Despite the fact that the 5th Harry Potter movie was advertised for release on Friday, it opened early (midnite last night) and we saw it this afternoon. Wow. Good stuff.
It’s hard for me to completely collect my thoughts on this one, I’m actually hoping to go back and read the book again and think about a few of the issues that are raised. It’s certainly darker and less whimsical than the first two, and the director does a fine job of building Harry’s anger and frustration to the boiling point. The ending was full of gee-whiz special effects and again it came down to a battle between Harry and his nemesis. Definitely worth watching on the big screen. Especially sitting with kids who can point out any deviations from the original text and whose resemblance to the main characters is more than just superficial. :)
Oh, and Helena Bonham Carter really stole the show as Bellatrix. The actress playing the Luna character also did well. It’s fun to see this batch of kids grow up and mature in the span of the films. Neville is hardly recognizable, looking more like a young John Cleese than his child-self in film #1. Harry’s hair is shorter and his jaw is squarer, perhaps fitting given the adult responsibilities that he now carries. Hermione seems the one character who has changed the least physically, though she’s certainly no longer the rule-abiding priss of the first film.
Can’t wait for the final book to be released. And at the same time, I’m a bit sad given that my kids have grown up alongside Harry & Hermione and I hate to see that end! :)
The trailer for those who haven’t seen it yet: