Deathly Hallows Part 1 - Open Discussion

[MagicHeart]

It was everything I hoped for and more.
Harry Potter is life.

[magic_is_might]

Originally Posted by crookshanks15

Magic_is_might, I agree totally with humor in some scenes was wrong, like the cafe. Did we really need the waitress listening to music in the background? I thought it broke the action in the wrong way.

Agreed.

Just like the Snatcher chase scene when the Snatcher calls Harry ugly, but the Snatcher thought he was referring to him. I'll admit that I laughed, but it wasn't needed in that scene.

Or the Malfoy Manor scene. Emma's amazing performance was downplayed due to Dobby comically unscrewing the chandelier

Not that I don't love Dobby, but I didn't think it belonged in that scene. In a sense, I felt it did break the action.

[personification]

Originally Posted by antuonchris

The snatchers. Their fashion/swagger was really really interesting. I expected the snatchers to be nerdy wannabes, but they turned out to be very bad-a** in their own respect. The guy with the black paint across his face was awesome looking. And when Scabior said "Snatch!" I was in awe. The command was pretty excellent and the silence afterwards with only the sound of the spells and breathing made it soooooo much more thrilling than a simple quick background song.

Dobby's last words. A lot of people are saying that it was cheesy for Dobby to say what he did as he died, but I thought it was so beautiful that it was poetic. Dobby has always been a sentimental, soft creature. So it only fits that the pain of death brings out such things as "Such a beautiful place to be with friends. Friends. Harry Potter." Pardon if I got it wrong. It would've been cheesy if he said just "Harry Potter" or "Dobby is a free elf" which was what I was expecting.

Agree so much with these points. The snatchers were actually better than I imagined them in my head and Scabior was very cool.

I thought the Dobby speech was very heartbreaking and his death more tragic than in the book - I just found the fact that his last words were 'Harry Potter' in the novel to be overkill.

[LivLuv22]

I LOVED this movie.

Alexandre Desplat's score? I LOVED IT! I bought it! The music, particularly "Obliviate", is just beautifully moving.

When I saw the film, immediately the loudest cheers/screams from the audience (both at the beginning and end of the film) were when Rupert Grint and Alan Rickman appeared (as well as their credits at the end).

As such, kudos to Rupert Grint! Ron, by far, stood out the most to me and I found myself transfixed by his performance and drawn to him every time he was on screen. It was great to see the character finally done justice. And with little things (how he's always quick to be defensive and protective of Hermione--he's been this way since Book 2, and yet we've never seen it in the films), the entire Ron arc in the film was fabulous to watch. The vast array of emotions Rupert portrays in this film are just... great. He was the comic-relief, but he was also emotional, jealous, fearful, angry, in-love, protective...and he played them all so beautifully and perfect.

Emma carried the emotional weight of the film. Her performance was amazing, and as soon as she came on screen and obliviated her parents, I teared up. Every time she came to tears as an actress in this film, you were moved. From Ron's splinching, to her sadness and depression over him being gone, to her torture, you really felt the emotional weight on her character. When she broke down after she and Harry apparated, knowing that Ron was going to be gone for "good", I felt her complete and utter heartbreak.

As much as people don't want to give Dan credit, I still felt very much for Harry. Just the weight of people losing their lives over him... it hurt him every time, and him feeling responsible somehow for it all was written all over his face. By far, Rupert, then Emma are miles ahead of him in terms of acting (Rupert is the most naturally gifted, imo), but I still felt a strong sense of sadness for Harry that I'm sure will only intensify in the next film.

Nobody's mentioned this, but a scene I thought was extremely HOT was when the Weasley men were setting up the tents for the wedding before the Minister of Magic arrived. There was something extremely sexy about all the hot redheads, being together in suits, and doing the "manly" thing of setting up tents together as a family, lol.

All the talk of this and that over Ron watching Riddle-Harry&Hermione makeout, and the dance scene, etc... I ship Ron and Hermione all the way, and was not bothered by either. In fact, I loved the Harry Hermione dance scene, because it was one scene that evoked the true friendship Harry and Hermione, and the true love she carries for Ron. Both were shown through Emma's performance. She was damn good, throughout, honestly, because at no point are you questioning where Hermione's heart is or where she's at emotionally. She loves her friend, and made the ultimate sacrifice for him to take this journey with him, but she's also deeply in-love with Ron, and I love both relationships.

