Michael Braun's Blog

I was writing this post earlier, but somehow I forgot about it and closed the browser. That seems very strange, but I am at the library and crazy things always happen at libraries. And as of right now, I’ve been here since 10:30, 5 hours, so who knows if this post will even be coherent.

I had planned to see the fourth Harry Potter movie over Thanksging Break with Tony. Due to circumstances unforeseen, however, I couldn’t. Tony was stuck in Platteville thanks to Zach’s unreliable car, and therefore I had no one to go with. When I got back to Madison, I started to worry a little, because everyone I knew who had an interest in seeing the movie had already seen it. Even Dan, who has never read the books, saw it. Luckily, Brittany agreed to go with me. She had already seen in at Midnight the day it came out but said she would go again just for me.

So, around 5:30 we hiked over to University Square (a block from my apartment) and sat down. The movie began, and then it ended. Overall, I thought it was just okay. They did a good job, mostly, of cutting scenes, but in some cases I don’t think that they cut enough. For example, they included a brief part of the Quidditch World Cup, which didn’t enhance the story at all and delayed the action of the movie for too long. Because the movie opens with a scene with Voldemort, just like the book, we feel immediately engrossed in the action. Putting the World Cup in the movie, added nothing. They took out much of the mystery from the Cup in the movie (like Winky, Ludo Bagman, more details with Crouch) which left it all feeling useless.

The acting wasn’t too good either. I don’t think that Daniel Radcliff (Harry) or Emma Watson (Hermione) are particularly good actors. Rupert Grint (Ron) does a great job, but this has been evident since the series began. I am not pleased with Fred and George’s portrayals in the movies also. They seem to be simply clown characters, which undermines the pivotal role they are being set up to play in the later books. And in these later books, we also see how truly intelligent they are, which is not evident in the movies at all. No other characters stuck out either. Ron is the only consistently great character.

The darkness of the story wasn’t played up enough either. The scene in the graveyard in which Voldemort comes to power makes it seem like he has no following. The mist obscures seeing the Deatheaters amassed. It actually seems like there are only 3-4 present for his resurrection. Voldemort does not seem like the super wizard he once was; his magical prowess is not shown nearly enough. And even in the end, when the characters know Voldemort is back and Hermione asks “everythings going to change now, isn’t it?” the line is played off for humor a second later rather than the momentous weight it carries behind it. It’s like impeaching George Bush 14 years ago and then finding out he is back in power. PEOPLE SHOULD BE SCARED!

So, whatever. The movie did great at the box office and got great reviews. I’m glad for the franchise and for Rowling. She’s getting rich on some wonderful creativity and getting kids to read in record numbers. The movies only help to books, I believe, because they keep the hype real and give motivation to even the most reluctant of readers. They also prove that books are nearly always better than the movies.

I was glad that I saw the movie. At the same time, I question the future movies. I would hate to see a continuted decline in quality. Although, with such a great storyline to go on, it would be hard not to make a good movie. It’s like being in southern Utah – it’s hard not to take a great picture with such great scenery.