We Americans are loving it!! It pulled in an incredible $77.4 million over the weekend here, with a total of $140 million over 5 days. And another $190 million world wide!!
Here's a thread discussing it on the US CB:
http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1512809
And here are my comments:
OK, we saw the movie on Saturday morning, and I just now read all of this thread, because I didn't want to spoil it for me before seeing it.
I knew this would rekindle the old book vs. movie debate. Here's my take on it.
Yes, the first two movies were much more faithful to the book - but that was when the books were a lot shorter, and not nearly as complex, both in number of characters and plot lines, so this was much easier to do. Now, it would be a 9 hour movie to bring an 800+ page book to the screen, and keep in everyone's favorite scene, dialogue, or detail. So, the screenwriters and directors had to make a choice, and they decided to change some details, leave some story lines out completely, but most importantly, to stay true to the SPIRIT of the novels. That's why I was OK with things like changing Cho to being the snitch, but only under the duress of the Veritaserum. To me, that was not a major departure from the story.
However, I would have liked to see a few more things:
1. I wanted to see the Howler from Dumbledore to Aunt Petunia, "Remember my last, Petunia!!" I think this extends well to the next book, when Dumbledore comes to the Dursley home and explains why Harry HAS to come to Privet Drive every summer, instead of going to the Burrow or to 12 Grimmauld Place.
2. I think the scene when Harry sees Snape's memory of James Potter bullying and taunting him should have been longer, and yes, I think we should have seen Lily getting angry with James. I think that is a crucial scene. It explains some of the hatred Snape has for Harry, but more importantly, it shatters Harry's perception of his father, and he sees him, for the first time, as a cruel bully - the kind of kid that Harry himself would not have liked.
3. Ron does seem to get all his storylines cut - poor Rupert Grint!!! Ron finally makes the Quiddich team this year, and is tormented by the "Weasley is our king!" buttons from the Slytherin house. Also, Ron goes nuts in the battle with the Death Eaters in the Department of Mysteries. Both of these scenes would have been great, but had to get cut.
4. I also wanted to see more of the battle between the DA and the Death Eaters in the Hall of Prophecy. Neville gets his nose broken, Ginny's ankle is broken, Hermione is stunned, and Luna is knocked unconscious. Oh, and Ron's gone nuts. This scene would have shown how brave and fearless, and strong the DA had grown.
5. I wanted to see Mr. Weasley at St. Mungo's, after he is attacked by Nagini. This is where Ron, Harry, and Hermione see Neville and his Gran, visiting his parents over the holidays, and his mom gives him the candy wrapper. It is such a touching scene when Gran tells Neville to throw it away, that they have enough wrappers to paper a room . . . and Neville quietly slips the wrapper into his pocket.
6. I also think that they should have showed the Aurors coming for Hagrid, and McGonagal getting zapped by 4 simultanous bolts. Harry's growing sense of isolation is one of the main themes of this book, and this would have shown that gradually, Harry is losing all of his trusted teachers at Hogwart's - Dumbledore being replaced, Trelawny sacked, Hagrid running away, McGonagal in St. Mungo's . . .
7. Finally, I would have liked to see all the desperate steps Harry goes through to try to see Sirius again, after he falls through the arch. He asks Nearly Headless Nick whether Sirius will come back as a ghost, he looks in the mirror that Sirius gave him for Christmas to communicate with him, but now it is blank, and he asks Luna about the voices of the dead wizards from behind the curtain at the Department of Mysteries. It shows how devastated Harry is with this latest loss in his life.
Now, that said, I did think the movie was great!! Maybe a bit different from what I imagined as I read the book, but as far as movies go, it was exciting, well paced, definitely created a mood of darkness and forboding, and the acting, sets, and effects were all outstanding!! And it has a compelling story, even if it deviates a bit from the book.
As for the acting, I am impressed with the way the kids have matured. Dan Radcliffe has gotten a lot better, and is no longer either confused or angry. He did a good job portraying his reluctance in leading the DA, and his frustration over Dumbledore's indifference to him - in the book, he seemed to be more hateful, and I'm glad Dan didn't come across that way in the movie. Rupert is always good, I just wish he had more to do. And Emma is getting less annoying.
The adults, as always, are wonderful. It is just a shame that their roles have so few lines. I read that Helena Bonham Carter said she only had 5 lines, and 2 of them ended up being cut, so she had to make the most of the ones she had!!! (By the way, I don't think she is still with Kenneth Branagh. I think she's Tim Burton's paramour now.)
I was glad that Gary Oldman had a bigger part in this movie, he's a wonderful actor. He has apparently developed quite a relationship with Dan Radcliffe as well, and Dan identifies him as a mentor. I read that Oldman was struggling a bit with his line, "Leave my godson alone!!" - pacing and doing it over and over, saying that he was not "feeling it". Well, he finally was happy with it, and I do think he nailed it!! People started applauding when he said it in our theater!!
Alan Rickman was fantastic, as usual. In his scene where he is questioned by Umbridge, he only has 2 words "yes" and "obviously"- and a whack for Ron - but he brought down the house!! I'm really looking forward to the Half-Blood Prince, because Snape will have a bigger role in that one.
And Imelda Staunton was truly inspired. I LOVED the scene between her and McGonagal on the stairs - two fantastic British actresses, doing their thing!! She described her look as a cross between the Queen and Margaret Thatcher, and her taunting, smiling evilness was great!!! The cat plates were great too . . . hmmm, crazy cat lady who hates kids . . . now, who does that remind me of . . .
I still miss Richard Harris as Dumbledore (RIP ), but I am getting more used to Michael Gambon. I thought he did a nice job in the last scene with Harry, when he explained why he was so aloof to Harry all year.
