kylezy

I guess I'm maybe a bit disappointed? Because I'm not like, RAGH BEST EVER, although there's nothing I can pinpoint and say, 'well, that's where they ruined the whole film, isn't it?'.

Things I loved:

The dragon at Gringotts, oh my god, I loved everything about it - the raw mess the chains had made around its neck, the rattles the goblins used to condition it, the way it was breathing heavily after breaking out of the top of the bank. It was just amazing, they did such a sweet job on the CGI there.

The goblins were fantastic too, loved the makeup, Griphook was awesome.

The exploding gold was great.

Ollivander was great.

I thought Dan did a bang up job making Harry seem like he's no longer a child anymore. Maybe it was the stubble.

Hermione-as-Bellatrix was adorable.

Disguised!Ron was somehow a turn-on?

Aberforth casting was spot on, far out, those eyes; in one close up I could swear they were exactly like Gambon's.

When Harry gets to Hogwarts -

Neville: What's the plan, Harry?
Harry: Okay. There's something we need to find. Something hidden here in the castle. And it may help us to defeat You-Know-Who.
Neville: Right, what is it?
Harry: We don't know.
Dean: Where is it?
Harry: We don't know that either. I realise it's not much to go on.
Seamus: It's nothing to go on.

OH GRYFFINDOR BOYS ♥ PS: phwoar Dean *_*

Ok, the scene with Snape in the Great Hall. Argh, there were bits I loved and hated. McGonagall was obviously awesome. As were the people who stepped in to defend Harry after Voldemort spoke to them.

McGonagall: I've always wanted to use that spell. OH MY FUCKING GOD, I LOVE HER SO MUCH.

All the professors (and Molly) shielding Hogwarts <3333

The Grey Lady was very beautiful and sad-looking.

YAY NEVILLE.

The shadows as Nagini strikes Snape over and over, oh my, it was horrible.

Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god, seeing Fred, Lupin and Tonks dead was horrendous and I remember being pissed when I found out no one got a death scene but this way was so much more powerful, I thought. I actually let out a for reals gasp-gasp-gasp-sob in this bit, holy cow it hurt. Rupert Grint fucking NAILS anguish.

The Prince's Tale, another bit I have mixed feelings about. I thought Alan Rickman was amazing though. Finally, FINALLY, some emotion. I'd wondered, for years, why he played Snape so stoically. I mean, yeah, that's Snape, but he was far more...let's say lively, for lack of a better word, in the books than he's ever been in the films. And this is why. Because as one of the only people who knew how Snape's journey had gone, he knew he'd have to bring it in the last film to show just how much Snape loved Lily. At times, his tears almost seemed over the top, but I genuinely think it's only because we're so unused to seeing him without his expressionless mask.

I cried all the way through the memory though, oh lordy.

And then I cried through the resurrection stone scene because that is hands down the most emotional part of the books for me and I cry every time I read it. It wasn't perfect (how did Harry know Lupin had a son, gah, film, whywhywhy) but it still slayed me.

That bit of Voldemort in King's Cross was REVOLTING.

Ahaha, awkward Voldemort hugs.

Things I didn't love:

The Hufflepuff cup was too skinny for my liking. How much of a twat does it make me that this is one of my dislikes?

Why couldn't they just show Bellatrix's wand at Gringotts?

The Great Hall scene - like I said, McGoogles was awesome fighting Snape but then she did that flourish and the candles lit and everybody started cheering and the whole thing turned horrifically cheesy.

Painful!Whispering!Voldemort didn't really work for me, I always thought his voice would be magnified.

Ron: Harry talks in his sleep, have you noticed?
Hermione: No, of course not.

I...don't understand what that bit is all about. Are they trying to imply that Ron pays more attention and is therefore smarter than we give him credit for? Is Hermione supposed to be lying (what's with her reply?), and if so, why? I just...don't understand.

The kissssss. No, okay, I liked the setup, I was perfectly happy with the kiss coming from the adrenaline of the moment, but they barely look at each other right before and you couldn't even see the kiss because Grint's head was blocking it and Yates has such a boner for putting in 'real moments' of the actors giggling (ootp - emotional teaspoon scene, hbp - dumbledore's 150 give or take a few years), that when Ron and Hermione smile at each other afterwards, it doesn't feel like them, it feels like Grint and Watson.

The Prince's Tale - it jumped around so much, I felt so sorry for people who aren't book fans.

King's Cross was too CGI-bright. That's such a shitty thing to complain about, but there you go.

Overall actually, this scene didn't really do it for me like it did in the book.

Okay, so awkward Voldemort hug was funny but NO. Voldemort does not hug. Ever.

Neville's speech was cute but too cheesy for my liking.

Harry and Voldemort jumping off the building was as unnecessary as I thought it would be.

I'm still undecided in how I felt about the way Voldemort died. In the books there's a body, right? I think I prefer it that way, although I suppose evaporating this way is more dramatic?

HARRY, Y U NO FIX YOUR WAND BEFORE BREAKING THE ELDER WAND?

19 years later - ultimately didn't work for me. I thought Emma looked great and Dan passed but Bonnie looked like a kid playing dress-up and whaaaat, Ron Weasley got fat? Kids were all super adorable though, so that's a plus.

Final verdict:

I'm glad I'm a fan of the books or I wouldn't have known what the hell was going on. It was an enjoyable film but it's not my favourite, nor would it be in my top three (DH pt. 1, OotP and PoA). I'm seeing it again next week probably, so maybe that'll change.

WHAT WERE YOUR THOUGHTS?