These past weeks, I’ve watched ”Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” and read “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows.” Both didn’t turn out the way I expected, although I have more things to point out (I hesitate to say complain) in the former rather than the latter - maybe because J.K. Rowling, as the creator, has more rights to turn the story in this way as compared to the film, which was supposed to be based on the novel.
For those who haven’t watched the book or read the film (I get the feeling I’m confusing something here), don’t read the succeeding text, because I’ll be giving spoilers galore.
In terms of the Order of the Phoenix film, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised with the liberties that they took in adapting the novel. After all, this is the thickest book of the series, so turning it into a film and bringing all the elements would probably be next to impossible - unless they’re willing to extend it up to four hours. What I was most disappointed were the following scenes:
1. The escape of Fred and George from Hogwarts. I love the twins, and removing the swamp is doing them an injustice, not to mention the continued absence of Peeves in the film to create mayhem.
2. The finding out of the D.A. Why did they make Cho out to be traitor? Why did Umbridge blow up the door of the Room of Requirement? Why did members of the Inquisitorial Squad try out instead of being handpicked by Umbridge? It’s just really absurd, because they changed the content of the book.
3. What is up with Sirius being killed with “Avada Kedavra”? As the novel said, he was hit with a jet of red sparks, obviously not caused by the killing curse, which produces green light.
4. They should’ve put the hospital scene in, because Bode’s murder adds to the mystery of the Department of Mysteries. Come to think of it, the place wasn’t shown to be mysterious, especially since Harry’s dream sequences were at best, fuzzy.
5. The opening scene was un-Potter-ish at best. Why would Harry draw his wand in front of Muggles? He might have been angry, but he’s not stupid.
6. Whatever happened to Mundugus Fletcher? He’s going to play quite a role in the succeeding books, so why was he taken out completely?
7. One of my biggest disappointments is Michael Gambon as Dumbledore. Why is he portraying the headmaster as an uber-strict, angry person? He’s anything but.
Those are the things I could think of right now. There might still be some, but I can’t quite recall what these are.
The film does have its good points, though. The new cast members are excellent: Luna Lovegood, Dolores Umbridge, and my personal favorite Bellatrix Lestrange. They’re brilliant. Alan Rickman is still the best for me, because he is able to add comedy to the otherwise forbidding, dark role of Severus Snape.
I’d give the film 3 out of 5 stars. It’s not perfect, but it’s alright - if taken separately from the book (and that’s saying something, as the “Order of the Phoenix” is my least favorite.)
Now, with regard to the book, I guess I don’t have that many complaints to it except for the last few chapters, especially the epilogue. I have some of these questions/things that I want to bring up:
1. Why did J.K. end up being a people pleaser? In her last three novels (starting from “Goblet of Fire”), she seemed to show that she’s going to turn this book in a certain way, and there’s really nothing that people could do about it. Why did she suddenly do an about-face and gave people what they expected/wanted? Don’t believe me? Then why was the epilogue written that way then?
2. Why did Fred and not Percy have to die? Sorry, but as I said, I adore the twins, and removing the ear of one and killing off the other is way too cruel. If she’s going to go with the “people-pleaser” route, she should’ve killed Percy instead.
3. Hedwig’s death is sore disappointing. To think that she was with Harry since the beginning, and then she gets killed while inside her cage. What’s up with that?
4. Who did Draco marry? It would’ve turned out alright if he married a Muggle-born (*cough*Hermione*cough*)or a half-blood, but reading between the lines, he stayed true with the Malfoy/Black tradition. Stinks already, but I hope it’s not Pansy. I’m disappointed that he didn’t go over to the good side, especially with all of J.K.’s hints on the sixth book.
5. What happened to Neville? Did he have a family of his own?
6. Is Ted Tonks a part-werewolf or something?
Anyway, enough of that for now. My entry’s long enough already. I’ll post some other time if I think of more questions.