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Sunday 21 November 2010

Verdict on Harry Potter

I am going to make some comments on Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, and although I will be careful to avoid spoilers, if you haven't seen the film yet, and want to go without any pre-conceptions, how about visiting Emma's blog instead?



Ok, so if you are still with me, I will take it that you have seen the film too.

I deliberately did not read DH again in advance, so that I could enjoy the film as a film. You see, I am very firmly of the opinion that books should be books and films should be films. In a book I want to see the world through the eyes of our hero/ine, I want to experience their thoughts and views, I want my vision to be coloured by their opinions. In a book I want to be given insider information and I expect my story to progress at pace that suits reading. A film however is completely different. I want a visual feast, I want drama, I want to be swept along by a story delivered at a film's pace. The film communicates through vision and dialogue, through expression, body language and through the musical score.

The film of DH delivered the book in exquisite detail. The inner thoughts and feelings of the trio were delivered in acres of face shots, portraying every shade of their emotions. The sets were created in loving detail and the location shots saw the tent pitched in an impressive array of glorious scenery. The visualisation was brilliant, and the acting of high standard. If I have criticised the trio for woodenness in the past, there was no sign of it here.

BUT ... you have probably put two and two together and worked out that I have a problem with the film. When I read the book, I felt the tent section was overly long and unnecessarily so, but in a film, it seemed interminable.

I absolutely loved the books, and my criticism of the pace in the book of DH really was only a minor niggle, but the film could have been so much more. My favourite film was The Goblet of Fire, because it was made as a FILM. It took liberties with the book, it cut out loads of material that was important to the book, but it entertained AS A FILM. Back to DH - am I glad I went? Yes! Did I think that it was money well spent? Yes! Will I get the DVD and watch it again and again? Hell, yes! It wasn't that bad really!

I am however looking forward to the second part - that should be one barn-storming action adventure!

7 comments:

  1. I'm right with you on the camping scenes. I agree too that the acting was very well done - the trio has shown how much they have grown since Sorcerer's Stone.

    All the good stuff happens in Part 2, so here's hoping it will truly shine!

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  2. I haven't seen the film yet so I skipped over most of this post so I wouldn't have any preconceived notions. My relatives have seen it and I ordered them on pain of death to say nothing.

    Can't wait!

    Jai

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  3. I really enjoyed HP7 DH in film form. I agree, the acting was strong, and the cinematography was lovely.
    I also agree that the tent scene(s) went on too long...which made the movie LONGER than it needed to be. 2 1/2 hours seated in a theater with little leg room (when you count the previews it really came out longer than that) is too long. If they would have pruned 15-20 minutes (there were a few places they easily could have) and it would have been a tremendous improvement.

    I'm new here *waves* nice to meet you. :)

    ~Lola

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  4. Hi Dom - Haven't seen it yet, but plan to. Your point of judging each form of media on its own merits is valid. I have a nasty habit of reading a book and then whining because the movie doesn't measure up. I'll try to be better about not doing that henceforth. *sigh*

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  5. I haven't seen the movie yet, but I'm looking forward to it. I'll remember to come back and read your post Dominic. I should be going this weekend with my sons :) Fingers crossed.

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  6. Hi lola and welcome - lovely to meet you too!

    Hi Kelly, Lisa and Jai - I really hope you enjoy the film. I will be really interested to see what you make of it!

    and hi Liz! I have high hopes for Part 2!!

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