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innerSpaceman · 07-15-2011, 02:38 PM

I was vaguely disappointed. Of course, I didn't like the book - so this rather faithful adaptation didn't have much chance to impress me.

It was beautiful. Well-acted. Nice, um, cinematography and effects and score. Fast-paced, action-packed, all that. Emotionally bankrupt and distant is how I perceived it though. Not a single time did I get choked up or thrilled or frightened or surprised.

Of course, I pretty much hate understories. And as the finale of the piece, it had to wrap up all the decade-long understory - but it did so perfunctorily and by-the-numbers. Boring. But .. that's how Rowling's last two HP books were - great.big.bores.

Death Eaters attack Hogwarts in the long-anticipated battle between the forces of good and evil. Yawn. Each character gets their single moment in the sun, often out-of-the-blue and gratuitously. Yawn. Wizards Duel and Wizards Duel redux. Yawn and double yawn. Even Harry's bit in wizard purgatory with Dumbledore was played for yawns, imo.

Don't get me wrong. The movie, like I said, was fast-paced, action-packed, well-acted, and gorgeous. The story is just lame as can be, and that's all Rowlilng's doing - - but it is what it is, and I think it's a dumb story that no film could overcome.

Most understories are bare bones nothingness that can only end in ways seen sixteen miles off. The last hour of Harry Potter 7.2 seemed like going through a checklist.

It's hardly coincidence that my favorite of the series, Prisoner of Azkaban, which has the best story, the best performances, the best score, the best art design, the best tone, and the best direction by far and away - is also the ONLY film in the series with no Voldemort and none of the Harry v. YouKnowWho storyline.

I really like the film and book series through book 5. After that, Rowling went off a cliff. It's one thing to make the stories more 'adult' and 'dark,' but no one wants a series about magic and fantasy to be brooding, meandering and dull.

With the double disappointments of Half Blood Prince and Deathy Hallows, I think I'm glad the series is finally over.

07-15-2011, 02:38 PM	#9
innerSpaceman Kink of Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inner Space Posts: 13,075	I was vaguely disappointed. Of course, I didn't like the book - so this rather faithful adaptation didn't have much chance to impress me. It was beautiful. Well-acted. Nice, um, cinematography and effects and score. Fast-paced, action-packed, all that. Emotionally bankrupt and distant is how I perceived it though. Not a single time did I get choked up or thrilled or frightened or surprised. Of course, I pretty much hate understories. And as the finale of the piece, it had to wrap up all the decade-long understory - but it did so perfunctorily and by-the-numbers. Boring. But .. that's how Rowling's last two HP books were - great.big.bores. Death Eaters attack Hogwarts in the long-anticipated battle between the forces of good and evil. Yawn. Each character gets their single moment in the sun, often out-of-the-blue and gratuitously. Yawn. Wizards Duel and Wizards Duel redux. Yawn and double yawn. Even Harry's bit in wizard purgatory with Dumbledore was played for yawns, imo. Don't get me wrong. The movie, like I said, was fast-paced, action-packed, well-acted, and gorgeous. The story is just lame as can be, and that's all Rowlilng's doing - - but it is what it is, and I think it's a dumb story that no film could overcome. Most understories are bare bones nothingness that can only end in ways seen sixteen miles off. The last hour of Harry Potter 7.2 seemed like going through a checklist. It's hardly coincidence that my favorite of the series, Prisoner of Azkaban, which has the best story, the best performances, the best score, the best art design, the best tone, and the best direction by far and away - is also the ONLY film in the series with no Voldemort and none of the Harry v. YouKnowWho storyline. I really like the film and book series through book 5. After that, Rowling went off a cliff. It's one thing to make the stories more 'adult' and 'dark,' but no one wants a series about magic and fantasy to be brooding, meandering and dull. With the double disappointments of Half Blood Prince and Deathy Hallows, I think I'm glad the series is finally over.
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