Fresh Harry Potter!

Rating: 10/10 (13 July 2007)

Before I critisise the acting, please know that this is a very artistic film! The scenery and sets were beautiful clashed with brilliant cinematography. See, I know nothing about those sort of things, but it was quite noticeable. This film had a different aura. Luna (Evanna Lynch) was so phenomenal that I hardly paid attention to Ron and Hermione, except when Emma did weird things with her line and when Rupert was whispering... And Cho made me grimace. She didn't act really natural...just heavy sorrow without the refreshing release of tears. I felt sorry for Harry. As usual, Snape was sensationally sardonic. I just wish that McGonagall would have followed his example like in the book. Minor characters did subtle things that were HILARIOUS. Imelda S. did well with Umbetch. Loathsome. I didn't like Helena though - she cackled too much. Anyway, the last battle between Dumbledore and Voldemort had tremendous impact. Muuuch better than Priori Incantem in GoF. Dan Rad was incredible! He made me cry with the last scene at the Ministry. I was so much more aware of how powerful and merciless Voldemort was on Harry's mind. All Harry's insecurities were made clear. Abd the way his memories played made me so nostalgic. I would've really liked the Weasleys to explain about Percy...or at least so SOMETHING productive at Grimmauld place. The film was super funny, though! Kingsley and Flitwick, with their subtlety, were great! And it felt like a real movie. Not just a year inside Hogwarts, but there was the real world that Harry talked about...I guess it felt more hazardous and genuine because Voldemort came back at the end of GoF. He was waiting for Harry and being a burden. Voldemort didn't appear on the back of someone's head underneath Hogwarts, as a memory and Horcrux hidden in the school, and he didn't just threat Harry with the return of a Death Eater. He didn't bring Harry against his will this time, not exactly. Harry felt a bigger sense of protection and love, of course. He wasn't a coward...he'd barge into the Department of Mysteries after class. And the DA helped his friends feel more confident and ready to face the real world. And the real world has issues in which Muggles struggle with as well, war, incompetent governments...in this case, the Ministry would not accept the truth because of fear. The film did a good job of showing that.
Hmph, no St Mungo's scenes with poor Neville and his family and Lockhart. No mysteries about Broderick Bode. No Quibbler interview or date with Cho. (I was reeeally looking forward to the former!) Or "Weasley Is Our King". Or QUIDDITCH BANNING after George and Harry attack Draco! It's horrid of Umbetch, but that adds to her *gags* character. And why don't the filmmakers care enough about Draco to give Tom some more time on screen? He was always in the background - Divination, you know...but we are expecting (demanding =]) more Malfoy in HBP! A different side of him must, must be exposed because people who haven't read book 6 will still refer to Draco as that blonde, enemy, hot, rich, Slytherin, prat, etc. He's not that simple. But his lack of lines is forgiving since he doesn't change until book six.
Overall, I felt so much at home with this film. It is the best one yet. It shows that this time, the war between dark and light is boiling up. And in this film, the dark side isn't the only enemy. It's no longer just about Harry being safe at Hogwarts but fighting with Voldemort at the end. It's not safe.