Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 - Discuss and Grade

[Mr Light]

I thought that Harry approved of Ron/Hermione in the books. I do remember an internal thought about him expecting it to happen but worried that it would lead to even more fighting, and then at the battle at the end he kept telling them to stop snogging and keep fighting or something like that.

 

[CaptainCanada]

So how about the cinematography or the score? I loved the way the film looked, the framing and post-production work created visuals that effectively conveyed the bleak, oppressive narrative. Desplat's score, while not especially remarkable, was nonetheless effective in the film. And as a CD soundtrack is actually quite enjoyable to listen to.

The film looks quite amazing. The score didn't stand out as particularly memorable, but I don't generally notice that sort of thing.

 

[Greylock Crescent]

They did a great job of making the countryside look barren and foreboding -- even when they were in the midst of a forest. As for the score, I'm confident that if people watch the film a couple of times (or listen to the soundtrack), it'll become more memorable -- not, perhaps, to the extent of LOTR or even Trek '09. But there are some fascinating and moving moments tucked into the score that become more apparent every time you listen to it.

 

[Saul]

Loved it, I agree its a lot of set up and maybe too much time in the woods. I missed Hogwarts and Dumbledore. But every scene Dobby was in became most of my favorite scenes!

Just out of curiousity as someone who hasn't read the books. Why is Harry now referring to Voldermort as "he who shall not be named". In the previous movies he always called him by name. Is he that afraid now or was it an idea on behalf of the actors part to show something within his character?

 

[Greylock Crescent]

^ If you'll recall the scene in the London cafe, the Death Eaters show up almost instantly after Hermione uses Voldemort's name. In the books we learn that Voldemort has set up a magical tracking spell (or whatever it's called) so that anyone who uses his name will automatically be located -- knowing that if someone uses his name openly, they must be an enemy. It's why, later on, when Lovegood's dad uses the name, the Death Eaters immediately show up.

 

[Tora Ziyal]

Oh never mind, someone already answered.

 

[Saul]

^ If you'll recall the scene in the London cafe, the Death Eaters show up almost instantly after Hermione uses Voldemort's name. In the books we learn that Voldemort has set up a magical tracking spell (or whatever it's called) so that anyone who uses his name will automatically be located -- knowing that if someone uses his name openly, they must be an enemy. It's why, later on, when Lovegood's dad uses the name, the Death Eaters immediately show up.

Thanks for explaining. I was really wondering about that since I couldn't figure out why that changed in the movie. But I thought the Death Eaters had appeared at Lovegood's house because he sold out Harry to get his daughter back. No?

 

[CaptainCanada]

^ If you'll recall the scene in the London cafe, the Death Eaters show up almost instantly after Hermione uses Voldemort's name. In the books we learn that Voldemort has set up a magical tracking spell (or whatever it's called) so that anyone who uses his name will automatically be located -- knowing that if someone uses his name openly, they must be an enemy. It's why, later on, when Lovegood's dad uses the name, the Death Eaters immediately show up.

Thanks for explaining. I was really wondering about that since I couldn't figure out why that changed in the movie. But I thought the Death Eaters had appeared at Lovegood's house because he sold out Harry to get his daughter back. No?

He sold them out.

The Taboo was the reason why the Snatchers found them in the next scene, at least in the book.

 

[Greylock Crescent]

Lovegood did sell out The Trio. But unless I am 'misremembering' the Death Eaters didn't show until he used Voldy's name. Basically it was his signal that he had The Trio at his place -- or at least, that's how I interpreted the scene in the movie.

 

[Saul]

Thanks again. Must watch out for that next time I see it.

 

[Greylock Crescent]

Yeah, I definitely need to see the film again myself -- and I'll be watching to see if using Voldy's name is the trigger that brought the Death Eater's to Lovegood's place. Of course, if that's the case, it begs the question: Why didn't Lovegood just use the name the second The Trio showed up (other than the need for an exposition dump in the form of the folk tale)? I cannot remember if that question was answered in the book.

