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lunabee34I just closed Deathly Hallows and replaced the dust cover (loathsome thing) and wiped my face off and poured me another glass of wine.
So, strap in, y'all. Lorraine has thoughts.
1. Movies: I watched all 6 movies in the past two weeks, and while I thoroughly enjoyed them all, my favorites are 3, 5, and 6. The third movie is shot so beautifully with all those wonderful shots of the Whomping Willow to mark the passage of time and all those wonderful Trio moments (Hermione crying with her face in Ron's neck, I believe, and Harry holding them both? Dude, it doesn't get much better than that). Five is just slick, well and truly slick. The story told in that movie is probably the tighest of any of them. And such character work--Neville and Luna and Sirius and all the escaped Death Eaters. I think my favorite is six, though. I think the story is more sprawling and that important information from the book is left out or glossed over, but on the whole I enjoy this movie the most because it is about those quiet moments between friends, those gentle character grace notes that are not revealed in the heat of battle or the height of a plot point, but rather in three friends talking or a family's love. I was a little shocked by how *much* gets left out of the movies, but I suppose I shouldn't be. They could all easily be a million years long if they were faithfully adpated. Number one shocker: that Sirius doesn't actually call Harry James during the battle at the Ministry. Well done, screenwriter. I was kinda sad that wasn't canon.
2. Books: My favorite moment in all seven books is when Fleur tells Molly Weasley that all Bill's scars mean is that her husband is brave. I don't think I can textually render what that does to my insides. My second favorite moment, of course, is Molly Weasley's duel with Bellatrix. I simply cannot wait to see that on the big screen. Speaking of which, I think it becomes apparent as you progress through the books that at some point, JKR started writing for the big screen. As interior-driven as parts of those last three books are, they translate so beautifully to film; in fact, reading the Final Battle of Hogwarts is almost like reading a screen play. I think few readers would disagree that the books gain complexity and interest as the series progresses, but on this re-read, I am shocked at how well done and how grown up and how meaningful Deathly Hollows is for me. JKR is writing about incredibly serious and potentially dark ideas from the very beginning--the nature of life and death, the soul, the consequences of evil, redemption, murder, sadism, manipulation, etc. Although much of the violence is rendered in a way meant to go over children's heads (much in the same way that the only true gasps of horror come from the adults in a viewing audience of Coraline), the implications remain. DH is the finest thing JKR wrote, and I'm still all atremble with the way she wove the plot together and made Dumbledore a tragically flawed, but still admirable, figure and gave Snape something beyond the single dimension Harry ever allotted him.
3. This brings me to fic. I've been glutting myself on fic as if it were Thin Mints and I have some confessions to make. Harry/Draco is one of those things I just cannot see in canon. Like at all. Nor is Harry/Snape. I enjoy fanfic that pairs them, but for the most part, even when it labels itself so, that fic is not canonically compliant. Draco or Snape is softened and Harry is less angry and full of hatred so that the pairing will work. But here's the thing, guys. DRACO LET DEATH EATERS INTO HOGWARTS! DRACO DIRECTLY CAUSES BILL TO BE MAULED. DRACO (although arguably through no fault of his own) HAS INTERNALIZED THE DARK BELIEFS WITH WHICH HE WAS RAISED. DRACO AND HARRY HATE EACH OTHER (to a degree I think Spike and Xander might find excessive). SAME GOES FOR SNAPE, WITH THE HATRED AND THE KILLING OF POTTER'S PARENTS OMG. Even though he did not kill them, how could Harry ever separate Draco from Fred's death or Colin's or Lupin's or Tonks's? I have read very very very few fics that actually take into account and deal with these issues in a way that satisfies me. I can immerse myself in fanon. I can take a big ole bubble bath in Spander season four basement fluff or Harry/Draco where Draco's a forgiven Auror and enjoy the hell out of the soak. But fic that unflinchingly and realistically and within the bounds of canon examines those relationships? Not so abundant. Rec me some please if you have links.
So, strap in, y'all. Lorraine has thoughts.
