R.I.P Alan Rickman.
I had the whole Christmas week off this year. Glorious. And although I had ample time to do the hundred things I *should* have done, I chose to park it on my couch and catch up on my TV watching/cat snuggling. Initially I was thinking I would start a new series on Netflix that I could binge on. But it was Christmas. And that deserves Hallmark Channel and holiday movies. What to do? It's a Wonderful Life? Miracle on 34th St? Just Friends? (if you haven't seen this, I recommend it. Anna Faris is hilarious in it!) Nothing was really resonating with me until I thought about revisiting the Potter films. I haven't seen them in a long time, in fact I had only seen the Deathly Hollows films once. So, I embarked on a journey that resulted in about 20 hours of film watching, many hours of cat purring and 2 - 3 bags of popcorn.
Like I said before, it's been years since I've watched any Potter film and I've never watched the whole series in a row. Additionally I realized that I have never really taken these movies at face value. By that I mean, I typically saw each film (with the exception of Sorcerer's Stone) the morning they opened and had just finished the corresponding book. So each time I was fairly bursting with excitement and Rowling love. And I was always a tiny bit disappointed. Never by the visuals, each film is rich and opulent. But I was pretty critical of the fact that parts of the books were left out and I was a bit harsh, quite honestly, about Harry, Ron and Hermione's acting skills.
What I discovered on this journey is that the franchise, as stand-alone films, is really strong. The movies are all quite good and they tell the story very competently. Steve Kloves adapted all the books to screenplays with the exception of Order of the Phoenix. I think he's pretty amazing; culling down those massive tomes into something appropriate for a 2.5 hour film couldn't have been easy. Plus each of those decisions must have been like Sophie's choices for JK Rowling, so I imagine he was constantly defending his decisions. Kudos to Kloves. And the acting talent across the board is amazing. There are so many highly talented and well respected actors in each film, sometimes with only one line of dialog. And the kids got SO much better as time went on. They have become pretty solid actors in their own right.
This was sort of a pajama, christmas cookie and popcorn fueled trip down memory lane. And here is where I landed.
(P.S. There are spoilers below in case, for some weird reason, you are unfamiliar with HP :)
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - released in 2001
Fun fact: called Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone everywhere but the US and India. Sigh.
I had read this book a year or so (maybe) before the film came out. I actually had heard people talking about it, so I picked up the paperback at SFO and read the whole thing on the plane rides to and from LA. When I heard they were making the film I was so excited. I was working in Montara at the time, a small town right on the coast. The closest movie theatre to me was an ancient theatre in Pacifica (I don't recall the name). It was seriously disgusting, down to sticky floors that made my shoes make horrible noises. But I didn't care ONE BIT. I dove right into the world the filmmakers created for me. It really was magical. And for the most part, I felt that the casting was PERFECT. Robbie Coltrane as Hagrid? Couldn't be a better choice. Maggie Smith as McGonagall? Excellent. Richard Harris as Dumbledore? Heart melting. And Alan Rickman as Snape. Sublime.
Also, all three kids: adorable.
Chris Columbus directed this film (of Home Alone and Mrs Doubtfire fame). He's never been one of my favorite directors, I feel like he's a bit...pedestrian, for lack of a better word. He clearly has the "touch" for working with children (minds out of the gutter, people - or is that just me?), so you gotta give him credit for that. Perhaps that's why I feel like his work lacks some depth. Maybe you can only go so deep with a bunch of ten and eleven year olds.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - released in 2002
I felt like in this installment, Chris Columbus was allowed to up his FX budget. He had three fully animated characters with rather large roles (Dobby, Fawkes and the basilisk) and a host of other FX heavy shots.
In this film, little Ginny Weasley comes to Hogwarts and she couldn't be more adorable. I love her character and I feel that she ended up being well cast.
I was happy to see Professor Sprout, who's played by Miriam Margolyes who plays Aunt Pru in my favorite Australian TV series, Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries!
