HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS, PART 1 Post-Release - Page 2

Alrght awesome. Then I guess I will be buying tickets for one of the DLP shows then!

I'd be willing to bet nooj is right. Saw The Social Network in DLP and was pretty floored at the amount and clarity of detail.

That's disappointing. The way that people were talking, I was expecting some Rome, Open City-style shit.

Indeed it was and I apologize. That was me this morning getting ready to respond and then glancing at the watching and realizing I had to get to work. This sounds like an internet cliche, but I intended it to be read in humor based off of the same scuffle I had with Prankster up above, but naturally there's no way you could read into that, so I'm sorry.

What I was going to write about was how I think it would be more interesting (at least until more of us have seen the movie) to discuss the book here. Yeah, there is another thread for it...but it sounds like it pertains to the movie as well. Again, sorry for being a prick.

I don't know, something about digital projection still seems off to me. The motion signatures never look as realistic as they do on film. It certainly looks crisp and clear though, so that's welcome. There's more stuff that could be said for film vs. DLP, but that's for another thread.


As for the movie itself, I enjoyed it. The time in the woods is pretty significant, but I never had a problem with it in the books and I didn't have a problem with it here. There's a bunch of good character moments, so its not like they're just sitting around a fire roasting s'mores or anything like that.

There's actually a number of great little things in the movie. For one thing, the actors who play the adult members of the ministry that Harry, Ron, and Hermione disguise themselves as do an incredible job of embodying the physicality of their younger counterparts, right down to the facial expressions and manner of walking. I also really liked the presence of the Head Snatcher. There was a great creepy sleaze about him in his limited screen time.

The movie itself is also really beautifully lensed, and many of the wide shots of Harry, Ron, and Hermione traveling were absolutely gorgeous.

There's a couple instances where the movie feels a little like its playing catch up with lost threads from earlier in the series, specifically with character like Bill Weasely. However, the energy in these early scenes pulls the movie forward so well that you just kind of go with it.

The biggest complaint I have about the movie is that it really feels like Part 1 of a two part story. There's a lot of little things teased and set up that won't pay off until Part 2. I think this makes it hard to judge Part 1 on its own, but on the plus side I actually would've continued to sit for another 2 hours had they offered to play Part 2 right away.

Ultimately I think the movie is definitely worth watching.

EDIT: In case anybody's wondering, I caught this at the big WB employee screenings they did over the weekend.

That scene was always disturbing for me, mainly because Voldermort took the time to abduct and execute a teacher who merely said that wizards and muggles should work together (or some such thing). Ruthlessly killing advocates for tolerance, therefore scaring everybody from even THINKING about being more open-minded...just pure evil on display.

Tati, it's probably in the thread somewhere, but have you read the books? Has Renn? Just curious about how that breakdown works.

Cool, thanks. Mind if I ask what about the books you didn't care for exactly?

I think the third movie is great, but I still think the fifth is the best as an adaptation, especially since the fifth book is my least favorite. The last one just didn't work for me at all. The first couple are downright terrible.

I only know Harry from the movies (I've only skimmed through the books). But I notice he's not much of a "Traditional Hero". Harry is just an ordinary kid trying not to make waves. Many of the other wizards are vastly more powerful and skilled than he.

But is that the point Rawlings was trying to make here?

Yeah, that's the series one saving grace left over from him. But credit probably goes more to the casting director then him. But I guess it was his casting director, so that does make sense.

I highly recommend reading the series. The movies don't scratch the surface, not even the good ones. The first two can be a bit tough to get through for adult readers, but the progression of the series is amazing.

But...here I am, talking about the books again. Sorry yall.

The main subtext of the series is to encourage kids to question authority, be independent and think for themselves (again, one of the crucial reasons the last book takes place somewhere other then Hogwarts); all qualities that are important in the development of young adults. So yes, it's incredibly significant that Harry is just a regular kid. He is famous, but he's shies away from that aspect and acts like a regular kid. He's an okay magician, but his strong suit is teaching. He's brave, but is capable of making really dumb decisions. But he's thoughtful, considerate and has good taste in friends. If he was the "super wizard" it wouldnt' have as good of an effect on the reader because then he wouldn't be the everyman. The choices he makes are choices Rowling thinks we all have to make, and they're tough ones.

What is it about the first one that people hate so much? I get the hate for CoS. It's boring as hell, but I still like the first one. Not ashamed to admit that Neville getting his ten points always makes my eyes well up.

Thanks for keeping my expectations in check, Tati. It's really Part II that I'm excited for.

I think they're both boring as fuck, although the first one seemed less so at the time. On re-watch it dragged to all get out. Other then casting, I will give Columbus one other saving grace other than the casting; he establishes the perfect tone and atmosphere.

But I don't think they're well made movies. They're trying too hard to be roller coaster rides.

No problem mate, I don't take this stuff seriously I was just suprised as i didn't think my post was that inflamatory.

He's also, besides Cuaron, the only one to get an ending right (Sorcerer's Stone).

True, but I really liked the ending of the fifth movie, even if it differs slightly from the novel. The ending of the last one was incredibly blundered, if you ask me.

Absolutely. Ommitting the (spoiler)Funeral was a very strange decision.

The 100 wand salute was a great touch, it's that the last scene doesn't work off of that as it should.

Order of the Phoenix is the same way. I like the idea of the ending, but something just seems... off about it. There are moments in HBP's final scene that are perfect -- "I never realized how beautiful this place was before" being the perfect final line -- but something about the way it's shot, the very slow fade out. It just doesn't work like it should.

I don't miss the funeral at all, though. The wands removing the Dark Mark was a wonderful substitute.

