alexandral: (Harry Potter - Sirius)
[personal profile] alexandral


I have just came back from watching "Harry Potter" with my daughter. She insisted on watching it in 3D , so I had to pay 20 pounds for the tickets. ** sigh ** What would you not do for your kids. You see, I am not a huge fan of the franchise. As far as the cultural impact goes, I applaud "Harry Potter", but if anyone tried to prove any literature value of the books, I would discuss the following to my death: from the top of my mind, I can name at least 5 young adult book series that are more original and better written. A school of wizardry? I have been reading books about schools of wizardry since I was 10 and this was a long time ago. And the main character, Harry Potter, a special boy with a special destiny, cannot be killed? What can I do but to roll my eyes?

Ok, I am still grumpy after having to pay 20 pounds (I am such a pirate at heart).

As far as the film goes, this was one of the best in the series. My favourite is still Prisoner of Azkaban (filmed beautifully by Alfonso Cuarón) which I think is the only film in the series that has other value than to be a part of the series, but I liked both parts of "Deathly Hallows", mostly because both of these films didn't feel as rushed as Order of the Phoenix or Half-Blood Prince. There was more time to stop and show the character interactions, and there was more time to show spectacular special effects. The special effects were spectacular, by the way, they had made me giddy with the sensory delight.

I remembered again how much I do not care for Harry and how much I love Ron, who made me laugh during all the inappropriate moments again, with his well-placed "Blimey" and "This is unfortunate". But overall, I think my actor love goes to Ralph Fiennes for his portrayal of Voldermot (gosh, so scary, I had goosebumps!).

Also, the favourite quote from the film. Dumbledore:
Of course it's all in your head, Harry, but why should that mean it isn't real?

Date: 2011-07-16 09:26 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] criyu.livejournal.com
have you read the books? because if you have to think about the plot (characters, setting) one can't understand the beauty and complexity through the film in my opinion:)
yes the school of magic and magicians have always existed in the literature. But I must say that it's the first time that the school is not just a school but is a...home.
and Harry..well is a normal guy, not particularly intelligent or strong, accompanied by friends who complete him. many times I was annoyed about his behavior, but it was nice to see how they are all grown and matured.
for me the plot and especially how all the elements of the earlier books are linked at the end is fantastic.

argh 20 pounds more! I never loved 3D U_U

without Ron everything would be boring!! XD
Ralph was great! but I have to hear the original voice, because I didn't like the Italian voice._. didn't make him scary at all...

Date: 2011-07-16 09:34 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alexandral.livejournal.com
Yes, I have read the books. I found the language bland, the story unoriginal and predictable (I would have told you from the very beginning that it all will end with a big fight between Voldermort and Harry, with Harry winning by some clever trick, but not his own trick, something that was planned by Dumbledore) . The feeling of home? I don't think I liked books well enough to get it. I might have liked them better if I was 12, though, I am encouraging my daughter to read them. Take me right, these are not BAD books, they are even GOOD, but nothing to write home about.

yes, ralph's voice - IT WAS GREAT

Date: 2011-07-16 10:20 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lydzi.livejournal.com
I hate what Cuaron did with POA but I talked so much about it that now I don't even go there anymore. I'm basically very "meh" about the movies. They had gold in their hands and they just gave us copper. I'm so angry at Warner Bros, people have no idea.
I still go and watch those movies, first because it's Harry Potter and it's such a huge part of myself that I'm always compelled and hopeful that something good will be out of this, and second because I don't pay at the cinema (I have a card that I pay each month but that allows me to go and watch whatever I want, 2d or 3d).

I'll probably go tomorrow but I don't have lots of hope here. I read all the spoilers and Voldemort hugging anyone made me go green.
Edited Date: 2011-07-16 10:20 pm (UTC)

Date: 2011-07-16 10:24 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alexandral.livejournal.com
Lol, Do you mean specifically Prizoner of Azkaban (the only one directed by Cuaron), or the films in general? They all are filmed by different directors, apart from the last few directed by Yates.

I am not at all a huge fan of films neither, but the special effects are great. And Ralph Fiennes. :D

Date: 2011-07-16 10:29 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lydzi.livejournal.com
Well let's just say that I blame Cuaron about the three quarter of what went wrong after in the franchise. Kloves and him can go diaf for all I care.

I wonder what went wrong with Ralph Fiennes. The man is a brilliant actor but he's just one of the most pitiful Voldemort ever :/. Well at least to me ^^.

Date: 2011-07-16 10:32 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alexandral.livejournal.com
Well let's just say that I blame Cuaron about the three quarter of what went wrong after in the franchise. Kloves and him can go diaf for all I care.

