I'm feeling a bit mixed about this movie. Or maybe my expectations were too high, I'm not sure quite yet.
As everyone likely knows, the sixth Harry Potter movie opened yesterday with sold-out midnight screenings in Muncie.
CAUTION! SPOILERS AHEAD!
The movie started off on the right foot - the Millennium Bridge collapse and destruction of Diagon Alley by the Death Eaters were well done, even if they didn't exactly follow the book. The action right at the beginning was a great way to amp up the adrenaline for the rest of the two-and-a-half hour flick.
But, for me, in all honesty, it just sort of coasted from there. It felt linear and had no upward movement toward a turning point.
There was a LOT of teen angst and unrequited love in this movie. A bit too much. At times, I found myself thinking "Hey, where's all the magic? Aren't we supposed to see Harry in Snape's Defense Against the Dark Arts class? And what about all of the memories that were left out?"
Also, nearly any mention of the Ministry of Magic is left out sadly, including the removal of Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge.
My biggest disappointment had to be the absence of the backstory of Tom Riddle's parents - Merope and Tom Riddle Sr. - and his racist, nasty grandfather Marvolo.
However, the acting was top notch. Daniel Radcliffe seems to have found a comfortable rhythm playing a tortured, yet determined, Harry, while Tom Felton has improved the character of Draco immensely since we last saw him. You can feel the mental anguish he is dealing with since being named a Death Eater, in replacement of his father, charged with a certain unenviable task by Voldemort. Once this task was carried out, no tears were shed on my part, which is quite unusual; but, the feeling just wasn't there for me.
I feel like leaving out the climactic battle event at the end of the book between the Death Eaters and members of the Order of the Phoenix was a mistake. There was no "umpf" to the end, no build up to this great journey Harry, Ron and Hermoine are about to embark on in the next part of the series.
Now, if you think this movie is the best yet, that's fine. I'm willing to go see the movie once more and give it another shot. After all, my expectations definitely won't be as high this time.
Aly Brumback is a junior news-editorial journalism major and writes 'Keeping the Talley' for the Daily News. Her views do not necessarily agree with those of the newspaper.
Write to Aly at aabrumback@bsu.edu
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