Phoenix should've ended with the shot that starts Half Blood Prince.

I've felt that the last 3 Potter films have ended with a whimper. Considering the increasingly dark nature of the stories, I keep wishing the filmmakers would take a more 'daring' choice and go with a completely visual/musical ending. But it feels like they keep tacking on characters talking about their feelings and saying goodbye.

Maybe this is me wanting things to be DARK & GRITTY, but I don't think so.

So I definitely agree with Justin about having Phoenix end with the shot that started HBP. It would be much better than the whimper of a scene that ends it now with obligatory valuable life lessons.

I can't elaborate much as I'm posting from my cell phone, but I really, really enjoyed it. It's a film that is going to devastate children.

My pretty positive review.

http://chud.com/articles/articles/26...T-1/Page1.html

Wrote this in a vacuum, so I don't know if I'm going to sound crazy in either direction. It's also a billion words long and I still didn't hit all of the things I liked/didn't like.

The impression that I get is that you want more complexity with the evil/good conflicts in the story that seem like they didn't get enough attention on screen. Your writing makes it sound like the look of the film is one of the best features of the presentation. Dark done right rules.

After reading your well written review, I am very inclined to see the film whereas I really didn't care to 10 minutes ago. Also it sounds like Alan Rickman is gonna be sick in Part II. I'm all about good work. Great review Renn!

Fantastic review Renn.

Seconded. I mean this in a good way - your reviews are almost TOO much for me; I usually have to come back and read them after seeing the film to really get everything. Really glad you're here, Renn - your reviews are definitely a highlight of the front page content.

Seeing this tomorrow in DLP with my girlfriend and some friends. Cant wait!

Brilliant review Renn (it always sounds disingenuous when you're the third person to say it but it was a truly great review)

Adding to the review love, great stuff Renn.

I shall be seeing this Saturday morning before the Transformers watch a long, so i'm in geek heaven this weekend.

I'm really loving Renn's review style. It's wonderful to have an analytical eye for films and it's even better being able to present them in a way which is so naturally readable. You've got a genuinely distinct voice as a reviewer.

I think that might be Renn's finest review yet. Excellent work, sir.

More words! This time it's Dellamorte, Joshua, and myself going at it. A bit more talk about fucking and stuff.

http://chud.com/articles/articles/26...T-1/Page1.html

EDIT: And thanks so much for the kind words guys. I've been blown away by the reception to the reviews lately- it'd be a genuine honor just to not be shit upon by you guys, much less actually appreciated.

I Facebook like it already! Though I won't actually read it till after I see the film, I have no doubt I'll love what I read.

I never, ever expected to hear a Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds song in a Harry Potter movie. Blew my mind.

Renn you promised Fucking and stuff and you delivered. Kudos to you all.

Do they throw a trailer for the final installment in after the credits?

Walter Chaw liked it quite a bit, and puts the film in a larger context quite nicely.

Hopefully I'll get out to see this over the weekend, and hopefully it lives up to this and Renn's praise.

Saw it at the midnight screening last night.

First, anyone claiming (like certain excitable webmasters at other sites) that this is the best Harry Potter film thus far is deluding themselves. The middle is a jumbled mess where plot points and action beats just occur without any real emotional context. Like someone pointed out in the tag team review (forgive me, I don't remember who), the middle seems more like a video game than an actual story with characters.

Second, the camping sequence, while long, wasn't long enough. Or, rather, it wasn't constructed well enough for the point of the sequence to come through. Like Parker pointed out, the whole point of that section of the story is to 1) show the kids in a world without any adults, and 2) demonstrate how isolated they are, and 3) to show them dealing with the enormity of the task ahead of them, and how that enormity breaks down relationships. To accomplish those three essential emotional beats requires a bit of a slow burn. The movie just didn't give the characters enough time to work through the emotional beats that added resonance and context to the subsequent decisions by the characters.

Case in point, it seemed like Ron just up and left after a week. From a character stand-point, this doesn't make a whole lot of sense as presented in the movie. I buy that Ron takes off, and I buy why he takes off, but I don't buy that he does so soon. It seems out of character for him to leave so soon after getting going, particularly after keeping Harry from leaving by himself before the wedding. And yes, the element of jealously is present in the film, but it needed a scene or two more to develop, to really show the weight of the task weighing on them and pushing each character to less than rational conclusions. In short, people just don't snap after a few days of hard times, and that's what feels like happened here.

It seems to me that Kloves approached the camping sequence assuming that there was a lot in there to cut. If that's the case, he was right to a degree. That needed to be truncated, but it feels like it was cut too much. It's sort of like taking out a cake before it has a chance to fully cook and set. That part needed more time to produce the same kind of slow burn and emotional weight the characters needed. Unfortunately, now it feels more like they're just checking things off a list rather than having the characters come to emotional conclusions organically.

Man....this was so freaking good. I really didnt care much for the 6th movie...so this was a breath of awesomeness for me. Went to see it at midnight last night. 11 showings at this theater, all sold out. I've never seen that happen before.

I can't agree that the film would have been served well by adding more to the forest adventures. Saur- pardon, Voldemort's locket was very clearly accelerating the emotional friction in those scenes, and the presence of the locket is a big focus. We've gotten enough of Ron's jealousy and insecurity issues in the previous films and even in this one that him taking off quickly under the influence of an evil trinket is an acceptable solution to dragging out those scenes.

Deformed Harry looked like Tom Cruise in Vanilla Sky.

Heh. Nicely done.

I kind of wish I would have waited to see this marathoned with part 2. I hate feeling like I watched half a film.