How so? I personally thought the first too films were in the worst possble Disney tradition "Home Alone" cross "Harry Potter", "Prizoner of Azkaban" was great, but after that it was all so-so. I just want to understand.

lol. I like Fiennes as Voldermort. It is Harry i am less fond of. he looks on a creepy side to me.
Edited Date: 2011-07-16 10:32 pm (UTC)

Date: 2011-07-16 10:58 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lydzi.livejournal.com
The number of grief I have to Cuaron's movie are endless. I could speak about the characters being completely ootc, the fact that apparently shooting a movie with a grey filter makes it "dark" (sorry no) or that the acting was just all in all frankly terrible (you can argue that it always was but this one has some scenes that just takes the cake to me, I still don't get how a director can let this happen).

More or so I can, when I'm in a very good mood, do understand that POA is the easiest movie to like when you're not a compelling readers of the books but that's where I just basically rage.

POA was just a filmmaker more concerned with looking cool than staying faithful to the books. That's how I took the all thing. It has the name Harry Potter on it but that's pretty much it. I don't even find the movie that beautiful or anything. Just grey. It never touched me. At all. I felt disconnected. Worse, I felt it like a joke. Like Cuaron could tell everyone "hey look I did an HP movie lol". Cool bro.

Colombus movies were not particularly grandiose. They were just the paper translated on screen but for the first two ones, it was actually enough. If he had continued the movies, I wouldn't have been happy about it but he making n°1 was great. At least for me.
And Voldemort was actually creepy in there at least.

Date: 2011-07-16 11:18 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alexandral.livejournal.com
You see, I think we disagre on the main point - you do have a strong emotinal attachment to the books, and I don't. During my best days (most of the days. :D) I think Harry Potter books are all right, in my worst (rare days) I think of it as "chewing gum for the masses".

So I do not care for the accuaracy to the books wahsoever, as I do not care with True Blood. But I understand you - I do care for the accuracy with the books I do love (ASOIF), so this might be hard for you.

And yes, i do agree that in "Prizoner of Azkaban" the director was more concerned with making a good film, something that is a work of art on it's own right rather than to be faithful to the books. But I hear you here, btw. it is just I see it differently.

The other aspect is the accesibility. I read the books just after I have watched the forth film (I think :D), because I stopped understanding "What a heck is going on". And I don't think a person not familiar with the books can understand ANYTHING after Prizoner of Azkaban (my daughter always asks me what is going on, movie after move :D). Which to me is a BIG MINUS (to you, minght be a plus). Why the films have to be just an illustration to the books? Surely they have to be understandable? Surely you don't HAVE TO read the books?

But yes, from someone like you who thinks books are great this all must look totally diferent.

Date: 2011-07-16 11:26 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lydzi.livejournal.com
Most of the things that were hard to understand in the next movies (namely 4,5,6 and even the two last ones) was because they didn't were explain at all in POA and GOF. And yet, they managed to have some really no-one-cares scenes.

It really does look different. Nothing will ever make me love this movie or the all HP movies franchise. I enjoy certain things and I grew quite attached in a way with the cast because I'm just sentimental like that. But it's only something that has the name but is only related to the books from far away.

I'm not sure that I make complete sense. I would be a lot more convincing if I was using french I have to admit. In discussions, I always find the language barrier to be painful to me ^^.

All in all, I'm glad I'm not finding those errors in Games of Thrones adaptation. Even with the changes, I still recognize completely the characters and the storyline. And that's the most important imo.

Date: 2011-07-16 11:36 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alexandral.livejournal.com
Most of the things that were hard to understand in the next movies (namely 4,5,6 and even the two last ones) was because they didn't were explain at all in POA and GOF.

Don't think this is possible, bb. Think of this logically - everything was understandable in the film 3, but after that it started to deteriorate. And not immediately, actually, I was wrong. "Goblet of Fire" was also a good and easy to understand film (this was the one where Cedric died). I was wrong in the previous comment - I read the books after Goblet of Fire. This was the time when the last book was released , so I read the complete series as I could not understand "Order of phoenix".

If you want to blame anyone for the difficulty to understand the latest movies, blame Yates, who directed "Order of Phoenix", the worst and the most difficult to understand harry potter movie.

I always forget you are French, BTW, your language is flawless.

Date: 2011-07-16 11:40 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lydzi.livejournal.com
You have no idea how pink I turned at the last sentence lol! Made me really happy I have to admit which is a bit ridiculous but I'll live through it :p.

Date: 2011-07-16 11:42 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alexandral.livejournal.com
** loves ** I am so glad I met you. And after that - all the ASOIF fandom stuff makes me so happy.

Date: 2011-07-16 11:47 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lydzi.livejournal.com
fjgsdfsghjkd Me too Image (http://s126.photobucket.com/albums/p113/Lydzi_de_Galles/smileys%20pr%20lj/?action=view&current=233.gif). I'm practically creeping on your lj ^^. The ASOIAF fandom is flawfree. Everyone can talk freely, everyone has so many interesting things to say. It's really a very awesome place to be :).

