This movie more than any other will have fans crying in anguish at some things and getting misty eyed with delight over others. The one thing I went into this screening knowing was that major things would have to be shifted around or cut entirely to make room and time for other story points the filmmakers were important enough to the plot to stay in. As a fan of the books I just hoped that at least some of the scenes that had nothing to do with the main core of the movie would get a reprieve and be allowed to stay in. For the most part the filmmakers admirably tried to do just that. I will say though that any fan of the books should not go in with an attitude of, “They are going to cut my favorite parts and I’m going to hate this film.” But rather with the attitude of knowing things will be different but it is for the sake of turning this film into one that makes sense.
As anyone in Hollywood can tell you, you just can’t fit 734 pages of a novel into the time and budget constraints of a movie that clocks in at just under three hours (157 minutes to be exact). And while some fans will be complaining about, “this getting left out” or “they changed that”, fans really should be happy that the film does a damn fine job of staying true to the core of the story and presenting a film that, while a bit rushed, still does a great job of telling the story.
It would have been very easy for the filmmakers to do a cliff notes version of the film and assume that everyone will know certain facts coming in to it and not have to explain them to anyone. Much the same they could have completely changed the movie and had only one task for Harry to compete in and made a much shorter film. But, much like they have with the other three films in the franchise, the movie makers wisely stayed in the middle of the road.
They have succeeded in making something both fans of the book and fans of only the movies will enjoy, and most importantly, will be able to understand and follow.
The casting as always in these films is a virtual who’s who of amazing talent. Some even joke it is more a question of when a famous actor will play a part in the films than if they will.
Brendan Gleeson joins the cast as the eccentric retired Auror, or dark wizard catcher, Alastor “Mad-Eye” Moody. A nickname he gets from the magical blue eye which whirls around at dizzying speed in all directions and allows him to see through just about anything including the back of his head. ...