I also think one of the subtleties played was Harry's heartbreak when Ron left. Dan did a good job, because although Harry was ****** and told him to go, he was deeply hurt when his best friend left. And Yates did a good job, because people could have easily been ****** at any part of the trio after that moment, but you truly felt for all of them, given the toll their journey was taking on them.

Alan Rickman as always was fabulous for all 5 minutes he had. Just FABULOUS! I loved the new actors, they were such a delight and ALL played their characters so well. I liked Yaxley's voice, and Thicknesse, and Scabior <--they were all very vile and EXCELLENT at it, lol.

Scabior and the snatchers, particularly, were giving me a Robin and the bandits feel from The Secret of Moonacre? The film with Ioan Gruffudd. Did anybody else get that vibe? Nonetheless, I loved the way the music went dead in the chase scene. It just looked great and felt so intense with the raw sounds of the trio on foot running for their lives.

Oh, and I loved Bellatrix showing how much of a badass she was when she attacked the snatchers. Overall, the film was excellent! I can't wait to see it a few more times before it's out on DVD. Hopefully sooner, rather than later

[crookshanks15]

Originally Posted by magic_is_might

Agreed.

Just like the Snatcher chase scene when the Snatcher calls Harry ugly, but the Snatcher thought he was referring to him. I'll admit that I laughed, but it wasn't needed in that scene.

Or the Malfoy Manor scene. Emma's amazing performance was downplayed due to Dobby comically unscrewing the chandelier

Not that I don't love Dobby, but I didn't think it belonged in that scene. In a sense, I felt it did break the action.

Oh yes. The chandelier thing annoyed me a lot esp. because everyone started laughing and I was hoping for the scene to show the danger of the situation. The ''comic relief'' thing has always bothered me. Maybe because the books are so much about life and death and pain. That scene was never funny in the book.


The nagini scene was intense like everyone is saying. I think its interesting to watch/listen to the audience when watching this scene because when I saw it at midnight last night their was a guy that yelled out "oh god!" when they jumped out the window and many gasps and then some laughter. The emotion triggered from this movie is crazy. I have minor complaints, like the snake shouldve been harder to get off Harry, but those dont stop me from praising this movie like crazy. This was definitly the first time I've seen the theaters, both times I went, react to scenes like they should have.

[PotterGurl08]

Ok, I'm still trying to wrap my mind around everything about this movie. But for right now, I just have to say that I absolutely LOVED it!
And that might be an understatement, lol.

I thought it was fantastic. I thought it was very true to the book, and the parts that were different from the book, I felt were minor and did not hurt the movie at all. I seriously think this was the best job they've done with a movie, and I am so happy that they've split it in two parts because they definitely seem to be trying to follow the book as closely as possible.

Amazing job with this film.
Goodness I want to see it again. I hope the DVD doesn't take too long to come out.

Did they announce how the DVD's were going to come out? Will each one be released separately, or are they going to wait until Part 2 is released in theaters, and then release both films together on DVD?

[AnotherD]

Just back from my *second* viewing in less than 24 hours I took my son tonight and he thought it was awesome. He was really looking forward to the locket destruction scene and he thought it was all so cool. His second favorite scene was Voldemort stealing the elder wand at the very end. So that's the 8 year old's perspective

I think the standout piece of music for me is the Snape to Malfoy Manor piece. It has an urgency and a tension to it that really works

I'll add my voice to the chorus of a few who liked the dance scene between Harry and Hermione. I thought it was delightfully dorky, tender and sad all at the same time. They are both longing for someone else and feeling alone. I can see how some might interpret a fleeting interest in each other--but I think it's so clear that Hermione is heartbroken.

During the wedding scene in the book, doesn't Ron dance with Hermione? That would have been a nice scene if it had made it into the movie. After second viewing, I'm still saying that look that Ron gives Hermione at the wedding is melt-worthy. Such yearning...

Is it wrong that I want this movie to come out on DVD tomorrow so I can watch it at home. I rarely enjoy seeing a movie in the theater thanks to loud snack munchers, people who don't stop talking and people who bring one and two year olds to an 8pm showing of a PG-13 movie. (Not kidding, actually happened tonight.) A pox on the management for allowing disruptive little kids in the theater!