But the best piece of casting in this film (and in his career, in my opinion) is Kenneth Branagh as Gilderoy Lockhart. Honestly, I feel like J.K. Rowling must have written Lockhart with Branagh in mind, he's the PERFECT characterization of the egotistical, self absorbed teacher.
Also, our littles are starting to grow up in this one. Harry (thankfully) still has his floppy hair and I don't think voices have *quite* changed in this film. We are starting to see, though, that most of the boys are starting to win the height race against Harry.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - released in 2004
There are lots of changes by time we hit this movie.
Our kids are growing. Voices have definitely changed, Hermione is starting to look like a young lady. Sadly, Richard Harris passed away in October 2002, so Michael Gambon took over the role of Dumbledore. When this initially happened, I couldn't imagine ANYONE else being Dumbledore. Gambon did an excellent job, however, in this and the subsequent films.
Lots of new characters resulted in some more amazing casting. Gary Oldman, David Thewlis and Timothy Spall came on as Padfoot, Moony and Wormtail. They are all wonderful actors and their scenes together are pure acting gold.
This film is the first and only to be directed by Alfonso Cuaron. According to the internet, while Chris Columbus used a "Golden storybook" approach, Cuaron really expanded the look of the film by fleshing out the landscape around Hogwarts and desaturating the color palette. HIs shots are beautiful (in my opinion) and his transitions using wildlife (owls, creatures in the lake, etc) put me in the mind of a Peter Weir film (Picnic at Hanging Rock, The Last Wave...majestic stuff). I did find his use of the Hogwarts clock tower with all it's gear-moving a tad heavy handed. Felt like he was hammering that theme into us. We get it, Alfonso. Time turner. Time travel. TIME. Time out.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - released in 2005
This is the movie where things start to get dark. This is also the film where Harry gets a hair cut, which is a bit meh. And Ron starts looking more adult which is also a bit meh. Hermione keeps looking prettier and prettier.
Again, we get some new characters in this film which brings with it another host of great talent. Brendan Gleeson expertly plays Mad Eye Moody. David Tennant (my favorite doctor!) plays Barty Crouch, Jr (this was released the same year as the new Dr Who, so it's a year before Tennant started his term at Doctor). And the ill fated Cedric Diggory is played by Robert Pattinson. I would say this might be his best role yet, not only because he isn't faking an American accent but because he's only in one film.
We see our first death in this film and...what we've all been waiting for....we get to see Voldemort. Another amazing bit of casting...who would have thought that the man who was so dreamy and steamy in The English Patient could be so unrecognizable in this! Also, in what couldn't be more British and almost Potter-esque, his full name is Ralph Nathaniel Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes. Best. Name. Ever.
This film is directed by Mike Newell (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Enchanted April). Oddly, the year following this film's release he directed a short called Harry Potter Spoof Movie in India with an all Indian cast. Really, Mike Newell? Was that your best option for 2006?
The color palette continues to get bleaker as the films progress and Newell states he wanted to structure this film like a "paranoid thriller". I'd say he met his goal.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - released in 2007
Shit is getting real in this film. This is the first of 4 films directed by David Yates. He desaturated the color palette even more, making the films have a blueish tint throughout. His goal for the final three book adaptations was to bring a sense of "jeopardy" to the world.
Harry and the gang are fully going through high school issues by now...I could have sworn I saw a zit on Harry's face in one of the closeups. Also, they are learning about their sexuality. For some reason, though, when Harry and Cho kiss it made me feel dirty. Maybe I'm still thinking of him as an eleven year old. Or maybe he just doesn't have any sex appeal. Either way, ew. And really, poor Harry. Who wants to go through raging hormones at the same time you have to fight the Dark Lord? Not cool.
We meet Luna Lovegood in this, beautifully played by Evanna Lynch. She's a great character in the books, so I'm glad nothing was compromised in the casting. We also get Professor Umbridge, with all her meowing kitten plates and pink suits. Imelda Staunton plays Umbridge. She is great in this role, emanating sickly sweet evilness.
