Is there a larger cultural phoenomenon than Harry Potter? From the large lines of fanboys who hungrily digest the next book to the increasingly casual question "So, have you read the Harry Potter books?", to the increasingly casual answer "Yeah.". I'm truly beginning to think that there isn't. I mean, who doesn't love a huge epic fantasy? According to the countless ripoffs like Eragon and Charlie Bone, probably no one.
But they are not just great for their well-written scope and action, they are fascinating in watching these characters grow up, in the movies and books. I have grown up with these people, and I will be very sad when the last book comes out. But that out of the way. I was kinda worried about Harry Potter when I heard that first-time director David Yates would take the helm. And admitedly, compressing a 900-page book into 2 hours isn't the smartest move, as some important stuff gets kicked out, but the general look and feel of the book is replicated. And answering the next question, this captures the emotion, the action, and the magic (irony intended) of the earlier films.
Mind you, this is not perfect...In fact, most characters are wasted: Ron only says "Bloody hell" and casts a few spells, and Hagrid is reduced to a monologue on how there's a storm coming. Harry as always has the most to do, and Daniel Radcliffe handles Harry Potter growing up with expertise.
Harry Potter is in his fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. There is the wizarding world he is a hero, a celebrity. But back in our world, the 'Muggle' world, he is treated like vermin by his only family, the Dursleys. So when Dementors from the wizarding world attack Harry and his cousin Dudley, Harry gets unfairly expelled from Hogwarts for using a spell in front of a Muggle. But, thank God for Headmaster Dumbledore, he saves Harry singlehandedly. Ever since the Dark Lord Voldemort returned, the wizarding world is split between disbelief and confusion, very few believe Harry's tragic eyewitness testimony.
So Harry gets to Hogwarts, and the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Dolores Umbridge is straight from the Ministry of Magic, who after Voldemort's return are paranoid and disbelieving of Dumbledore and Harry. After last year a Hogwarts student was murdered, everyone is kinda scared from Harry now that The Daily Prophet (wizarding equivalent of The National Enquirer) is writing rubbish about Harry left and right - and everyone actually believes it.
The new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher doesn't teach actual spells, a change that sits well with no one. So Harry's best chums Ron and Hermione convince him to form a club called 'Dumbledore's Army' to secretly teach other students spells for self-defense. It is a big success, as the students progress greatly. Better yet, it nets Harry his first kiss. But Voldemort is rising and building an army, resulting in a tragic end battle that will haunt Harry for the rest of his life.
Imelda Staunton is excellent as Dolores Umbridge, the powerhouse performance of the film. She is deliciously evil. She loves to be bad and we love watching. Ralph Fiennes is back as Voldemort, in a very chilling cameo. Helena Bonham Carter is wasted but good in a brief role as mentally insane wizard Bellatrix Lestrange
Despite having only one major action sequence, it is the most dark of all the Harry Potter films with some really gruesome stuff. But at the same time, oddly enough most of the movie is focused on Harry's inner demons, not his adventures...I, along with the other 28 million Harry Potter fanatics await the next film in 2008, and the last book later on this week...One might complain that the action is gone and so is the magic. I say the action is gone and the magic remains, stronger than ever. B+
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment