Order of the Phoenix and assorted Potteriana

[vaznetti]

We very nearly didn't see Order of the Phoenix this evening: we went the the theater, bought tickets, sat through the ads and previews, and then, where there ought to have been a movie, there was a big blurry mess. After abut five minutes of that we learned that even if they could fix the picture, they couldn't restart the movie (why on earth not? I mean, aside from the fact that the theater was run by teenagers?), so we got our money back, I yelled at the manager, and we walked over to the other movie theater and saw it there. All through the ads and previews, we were on the edge of our chairs, though, sure that something would go wrong; and about two-thirds of the way through there was a blip with the sound, but other than that it was OK.

As for the film itself, it was deeply enjoyable. The book is probably my least favorite of all of them: too sprawling, with too many new characters and too much of Harry shouting and full of angst. Whereas in this version, the story was a good deal more streamlined (almost to the verge of being hard to follow if you didn't already know it, I suspect) and Harry's angst made perfect sense: BH said on the way to dinner that Daniel Radcliffe gave an amazing performance as a boy caught up in grief, guilt and a healthy portion of PTSD. And that was exactly right, and just what it was. Dumbledore's distance and Snape's behavior also made more sense here, somehow: in the book, I got the sense that Snape was just being a bad teacher for random, plot-related reasons, whereas here one got the sense that he was trying to get Harry to learn, even if he was doing it in the wrong way. And the scenes between Harry and Sirius were also really affecting.

I might have felt differently if I was strongly attached to anything in particular about OOtP, but there was nothing missing that I particularly wanted. And I really, really liked Luna here -- much more than in the book. She was luminous, and stole every scene she was in. And because of the change with Cho, where she was the one who betrayed the DA, and Ginny not having any lines at all, it really seemed that Luna/Harry was a reasonable possibility. I would be behind that. They had some chemistry.

And visually, it was spectacular. One of the things about the Harry Potter books is that the world doesn't always make a great deal of sense, but it's very deeply imagined, and the movie gave a great sense of the depth and richness of the world. I loved the Ministry, in particular: an amazing set, and to see it at first with all those people in it, the whole world, was wonderful.

Imelda Stanton wasn't the Umbridge I imagined, but she was terrifying in the role, both as sadist and as true believer.


And EEEE! Potterdammerung approaches! I am finally getting excited about that; maybe I will reread HBP this week, to catch up.

So all in all, it was worth the hassle.

* * *

Afterward the movie, we went to a pretty good Brazilian and Mexican restaurant -- with two-for-one margaritas, although they were quite weak compared to my mother's. (Mom starts each margarita with three shots of tequila, and then there's the Controy and lime juice, in some lesser quantities. One makes you happy; two make you go to sleep.)

* * *

Via musesfool, I am pleased to see that hossgal and I are not alone in our belief that Dean was meant to be in Hufflepuff (our conversation was here, back in November of last year); and I maintain now, as I maintained then, that John can best be understood as Hufflepuff Gone Bad.

* * *

Also on the way to the restaurant, BH pointed out the striking resemblance between Hermione Granger (or I suppose, Emma Watson?) and one of his students.

Me: Wasn't she the girl I had the very long, very drunk, very earnest conversation about lesbianism with?
Him: Yes, but if you got Hermione really, really drunk, isn't that exactly the conversation she would have?
Me: I bet one of my friends has written that.

Have you? Presumably, with the sex scene as well.

Comments

[vaznetti]

Not my invention -- I think someone on Fandom Wank made it up, but it's certainly caught on!

[zarahemla.livejournal.com]

Apropos of nothing, I just read the most wonderful John fic ... I thought of you while I was reading it and getting all sniffly.

Old Thingstones (http://eloise-bright.livejournal.com/145868.html)

[vaznetti]

Oh, I read that -- it was really good!

[muridae-x.livejournal.com]

There was the most amazing clunk as the copyright details came up at the end of the credits when I saw Order of the Phoenix last Thursday. I remember thinking at the time how glad I was to have seen it before the projector had mangled the reels too much; it sounds like your projector was feeling even more peckish.

Glad you got to see it on the second try though.

I mostly get Luna/Ron vibes from the books, but she and Harry were very cute together here. Her matter of fact acceptance of death was an essential part of his healing process.

