A Visually Stimulating Weekend – Part 1 · 17 July 2007
It was a good weekend for my eyes. So good in fact, that I have to write two separate posts about it, because one post is going to be too darn long.
On Saturday evening, after weeks of anticipation, a group of friends and I went to celebrate my sister’s birthday by watching Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix.
The rest of my post assumes a fair level of familiarity with the Potterverse and contains spoilers for those who have not read the book. Those who have read the book, but not seen the movie will can read on without fear, I’m not providing any movie spoilers here.
Let me preface my thoughts about the movie by saying that this book was my least favorite of the series, and the only one that I’ve read only once. Although it’s been pointed out to me that Harry is a bit of a prat in all the books, he was especially so in this one. I frankly got sick of hearing him and Sirius Black whine about how they weren’t constantly the center of attention and I was glad that in Book 6 (The Half Blood Prince) Harry seemed to have mellowed out a bit.
The director chose to tone down Harry’s teenage angst in the movie. Although it was apparent that Harry was dealing with issues of not being in the limelight, a few of the key whiny scenes from the book were cut from the movie (a choice that I appreciated). Obviously, a lot of other plot points also had to be removed in order to fit the book into a reasonable showing time. It’s hard for me to state objectively whether or not the plot “worked” as a movie, because as I watched it, I was constantly supplementing the information in the movie with the facts I knew from the book. Nonetheless, the pacing was brisk and the story led steadily to its climatic end, an improvement on the pacing of the book (which dragged for quite a bit in the middle where Umbridge was busy entrenching herself as the Ministry’s supreme ruler of Hogwarts).
There were a few points in which I wondered if the viewer who was not a reader of the books would be able to really “catch” what was going on. In this respect, I felt the movie was very similar to Movie 2 (Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets). In both movies, the viewer is given all the answers to the meaning of brief cuts of action at the very end, while the reader is provided clues to the plot mysteries throughout the book. I personally enjoy the style of the books, in which the reader can participate in the solving of the mysteries, and form their own informed conclusions along with the character. Although it would probably have made the movie longer, I think it would have enhanced the experience if the answers unfolded more gradually.
The casting choices, in my opinion one of the strengths of the Harry Potter movies, continue to be superb. Evanna Lynch did a marvelous job as Luna Lovegood, capturing the slightly out of touch with reality yet earnest character portrayed in the book even without the benefit the back story that the book provided.
Imelda Staunton did credit to the character of Professor Umbridge. In my opinion, the movie Umbridge was even more evil than she was in the book. And the director’s portrayal of Umbridge’s office of mewling kittens plates was jointly hilarious and terrifying.
Even the smaller roles were cast masterfully. Emma Thomspon, Helena Bonham Carter, and score of other talented actors play “minor” roles with such pizazz that the whole world feels populated by wacky, maniacal, and truly “real” people.
Although there was one deviation from the plot that infuriated me (aside from Harry’s new haircut which is far too short) and two scenes that I wish had been included, this was a thoroughly enjoying movie, one I’d recommend to all Harry Potter fans.
For those that haven’t jumped on the Harry Potter bandwagon yet, and are a bit intimidated by the sheer volume of the seven books, the movies provide a lighthearted and easy to digest version, but the books are better - much better. Somehow the underlying message about the power of love and friendship ends up sounding cheesy in every movie. In the books, J.K. Rowling presents the theme with style and grace, and through her writing you come to bond with the characters, who act as very real people in their very magical world.
It is with not a little regret that I’ll be delving into the final book next week in order to say goodbye to this universe that has come to be filled with such rich culture and fond friends.
Fantasy,
Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix,
Magic,
The Potterverse
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Dark Orpheus · 17 July 2007, 23:36
I watched the film last night, and it was fun – though it made very little use of the great actors like Gary Oldman, Maggie Smith, Helena Bonham Carter etc.
I loved Luna Lovegood from the books – she’s just kooky and fun. And yes, the actress who played her was so charming and sweet.
Imelda Staunton was also wonderful – one of my colleague mimicked her girlish giggle quite well – and it was disturbing. Pink Psycho Schoolmistress with the Giggles.
It was a fun movie. Now for the next one!v
Mailyn · 18 July 2007, 10:46
Love your blog! Will be checking back. Oh and I LOVED HP&TOOTP. Hell I love all HP movies! LOL.
Nymeth · 18 July 2007, 16:15
I agree with you about the movies suddenly delivering the answer at the end – the lack of clues makes the plot seem sloppy, and any reader of the books knows it is anything but. If there’s something that should not have been cut from the movies, it’s these hints she provides throughout the books. This is the reason why I ended up giving up on the Harry Potter movies altogether.
However, all the positive reviews of this one I’ve been reading have made me very curious.
Kim · 18 July 2007, 17:06
Dark Orpheus – I agree, the supporting actors were underutilized but I still think it’s great that the franchise is willing to use such powerhouses and only put them on the screen for 5 minutes. So many times you see a small part that gets slighted because of budgeting or time constraints.
Mailyn – Thanks so much! Look forward to seeing more of you :)
Nymeth – I usually don’t like movie adaptations of books because it’s so hard to do justice to a book in a movie. I do think that the Harry Potter series has managed to capture the wonder of the world, and will hopefully entice more people to become readers.
jean pierre · 19 July 2007, 00:16
i’m quite looking forward to this – i’ve read the first two books, but haven’t really felt like reading more. i enjoy the movies, though. they are a lot of fun!
the only pity is the plot weaknesses… for instance, a friend of mine was very unimpressed by the threadbare representation of the friction between harry and dumbledore, something which (after she’d explained it to me) seemed very important indeed!
Kim · 20 July 2007, 00:12
Yes, unfortunately a lot of the subtlety gets lost in the movies. The books also really start to mature with the third one, so it becomes harder to capture their full scope. Book 3 is my favorite for example, but I didn’t like the movie all that much.
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