The wand waving and flourishing in the Dumbledore/Voldemort fight at the end is excellent. And, of course, the saddest of things: we lose Sirius Black. I got weepy for more than just the Harry Potter character this time around.
This book was one of my favorites of the series. I ended up being glad of the director change here as I feel that Yates brought the right kind of feel to the adaptation.
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince - released in 2009
Again, directed by David Yates. And getting darker all the time.
This film is a lot better than I remembered it, actually. It has some really disturbing stuff in it, neither Rowling nor Yates shied away from this. There is a scene where a student is floating above the ground after coming across a hexed pendant which is just chilling. Her hair is floating around her and her expression is frozen in a scream. Creepy as shit.
The hormone stuff is still in full effect. The boys are all deep voices and arm muscles. Weird.
Also, we experience much sadness in this movie. We lose Dumbledore and I will admit to tearing up when everyone puts their lit wands up toward the sky. When I first saw the movie I had a concert flashback (raised lighters), but seeing it again, it's very touching. Plus by this point, it was KILLING me that all these beloved characters were being offed.
The other thing that really hit me in this film (it's not that I didn't already know this, mind you) is what an incredibly nuanced performance Alan Rickman gives as Snape. It just sort of hit me all over again. He's seriously a brilliant actor.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1 released 2010
Part 2 released 2011
I'm going to discuss these two films in one blurb. I think it makes more sense that way. Yates leads up both these final films.
First, I have to tell you all that I needed to wait nearly a week in between watching Part 1 and Part 2. I was REALLY sad and needed a bit of a break. Not only did I know my marathon was coming to the end, but so was the story. And wow. These two movies are so good.
A fun fact that I discovered (you might have all already known this) is that Warwick Davis, who plays Professor Flitwick ALSO plays Griphook the Gringott's Goblin. I had NO idea! He's great at both characters but honestly, there isn't ONE OTHER little person in all of England who could play one of these roles? Hmmm.
Bill Nighy joins the cast in Part 1. He is, as always, awesome (although he's pretty put together and normally I enjoy him most when he's a hot mess). See what I mean about how these films have SUCH great supporting talent? He was in like 3 scenes total.
Also, in Part 1 there is a beautifully animated piece telling the Tale of the Three Brothers, which explains what the Deathly Hallows are. This was done at an animation/fx house in London called Framestore, which has also worked on many of the Potter films as well as many other major motion pictures. It's really gorgeous.
The death toll is raging and awful in these films. Our first casualty is Hedwig and that nearly did me in. Then we end Part 1 with Dobby. Goddammit! Stop! I ended up being sniffly through the whole of the second movie, too. It's like one thing after another. Not one punch was pulled. Snape's story is absolutely heartbreaking. We lose more of our favorite characters. EVERYONE gets wrecked and makes hard decisions about the rest of their lives. This is not a children's movie.
I was a little sad to see (when Ron and Harry are shirtless in one scene) that Rupert Grint's partying ways resulted in a bit of a beer belly. And I was very pleased to see that even adding Neville's funky teeth, there is no denying that Matthew Lewis grew up to be quite a handsome man.
(It was tough to figure out a drink for each film, so I'd suggest pairing your marathon with several pitchers of Butterbeer, into which you can cry.)
My takeaways:
#1 - There are actual, real life Quidditch games now. Like at colleges and stuff. Amazing.
#2 - For some reason I thought Mrs Norris wasn't in all the films, but I'm happy to report she's shown at least once per film.
#3 - Ron Weasley is my absolute favorite character in the books. He is funny and loyal and brave in his own way. Ron Weasley in the movies is consistently a bit of a disappointment because I love the written version of him so much. Such is life.
#4 - I would totally do this marathon again. Anyone want to join me?
xoxo....hashtagSueslife
