It was fantastic watching the film again, this time at home and I did notice a few more things -- McGonagall giving Hagrid a nudge in the Great Hall, silly insignificant pathetic details like that.
I adore the way we got a 'map' to the DVD extras with the package -- it's so frustrating having to find your 'rewards' - hence the PS DVD.
I hated two things. The awful excuses for deleted scenes and the stupid loathesome shrunken head. Lenny Henry - I used to like you until you wrecked the DVD. His interupptions and appalling 'questions' in the interviews brought the whole tone down to something stupid and childlike. The jokes weren't even funny.
Johnny Vaughan suprised me -- I underestimated him as a tabloid journalist but a few of his questions were repetitive and boring, ones we'd heard before.
I wanted to hear more from Rupert. Emma seemed very nervous to the point where it come across as being obnoxious and overbearing. Towel girl was mentioned once again (does anyone else grow sick and tired of this worn out story or is it just me?!). Rupert barely got to say a word however the bantering between him and Dan (about Rupert being a frog and Dan going through a 'horrible' phrase) was entertaining.
I don't like the way the actors humored the shrivelled excuse for a horse dropping (now I'm being mean, I know.)
The deleted scenes were awful for the simple reason that it was perfectly obvious why they were deleted, they were awful. The Hagrid one was a total waste of time as was the Knight Bus. The Great Hall scene needed the cameraman to run a bit faster, by the time you see the trio the thing has ended. The Sir Cadogan on the stairs scene was just another excuse to abuse Ron (the word mental, like bloody, is a word constantly put into Ron's mouth which contribute's to making him sound stupid.)
Also in the Common Room scene, the way he said he was too busy dodging the knife, another clumsy Ron line which made me cringe because it just turned him into a self serving laughing stock. All I can say is, good riddance Kloves.
I also didn't like the way it had McGonagall turning on Neville in an insulting fashion, she's strict but not abusive. She knows his parental/home state, there's no way she'd say something as potentially emotionally hurtful to him as they had her say in the out-takes!
That scene was all too rushed, especially the end. Harry's line seemed to be tagged on the end, as if Kloves forgot the film was about Harry and thought 'oops, better mention him quick...' but that comes as no surprise to fans who already know and recongise how appalling some of his writing can be.
But, contrary to what you might think, I enjoyed
some things.
The interview with Gary Oldman & David Thewlis was by far the best because of their great chemistry. Gambon and Coltrane were disappointingly boring. The Dursleys...well, I'd have preferred to hear from Dame Maggie, Emma Thompson and Alan Rickman personally.
The film-maker interview was brilliant although the interviewer always seemed to want to get back to the kids.
The Slytherins and Gryffindor ones were far too rushed and too general.
JK's interview was hard to hear because of the intrusive music in the background and I was failing at some points to understand Alfonso. My fault, not his, although he did talk fast.
She likes the Shrunken Heads and wishes she'd invented them. I say be grateful you didn't, they're awful.
They all seemed in agreeance that PoA put Hogwarts back in Scotland, where PS/CoS failed so miserably in the scenery department.
I loved the hippogriff poop scene. lol I loved seeing that water/puppet dementor. I loved watching the Shack scenes being filmed and all other filming. It fascinates me. I adored the animals feature -- but poor cat having to wear eyeshadow, Crookshanks is rock and roll!
Some of the stuff was on ITV a while ago so that was a bit of a rip off for British fans. And it wasn't narrated by an American as previously reported.
I loved seeing Lupin in make-up and was astounded to see the real Buckbeak (poor horse) and found it hilarious to see that mechanical thing hoist Dan really high into the air. His double in the hut looked nothing like him but then again he was only a 'back of the head' double.
Overall I really liked it. I would've liked to have seen more interviews which went further than just skimming the surface. I would've liked to have seen Alan, Emma, Maggie, Mark Williams, Julie Walters and Bonnie Wright being interviewed. I was dissappointed with the JK interview, it didn't reveal much more than we already know and the whole time Alfonso sits there like a dog being told he's done good.
BUT it is a good DVD and I've yet to try out the games and tours. So will add more when I do get around to that.
Oh and just to reitterate my earlier point, the heads should be executed. It really annoyed me throughout the interviews and I really just wanted the thing to genuinely shut up.
Believe me when I say not all British people have such awful jokes/such a bad sense of humor.
6/10 from me as it stands at the moment and that's only because of the great documentaries.
P.S Die, heads, die!!!
P.P.S - Was it really too expensive to hire a decent interviewer? Seriously -- Jonathon Ross loves HP, as does Lizo from Newsround. What about Stephen Fry or Michael Parkinson? Anyone but stupid silly Johnny!!
I know it's not supposed to be 'serious' interviewing but hiring Jonathon Ross at least would've kept it good and interesting whilst also in-depth.
Memo to WB: Choose decent interviewer for next DVD.
Quote:
Oh Yeah And It Didnt Come In The Cardboard Case Like PS & CoS (UK) *Ruins My Whole DVD Collection*
Yeah, I know. That sucked to high heaven.