]

Thanks everyone for the scary spoilers. I think she'll do OK. We bought our tickets and will see it next Thursday, when it comes out in English here. We are so very excited, even though I know I'll be disappointed about certain changes. But hey, I agree that movies are their own art form, exist on their own merit, and I'll enjoy seeing what this director does.

[mags]

I liked the movie, but felt that it didn't flow very smoothly. It was annoying that they left out parts of the book and changed things around. The movie would have been better if it was was an extra 30 min long with more of the other details they left out.

Did anyone think that luna looked like she could be malfoy's sister? I am sure it was just a fluke, but throughout the entire movie I kept thinking that if malfoy dressed up like a girl, he'd look like luna, lol!

[Rhonwyn]

Originally Posted by mags

Did anyone think that luna looked like she could be malfoy's sister? I am sure it was just a fluke, but throughout the entire movie I kept thinking that if malfoy dressed up like a girl, he'd look like luna, lol!

Now that you mentioned, she does look like the actor who is Draco. Weird!

[annettemarie]

Originally Posted by tinybutterfly

It was choppy and seemed rushed, and I have NO idea how people, like my husband and younger son, who have not read all of the books can even begin to understand what is going on. Yes, they were confused. I had to explain things to them when we got home.

I said the same thing to DH! And that's why people who have only seen the movie and haven't read the book should never, ever write fan fiction.

[***Heather***]

Change of plans, I ended up watching it today. The theatre wasn't packed at all so we were able to get good seats.

Overall, I liked the movie. But...
I didn't like the way they left out important chunks of information.
... And the whole thing felt like it was on fast forward. Actually, it felt like it was a 2 hour long trailer. There weren't really any big long scenes, just short choppy ones with music piecing it all together.

[Pinoikoi]

I thought OOTP was the most emotionally powerful of all the films.
Just saw it with ds this afternoon.

[MaWhit]

I'm surprised at how many people disliked this movie. I loved it and can't wait to see it again without the kids so I can catch what I missed.

[Pinoikoi]

Originally Posted by MaWhit

I'm surprised at how many people disliked this movie. I loved it and can't wait to see it again without the kids so I can catch what I missed.

Yeah, that..

I love subtitles on my dvds.. apparently I have some hearing loss, because it always makes such a difference for me!

[MaWhit]

I love subtitles on my dvds.. apparently I have some hearing loss, because it always makes such a difference for me!

Oh yeah, me too. I always have the subtitles on. Can't wait to watch this on dvd, and especially look forward to the special features.

[lotusdebi]

I didn't read the thread : but I wanted to post anyway.
DH and I saw the movie yesterday. I can't believe I wasted some perfectly good pumped breastmilk and a rare date night for this film! it was AWFUL! As DH said, this was the Reader's Digest abridged Cliffs Notes version of Order of the Phoenix.
Blah.
I really don't know what I'm angrier about. The parts that were left out. The parts that were changed. The acting. Or the editing. There was NO continuity from scene to scene - no explaining how one scene went to the next. With Harry's dreams interspersed, there were times I wasn't sure if a scene was another dream, present-time, or a memory! The movie was so poorly done!
This is absolutely my favorite of the HP books, but my least favorite of the movies (and I HATED Chamber of Secrets so much that I wouldn't watch it on DVD until this year).
I am so incredibly disappointed in this movie. What a waste of time and money. :

[kittywitty]

Originally Posted by lotusdebi

I didn't read the thread : but I wanted to post anyway.
DH and I saw the movie yesterday. I can't believe I wasted some perfectly good pumped breastmilk and a rare date night for this film! it was AWFUL! As DH said, this was the Reader's Digest abridged Cliffs Notes version of Order of the Phoenix.
Blah.
I really don't know what I'm angrier about. The parts that were left out. The parts that were changed. The acting. Or the editing. There was NO continuity from scene to scene - no explaining how one scene went to the next. With Harry's dreams interspersed, there were times I wasn't sure if a scene was another dream, present-time, or a memory! The movie was so poorly done!
This is absolutely my favorite of the HP books, but my least favorite of the movies (and I HATED Chamber of Secrets so much that I wouldn't watch it on DVD until this year).
I am so incredibly disappointed in this movie. What a waste of time and money. :

That's my feelings exactly. I thought the kids did a pretty good job acting, especially for their age and they are getting SO much better. But DD still was freaking nuts, but better than in GOF.

I was so pissed when I left that movie. They could have done so well...but they changed too much for the sake of "artistic license". Don't they realize how much people love it *the way it already is*.

If I go on any longer, I will explode.