The shortest film made from the longest book. For months prior to the film, perhaps even years, people asked, how are they going to do this film? Its novel counterpart is the size of a small refrigerator! I mean, honestly! And then David Yates goes and achieves the impossible: makes the shortest film. Goodness gracious. How did he do it? Well, much was cut, and much was changed, but it made sense.
One particularly significant change was the role of Cho Chang. In the book, of course, Cho’s friend Marietta rats out Dumbledore’s Army, whereas in the film, there’s an inquisition and every student is asked whether they have broken Umbridge’s new decrees that forbid them to gather together and practice magic. Afterward, the DA is caught and Cho is seen apologizing to Harry. Of course, any flame between them is firmly extinguished at that point. Soon, they’re all serving detention, and Harry walks right by her, without notice, except for a pointed glare perhaps. We find out later, from Professor Snape, that she was given Veritaserum, and it was this that caused her to talk. Surprise you as it might, I really liked this change. It made the plot so much more simple, not to mention I didn’t mind that Cho was given the blame, if not the full blame, simply because I just don’t like her as a character for whatever reason. She is just not meant for Harry, whatsoever. Alright, I admit it, I’m an avid Harry/Ginny shipper, though more so a Neville/Luna shipper if you must know. How I love Luna…
How much I loved Evanna Lynch in this film! As Jo herself has said once before, she was absolutely perfect; born to play this role. “I hope there’s pudding” was the line of Phoenix, as “I’ve killed Harry Potter!” was that of Goblet of Fire. I’ve told others that if Luna was real and Hogwarts was real and I attended Hogwarts, I would totally be Luna’s best friend. Luna’s and Neville’s, though I totally would not be the third wheel in that relationship, which would be awkward. Awkward honesty just emanates from her, and Neville’s role in this film is strengthened, as his role has been in the whole series. However brief her screen presence was, Natalia Tena was too perfect for her role as well. “Don’t call me Nymphadora!” Actually, I would be her friend too. She’s just that cool. Perhaps I just really like clumsy and awkward people; they’re an awful lot like me.
Ah, yes, Umbridge was yet another perfect character cast, her role filled of course by Imelda Staunton. If this is at all possible, I actually hated Umbridge more in the movie than I did in the book, and I wanted something more to happen after she’s carried off by centaurs, more than Harry’s simple comment that he must not tell lies. Ironic, yes, but painfully simple, when instead I would have told her to go you-know-where, as well as use other words for her that would make this review inappropriate for young readers. Especially with the newest novel I found that yet again, I wanted Umbridge to experience immense pain to pay back for all the evil she’s done. I wanted her to know dearly the pain of the Cruciatus curse that she almost so willingly performed on Harry. One scene that would have intensely strengthened my hatred for this character in this film would have been the Astronomy O.W.L., when McGonagall and Hagrid both are attacked and Harry witnesses all of it from the Astronomy tower. Certainly that scene I looked most forward to in this film, but was left disappointed. Nonetheless, Umbridge’s mere presence in other scenes allowed me to hate her even more than I did Miss Bellatrix Lestrange, which actually does not take much for me. Umbridge’s is a calculated evil, one which she can get away with in the midst of power. She is power; she’s the puppet of the Ministry, who is in turn in her back pocket. She can do whatever she wants and get away with it, so therefore, her calculated evil ensues. Lestrange, on the other hand, is merely insane. She is pure evil, of course, but characterized insanity. No one could have pulled Bellatrix’s character off better than Helena Bonham Carter.
On the other side of the spectrum is our favorite squib. Of course, it is not Argus Filch of whom I speak, who’s also humorously beefed up in this film, but Mrs. Figg. She is perfect. Again, like Tonks, she doesn’t get as much screen presence as she deserves, but she is great nonetheless. There are so many awkward female characters in this film, performed perfectly by the actresses chosen to portray them.
Special effects were perfect. In particular, Dumbledore’s escape from Hogwarts was far greater than what I imagined (too right you are Kingsley, Dumbledore does have style!), the Weasley twins’ escape from Hogwarts with fireworks and broomsticks was also spectacular, but greatest of these three is the battle between Dumbledore and Voldemort in the Ministry. It involves magic greater than any we have yet seen on film; this is a scene that acutely rivals the battle between Gandalf and Saruman of Lord of the Rings.
My favorite scene from the whole film is Harry’s conversation with Dumbledore at the end. After an entire film of Dumbledore ignoring Harry to try to protect him, he sits down with him and explains to him why: a heart-to-heart of sorts. Why is this my favorite scene of the movie? I love the color of it. Whenever I watch it, I have to remove any light from the room and bask in the deep blue that permeates the scene. I’m all about color, art, music… all of it.
Finally, Nicholas Hooper does very, very well with this film, as does David Yates of course, but being the music buff that I am, I must comment on the music. It moved me. In comparison with the genius that is John Williams, even this newest soundtrack gives the first three a run for their money. With concern to Patrick Doyle’s score, there is no comparison. I love this soundtrack.
