the Dalaverse

So this isn't a review so much as a meandering list of bullet-pointed things I can still remember making an impression on me even though I bummed around Borders for an hour after the movie.

--first off, my absolute favorite thing was Lavender Brown. First of all because she looked like she'd stepped right out of the '80s (clashing horribly with Ron's painfully '70s shirt in the kiss scene). Second of all because she was EFFING HILARIOUS. Seriously, if Lavender was in a scene I did not see or hear anything else that went on because I was watching her face and cracking the fuck up. Bless the little actress's heart, she committed to that shit.

--unfortunately was not impressed by Bonnie Wright. I like Ginny and H/G, but girlfriend is kind of dead behind the eyes. And it's a shame because she's surrounded by really good young actors (obviously Dan Radcliffe is the standout but they're all pretty decent), and in general the casting of the films has been near ideal. I dunno, it's not like I wanted them to recast her but I wish they'd made a better decision, like, way back in 2001 or whatever. Sigh. The kiss wasn't bad, though. I was really glad they left out the breakup at the funeral because a. it was dumb to begin with and b. I just don't think the actress had it in her.

--it is so weird starting a film without the Dursleys. And Narcissa's hair was ABSURD, GODDAMN.

--Jim Broadbent was actually my mental image of Slughorn since the first time I read the book, and he was fab. Loved the scene in Hagrid's hut, speaking of which:

--Dan showed real comedic chops in the Felix Felicitawhatever bit. And it was touching to see him reach out and steady Slughorn's hand as he extracted the memory. Really, really nice acting choices and directing of the actor, there.

--I did not miss the extra history-of-Tom-Riddle scenes. At all. While they're interesting enough in text, I feel like he was developed well enough in this and previous films that we really didn't need the added insight. And they're like the trip to St. Mungo's in OotP: much as I enjoy reading them, they'd drag the film down.

--HOLY CRAP THE INFERI WERE SCARY. (Meg cackled with glee and said "Zombies, YES!")

--I didn't manage to finish rereading in time so a lot of the plot's not fresh in my memory. But I do recall a lengthier explanation of the Half-Blood Prince reveal. You kind of get it, the shock of Harry learning that this person he's looked up to and learned from is actually his second-worst enemy, but it's mostly testament to the acting and not in the actual, y'know, script.

--I...have no memory of the Burrow being torched. Did that happen after Rufus Scrimgeor came and menaced Harry at Christmas? Anyway, I actually liked the scene on its own merits. Liked Ginny running after Harry but then was afraid it would turn into a "he saaaaaves her" thing with Fenrir Greyback, but it actually became a "stand and fight together" thing instead. Thumbs up to that. Though I did nearly yell "you're all wizards, PUT THE FREAKING FIRE OUT!" in the theater.

--Deathly Hollows makes the Remus/Tonks subplot necessary; nonetheless, I appreciated its being truncated to an established relationship so we didn't have to watch Tonks pine all movie long. I still don't get it, fundamentally, but streamlining it helped. Likewise I didn't miss Fleur and all the girls hating on her, but at the same time "I am good-looking enough for both of us" is one of my favorite lines from the book ::pouts::

--speaking of which, my biggest quibble was the omission of the "I am not afraid, Harry. I am with you" line. Just - why? Why was it not there? It's lovely, it's poignant, and it's even got a handy bookend from the recruiting-Slughorn scene they decided to leave in (something about Harry being safe "because you are with me"). I did not get that choice at all. The only other bit I really missed was Hagrid freaking the fuck out over Dumbledore's body. Otherwise I thought that was handled really well (the funeral would have been overkill). Except, Ron doesn't get any lines during the final NOW WE WILL GO CAMPING bit? In general I thought this one used Ron pretty well and there was a nice balance between Harry&Hermione and Ron&Harry scenes, but that was totally bizarre.

--loved loved LOVED Hermione's hair getting progressively crazier as Harry beat her in the Potions contest. Also Harry and Ron tussling over the used books.

--it suffered from a lack of Neville. But then, don't most things? I hope they're just saving up all their Neville awesome for DH.

--Arthur's shed full of Muggle artifacts, SO MUCH LOVE.

--who the hell were the random twin girls in the Slug Club? The fuck? OTOH, Cormac was almost as funny as Lav-Lav (sucking the chocolate sauce off his finger OMG) and Neville in a waiter's costume!

--one last missing line: "There's no need to call me 'sir,' Professor" (can you tell how far I made it in the book?) It's not necessary, true, but it's awesome.

--I was bummed they recast Teenage Tom because the original was cute as hell, but this one looked more like Ralph Fiennes and performed adequately so I am mollified

--Hermione getting tipsy off butterbeer = win. I was wondering why the boys' glasses were so much fuller and then she goes stumbling down the path and heeeeeee.

--y'all know I've had my problems with Michael Gambon in the past. I don't quite know what to say now. It's not that I think he's bad in the role (except for that weird shit in GoF where he got all up in Harry's face), or that I think Richard Harris could've done a better job (because I loved him but he was too frail for Dumbledore's expanded role in the later books, even if he'd lived). Hell, I can't think of any other old white British guy that would please me (no, not even Sir Ian). I think Dumbledore is just one of those characters to whom no actor can measure up, for me. No one is just right. But anyway, he was still very affecting in the cave scene (not as much as with HIS BEST LINE but still).

Uh, I guess that's it for now. Overall I really enjoyed it as an adaptation and as a film in its own right, and I am totally up for discussion in comments.

::makes a mental note to obtain a Trio icon as soon as possible::