So, how's it doing in the UK?
Here's a thread discussing it on the US CB:
http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1512809
And here are my comments:
OK, we saw the movie on Saturday morning, and I just now read all of this thread, because I didn't want to spoil it for me before seeing it.
I knew this would rekindle the old book vs. movie debate. Here's my take on it.
Yes, the first two movies were much more faithful to the book - but that was when the books were a lot shorter, and not nearly as complex, both in number of characters and plot lines, so this was much easier to do. Now, it would be a 9 hour movie to bring an 800+ page book to the screen, and keep in everyone's favorite scene, dialogue, or detail. So, the screenwriters and directors had to make a choice, and they decided to change some details, leave some story lines out completely, but most importantly, to stay true to the SPIRIT of the novels. That's why I was OK with things like changing Cho to being the snitch, but only under the duress of the Veritaserum. To me, that was not a major departure from the story.
However, I would have liked to see a few more things:
1. I wanted to see the Howler from Dumbledore to Aunt Petunia, "Remember my last, Petunia!!" I think this extends well to the next book, when Dumbledore comes to the Dursley home and explains why Harry HAS to come to Privet Drive every summer, instead of going to the Burrow or to 12 Grimmauld Place.
2. I think the scene when Harry sees Snape's memory of James Potter bullying and taunting him should have been longer, and yes, I think we should have seen Lily getting angry with James. I think that is a crucial scene. It explains some of the hatred Snape has for Harry, but more importantly, it shatters Harry's perception of his father, and he sees him, for the first time, as a cruel bully - the kind of kid that Harry himself would not have liked.
3. Ron does seem to get all his storylines cut - poor Rupert Grint!!! Ron finally makes the Quiddich team this year, and is tormented by the "Weasley is our king!" buttons from the Slytherin house. Also, Ron goes nuts in the battle with the Death Eaters in the Department of Mysteries. Both of these scenes would have been great, but had to get cut.
4. I also wanted to see more of the battle between the DA and the Death Eaters in the Hall of Prophecy. Neville gets his nose broken, Ginny's ankle is broken, Hermione is stunned, and Luna is knocked unconscious. Oh, and Ron's gone nuts. This scene would have shown how brave and fearless, and strong the DA had grown.
5. I wanted to see Mr. Weasley at St. Mungo's, after he is attacked by Nagini. This is where Ron, Harry, and Hermione see Neville and his Gran, visiting his parents over the holidays, and his mom gives him the candy wrapper. It is such a touching scene when Gran tells Neville to throw it away, that they have enough wrappers to paper a room . . . and Neville quietly slips the wrapper into his pocket.
6. I also think that they should have showed the Aurors coming for Hagrid, and McGonagal getting zapped by 4 simultanous bolts. Harry's growing sense of isolation is one of the main themes of this book, and this would have shown that gradually, Harry is losing all of his trusted teachers at Hogwart's - Dumbledore being replaced, Trelawny sacked, Hagrid running away, McGonagal in St. Mungo's . . .
7. Finally, I would have liked to see all the desperate steps Harry goes through to try to see Sirius again, after he falls through the arch. He asks Nearly Headless Nick whether Sirius will come back as a ghost, he looks in the mirror that Sirius gave him for Christmas to communicate with him, but now it is blank, and he asks Luna about the voices of the dead wizards from behind the curtain at the Department of Mysteries. It shows how devastated Harry is with this latest loss in his life.
Now, that said, I did think the movie was great!! Maybe a bit different from what I imagined as I read the book, but as far as movies go, it was exciting, well paced, definitely created a mood of darkness and forboding, and the acting, sets, and effects were all outstanding!! And it has a compelling story, even if it deviates a bit from the book.
As for the acting, I am impressed with the way the kids have matured. Dan Radcliffe has gotten a lot better, and is no longer either confused or angry. He did a good job portraying his reluctance in leading the DA, and his frustration over Dumbledore's indifference to him - in the book, he seemed to be more hateful, and I'm glad Dan didn't come across that way in the movie. Rupert is always good, I just wish he had more to do. And Emma is getting less annoying.
The adults, as always, are wonderful. It is just a shame that their roles have so few lines. I read that Helena Bonham Carter said she only had 5 lines, and 2 of them ended up being cut, so she had to make the most of the ones she had!!! (By the way, I don't think she is still with Kenneth Branagh. I think she's Tim Burton's paramour now.)
I was glad that Gary Oldman had a bigger part in this movie, he's a wonderful actor. He has apparently developed quite a relationship with Dan Radcliffe as well, and Dan identifies him as a mentor. I read that Oldman was struggling a bit with his line, "Leave my godson alone!!" - pacing and doing it over and over, saying that he was not "feeling it". Well, he finally was happy with it, and I do think he nailed it!! People started applauding when he said it in our theater!!
Alan Rickman was fantastic, as usual. In his scene where he is questioned by Umbridge, he only has 2 words "yes" and "obviously"- and a whack for Ron - but he brought down the house!! I'm really looking forward to the Half-Blood Prince, because Snape will have a bigger role in that one.
And Imelda Staunton was truly inspired. I LOVED the scene between her and McGonagal on the stairs - two fantastic British actresses, doing their thing!! She described her look as a cross between the Queen and Margaret Thatcher, and her taunting, smiling evilness was great!!! The cat plates were great too . . . hmmm, crazy cat lady who hates kids . . . now, who does that remind me of . . .
I still miss Richard Harris as Dumbledore (RIP ), but I am getting more used to Michael Gambon. I thought he did a nice job in the last scene with Harry, when he explained why he was so aloof to Harry all year.
So, how's it doing in the UK?
.
Fortunately I still hear Richard Harris when I read.