I have to say one thing--I was surprised the theater wasn't packed tonight. It was only about half to 2/3rds full. Granted, there are two rather large movie theaters within about 6 miles of each other showing the movie in multiple auditoriums, so that could account for the sparse crowd...I just thought for sure that it would be packed!

[captain_mills]

Excellent film! Saw it at midnight with my wife and we loved it! Didn't care for the Harry & Hermione dance, and I thought the locket scene went a bit far (they don't have to show some of that stuff). Otherwise, it was all I expected it to be!

[Lord Godric]

Originally Posted by AnotherD

I'll add my voice to the chorus of a few who liked the dance scene between Harry and Hermione. I thought it was delightfully dorky, tender and sad all at the same time. They are both longing for someone else and feeling alone. I can see how some might interpret a fleeting interest in each other--but I think it's so clear that Hermione is heartbroken.

I agree. I like how you put it "delightlfully dorky, tender and sad" because it was obvious (at least to me) that Hermione wanted Ron and Harry wanted Ginny but they tried to make the best of the situation they were in.

[free_elf]

Originally Posted by LivLuv22

I LOVED this movie.


All the talk of this and that over Ron watching Riddle-Harry&Hermione makeout, and the dance scene, etc... I ship Ron and Hermione all the way, and was not bothered by either. In fact, I loved the Harry Hermione dance scene, because it was one scene that evoked the true friendship Harry and Hermione, and the true love she carries for Ron. Both were shown through Emma's performance. She was damn good, throughout, honestly, because at no point are you questioning where Hermione's heart is or where she's at emotionally. She loves her friend, and made the ultimate sacrifice for him to take this journey with him, but she's also deeply in-love with Ron, and I love both relationships.

I agree with you completely. As someone who avidly supports Ron/Hermione (and quite frankly thinks Harry should've ended up with no one Luke Skywalker style) I surprisingly had few issues with the Harry/Hermione scenes. The Horcrux scene while no doubt heightening the effect of the book, is deliberately intended to make us feel uncomfortable. It's meant to feel awkward and perverted. Harry/Hermione together is meant to feel unnatural.

As for the dancing scene. I will concede that there were brief moments of "omg that was...romantic! ***" And towards the end, I do see the potential interpretation that there could have been a kiss. However, I think lots of people, not so much on these boards but on other internet sites, are focusing on the "they could've kissed!" instead of "but they didn't!" Yes, the mere potential in itself is un-canon, however, I have interpreted this as a means of highlighting Hermione's choice.

I mentioned this in my review on the review thread but both the Horcrux kiss and the dancing scene work as a pair. We clearly see realHermione step away from realHarry after the dance, her expression clearly indicating she has chosen Ron.
In contrast the Horcrux Hermione says "Who would choose you over Harry Potter?" We as the audience already have the answer. Hermione, given the potential to choose Harry, instead chose Ron.

Whether that was the deliberate intention or not is hard to say, but I think it's an interesting way of viewing it for any who are concerned with the non-canon aspect.

Other than that, it was as a whole, a scene about friendship. It was goofy, awkward and quite lovely.

[crookshanks15]

Originally Posted by captain_mills

Excellent film! Saw it at midnight with my wife and we loved it! Didn't care for the Harry & Hermione dance, and I thought the locket scene went a bit far (they don't have to show some of that stuff). Otherwise, it was all I expected it to be!

I have to disagree. I think the locket scene was needed the way it was presented because it drove Ron over the edge. Ron was afraid of this horcrux and kept backing away. He stopped when he saw the two friends and you could see it was hurting him emotionally but he never destroyed it. The kiss threw him over the limit because they were nude. He really cares about her, knew he had hurt her, thought Harry was with her, and the horcrux basically took those emotions and made them cumulate into what we saw.
The book never said they were naked but it describes a very intense make out session that very well couldve been a nude scene without it actually saying this.
Of course nothing has to be shown, but not much was shown and it would have driven anyone over the top. He has horrifyed at first but seeing his nightmare come true was too much.

[SirDobster]

About Horcrux Hermione/Harry: I was waiting for something quite graphic, but I've seen more suggestive makeout sessions on prime time network TV.

[LivLuv22]

Originally Posted by free_elf

I mentioned this in my review on the review thread but both the Horcrux kiss and the dancing scene work as a pair. We clearly see realHermione step away from realHarry after the dance, her expression clearly indicating she has chosen Ron.
In contrast the Horcrux Hermione says "Who would choose you over Harry Potter?" We as the audience already have the answer. Hermione, given the potential to choose Harry, instead chose Ron.

