<p>I suppose if you’ve read the books then nothing is a spoiler, but I’d like to discuss this movie with others who have seen it.</p>
<p>I found it quite disappointing, and yet when I went to look at online reviews I am amazed to find how much critics seemed to like it. I don’t read the books; I just enjoy the movies on their own merits – did I laugh, did I cry, did it make sense, etc. And I found this one lacking. The supposed climax didn’t move me at all.</p>
<p>Saw the midnight show with my 13 and 18 year old daughters,and her bf. I really enjoyed it. To quote Larry the Cucumber from Veggie Tales, “I laughed, I cried, it moved me”.
I’ve read all the books numerous times, so perhaps my view is different. Obviously, parts of the book had to be cut/changed for time and plot purposes. (changing Tonks to Luna on the train, for one)
I can see how you may be disappointed with not as much action as the others, but I saw it as a set up to the final 2 movies (arrgh, not to wait another year and another)</p>
<p>D16 is seeing it right now. I’m a huge fan of the books and have been indifferent to the movies. We own all the previous movies and I still haven’t gotten around to watching them all.</p>
<p>When the last movie came out in 2007 we were on vacation and saw it in Boston the day after it came out. Only I’d eaten some bad clams so after the first 15 minutes, I only saw the inside of the bathroom stall. I never did go back and watch it - sort of gave me a bad feeling.</p>
<p>Son, being an Aspie, remembers every detail of every book, so he’s very into how true the book is to the movie. Husband times his finishing of the book until just before the movie comes out. I, on the other hand, devour the books when they come out, but my memory is so poor that I never remember whether the movie is true to the book or not.</p>
<p>Hub, daughter (7) & I saw the movie last night-- enjoyable, though dark. But, then again, the book was dark and did not have an upbeat ending. I thought it was fairly true to the book - there was so much in there, you could only pick & chose certain things that would advance the plot and provide atmosphere. </p>
<p>Daughter & I have listed to all 7 books (unabridged) on CD starting when she was about 5. It’s nice to hear in the car, etc. </p>
<p>Hub sniffed a little at the sad part at the end.</p>
<p>Going to see it tonight but already heard about one scene (fire at the Burrows) that was not in the book…that is unecessary IMHO. There is so much that needs to be cut to fit the book into movie format, why add an unwritten scene? Also heard that Bill and Percy aren’t in the movie which perplexes me, since they are IMO, integral to the story and set up for the 7th book (7/8 movies). No engagement = no wedding?</p>
<p>wow…was I watching a different movie than Jolynne?? As a movie on its own I thought that it was pretty good. There was humor, action, romance and great effects. However, if you are thinking that it will be “fairly true to the book” then you will certainly be dissapointed. There were so many things changed in this installment and so much left out that I must admit that I came away from it a little let down. The biggest of these was the deletion of the final fight scene…in the book this showed how everyone could come together, make a stand and come out ready to fight longer and stronger in the end. The death scene for Dumbledore was EXTREMELY dissapointing…having Harry stand still of his own accord was ridiculous…when has he ever stood by and let something happen to those that he cares for? And why exactly did the death of the greatest wizard of all time and one of the most loved fictional characters simply get a slow motion fall…there was no real “OMG” moment…there was no real sadness…they completely left out the funeral.
