I saw the fifth Harry Potter movie, "The Order of the Phoenix."
* * * S P O I L E R W A R N I N G ! * * *
Eh.
In general, I've been less than impressed with the movie versions of the books. I think that the way they cut them to pack the humongous books into the beensy little movie length left out some pretty keen stuff and the acting is a bit wooden in places.
But in Book 5, the coolest scene of all was one they chose not to reproduce in the film. They were all hot on the inky coal-dust-esque apparations of the Death Eaters and the silvery blinding white smokey apparations of the members of the order, and they cast Umbrage and Luna perfectly, but ... they missed out on animating the big statues at the Ministry. They could've done a Transformer coup, man!
Another irritation: had the movie peeps and the book peeps been really clever, they'd've released the movie on 7/5/07 and the seventh book on 7/7/07.
Morons.
We're hoping to go see it this week sometime. I've done my best, to this point, to try to just enjoy the movies for what they are and not compare too much with the books, but there are definitely times when I think, why did they not include that part?! I gotta admit, I'm getting as antsy about book seven as any 12-year-old!
Of course! After the end of book 6?
The advantage I have is that my wait for Book 7 is shorter than most peoples'. I just finished book 6 a week or so ago. I tried to slow it down, so I'd finish it just as 7 came out, but the story proved to be too enticing.
I do not consider this exceptional writing, but it's a darned ripping good story and Rowling has a pleasing way with words. I especially enjoy listening to the audio book version, with Jim Dale doing the various characterizations. His version of Dolores Umbrage and that of the actress (Imelda Staunton) playing her in the movie were delightfully similar. Staunton is one of the few characters who do not come across, IMO, as wooden.
"I do not consider this exceptional writing, but it's a darned ripping good story and Rowling has a pleasing way with words."
DFN. (dead fucking nuts)
I love the entire Harry Potter story -- I am truly 10 years old when I read the stuff -- so it is incredibly easy for me to forgive whatever lack of literary (spoken with nose in air) quality there may be. I've been working on my upper body strength in anticipation of having to fend off my kids as I read it first.
"I do not consider this exceptional writing, but it's a darned ripping good story and Rowling has a pleasing way with words."
DFN. (dead fucking nuts)
I love the entire Harry Potter story -- I am truly 10 years old when I read the stuff -- so it is incredibly easy for me to forgive whatever lack of literary (spoken with nose in air) quality there may be. I've been working on my upper body strength in anticipation of having to fend off my kids as I read it first.
John will be making a midnight run this Friday to buy book 7 the minute it's available. (I'll be home with the kids.)
But then I'll stay up all night reading it, and he'll get it back in the morning.
I read the books as soon as they come out and forget half of them, so by the time the movie gets here, I'm not plagued with why didn't theys. I thoroughly enjoy the movies, though Harry looked a bit strange in this one. I have to agree with my daughter, he shouldn't have cut his hair. She actually boycotted the movie because of that. "I'll catch it when it comes out on DVD."
Tomorrow I head out to Borders to pick up my reserved copy. And I have the next two weeks class-free to enjoy reading it. The last book made me almost like Snape. I'm hoping the last one will prove me right about things not being as they seem.
Yep, you're both right. He was better with the hair Rowling had described -- untamed, etc.
One thing about Rowling's books, is she made each character have a signature. Kind of the way opera and well-wrought musical theatre has signatures for various characters, and when you hear that sound, you know that character or someone like them is involved. Dumbledore doesn't wear glasses, he has "half-moon spectacles" and Hagred has "beetle-black eyes." Harry's lightning-shaped scar was significant only because of its link to Lord Voldemort, but his main signature was his tangle of unruly black hair.
I wouldn't boycott the film for that, however. I really wanted to see Umbrage and was delighted with her portrayal. A few more "ahem ahems" and a little less of the titter would've been made her perfect.
Jeff sez: I've been working on my upper body strength in anticipation of having to fend off my kids as I read it first.
Heh. My son's getting the book version. My daughter the audio, which is how I've been enjoying the books. I have a 40 minute drive to work (and 50 the other way, given afternoon traffic is a bit heavier). Anyway, I've pressured my daughter into taking me with her when she goes to get her CDs. We'll stop off at my house first so I can rip the CDs into my iPod, THEN she may go home to enjoy them.
I'll give her the iPod format, of course, once she's handed back my little flash drive.
Arleen talked about "Snivelus" Snape:
The last book made me almost like Snape. I'm hoping the last one will prove me right about things not being as they seem.
I like the little twists she puts in there, and all along she made Snape delightfully dislikable and yet staunchly proved Harry's hatred misguided ... until the end of Book 6. So, yes. I'm hoping to discover a twist in there. Dumbledore made a few mistakes along the way, but his instincts have almost always been right throughout.
I'm on page 200ish (reading, not listening). I am so not disappointed. You?
The incomparable Mr. Jim Dale has informed me I'm on Chapter 5. Very much _not_ disappointed thus far. I am taking it as slowly as I can, drawing out the pleasure as much as I can bear to. I really don't want it to end. The escape is just too delicious.
As for Mr. Dale -- he has a wonderful array of voices and accents and mannerisms, HOWEVER.
However, I really really hate the way he expresses things the kids say. Dale is an old guy. He clearly is not connected to young people at all. And some of the simplest phrases, he says *this* way, and I go "huh?" and it should be said *that* way to make sense.
Y'know?
You'd have to hear it to understand. If you 'n I ever meet, and I happen to have my iPod, and it happens to still have one of the HP books on it, I'll let you give a listen and you'll see.
Aside from that mild irritation/bemusement, it rocks.