YES! And she does this (chooses Ron) several times throughout the entire film. From the Burrow Return (she literally looks back at Harry, then shoots toward Ron), to Ron leaving (they didn't even have her answer as she did in the book to say she was staying with Harry, she was just silent, Ron made his interpretation, and she again, RAN AFTER HIM.

That's why I said Emma's performance was brilliant, because at no point, as a viewer, did I question where Hermione's heart was/is. Even after the dance scene. She immediately retreats back into depression/sadness over Ron. And now, I totally get what Emma says about the scene, how it's left up to interpretation as if something could happen, "not from Hermione's part" <--I totally get that now because it's evident what Hermione feels. She loves Ron, without a doubt, he's the only one who can't see it (or isn't secure in it, just yet.)

And yes, both the dance scene and horcrux scene were oddly uncomfortable, but not in a "OMG, they're getting romantic, oh hell no!" kind of way. When taken to believe/wish/hope/or think either are more than they are, they just feel somewhat out of order, lol!

Either way, I loved the dance scene, and the kiss scene was quite hilarious because it wasn't as deeply disturbing or as big of a "moment" I thought it would be. I'm actually surprised that MTV is actually running a poll on whether because of this movie, do fans believe Harry and Hermione should have ended up together in the series? Harry/Hermione is beating Ron/Hermione by 63% to 33% saying she belongs with Ron. LOL, just too much!

[potteraddicted5]

I, for one, am completely in awe of this film. For one thing, it was so true to the book that it almost freaked me out (in a good way).

One thing I loved was the scenes in Malfoy Manor. Ralph Fiennes' performance was, in a word or two, nothing short of brilliant. Also, Alan Rickman did very well as Snape, even though he won't have a bigger part until the second half.

In addition, the scenes with the destroying of the locket and the Godric's Hollow graveyard were definitely the highlight of the film, and in all honesty, David Yates was able to pull off a true masterpiece.

Though I know people will bite my head off for this, I loved the bit with the chandelier!

[danno]

I just got back from the movie, and boy did I love it. I need to let it sink in and see it once more before I give my full thoughts, but I really only have one main complaint right off the bat that I feel like I need to get into.

Funnily enough the complaint doesn't affect my enjoyment of the film. However... I really wish they did a better job EXPLAINING THINGS. I go with my family to see these movies and my parents really enjoy them; however they don't read the books and that leaves me explaining everything afterwards. And it looks like this film left a lot of things that will need to be explained.

First off was the introductions of minor characters. Mundungus, Bill, and Scrimgeor, although I was glad to see them, could have easily been introduced in an earlier movie. How hard would it have been to show Mundungus in Order of the Pheonix and have Mad Eye shout at him, or mention Scrimgeor in HBP? But my biggest complaint in this was Dobby. He was randomly brought back and then killed off, and although it was good to see him again why was he not left in the past 3 movies?

I also kind of wish they had made it more clear who Grindelwald was and how he was friends with Dumbledore. It didn't seem like a shock to anyone that Dumbledore's best friend was one of the evilest wizards of all time...

Those are all minor complaints compared to... the handling of the mirror, which was BY FAR the worst part of the movie. At least with the other subplots (Gregorvitch, the wedding, Ron's return and the appearance of the sword) were at least somewhat explained, however minor it may have been. But as far as anyone who hasn't read the books is concerned, Harry randomly looks into a piece of glass to see a blue eye staring back at him. They haven't introduced the two-way mirror at all! I just found that incredibly rediculous and hope that at the very least, they attempt to explain it in part 2.

Oh and I didn't even realize until now: they left out Lupin's fight with Harry! I was really looking forward to that scene.

I only have two other minor complaints, really. The final scene with the Dursley's was disappointing (probably because it didn't exist, and the only shot of Dudley was one of his back when he was carrying a lamp or something lol). Also Wormtail not-dying was surprising, but I'm not really complaining as I just expect they'll put that in the next movie. I just hope they don't ignore that (or even worse, have Dobby's thing have killed him).