 

[Stevil2001]

I liked it-- more than I liked the book I think. I liked how the "camping" scenes took them through all these visually interesting places... yet for some reasons all the dramatic scenes still happen in the same boring forest! Spice things up a bit!

 

[Gryffindorian]

Of course, if that's the case, it begs the question: Why didn't Lovegood just use the name the second The Trio showed up (other than the need for an exposition dump in the form of the folk tale)? I cannot remember if that question was answered in the book.

My impression was that Harry and company came knocking at Xenophilius' door, and Mr. Lovegood wasn't expecting them; therefore, he wasn't intending to use them as bait to the Death Eaters, at least not right away.

 

[Neroon]

But then why would said Deatheaters have kidnapped Luna and left Xenophilius at home?

 

[cultcross]

But then why would said Deatheaters have kidnapped Luna and left Xenophilius at home?

As punishment, but also as incentive - He publishes (apparently single handedly) a magazine which we've seen has become fairly popular and has been vocally supportive of Harry - the Death Eaters would want him to continue publication, but saying the opposite - don't support Harry, we were wrong to, turn him in if you know where he is. Much more effective than killing him and stopping the magazine completely. You want to control the media, not destroy it. They probably did the same with the Prophet.

 

[Mr Light]

There's also the fact that he doesn't want to help the bad guys but he's being forced to, so he tried to give Harry the information he needed before he ratted him out, in the hopes that Harry would get away and he wouldn't get blamed for it since he did his job.

 

[DigificWriter]

In the book, Xeno sends the DEs a message via traditional means that Harry Potter and his friends are inside his house, and he then deliberately tries to stall them and keep them at ease in order to allow the DEs time to get there; the way that Kloves and Yates adapted the scene is true to JKR's text thematically, even though the way in which Xeno summons the DEs to his house is different (saying Voldemort's name aloud, which is an allusion to/conveyance of the Taboo that was placed on the name), and there's considerably less of Xeno's stalling/diversionary tactics being employed.

 

[MNM]

I think Ron and Hermione end up together in spite of the bickering and fighting.

Has to be, as no one can read the books and say with a straight face that Hermione likes the bickering and fighting, the words tell us otherwise.

Can you imagine the glorious carnage on the Internet if the films did that? Personally I'd love the choice because the chemistry of Watson and Radcliffe has always been there (and I've not even seen Deathly Hallows 1 yet), and the legions of enraged fans would be fantastic.

I would pay good money to sit and watch certain Harry Potter forums the day after such an ending occured...

 

[Greylock Crescent]

There's also the fact that he doesn't want to help the bad guys but he's being forced to, so he tried to give Harry the information he needed before he ratted him out, in the hopes that Harry would get away and he wouldn't get blamed for it since he did his job.

Ah, yes. That's a good point. And it makes sense why Lovegood was so ... deflated ... when he finally uttered "Voldemort." It's as if he'd said as much as he could say and waited as long as he could have waited before having to turn in The Trio.

 

[DarthPipes]

In the movie, they never explain the jinx. Ron is the one who tells Harry and Hermione after he returns and that's why Harry at that point starts calling Voldemort "You-Know-Who." The jinx on Voldemort's name is never stated on-screen but Xeno uses it to trigger the Death Eaters appearance. In the book, Hermione uses some quick thinking by telling Ron to put on the Invisibility Cloak since the Death Eaters don't know he's with Harry and Hermione's parents are out of the country.

Speaking of the Invisiblity Cloak, I was stunned not to see it in the movie. As I recall, Harry states that he left it at the Burrow. As part of the Deathly Hallows, it has to be there. My guess was that they didn't want Harry using it constantly in the movie...that kind of thing works better in a book than onscreen. I would imagine since he's now at Bill's house Shell Cottage, he'll end up having it sent to him.

Cinematography was excellent and it was nice to explore the world outside of Hogwarts. As for the musical score, I don't remember much of it beyond the opening and end scene scores.