Date: 2011-07-17 10:38 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alexandral.livejournal.com
Me too.

Yes, so far it has been so refreshingly sane.

Date: 2011-07-16 11:16 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kem-viva.livejournal.com
Harry Potter is amazing imo, growing up and even still I adore the books, they are brilliant. The story I think is amazing, and getting to grow up with the characters is something I will treasure forever. It has made me feel so many emotions, the characters are like friends almost, and Harry is one of the bravest characters ever. You said that you know from the start that Harry won't die, but really he did die in a sense. He walked into that forest knowing only that he would die, not anything else and he still was willing to do that. It was not a clever trick of Dumbledore's that saved him, Dumbledore basically kept him alive to die. He lived because he was willing to die. Idk I just remember being a wreck reading that scene because I really believed he would die. JK Rowling was not afraid to kill characters.

And the friendship of the trio is one of the greatest things too, they just have such a human relationship, it feels real. Everything isn't always shiny and perfect and thays what makes their friendship that much better.

Obviously you can have your own opinion lol, but I think Harry Potter is fantastic :p

Date: 2011-07-16 11:23 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alexandral.livejournal.com
You see, I think I might have just read the books when I was the wrong age. :D At 12 i might also got hooked. :D But I have read so many other books with similar types of stories by the time I read HP that - well, I can not switch my brain off and not compare. The language, the Mary Sue-ness of Harry, etc. I can not ignore any of this. Sorry.

I wish Harry died, though, it would have made the story more "real" to me.

I know plenty of people LOVE HP, but I am yet to understand why. Take me right, I like it , but it is a little bit like fast-food for me (I like fast food, but don't see the nutritional value :D).

Sorry.
Edited Date: 2011-07-16 11:38 pm (UTC)

Date: 2011-07-17 12:16 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kem-viva.livejournal.com
I don't love Harry Potter for the plot, I love harry potter because of the amazing friendships and personal journeys the characters go through. I love harry potter because you can feel the love the characters have for each other.

Date: 2011-07-17 10:38 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alexandral.livejournal.com
You see, it is hard for me to get into the personal journeys and friendships when I find the writing to be dough-ish and I seem to have problems with the plot.This just distracts me from immersion in the story. I keep thinking "Oh, i rememebr this from so-and-so:, or "this is a strange turn of phrase" and can not immerse.
Edited Date: 2011-07-17 02:39 pm (UTC)

Date: 2011-07-16 11:23 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] earenwe.livejournal.com
I really don't think the books were supposed to be about any big surprise; the bigger surprise would be if someone really thought that they would end without Harry defeating Voldemort in some grand manner. The story is all about the journey and the greater idea of goodness and friendship and perseverance versus its antithesis. I also wholeheartedly disagree that there is no lasting literary value in these books and don't understand why there always has to be a competition in that someone is not as good of a magician as X other character - why can't a book be good of its own merit?

I haven't seen the film yet due to work but I'm hoping to find a theatre that will do a back-to-back showing of part 1 and part 2 so I can see them all in one go. I cannot wait.

Date: 2011-07-16 11:28 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alexandral.livejournal.com
There is no competition - just some books are better written than others (have better language, more original story, free of "magical boy" characters). I am not sure if HP books will last (I think most likely they will as the story is "wholesome"), but i do think these are just mass-consumption books, which can be good too, there is nothing wrong with mass consumption per se.
Edited Date: 2011-07-16 11:37 pm (UTC)

Date: 2011-07-17 12:19 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kem-viva.livejournal.com
Totally agree :)

Date: 2011-07-17 12:56 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dianora77.livejournal.com
That Dumbledore quote is hands down my favourite quote in the books.

As for the rest of your post, I totally agree with you about everything. (Including preferring Ron over Harry, but you knew that already, and the reluctance to cash out so much money for fucking 3D, especially since the film didn't really require it.)

Date: 2011-07-17 10:40 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alexandral.livejournal.com
Yes, we have discussed this before. This was a decent film, though, I love Ron and hermione being so lovey-dovey.

3D didn't seem to be very 3D-ish. And it always gives me a headache.

Date: 2011-07-17 03:15 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] roboticduck.livejournal.com
I love POA, it's the only HP DVD I own :D

I will join you on the Ron!appreciation, though he didn't get as much to do in this one.

The special effects were amazing-- especially the white dragon, I know it's because of a huge budget, but goodness, that's what I want Dany's dragons to turn into <3

That Dumbledore quote was stunning; I considered that line some more once I got home and actually shed a tear for all that it implies, it is both beautiful and haunting.

Date: 2011-07-17 10:50 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alexandral.livejournal.com
I miss Sirius. He was great.

I love all the little lovey-dovey scenes between Ron and Hermione.

