|
One thing I liked best about this movie as compared to the first three; this was the first one NOT scored by John Williams. Now, JW wrote brilliant motifs for this series, but I've found his scores for the first three overbearing, hammering every emotional point home like a pneumatic pile-driver, and layering a heavy syrupy coating on the "sense of wonder" moments.
This new score, using the Williams themes, is composed by Patrick Doyle. It's much subtler, and conveys mood without hard-selling it. Doyle has done fantastic and persuasive period-style music for HENRY V, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, and SENSE AND SENSIBILITY. He's versatile and classy, and he provides the best thing about this series entry. His score complements the action without overpowering it, and he also lets the more somber moments play out with dignity, not with glurge. This is the first Potter score I'm tempted to buy the soundtrack for.
Oh, and I thought this was a very entertaining movie. Not a one of these has been great cinema, but this easily rates near the top of the pack for HP movies. (I know number three was considered more stylish, and I did enjoy its visual touches, but it irritated and bored me as a movie, and is my least favorite thus far.) InnerS'man is right, Ron and Harry really do come off like a couple of clueless losers here. That just made me relate to them more, myself. I think great casting has been the strong point of these movies across the boards.
|