I have been busy.
Too busy to blog. Too busy to shop on Black Friday. Too busy to upload photos on my photoblog. Too busy even to read my favourite blogs and comment on them.
But I wasn’t too busy to go watch Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 on the day of its release, and to put it bluntly, the movie rocks. This is exactly what a Harry Potter movie should be like.
I would have been skeptical if this same opinion had come from another reviewer, because the last movie by the same director was everything a Harry Potter movie should not be. With unnecessary deviations from the storyline, large chunks of vital plot points left out, and important characters and details reduced to mere passing references, David Yates reduced the gripping sixth story into an intolerable headache. This time, however, by splitting up the story into two movies, he has been able to do justice to the little incidents that make the book such an interesting read. Another major plus point of the movie is the absence of Michael Gambon and his insufferable performance as a hot-headed Albus Dumbledore.
To be honest, the expectations were high. They are always unfairly high for a director directing a Harry Potter movie, because there are people like me who would go splitting hairs about specific dialogs and what a particular character’s hairstyle looks like. But at the end of the two and a half hours, even I had to say that I was as satisfied with the movie as I was with Chris Columbus’s first two movies.
Right from the initial seven Potters sequence, to the teen trio’s adventure in the ministry of magic, to Harry and Hermione’s visit to Godric’s Hollow, Harry finding the sword, and finally the happenings at Malfoy Manor and Luna’s house – every scene was nearly as I had imagined. There was the added bonus of a fantastic animated story-telling sequence within the movie. I won’t say much about the plot, although I doubt if there is anyone who hasn’t read the book and is still worried about spoilers while reading this blog. Rupert Grint, Emma Watson and Tom Felton are magnificent as usual in their acting, and even Daniel Radcliffe seems to get the hang of it now.
Was it perfect? No. The failure to mention the taboo on Voldemort’s name left a vital plot point unexplained. I hoped to see the paintings on Luna’s ceiling. Wormtail was supposed to die because Harry had once saved his life – the film failed to mention that. Most importantly, the semi-nude kissing scene between Harry and Hermione was totally uncalled for. I know what the book says, and it could have been shown differently considering it is only a children’s movie. But then, no movie is ever perfect. Some only come very close to perfection.
Like Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 did.
moshai, aaj sokale uthhei bujhechhi din bhalo jabe. gelo o. notun post er jonyo kobe theke ghure jachchhi janen ki?
ReplyDeleteok ebar kaajer kotha.
I did not like the movie. Yes, the seven Potter's scene and the story of three brothers and death were brilliant. I was genuinely scared (and screamed suitably :P) in that Nagini scene and so on. But it was a slow movie. When Harmione and Harry were travelling and searching and having fight with Ron, I got seriously bored.
The ending was good. Dobby came along and saved the movie for me.
Anyways, great minds do not always think alike.
And, please please, do not vanish again. keep writing, at least one post a week. please. :P
@Kuntala: The whole of the seventh book is about Harry, Ron and Hermione hiding and looking for the horcruxes. I liked the movie because it showed much of that in detail. However, if you are not a big fan of the books, I can understand that that part would seem a little boring.
ReplyDeleteHere's a secret: Sumana was sitting next to me and tugging on my shirt sleeve all through the Nagini scene. :-)
Sugata, I am a bigger fan of the books actually. But I think Rowling's story telling is better than Yates' narration.
ReplyDeleteRowling's story telling is definitely much better than any of the films made untill now, but I think this one comes closest to being a second time watch, compared to any of the others.
ReplyDeleteI too wanted to see the ceiling art, and hated it when Dobby dies, but unlike Kuntala di, I can never get bred of watching Rupert, can I? :D
Very well written, precise yet detailed. Much like the movie.
this movie was just fun to watch! i got chills right at the beginning and just couldn't take my eyes off of it. i can hardly remember the book since it was so long ago but i feel they didn't miss out on anything important.
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