The special effects were amazing-- especially the white dragon, I know it's because of a huge budget, but goodness, that's what I want Dany's dragons to turn into <3

Oh, yes. I though absolutely the same!!! Hee, great minds think alike.

And I loved the scene with Dumbledore. I am still harping about the fact that his death was shown so briefly.

Date: 2011-07-17 06:11 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] stacefaceex.livejournal.com
The cinema is ridiculously expensive! For a student and an adult in 2D was £14 which is insane. I wasn't happy.

Ron was great! Alan Rickman was my favourite though.

Date: 2011-07-17 06:46 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alexandral.livejournal.com
The prices at the cinemas here in the UK make shudder. I mean - 10 pounds per ticket? This is extortion.

Date: 2011-07-17 06:47 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alexandral.livejournal.com
I loved Snape, loved loved loved him. I think I have a weakness for controversial characters and Rickman is just fabulous.
Edited Date: 2011-07-17 07:16 pm (UTC)

Date: 2011-07-17 06:14 pm (UTC)
intermezzo: (Default)
From: [personal profile] intermezzo
I'm asking this because I'm curious and way back then, I went from kids' book straight to adult books. I skipped the whole young adult phase for some reason and I'm catching up now (yes, I know, it's weird, I'm weird, can't do anything about any of this): what other YA series do you like?

Date: 2011-07-17 06:45 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alexandral.livejournal.com
I adore Abhorsen Trilogy by Garth Nix. Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy is also very good, in fact it starts AWESOMLY but disintegrates towards the end because he puts his agenda of fighting with religion as first priority, over the actual storytelling. But on the whole His Dark Materials is fabulously original and well-written. I also adore Lemony Snicket's: A Series Of Unfortunate Events which is for younger teens. And of course, Ursula le Guin's Earthsea is awesome and has always been.

And the fifth would be Hunger Games, but I think you have read these already.

Date: 2011-07-17 07:04 pm (UTC)
intermezzo: (Default)
From: [personal profile] intermezzo
I read Pullman's trilogy, which I loved, and the hunger games. Aren't Lemony Snicket's stories for kids? I do like how Black writes though. Never heard of the other 2, I'll check them out.

Date: 2011-07-17 07:09 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alexandral.livejournal.com
Yep, Lemony Snickets are young teen stuff. I love them so, though, am always stealing them from my daughter,

I would rec both Abhorsen Trilogy and Earthsea with all my heart. And as you do like m/m fiction - have you read "Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula le Guin? It is not young fiction but one of those books everyone MUST READ AT LEAST ONCE.

Date: 2011-07-17 08:52 pm (UTC)
intermezzo: (Default)
From: [personal profile] intermezzo
Will add them to my list. Thanks

Date: 2011-07-17 06:50 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alexandral.livejournal.com
Oh and Terry Pratchett's Discworld series. His series I consider Young adult - oriented.
Edited Date: 2011-07-17 07:11 pm (UTC)

Date: 2011-07-17 09:14 pm (UTC)
intermezzo: (Default)
From: [personal profile] intermezzo
I tried reading Pratchet on several occasions (and different books) and I failed. IDK what it is that he just isn't doing it for me. *runs and hides* I haven't given up on his novels, but they're at the bottom of my to-read list tbh.

Date: 2011-07-17 09:37 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alexandral.livejournal.com
I can why, actually, he is quite specific. I am a huge fan because his humour is just like nothing out there, but he is quite quirky (which can be a good thing if you are me, but may be not for some).

I want to you read "Left Hand of Darkness" so badly now - I want to know what you'd think. Here is an unspoilery squeeful review : http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2669531 , but in my not very eloquent words, this is the most interesting exproration of gender ever. And it has my favourite OTP of all times (for which I am not going to spoil you). It is quite mind-bending in the first half and absolutely heart-breaking (in a good way) in the second.
Edited Date: 2011-07-17 09:38 pm (UTC)

Date: 2011-07-17 10:14 pm (UTC)
intermezzo: (Default)
From: [personal profile] intermezzo
IDK. Sometimes I don't even get what he's talking about? Maybe I should try a translation, but i'm allergic to those.

Added it to my wishlist at bookdepository. When I place the next order, I'll get it,

Date: 2011-07-17 10:17 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alexandral.livejournal.com
Oh, I see. Yes, it is full of British slang , various British idioms and even some words from dialects. So yes, I see what you mean.

Date: 2011-07-17 10:20 pm (UTC)
intermezzo: (Default)
From: [personal profile] intermezzo
I usually get those. IDK why it's so different with him.

Date: 2011-07-18 10:42 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alexandral.livejournal.com
He does have an interesting way of expressing things. But you have to give it to him:

Real stupidity beats artificial intelligence every time.

or

The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it.

or

Revolutions always come around again. That's why they're called revolutions.

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