date watched: July 19, 2009
location: Apgujung CGV, Seoul
This is possibly my favorite Harry Potter movie so far.
A lot of people who've seen it in the opening week have complained about its slow pace. Personally, the pace seems well-suited to the plot's development. It is much more thorough, and less action-oriented, which gives more attention to the emotions that were pregnant in the past ones.
I also didn't see the blatant efforts to show off with CG, which made the film more gentle. Think of the second Transformers: it is merely a 2.5 hour showcase of how much you can blow up and how many robots can transform in one viewing.
At the same time, I can't help but think that there were so many similarities to Lord of the Rings. For example, those dead spirits in the cave looked dangerously close to Smigol, no?
There was more attention given to Ronald Weasley in this one, and since he's my favorite of the trio, it was a nice change. He always gave the movies a comic twist, and he did not fail the audience again in this one. That said, the laughter in this one is more subtle, but enough to provide comic relief when necessary.
But poor Dumbledore.
And poor Ralph Fiennes, who didn't make a single appearance (except a flash, through Harry's eyes) in this one.
