Obligatory GOF Review

Tired of the reviews on your flist? Too bad, it’s my turn. :p

I will be short and say that I totally loved it. It was easily the best so far. I think that as a movie based on a book, it was really great. I am just a little annoyed at all the “I can’t believe they cut X out”. The cuts where not surprises. I mean, how long have we known that there would be no SPEW. That there would be no house elves. Any shot with a house elf is beaucoup bucks, so as a financial (and time constraint) decision, they were cut. Oh well.

As a film, I thought it was beautiful. I think that overall, they did a fantastic job of cutting out the main story line and making it work very well on its own. So they gave Neville the credit for the gillyweed. Yay for him. I already loved Neville, and this made me love him even more. The dancing. The herbology. He was just a cutey, and I can’t wait to see him in the DA.

I am so happy that those kids have learned how to act. They really have grown. I mean, when I watch PoA, I am embarrassed for Harry when he is crying out in the snow – it’s terrible! But in this one… omg. That final scene! Tears streaming down my face. It was so perfectly done! Everyone emphatically cheering thinking that the Hogwarts champions won, and Harry balling on the ground over Cedric’s body. The yells and fanfare, and then the screams and wails. Heartwrenching. Really was.

I purposefully have not read GOF in a while. It was funny because my little sister made a good point not long ago, when I said I wanted to read Narnia and Geisha before the movies came out, said, “Why do you always want to read the book before seeing the movie? You are always dissapointed in the movie! Why bother?” So true. But I won’t take it that far. I just liked being well removed from the story for a while. I had the pertinent backstory, but not the text, in my mind. It was a great way to watch the film. Really was.

Voldemort? OMG. He was so awesome. Feeling his new body, his face, head, stretching out with every move, enjoying that he is in an able body once again. And him stepping on Cedric’s face. So cruel. Such a perfectly disgusting touch. And like many of you have said, Cedric looked DEAD. No fake dead. Just DEAD.

There were so many jems in the movie, and I can’t wait to go see it again. And IMAX is so the way to go. If there was any hesitation on anyone’s part to go there, once the movie started on time with absolutely no previews or commercials, assigned seats, and a screen that is 6 stories high with a fabulous sound system… well, it was totally worth it. There should be more IMAX theaters out there.

And as a little flashback, I would like to share HRB’s vision of Ralph Fiennes as Voldemort, back when it was just a rumour. Heh, Voldy wishes he looked like that! You can think of it as him before he went so far with the horcruxes. 😉

17 Responses to "Obligatory GOF Review"

mauvaise_etoile says:

November 22, 2005 at 1:16 pm

Cedric DID look dead dead. Freaky wasn’t it?

I’m the same way with books and movies. Though, I usually don’t get around until after I see the movie, which is actually better, then I can’t be disappointed with the film 🙂

HRB’s Voldy is teh yum. GoF Voldy was like the complete opposite of that lol
1. anitza says:
  
  November 22, 2005 at 6:07 pm
  
  I dunno about ‘opposite’, but I can see how her’s is almost a younger, more human version of what Voldemort was to become.
mrsesnape says:

November 22, 2005 at 1:21 pm

I loved Voldemort, as well. His excitement and enthusiasm at being “alive” and his dramatic flair. I loved, loved, loved how they showed him casting powerful and difficult spells with barely a grip on his wand- it was a unique visual way of showing his power. Harry had to hold on with both hands to his wand to hold the priori incantatem (sp?) and Voldemort used two fingers. I loved that.

I have not read GOF in a while on purpose, either; however, I want to read books before I watch a movie because I want to form my own visual and perspectives before being influenced by the director/producers. I see what you are saying as far as it goes for books you have read at least once, and the movie comes out later; but for books I have never read, I can’t do it… if I have a desire to read the book. I am slowly making my way through Vanity Fair just so I can rent the movie with Reese Witherspoon.

