Friday night

[ksmith]

Back home from seeing Deathly Hallows Pt. 1. Not a particularly coherent storyline, but I think the director et al did their best. Things moved along better than they did in the book, and much of the repetition was cut. Events happened that I didn't remember reading, but I honestly don't remember much of that book. Except for the repetition. And the fact that waaay too much happened offstage.

That said, I liked the movie and will buy the DVD when it comes out.

In between a fast food dinner (at Chipotle, which for all their bragging of their fresh ingredients is highly overrated) and DH, friend and I went to TJ Maxx. I hadn't expected to buy anything, but I found a black/brown handbag--I liked mixed black/brown just as I like mixed metal jewelry--some orange-scented soap for the bathroom, a CLEAN Winter perfume/body butter gift set that was about 1/3 the advertised price, and a hanger thingie with rows of tiny pockets for sorting jewelry. Maybe in the spring, I will have time to once and for all sort the earrings I've collected over the years.

Home now. Fresh coffee's been brewed. Pups are sleeping. Errands tomorrow, after which I will hunker down as we will be hit with weather, rain followed by a drop in temps and snow. Several inches possible. Then the cold settles in, with below zero temps possible at night. Winter's arrived, I guess.

Comments

[jemck.livejournal.com]

That's pretty much exactly how I felt coming out of the cinema.

spoiler alert!

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

Pt 1 suffered from serious Middle Book Disease. Much knowledge was assumed--no choice, since the world is so rich and so much has happened. But no real payoff at the end. No choice there, either, since they stopped in the middle of the book. But I didn't feel that I had watched a full story. Looking forward to summer and Part 2. I hope they set it up like a war movie--small amount of backstory, then the planning of the Battle for Hogwarts, then half the film or more taken up with the battle itself. I want to see the characters, including all the minor ones, in action.

And I want to see Bellatrix Lestrange die. I want to watch the light leave her eyes.

Question--is Harry's cloak of invisibility the 3rd Deathly Hallow? I haven't seen it for a few movies.

[planetalyx.livejournal.com]

I enjoyed it too... it kind of motored along, and I've enjoyed seeing the kids become proto-adults.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

I thought Neville would have more of a part--hope to see more of him in Pt 2. And I liked seeing Luna. Wanted more Draco, and more Snape, although Rickman did a lot with his few minutes on screen. Did I misread his expression? I felt that he wanted to help, but couldn't because he would expose himself in so doing. But that could be wishful thinking.

[planetalyx.livejournal.com]

Definitely not enough Rickman. My assumption is he's a good guy under cover, but I have managed thus far to remain unspoiled.

[jemck.livejournal.com]

- and yes, Kris, I find myself in agreement with your thoughts as above too. We might as well have had To Be Continued... up on the screen before the credits rolled.

Also wondering how much ended up on the cutting room floor - things like reaction to Hedwig's fate was given very short shrift.

And it was a very abrupt beginning - was initially worried that we hadn't managed a re-watch of Half Blood Prince before heading to the cinema but thankfully there was sufficient recap of the necessary plot points shoe-horned in as we went.

Overall I'm thinking a decent job done of a real challenge of an adaptation from novel to screen.

Crucially it all made sense/hung together for those who've not read the books, I am discovering from assorted pals and their families.

Very much looking forward to Neville coming good as well as Snape/Draco... well... nope, no spoilers from me...

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

Hate to say it, but Hedwig's death affected me more than most any of the others. She tried to protect her Harry, and wound up betraying him. But she didn't know any better.

Funny. That opening scene at the Malfoy house was, for me, one of the most vivid in both the book and the movie. I thought as I read it that it conveyed better than just about every other scene the ruthlessness and evil of Voldemort and his followers. It was genuinely creepy as well.

[jemck.livejournal.com]

I think all of the deaths got short shrift - and yes, Hedwig's is in many ways, the most tragic of all.

The opening was certainly vivid - and showed what the likes of Alan Rickman and Ralph Fiennes can do with scant minutes of screen time/script - but still, abrupt...

Roll on Part II regardless.