Harry Potter
Just got back from taking Rachael to see Harry Potter at Feltham
Cineworld for her birthday. Here is a little review-ette.
The summary is: it's good. It's both too long (at 2 1/2 hours) and
too short (most heavily abridged from the novel) but they couldn't
have done one without the other, and really they've done the best
job they could. And a much better job than I'd have expected.
The main characters (Harry, Hermione, Ron) are well acted and avoid
the really big problem with kids in films - that is, utter mawkishness.
Harry is the boy with tragedy in his past and destiny in his future, but
he avoids the twin traps of triumphalism and "little orphan Harry"
sentimentality. Hermione is suitably bookish, and Ron suitably
annoying (well, hey ;-p ) but that's as the books. And Draco
Malfeas is superb - watch for him.
Of course, the special effects are wonderful. That goes without
saying for a major picture these days. Like "Apollo 13" they are
not in the way of telling the story, you just accept the world they
are in and watch the film, instead of thinking "ooh, look at the
effects." But they are there. The world itself - effects, sets,
scenery, everything, from the gothick architecture of Hogwarts
and the splendid steam train, down to the Dursley's Barratt house
(filmed in Bracknell, no less) - it's all first-class, and to my mind
almost exactly what I imagine.
Although the plot is heavily abridged, the abridgement maintains the
narrative of the book, albeit at the expense of many of the secondary
characters. There is a small amount of change in order of events,
but only in a minor way, and generally it is very faithful to the book.
The whole film is quintessentially English, but not in an awful "we
dream of living in bungalows" way. The film maintains the book's
elements of danger: this is not a 'U' certificate film, as no film that
involves children being seriously injured ought to be.
All in all, though, it's a good film - as good an adaptation of the
book as I'd think possible, and a lot better than I have come to
expect in these Hollywood days. Yes, those of you who are going
on Tuesday will enjoy it - and the rest of you should see it when
you can.
In other words - I liked it, and so did Rachael. ;-)
PS - there was a long old "LotR" trailer, too, one I've not seen, and
the Balrog and Isildur both looked top notch. That's something that,
again, looks like they might have done it almost right. Is there
hope?
----------
Get a free, personalised email address at http://another.com
TXT ALRT! Stop wasting money now. Send FREE, personalised txt
from http://another.com