It could have been terrible- adapting a book that is big enough to be a weapon of mass destruction but Michael Goldenberg pares 870 pages down to a lean and very mean 138 minutes.
There has been much talk about how dark this film is and anyone who has read the books thinks, “Well DUH.” The only reason why I enjoy this series is that the stakes get higher each year. A mass murderer that killed your parents and your friends parents, disrupted life as you know it and is coming after you and everyone you care about is not exactly the stuff of sweetness and light. Roger Ebert’s review is deliciously off base on this issue: “My hope, as we plow onward through “Potters” Nos. 6-7, is that the series will not grow darker still.”
Roger, mate? Are you high?
Anyhoo. Imelda Staunton is spot on as Dolores Umbridge. If you aren’t certain the moment she speaks in her simpering little voice that she is evil, the collection of hundreds of cat plates in her office confirms it.
The Weasley Twins exit from Hogworts, while it doesn’t live up to what my little brain imagined is still very satisfying in its destruction.
A big win of this film is Mr. Grint has been taking acting classes or he has been reading his Stanislavski because he is finally relaxed and isn’t mugging for the camera every two seconds. (Saw him in a TV movie called Driving Lessons with Julie Walters, who plays his mum in the HP films and he was excellent.)
Is this adaptation a lot different from the book? Yes. Are there some things that when I think back that I wish could have been included? Sure. Do I think they did the right thing by cutting it down? Most definitely.
An adaptation of a book into cinematic dramatic action is a totaly different animal.
Going forward, I am a little worried that they haven’t set up certain things in this and the previous films so there is a lot of work to be done.
My three big concerns.
Neville, Ginny and especially Snape. I won’t say why for the three of you that don’t read the books but watch the films.
In any case, it’s a good film and well worth seeing.
Next weekend after I recover from my Birthday party hangover, I will be hiding myself away to read book seven. It will probably knowing me, take a day and a half.
Sometimes I wished I read slower so I could savor the things I enjoy.
July 16th, 2007 at 6:08 pm
I saw this on Friday and thought it was really good. My friends mum was there and shouted out “oh i say” in the middle of the film (quite embarrasing). The book is out this week yippe so lots of long baths.
Take care see you soon.
p.s Emily calls you “cole cole” and stuart she calls “schuart”