Jul
18
2007
Dir: David Yates
Writ: Michael Goldenberg Based on novel by J.K. Rowling
- Daniel Radcliffe … Harry Potter
- Emma Watson … Hermione Granger
- Rupert Grint … Ron Weasley
- Ralph Fiennes … Lord Voldemort
- Michael Gambon … Albus Dumbledore
- Imelda Staunton … Dolores Umbridge
- Gary Oldman … Sirius Black
- Mark Williams … Arthur Weasley
- Julie Walters … Mrs. Weasley
I don’t remember much of the book. I know that I did read Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and I do remember the ending, but a lot of what went on in the middle. No recollection whatsoever. So in a way you could say that I wasn’t faced with comparing the novel and the film. Which is a good thing. And without that comparison I’d have to say that this is a good film. (there are spoilers for the previous books/films below the cut. None for The Order of the Phoenix.)
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Mar
28
2007
Dir: Julian Jarrold
Writ: Kevin Hood & Sarah Williams
- Anne Hathaway - Jane Austen
- James McAvoy - Tom Lefroy
- Julie Walters - Mrs. Austen
- James Cromwell - Rev Austen
- Maggie Smith - Lady Gresham
- Joe Anderson - Henry Austen
- Laurence Fox - Mr. Wisley
- Ian Richardson - Judge Langlois
There really isn’t all that much to this film, which is loosely based on the life of Jane Austen, it is watchable but not memorable. The film amps up the real-life flirtation between Austen and Tom Lefroy to turn it into a full blown romance, with elopement and other such excitements thrown in. There may be some who are annoyed by the historical inaccuracies, I didn’t really care. However, knowing it was based on Jane Austen’s life means that there really was no point in the whole “will they won’t they” drama. You can’t keep an audience guessing when they know the ending.
Apart from that I found the first half of this film quite slow. Hathaway didn’t have the personality or screen presence to engage, and McAvoy was far too believable as the rogue to ever repent. And then there is the fact that Lefroy is Irish, and so obviously one of the “evil English invaders” oppressing Ireland, so he was never going to be in my good books 
Watching a romance between two characters that you don’t really like, and when you know the ending, isn’t really all that great. I did enjoy Fox’s Mr Wisley though, Jane should’ve chosen him from the beginning. Would have made far more sense.
I also had a bit of a problem with the whole love story. Once Lefroy tells Jane that Show Spoilers ▼
he is entirely dependent on his uncle for cash then there is no way he can marry her. After all we already knew he had a large family back home, and that they would be dependent on him. Money, as Mrs. Austen tell us, is “absolutely indispensable!”
The second half was an improvement, but it didn’t blend properly with the beginning. The whole film felt unbalanced, as though they weren’t sure whether this was to be a light-hearted romance or a sad tale of unrequited love. But on the plus side the costumes were pretty, and every thing looked nice.
IMDb | Wikipedia on Lefroy | Austen-tatious | Monomania Diaries
Tags:
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