(no subject)

[vivien]

And I loved it.

Quite easily the best of the movies. I didn't think they could make the story coherant, and while I did miss the twists of the Barty story, I was fine with the changes they made. I knew quite a bit about the movie going in, so I think that helped, but still, the tone and the heart of the story were there, and I thought this one did a much better job of conveying more information than PoA did.

Highlights

The Riddle House - I hadn't seen pictures,but OMG it looked just as I imagined it in my head, which is a wee bit scary. In my imagination, the caretaker's cottage was closer, but the Georgian architecture. Dead bang. Eee hee hee.

The Quidditch World Cup team introductions - very cool.

I adored the Beux Baton girls and the Durmstrang boys entrances.

I had read about Dumbledore being a bit twitchy and shouty in this one, so I was dreading that. However, I found that instead, Gambon's performance made Dumbledore human.

The bathtub scene with Myrtle. OMG so funny.

Ron. Ron, Ron, Ron. He was funny and adorable and ever so teenaged huffy awkward. Of all the kids, I think Rupert's performances are closest to his character.

Neville broke my heart. I'm so glad he'll be a hero in the next one.

Ginny had some nice turns, and my, she's becoming lovely. I like how the Hermione and Ginny friendship was subtly feautured as a kind of backgrond noise.

Now, usually I don't care for added stuff, especially in an adaptation where so much else is lost. But the dancing lessons? PERFECT.

The twins. OMG. The twins. Just. LOFF for the twins.

I liked Mad Eye, but I missed "Constant vigilance." The DADA lesson was well done. And the bouncing ferret? THANK YOU FOR THE BOUNCING FERRET.

Minerva also had a nice presence this time round. Not nearly enough of her, of course.

The Dark Mark tatoo with the writhing... whee!

And what you all know I will blather on about: Ralph Fiennes as Voldemort. Wow. Although, and I say this with the bias of my inner-Tom and my high tolerance for all things creepy, I thought he was almost too mild. Very professor-ish, almost, although, hahaha, that kinda fits, after HBP. However, as Jen pointed out, that was the good old Riddle charm showing through. His movements were amazing, and the effects they gave the robes? WOW. He was intense and mad and arrogant, and yay! And how the bloody hell can Ralph Fiennes still look hot in that incredibly cool yet horrible makeup?

Lowerlights

Was it me, or was Snape too nice?

No Charlie or Bill. Wah!

No Narcissa, either.

Gratuitous dragon dodging, but as it wasn't as poorly done as either of the gratuitous flying car or spider scenes in CoS, I'll forgive it. And dude, did the dragon die??? I can't imagine Charlie was pleased with that!

The polyjuice references were overkill, but the dull people need help with plots like this. Sigh.

I saw why Barty had the snake tongue thing, but that was a bit much. I didn't care for the characterization.

No Le Stranges either.

Fleur was such a wimp! But, erm, I guess she kinda was in the book, too. That's a disappointing realization.

But really my quibbles are few.