I continue to squee as more Harry Potter film news bleeds onto the net. A screening for the first installment of the last Harry Potter film took place in Chicago. Details were shared by a gracious and obscenely lucky Potter fan. (Click HERE for HP7 movie stills…)
SPOILER ALERT
The movie goer reported that the actors “give their best performances to date; practically disappearing into their characters.” The film seems to give more details on how Ron, Harry and Hermione prepare for the journey ahead as the film starts Rufus Scrimgeour promising the wizarding world to do it’s best to survive the return of Voldemort.
The scene I have been hungry to see shows members of the Order of the Phoenix transform into Harry Potters to throw off the looming Death Eaters who are awaiting to ambush Harry as he leaves the safety of the Dursley’s home. The report sounds fantastic!
Via The Leaky Cauldron:
“ The Seven Potters scene was nearly complete in this cut. The transformation takes place in a single 360 degree camera shot, with each character transforming into Harry in their own unique way. Fred and George shrink about a foot, Mundungus grows about a foot, and Fleur gets Harry’s eyebrows as the first thing on her body to change. When the Seven Potters are waking around the room in their original character’s clothes, they are distinguished by their original voices and mannerisms. They then strip to change into Harry’s outfit. The production went all out here- even having Fluer’s Harry take off a white, lacy bra in order to change clothes. Once in the air, we see the Death Eaters dive on the Order like bats, swooping in casting spells and curses. Death Eaters take Harry and Hagrid on a chase down the highway, diving in between cars, and even doing a flip around a tunnel ceiling.”
The first death in this film takes place here as Harry, contrary to the book, lets Hedwig fly free. She returns to Harry in effort to help protect him and is hit with the Avada Kedavra curse which signals the real Harry to Voldemort and the first run in ensues.
The Weasly house is fully reconstructed which was another question that had I burning after the Half Blood Prince left it destroyed and in flames. Scrimgeour returns to read the will of Dumbledore. This is where Ginny and Harry share a brief kiss before being interrupted by George and his bandage ear. (He lost it during the Death Eater chase in case you weren’t up to date on the book.) Another battle ensues as Kinsley’s patronus appears and announces Rufus’ death and the Ministry being taken by Voldemort and his crew. Ron, Harry and Hermione escape as Lupin shows up to give the trio cover as they try to make it to Grimmauld place.
Dobby FINALLY returns! His character, in my opinion was far more important that directors assumed. I am glad to see his return. The reporter stated that the test audience cheered upon his arrival back on the screen.
“ The crowd cheered when Dobby appeared on screen, and was further endeared at the elf when he and Krecher vie for Harry’s attention. Mundungs’ information leads them to infiltrate the Ministry, which also is presented just as it was in the books. Umbridge, portrayed by Imelda Staunton, gets to recapture her former sinister self presiding over a courtroom with a swirl of Dememntors revolving overhead. The Ministry now seems to be operation to create forms of propaganda against Muggles, which are being produced in mass quantities (When Muggles Attack). They’ve also replaced the former statue in the atrium with a new totalitarian-themed creation, which is made up of jumble of twisted Muggles holding up wizards on a pedestal. “Muggles in their rightful place,” says Hermione.”
They continue through the ministry and make to Umbridge’s office. Moody’s eye is in the door to her office, but the reporter stated that it wasn’t clear whether or not Harry recovers it or not.
Remember those reports that Harry and Hermione get naked and played slap and tickle? Well, it appears to be TRUE. The lucky sneak preview reporter stated that camping scene involving the Horcrux features some odd twists…
“This part of the film shows the progression of Ron’s jealousy of Harry and Hermione’s friendship, spurred on by wearing the Horcrux. Rupert Grint plays this very well, storming out of the tent and into the winter, leaving Harry and Hermione unsure of how to go on. Following his exit, a scene not in the books remains one of the most touching and poignant: In an effort to cheer up a sullen Hermione, Harry removes the Horcrux from his neck, and shares an awkward high school prom-style dance with Hermione to the Nick Cave song, “O’Children.”
This awkwardness is then halted as Harry and Hermione go to Godric’s Hollow where they find Lily and James’ gravesite and Bathilda’s house. There is a run in with Voldemort’s snake, Nagini, which leaves Harry unconscious in the Forest of Dean with Hermione for several days. The scene was incomplete as CGI wasn’t finished.
Soon, Ron returns to save Harry and the nakedness rumored before ensues…
“This leads into, perhaps, the most thrilling and emotional part of the film: the Silver Doe. Rupert Grint’s performance is spectacular as he makes his return, pulling Harry from underneath the icy depths and destroying the Horcrux. After Harry opens the locket, a tornado of Voldemort’s dark soul rises above Ron, unleashing spiders on the ground and taunting him. In a very sensual turn, silvery porcelain visions of Riddle-Harry and Riddle-Hermione appear in the tornado and taunt Ron’s jealousy by sharing a long and intense kiss. In an effort not to truly represent the evil of Voldemort and the situation, the Riddle-Harry and Riddle-Hermione, in the swirling mass of the tornado, appear topless during the final seconds of their kiss before Ron swings Gryffindor’s sword down on the locket, destroying it.”
Harry, Ron and Hermione are reunited the final leg of this part of the final film comes to a close. They are captured and imprisoned at Malfoy Manor after more information is revealed as a 3 minute story of the three brothers and the Elder Wand rolls. Another stray from the book features Wormtail only being stunned and not killed by his the silver hand that Voldemort gave him. Dobby saves the trio after Bellatrix tortures Hermione and we are left with watching the Dark Lord break into Dumbledore’s tomb.
“Wormtail aside, Emma Watson’s shrieking as Bella’s character tortures her own (Bellatrix brands “mudblood” onto Hermione’s arm) still gives me chills. Bellatrix continues to be in top form when she uses her wand as a whip to take the sword from the low-rank Snatchers who captured the Trio. The Malfoy’s also get to show their complete desperation, with Lucius, drink in hand, talking a defeated Draco into identify Harry. Throughout this sequence the suspense builds until that final moment when the dagger is thrown by Bella and disapparates along with Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Dobby to Shell Cottage.
Hands down, one of the most emotional sequences of this film was Dobby dying in Harry’s arms on she shores of Shell Cottage. The burial of Dobby takes place on a bluff overlooking the sea. Harry digs the grave himself, and places the small House Elf in his resting place with Ron and Hermione. The final scene in the movie takes place at Hogwarts, on a small island just off the banks of the lake. Dumbledore’s tomb is cracked open by Voldemort, who looks into the blank face of Dumbledore before taking the wand from his grasp and firing a lightning bolt into the air.”
Yes, this is where the first of the two part film will end leaving Potter fans amped up for the second half of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.” Currently the process of putting together the last film is in the beginning stages.
Are you ready? Accio November 19th!!!
Get this and other HP countdowns at LeakyNews.com