Our small-town IMAX in Chatt did not get HP for the new release. I hope they have it in Orlando when we go for Thanksgiving. I can’t wait to see the movie again! This will be the first movie that I have seen in the theater twice!
1. anitza says:
  
  November 22, 2005 at 6:02 pm
  
  Yeah! That’s a great point! I loved his ease of control over magic, but couldn’t put a finger on it like you. So much power, and he was just ‘reborn’.
  
  And I agree with the book thing. I mean, I still want to read Narnia and Geisha before the movies come out. I just do. I want to know the backstories, what’s going on in people’s heads. The important minor characters that don’t fit in the movies, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. But I really like the gap created between reading a book once a while before the movie experience. It makes the movie a very fullfulling experience (of course, if the movie is good, not if it is crap).
  
  I really hope you get to see GOF on IMAX. The experience doesn’t compare.
nosinabook says:

November 22, 2005 at 2:08 pm

Harry balling on the ground over Cedric’s body

Watch your spelling there, Mag. The slasher in me was snorting over this sentence.

Mwahahaha….
1. anitza says:
  
  November 22, 2005 at 5:57 pm
  
  *jaw drops*
  
  I so did not catch that. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
michablack says:

November 22, 2005 at 3:23 pm

We have no IMAX theatres here in Denmark… Sounds like it would’ve been amazing, though *sigh*… Oh, and I agree about Cedric -he really did look dead.
1. anitza says:
  
  November 22, 2005 at 6:05 pm
  
  Well, see, here’s the thing, if you’ve never been, then you don’t know what you are missing.
  
  I am having a very difficult time even thinking about watching it on at a regular theater for my second time, and watching it on tv at home when the DVD comes out seems like a very sad idea to me right now since I have a 6-story-high vision of Voldemort fresh in mind.
  1. michablack says:
    
    November 23, 2005 at 1:45 pm
    
    Hmm, I suppose I should be happy I’ve never seen a movie in IMAX, but it sure does sound great. Really 6 stories high?
    1. anitza says:
      
      November 23, 2005 at 7:02 pm
      
      Yyyeah….. *hides*
      1. michablack says:
        
        November 23, 2005 at 7:33 pm
        
        Heeh… I really do have to go to an IMAX theatre if I ever get the chance, eh?
        
        Purty avatar, btw!
liraelq says:

November 22, 2005 at 7:10 pm

I think you’re right about the actors having grown. The difference was huge…that scene in the snow with Harry in PoA WAS terrible, and I didn’t get that feeling at all from this one. Hermione I found a little…stretched…but I was very pleased with everyone in general.
1. anitza says:
  
  November 23, 2005 at 7:07 pm
  
  Just thinking about that scene makes me embarassed.
purple_equator says:

November 23, 2005 at 2:56 am

I completely agree. This is the first one of the movies that I’ve walked out of and been able to say, “I loved it!” and that I wanted to see again. And thank goodness their acting is improving, I was getting tired of it.
1. anitza says:
  
  November 23, 2005 at 7:05 pm
  
  You sat through the whole thing at a movie theater?! =D
sprootles says:

November 23, 2005 at 9:14 pm

*falls to the ground in abject gratitude*

Thank goodness! Someone who actually liked the film and is tired of people whining about the cuts!

Mag, I have to agree that I loved it for all the reasons you addressed.

Oh, and did you know that it’s been said that the tournament itself isn’t the plot of GoF? hehehehehe….mmm…okay.

I am soooo jealous you got to see it in IMAX. I have never been but I’ve heard about it and am drooling to experience it. Would watching in IMAX mean I wouldn’t have an annoying teen putting his feet on the back of my chair? Please say yes…
1. anitza says:
  
  November 23, 2005 at 9:25 pm
  
  Re: *falls to the ground in abject gratitude*
  
  heh… well, there’s the ‘purists’, and then there’s the rest of us. And by the ‘rest of us’, there’s people that love the movie and people that hate it too. I’m happy to be happy with it, even with its flaws.

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