I really did love the movie though, and outside of the random dancing scene (which didn't even bother me that much) there weren't any added things that really annoyed me. I always pictured the Snatchers as a bunch of brainless thugs, but they actually were really awesome in the movie, especially Scabior who actually was pretty cool with his bigger role. I also loved how they made the Ministry of Magic out to be Nazis, with even those cops with the uniforms and all the propoganda. The acting was also fantastic I thought, and I really loved the scene with Voldy and all his Death Eaters. I liked how Yaxley was protrayed in the film too, as random as that may be. Also I thought the flight from Private Drive was great too. All in all, I can't wait to see this again, hopefully soon!

Oh and one last thing... I thought the "Bellatrix toruturing Hermione" scene was done very... eroticly, if that's the right word for it. Just the way Bellatrix was lying on top of Hermione... not that I found it hot, but as soon as I saw that I was expecting there to be plenty of new material and ideas for random ships, lol.

Oh and Pius did a good job, for what little he did. I was not expecting him to not be under the impresius curse (in fact I wasn't expecting him to be mentioned in the film at all) but it was a minor change that only added to the scene at the Malfoy Manor in my opinion.

[Lord Godric]

It's ridiculous for people to say that, all through the movies we've had Hermione/Ron scenes and we have ONE Harry/Hermione scene that just isn't that subtle and people think they should be together It's just rather amusing that people either don't get the "Anvil-sized hints" that have been dropped or don't pay enough attention to who Hermione has chosen throughout every single previous movie.

Originally Posted by danno

I also kind of wish they had made it more clear who Grindelwald was and how he was friends with Dumbledore. It didn't seem like a shock to anyone that Dumbledore's best friend was one of the evilest wizards of all time...

Oh and I didn't even realize until now: they left out Lupin's fight with Harry! I was really looking forward to that scene.

I think these things will happen in Part 2. Because when Harry "dies" Dumbledore will have that sit down with Harry. And wasn't Lupin's fight with Harry at Shell Cottage? We haven't seen any scenes inside Shell Cottage yet, I think that's where Part 2 will pick up.

[Voldemorts8thHorcrux]

Originally Posted by IenjoyAcidPops

Did anyone else notice that J.K. Rowling was credited as a Producer along with Davids Heyman and Barron?

Yep

[magic_is_might]

Originally Posted by free_elf

However, I think lots of people, not so much on these boards but on other internet sites, are focusing on the "they could've kissed!" instead of "but they didn't!" Yes, the mere potential in itself is un-canon, however, I have interpreted this as a means of highlighting Hermione's choice.

You make another great point about this scene.

Although I loved it simply because it was goofy, awkward, touching, and a cute moment between these two...

It shows Hermione's choice even more clearly. Saying that they "could've kissed" makes it only more important when they obviously don't. It only amplifies on the fact that Hermione is clearly devoted to Ron by making the choice to not kiss Harry.

So while I'm sure it made some R/Hr shippers uneasy - I think it's can be seen as a good thing for R/Hr shippers since although they still had that goofy dance, it makes it clear that while the opportunity was perfect, Hermione obviously chose Ron by not taking the "kissing Harry" route.

Sorry, it's difficult to explain

[crookshanks15]

Originally Posted by Lord Godric

It's ridiculous for people to say that, all through the movies we've had Hermione/Ron scenes and we have ONE Harry/Hermione scene that just isn't that subtle and people think they should be together It's just rather amusing that people either don't get the "Anvil-sized hints" that have been dropped or don't pay enough attention to who Hermione has chosen throughout every single previous movie.


I think these things will happen in Part 2. Because when Harry "dies" Dumbledore will have that sit down with Harry. And wasn't Lupin's fight with Harry at Shell Cottage? We haven't seen any scenes inside Shell Cottage yet, I think that's where Part 2 will pick up.

haha! yes it is ridiculous and just makes me think of the famous D-word haha.

I think Lupin tells Harry about the baby at shell cottage...

[Voldemorts8thHorcrux]

[quote=Lord Godric;5653411


I think these things will happen in Part 2. Because when Harry "dies" Dumbledore will have that sit down with Harry. And wasn't Lupin's fight with Harry at Shell Cottage? We haven't seen any scenes inside Shell Cottage yet, I think that's where Part 2 will pick up.[/QUOTE]

Heh, I think the two parts thing is totally helping me with the whole "stuff they left out" gripes I usually get with the movies. I know they oftenleave out minor things, but I think the Dumbledore stuff was REALLY important in the books and I still have hope that theyll keep it in the next movie at the very least