Share *your* thoughts on Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (spoilers)

[kay1864]

Best of the bunch so far. My thoughts:

The pacing was excellent, and overall they kept all of the major plot points. As the longest book in the series, it was the hardest to trim, but they did well with the script.

"Big D" was perfect, I was wondering how they'd make him fat-but-tough-looking.

Anyone know why the dementors looked different? There were no robes! wtf?

They shouldn't have flown so low on their brooms (above the clouds in the book) since Muggles could have seen them. Although it did root us in London, instead of it being a whole fantasy world.

Grimmauld Place looked very much like I imagined it. I loved Tonks.

The trial scene was excellent. But they should have left in Dumbledore's line about the dementors: "I was merely expressing my confidence that the Ministry would give this matter its due attention" Only 10 more seconds of screen time, and it's an excellent line.

Umbridge was perfect, balanced between simpering sweetness and pure evil. She shouldn't have been proctor for the OWL exams though. But I did like that they combined two scenes in the book (the Weasleys' fireworks and their departure) into one scene.

They dropped the whole "Weasley is our King" sub-plot, which was fine w/me.

Liked the Trelawney/Umbridge/Dumbledore scene, esp. Dumbledore's entrance.

Liked Dumbledore's departure when they came to arrest him. More dramatic than in the book.

Snape was great, esp. in the "You used up all the Veritaserum" scene. In the book, it's revealed (by Dumbledore) that Snape gave Umbridge fake serum all along (it was Cho's friend that betrayed the Army). I actually liked this version better, with Cho betraying the Army under Veritaserum.

I don't think the movie explained the Umbridge sent the dementors. Another line that should have been left in.

Liked the thestral scene, but there should have been one or two shots showing Ron, Hermione, or Ginny's fear that they couldn't see what they were flying on!

Loved the battle scene. Cool to see real wizards doing battle. I don't recall all the prophecies getting destroyed in the book though. Didn't care for that.

I remember thinking "why did it take so long for Sirius, Lupin, Tonks to show up"--that they should have somehow magically detected that the students were in danger sooner. Then I re-read the book, that it was Snape who alerted them (and the delay was because Snape first looked in the forest for Harry & co.--i.e., no one knew they had taken thestrals to the Ministry)

Major beef: In several places the music drowned out the dialogue. There was one key line I missed completely. And Ron's line about "Who are you and what have you done with Hermione Granger" was missed by most in the audience. I knew it from the trailer, so I caught it, but I might have missed it otherwise. Similarly, Sirius' line "Get away from my godson!" was almost obscured.

Someone mentioned on DU that Dudley seeing the dementor was a mistake, since Muggles can't see them. But I saw no sign that he could see them (esp. since he was all but unconscious).

Before this, I thought #4 was the best. But in retrospect, #4 is a bit game-showish almost. And the dragon getting loose and chasing Harry (and him falling down the roof) REALLY bothers me--in the book it's mentioned several times that the students will not be in mortal danger (and the dragon does not get loose). It's a test of skill, not a death match.

So IMHO this is the best so far, and #2 is second best.

[ContraBass Black]

1. In the book, Kingsley Shacklebolt was badass incarnate, dueling two Death Eaters at once.

In the movie, he hid behind a rock.

I cosplay as Shacklebolt. I was pissed.

[kay1864]

3. I missed that

Had a hard time keeping track in the battle scene. Definitely should have made Kingsley more of a badass. The actor playing him certainly had the chops to do so.

And what's with this new kind of Apparating? Visually interesting, yes, but giving your enemy a warning? Not so good.

[blondeatlast]

2. Umbridge=Pickles. Seriously. Quite a discussion in this thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3370478&mesg_id=3370478

[kay1864]

4. Definitely thought "Fudge=The Chimp" several times during the movie

Thanks for the link!

[JoDog]

5. Haven't seen it yet

Because I'm a little preturbed by the distribution company. Here's why:

Near where I live in Northern Illinois, there is a drive-in. It is owned by a small mom-and-pop independent 3-theater chain that also owns the indoor theater in the same town. The drive-in costs $5 a head for a double-show. An unbeatable value. Lately, the drive-in has been getting a lot of movies on their opening nights, big films like "Pirates of the Caribbean 3" and "Transformers". My best friends and I, Harry fans all, were hopeful that OotP would be showing at the drive-in. Because all movies are more fun at the drive-in, and the screen is huge.

As the release date came and went, OotP was not added to the marquee. One of my friends called the theater to find out if and when the movie would play there. Here's what the manager told him:

It will be several weeks before OotP will be showing at any of the 3 theaters owned by the chain. Apparently, the film distribution company decided to avoid releasing it in independent "discount" theaters. In fact, according to his man, the distributors even tried to get the theaters where it would open to suspend matinee pricing for the movie. In other words, they wanted to charge the full evening ticket price no matter when a patron watched the movie. There is one discount theater in this county that opened the film, but it only got it because it is owned by a large company that also owns higher-end theaters.

Now, other people I've talked to who have seen the movie in this area have told me that matinee pricing is still in effect, so if this info is accurate that part of the plan didn't go through.

While I'm looking forward to seeing the movie, I am willing to wait so I can support my locally owned businesses with my money. I've been to all 3 theaters this small company owns, and they are clean, have great service and prompt with starting the movie when they say they will.

I have no idea if this information is correct, but it is enough for me to wait.