HP & the Globet of Fire

Caught Harry Potter and the Globet of Fire last night. It was unsatisfying to put it mildly. In attempting to condense the thick (thick, thick) book into a reasonable length, it was choppy with little engagement. It's like they are so busy trying to tell you the story they don't have time to do the details that charmed audience in the earlier Harry Potter films.

I was looking forward to the entrance of the foreign students. I was expecting something more...spectacular? The book conveyed a sense of - what's the word? - magic to their grand entrance. Alas, not enough show and glam. The visual of the movie for the most part feels heavy and wet.

But liked the dragon though. Especially the bit with the drawing of lots, and they all pick out those tiny little dragons that bites. So cute! ;)

I like the actors casted for the earlier HP films. I know some friends don't, but I do. I like the fact that Emma Watson is button-cute, and I adore Alan Rickman and (Dame!) Maggie Smith. It's so frustrating that the actors have so little to do in this one. I mean, why so little of Alan Rickman? Okay, he was funny when he was thwacking Harry and Ron for talking in the study room. But that's it?!

But the bummer of the movie was Albus Dumbledore. Michael Gambon just falls short of my expectation of Dumbledore. Richard Harris played the first Dumbledore with a whimsical grace. There was good-humour and compassion in the first Dumbledore. You can see why Harry Potter would love him. Michael Gambon's Dumbledore is flaccid. A little lost, in fact, which isn't reassuring because Dumbledore will have a bigger role to play later.

Then my friend asked me last night: "I wonder how Ian McKellan would have played it."

And that's when I knew it: I had wanted Dumbledore to be Gandalf in disguise.

From Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone:

[Talking about Every Flavor Beans]
Dumbledore: I was unfortunate enough in my youth to come across a vomit-flavored one, and since then I'm afraid I've rather lost my liking for them. But, I think I could be safe with a nice toffee. [eats it] ...Ah, alas, earwax.

Ralph Fiennes as Voldemort. Ahh...