After Will and Vi attempted to see a midnight showing of the new Harry Potter flick and failed (5 screens/1,000 seats, sold out at our favorite theater!), Vi and I got in with no lines/no waiting at the smaller theater in nearby B-Town 9 hours later. Cousin Dessa joined us. We were the only viewers appropriately dressed in Hogwarts robes.As usual, I came away feeling like I’d just seen a “Reader’s Digest” version of the book…and doubtful that anyone who hadn’t actually read the book(s) could have comprehended the movie at all. Confirming this, Dessa admitted afterward that she had trouble following the storyline in several parts. Little wonder: In Muggle movie-making conditions (minus magic), it’s simply not possible to cram 600 pages of prose (plus about 1,800 pages of background story from the previous 5 books) into palatable American film length. Even this one ran a little longer than standard shows at 2:33.
There was a lot left out, by necessity. And there were several non-Rowling elements inserted—filmmakers’ prerogative. Note to A-Town reader Meg, the lit-to-film purist: Do NOT waste your money on admission to HP6—you’d have to get up and leave in protest in the first half-hour. . .when the Burrow gets burned down by Death Eaters, for example. (Leading me to wonder where they’ll start the 7th film. . .) Another departure from the book: It’s Luna who saves Harry from the train (Tonks is one of my favorite characters, so I missed her there—although I do adore Luna as well).
The cinematography was breathtaking, of course. I especially enjoyed the London flyover in the beginning, the Quidditch scenes, and Dumbledore’s fiery immobilizing of the Inferi evoked Moses’ part in parting the Red Sea. As for the much-ballyhooed snogging in this film, I can tell you there’s a LOT more kissy-face in the book version—in fact, I confess I was a tad disappointed by Harry and Ginny’s super-short (albeit sweet) on-screen smooch.
I’ll likely go see HP6 again before it leaves theaters. These films, although significantly abridged, are like the books that inspired their creation: It takes more than once through to absorb all the wonder, fun, and deeper meaning of the tales. (For deeper meaning doubters, I commend you to Tolkien, Lewis, and John Granger.)
IMAX, anyone? I’ll bring my cloak.
3 comments:
I think I'll have to wait for it to come out on DVD so I can stop whenever the urge arises and start again without missing anything.
You must have reread the book recently -- maybe with Vi? It has been 4 years since reading it, and I certainly do not remember the plot clearly, let alone sub plots! I had hoped to reread it before seeing the movie, but I don't think that is going to happen... So I will enjoy it just for being a good flick (I hope!).
Thanks for the warning (and the shout-out!)... as I haven't seen any of the others, I probably won't start now :)
Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy the occasional parting from lit-- (LOTR is one of my favorite book/movie series, and they couldn't possibly get all of that into even like, 8 hours of screen time) but it really does have to be a completely stellar movie to win me over. That, or the book practically has to be the script. or I accidentally watched the movie first and liked it :)
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