1. Movies: I watched all 6 movies in the past two weeks, and while I thoroughly enjoyed them all, my favorites are 3, 5, and 6. The third movie is shot so beautifully with all those wonderful shots of the Whomping Willow to mark the passage of time and all those wonderful Trio moments (Hermione crying with her face in Ron's neck, I believe, and Harry holding them both? Dude, it doesn't get much better than that). Five is just slick, well and truly slick. The story told in that movie is probably the tighest of any of them. And such character work--Neville and Luna and Sirius and all the escaped Death Eaters. I think my favorite is six, though. I think the story is more sprawling and that important information from the book is left out or glossed over, but on the whole I enjoy this movie the most because it is about those quiet moments between friends, those gentle character grace notes that are not revealed in the heat of battle or the height of a plot point, but rather in three friends talking or a family's love. I was a little shocked by how *much* gets left out of the movies, but I suppose I shouldn't be. They could all easily be a million years long if they were faithfully adpated. Number one shocker: that Sirius doesn't actually call Harry James during the battle at the Ministry. Well done, screenwriter. I was kinda sad that wasn't canon.
2. Books: My favorite moment in all seven books is when Fleur tells Molly Weasley that all Bill's scars mean is that her husband is brave. I don't think I can textually render what that does to my insides. My second favorite moment, of course, is Molly Weasley's duel with Bellatrix. I simply cannot wait to see that on the big screen. Speaking of which, I think it becomes apparent as you progress through the books that at some point, JKR started writing for the big screen. As interior-driven as parts of those last three books are, they translate so beautifully to film; in fact, reading the Final Battle of Hogwarts is almost like reading a screen play. I think few readers would disagree that the books gain complexity and interest as the series progresses, but on this re-read, I am shocked at how well done and how grown up and how meaningful Deathly Hollows is for me. JKR is writing about incredibly serious and potentially dark ideas from the very beginning--the nature of life and death, the soul, the consequences of evil, redemption, murder, sadism, manipulation, etc. Although much of the violence is rendered in a way meant to go over children's heads (much in the same way that the only true gasps of horror come from the adults in a viewing audience of Coraline), the implications remain. DH is the finest thing JKR wrote, and I'm still all atremble with the way she wove the plot together and made Dumbledore a tragically flawed, but still admirable, figure and gave Snape something beyond the single dimension Harry ever allotted him.
3. This brings me to fic. I've been glutting myself on fic as if it were Thin Mints and I have some confessions to make. Harry/Draco is one of those things I just cannot see in canon. Like at all. Nor is Harry/Snape. I enjoy fanfic that pairs them, but for the most part, even when it labels itself so, that fic is not canonically compliant. Draco or Snape is softened and Harry is less angry and full of hatred so that the pairing will work. But here's the thing, guys. DRACO LET DEATH EATERS INTO HOGWARTS! DRACO DIRECTLY CAUSES BILL TO BE MAULED. DRACO (although arguably through no fault of his own) HAS INTERNALIZED THE DARK BELIEFS WITH WHICH HE WAS RAISED. DRACO AND HARRY HATE EACH OTHER (to a degree I think Spike and Xander might find excessive). SAME GOES FOR SNAPE, WITH THE HATRED AND THE KILLING OF POTTER'S PARENTS OMG. Even though he did not kill them, how could Harry ever separate Draco from Fred's death or Colin's or Lupin's or Tonks's? I have read very very very few fics that actually take into account and deal with these issues in a way that satisfies me. I can immerse myself in fanon. I can take a big ole bubble bath in Spander season four basement fluff or Harry/Draco where Draco's a forgiven Auror and enjoy the hell out of the soak. But fic that unflinchingly and realistically and within the bounds of canon examines those relationships? Not so abundant. Rec me some please if you have links.
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no subject
Date: 2010-03-02 09:38 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-03-03 12:50 am (UTC)Ron and Harry certainly have their moments of tension and problems between them.
I might have to go on a hunt for some Harry/Ron. My interest is piqued.