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December 09, 2005
Boring, Boring Potter
Against my better judgement, I went to watch Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. I didn't like the movie, but not for the reasons I expected. All in all, it was a well made movie, with good acting and frenetic pacing. It's actually a pretty good movie, even if it isn't as good as the third one. I didn't enjoy myself because, inexplicable, I was bored. I go to movies generally to experience something I couldn't in real life. Whether it's fantastic, magical, thought-provoking, funny, or exciting, I expect it to be something that transcends life. That was the problem with Harry Potter: it's more boring than real life. Perhaps I am the problem. I live in a place much more beautiful than Hogwarts: Oxford. I cycled home this evening through the Radcliffe Camera, and it was a cool, foggy night. The beautiful medieval buildings around me were covered in a hazy glow, and ahead the gargoyles stared down at me from the University Church while the battlements of the colleges surrounded me. A gentle breeze swept through the square, tickling my neck. Nights like these are typical in Oxford. What has Hogwarts to offer, when they film the movies here, and thus only offer pale reflections of my reality? Dragons? Voldemort? Spells? What terrors do they hold in an era when taking the subway or a bus is more terrifying? When one lives in a period of terrorism and extremism, your daily life is saturated with the fearful and the unknown. And considering what I went through this summer, don't get me started on how peaceful the scenes in the lake were by comparison. Perhaps I'm a snob (likely) and perhaps I lead an extraordinary life (lucky). But I found myself playing "spot the British actor" (Look! It's David Tennant! Hey, it's Shirley Henderson! Isn't she 35? How is she playing a teenager?) and "spot the Oxford location" (the room where they learn to waltz is clearly the Divinity School; one of the external shots was clearly the Bodleian's Old Quad; and I think I recognised New College as well) to keep myself amused. I guess I'm lucky. The books I'm reading on the passions and riots of Singapore's history entertain me far more than this movie, and I get to read those books every day. I should've watched The Constant Gardener- the Pharmaceutical industry seems to me to be a far scarier villain then Voldemort! Posted by pj at 12:02 AM
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Maybe you'd do better with Syriana. Though, I heard that it gets way too complicated. At least it's got a contemporary feel to it. What got to me was the fact that so much of the plot in Goblet the book pro'bly didn't even make it to the draft script. Leaves huge gaping holes in the plot. I think my Mom, who has not read the books, must have been left quite confused. No Quidditch World Cup, no Winky, no Dementors at the end and no Sphinx in the maze.
All in, I'm starting to feel a loss of magic on the silver screen. I think I have watched so many movies and I've grown numb to the experience by now. Anyway, I do feel that there is more magic in the golden oldies - Casablanca, Sayonara, Gone With the Wind, the Godfathers I and II and even Sound of Music (I know, many gag at the thought of the last, but it's actually not bad). Blame the Hollywood Execs and focus groups, then?
Wei Yi spoke on December 9, 2005 02:38 AMI second the recommendation for Syriana. Just saw it, was impressed.
D and I got your card, by the by. Nice job with photoshop. =) Back in Singapore right now, then stopping in England on the way back. Are you here or will I catch you in England?
eclectician spoke on December 11, 2005 06:03 PMBut, but... There was an Asian chick in this one! :)
Lethe spoke on December 12, 2005 02:04 AMDon't get me started on Cho Chang! In the book, Harry's attraction to her is barely motivated; in the movie, it isn't at all. The obvious conclusion is that he's attracted to her because she's Asian, especially since she appears to be the only Asian girl around (definitely the only one in the books). Harry Potter has yellow fever! It's a typical fetishism, an expression of the orientalist stereotype which purports to associate people from the east with the 'feminine', 'submissive' and 'exotic' characteristics that are also an expression of power relationships and hint at immorality. It makes me sick. I don't think I'm giving anything away when I say that Harry eventually realises his reaction to Cho is just physical lust and he moves on to a 'proper' fellow white woman, thus also marking a maturation process whereby he makes the 'sensible' and 'correct' decision. It#s pathetic.
PJ spoke on December 13, 2005 10:13 PMHey,
Sadly, your comments on Cho are pretty dead-on. I suspect that Rowling was trying to teach a lesson about multi-culturalism by including her character at what is otherwise a pretty Anglo-Saxon school. However, I think it ends up backfiring and supporting the stereotypes you mentioned.
On another point, have you seen "Kong" yet? Mostly, I found it to be mindless Hollywood entertainment (although really, really good for being such). However, Jackson's ability to recreate 1930's NYC is amazing. Also, I'm wondering if you'll catch the inside jokes in the first 1/3 of the movie.
Happy Holidays!
Rich spoke on December 18, 2005 05:23 PMKong is indeed excellent mindless entertainment, though if you find the racial/gender stereotypes in HP offensive then be warned that the race and gender ideologies of the 1930s here are recreated almost as lovingly as NY!