Any way, as I said that movie on its own was alright however if you are looking for a good adaptation of the book you will be lacking…</p>
<p>Agree with Gidget, movie on its own was good. Movie based on book was horrible. So many things left out which was understandable but all the things that were changed: Harry just standing by while Dumbledore is killed, Luna finding Harry on train, Harry using the powder to prevent Draco from seeing him climb on rack in the train, Hagrids house just buring down, no order of the phoenix in the castle the night Dumbledore died, etc. …sigh I will go see it again though. </p>
<p>I wish they were using another director/screnwriter for the next movie.</p>
<p>Saw the movie last night. I loved it and thought they did a great job with it. The actors have definitely gotten better (esp. Hermione) over the past few movies and Jim Broadbent was a wonderful Slughorn. Since I knew about the differences from the book, they didn’t bother me so much. Again, the burning of the Burrows was silly and unnecessary but all the other changes or omissions for me, seemed to go along with the basic plotline/jist of the book so I didn’t care. I loved it and look forward to purchasing the DVD for my HP collection this November.</p>
<p>Just wanted to add that it also didn’t bother me that they left off the funeral of Dumbledore since the illuminated wands basically had the same effect for me (to show how well loved and respected he was). The movie was already a long 2 1/2 hours…I don’t think I could have sit still too much longer.</p>
<p>Interesting views! I just thought those books are so packed with action, plots, subplots, etc. that there was no way even a fraction was going to make it (reasonably) into a 2 1/2 hr movie. The fact that they conveyed the complexities of at least some of it in an understandable way (for those who haven’t read all the books) was to me, successful.</p>
<p>Maybe the burning of the burrow was a way of condensing/synthesizing some of the ominous threat that pervaded the book in so many other ways that would have been difficult to convey.</p>
<p>Although, now that you mention it, Harry standing by while Dumbledore was killed was a bit of a departure…</p>
<p>One thing that was distracting to me…the young actress (?) who played Ginny Weasley was nearly imobile…a real contrast to the actress who played Hermione (very vibrant and emotive).</p>
<p>I’ve reached age where my memory is suspect on a regular basis - but honestly! Those Harry Potter books are like cotton candy; they’re so easy to consume and they disappear as you do it. My kids read them as they came out, and so did I, but I’ve re-read them as the movies have come out because I never remember a thing! </p>
<p>My daughter (now a college grad), insists that I go with her to each new film. This time, I didn’t bother re-reading the book and I was vaguely uneasy about some of the scenes; now I know it’s because many of them weren’t in the book. </p>
<p>I liked it overall. But then again I liked the Lord of the Rings movies, too. I just like fantasies, even if they’re not quite true to the original.</p>
<p>I dunno, seiclan, the lighted wands made it feel like everyone was at a rock concert. My other snarky thought was that Tom Riddle left the locket horcrux in Superman’s ice cave. Those same crystals! :)</p>
<p>Not sure why Snape didn’t lose it in his final scene. In the book, he snaps when Harry calls him a coward, and screams that HE is the half-blood prince. In the movie, Snape is Mr. Cool Cucumber. </p>
<p>Anyone else see the teaser trailer for the first Percy Jackson movie?</p>
<p>Slithey–I’ve learned my lesson w/trailers. Daughter & I were so psyched for Harry Potter (after listening to book 7 on CD & expecting it to come out in Dec!) that we watched all the trailers for this movie, numerous times.</p>
<p>Frankly, many of the best parts were in the trailers, and edited to evoke surprise and excitement. When the scenes were part of the movie itself, it all seemed so much less thrilling and much slower paced (kind of a come-down). No more trailers for us! :-)</p>
<p>My kids were unhappy with Dumbledore’s funeral as well. I agree about Ginny, and really hated the scene where Ginny takes Harry to hide the potions book. Ugh. Thought the special effects were very good.</p>
<p>As big fans of the books, my crew comes away from the movies never really liking them. I wondered whether this one would really make sense to folks who haven’t read the books since so much of Draco’s anguish is left out of the movie. Somehow it seems that Snape’s mysterious nature and menace has come across as a bit humorous to theater audiences in previous movies so I was glad that his lines weren’t received with laughter for this movie. The rom-com was great fun, but the action-adventure was a bit weak. The ending was far less dramatic than in the book. I thought the illuminated wands were too much like lighters at rock concerts, as someone else has already mentioned. And we missed the OOP helping to defend Hogwarts and the confusion, chaos and fear that he book’s ending described.</p>
<p>Even so, we can’t wait for the next two movies we are bound not to like (but somehow will love them anyway)…</p>
<p>I think I liked the movie but I saw it a midnight so I’m not sure if I liked it or I was just amazed to stay awake for the whole thing. Oldest ds didn’t like it all. Middle son liked it but said it wasn’t great, and 9 yr read the book the week before the movie came out and was very annoyed by the addition of the fire at Weasley’s and the lack of Order of Phoenix battle and Dumbledore funeral. </p>
<p>I hadn’t thought of it until he mentioned it, but wouldn’t the funeral have made an appropriate end to the movie? My oldest says they didn’t do it because they didn’t want to pay all those big name actors to shoot it but I can’t imagine that’s it. </p>
<p>I will say that seeing the movie at midnight is lovely because the audience is made up of serious fans, in other words, they know how to shut up during a movie. I’ve never been in a sold-out crowd and had no audience distraction. It was great!</p>
<p>Real spoiler: For those who wondered why the fight scene between the OOP and the Deatheaters wasn’t in the movie: my theory is that it would have been too redundant with the ending of book 7, and having two major fight scenes, filmed at the same location, would have been anti-climactic.</p>
<p>My D said the biggest disappointment to her was the failure to show the change in Ginny’s character: in the book she grows into a happy, self-sufficient girl whose charm and independence attract Harry. In the movie, other than showing her kissing some guy, she doesn’t show any characteristics that would attract anyone at all.</p>