[vaznetti]

it sounds like your projector was feeling even more peckish.

It was all blurry -- you couldn't see anything. We all sat there a couple minutes, wondering whether it was supposed to be like that, before walking out to see what was going on, but no one came into the theater to make an announcement. We left before the parents with small children and the teenagers really got going with the manager, but I expect it wasn't pretty.

I really liked the way Luna could talk to Harry, in the film -- that she saw him, rather some idea of him.

[thepouncer.livejournal.com]

I could pretty much copy and paste your third through fifth paragraphs as my thoughts on the movies - I *deeply* appreciate that the visual medium has demanded a focus on the essential elements of the story, and at least a partial reworking of some of the motivations (probably more accurately explained by Harry being an unreliable narrator in the books - in the films we get a wider point of view). Loved Luna. Loved Sirius (and OMG, the scenes between Sirius and Harry tore me to pieces, especially with Sirius' mind slipping to James at the last). Loved Neville and Dumbledore's Army and *Harry*, OMG. My beloved Harry.

The only HP story I wrote, I started thinking about it after Goblet of Fire ended with Harry so devastated by Cedric's death, and how the end of each of the novels had gotten more and more grim. I could see him sustaining greater and greater losses, and not being able to recover, and OotP film was so marvelous in that respect - PTSD and worry and grief and guilt and anger all combined.

[vaznetti]

I do like the way the films seem to recognize that Harry's point of view is limited -- that he doesn't always see everything -- without disrupting his central position. In a way, the distance makes him more sympathetic: it's easier to see the damage, in a way, because he doesn't see it.

[aliskye.livejournal.com]

I totally agree with you about the film. I really enjoyed it, it was awesomely visual, Luna was excellent, Sirius was fabulous (I really loved the family tree at the Order HQ), and my only problem was (and I'm surprised to say it) Helena Bonham Carter (who is an amazing actor) who just didn't bring the Bellatrix menace to the screen. Though perhaps we can blame the director. The rest was way better than I expected.

[vaznetti]

It was a wonderful job -- I really thought the book would be unfilmable.

Unfortunately, whenever Helena Bonham Carter appears in anything, my husband whispers "Tiny little person," because she is -- but it makes it hard to take her seriously.

[camille-is-here.livejournal.com]

The movie made up for a lot in the book for me. I was so disappointed in the book that I never bothered reading HBP. But after seeing the movie, I am thinking I ought to soldier on through. But I truly dread the self-indulgent page-bloat that happens when a writer becomes too popular to be edited.

And, btw, you do have the best BH ever.

[vaznetti]

I almost didn't read HBP, because I was so disappointed by OOtP -- but it was in the supermarket checkout line, so I picked it up, and I was really impressed. Sure, it was long, but it wasn't bloated: in fact it was a real page-turner. So I found it a pleasant surprise, and hope that the last one will keep focused, too.

And thank you! He came home today foaming at the mouth about some kind of idiocy by Russell T. Davies.

[forodwaith.livejournal.com]

Wasn't she the girl I had the very long, very drunk, very earnest conversation about lesbianism with?

You're in your own crossover!

[vaznetti]

Ha! Although I would have hoped the crossover would have been more exciting, really.

[cassandre.livejournal.com]

Good comment about the visual world of the film being "deeply imagined" - it summarizes what is best about the film, I think.

A Brazilian/Mexican restaurant? With margaritas? Am I mistaken in thinking you're in Oxford? Where is it where where where where where?!

[vaznetti]

Would you like a late lunch tomorrow or Friday? It's on the street leading to the train station, right by the river, so it's a bit out of your way. I had this amazing vegetarian dish, too.

I love the way the films look -- they really catch the wonder of the universe, which often sounds a little silly when JKR describes it. But when you see it on film, it's amazing.

[cassandre.livejournal.com]

Friday would be great for lunch if you can still manage it. Actually, Charlie's nursery is close to the train station, so that would be very convenient for me. Would 1.15 work?

xxx
c

[hossgal.livejournal.com]

*is smug in Hufflepuff righteousness*

You know, I have been asked five times in the last two days if either a) I had seen the movie already (ans: no) and/or b) if I was going downtown to get the book tonight. (ans: hell, no.)

And now I'm wondering if I had a sign on my back that said 'Potterhead'. Because I'm not *that* kind of geek.

- hg