Thoughts: Harry Potter 5 Audiobook and Movie

Click to see my thoughts on HP Sorcerers Stone Audiobook.

Click to see my thoughts on HP Chamber of Secrets A/B.

Click to see my thoughts on HP Prizoner of Azkaban A/B.

(for some reason I forgot to review HP 4... I think I got carried away and rushed to start 5 *blush*)

So, book 5.

The Order of the Phoenix.

a.k.a. The Most Depressing Book in the Entire World.

I've gone through today (2 days AFTER finishing it) completely depressed, and thinking about the *big sad thing* that happens in this book. I just can't freaking believe it.

But once I'm over that, I'd like to gush about Jim Dale's narrating skills once again. Those who have heard me gush 3 time previously can skip ahead ;)

He does all the voices perfectly. Even Hermione's is good (whether I've just gotten used to it, or he's gotten better at it, I'm not sure...), which is suprising for a guy reader, and Professor McGonnagil is FANTASTIC. It's never boring, the funny parts are even funny, and the stunning parts leave your mouth open. Again, it's not like someone is reading to you, it's like an very talented person is telling you a story. That's the best I can describe it.

Okay, so my only negative remark is that Hagred got a little annoying (yeah I know! Very sad). I'm not sure if this would have happened had I read the book, but Jim Dale didn't change his voice or anything so I don't know what it was. Did anyone else feel this way, or am I just a loner?

But I feel like a traitor saying that because the rest was so... there just isn't anything to describe it. Pick the best adjective you can think of.

Then I watched the movie, so here are my thoughts on that:

This is actually the first movie I felt didn't go with the book well enough. The order of things was switched around somewhat. What was that about Cho spilling?! And Dumbledore's speech to Harry at the end (which was very emotional, and very important, I felt) was cut completely down to like 5 seconds! O.O Awful!

Luna Lovegood was... weird, but I think she was quite close to how I imagined her. Though I was hoping she would have more, ahem, "protuberant eyes". But anyway.

I actually did like how the movie portrayed Fred and George (my favorite characters by FAR), especially the scene the director added where they're comforting their kid. It made their characters a little deeper, and put my "respect" for them way, way up.

The battle was well done, I thought, though I did miss that they didn't show the brain attacking Ron ;) and his fit of giggles. That would have been great, but i suppose would have distracted from the siriousness of the moment (no pun intended.)

So, is anyone else getting caught up for the movie coming out in a month? XD I can't freaking wait. Midnight release, anyone?

Thoughts: Harry Potter 3 Audiobook

Click to see my thoughts on Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Audiobook.

Click to see my thoughts on Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets A/B.

Thoughts:

-Need I say it? Brilliant.

-The ending was my favorite out of all of them so far. I actually went, "Awwwww" and couldn't stop smiling for 5 minutes.

-I remembered one thing that bugged me: whenever someone says "uh-oh", it sounds really strange. And Hermione's voice was kind of weird again, but I'm getting used to it.

-I can't get over how amazing the voices are. I let my sister listen to a little bit of it (she's already read them all but the last one) and she thought it was incredible too. Now she wants to go get the last book on audio. Score.

So then I watched the movie; thoughts:

-Harry grew up! :( sigh. He was so cute when he was little

-I really do like the old Dumbledore better, but McKellan was okayyy. You could tell he's gay though, more than in other movies. Something about his voice... ehh.

-Radcliffe(harry)'s acting really improved as he aged, which I was happy about. I'm not saying he was a bad actor in the previous movies, but some people lose it when they get older. Haha, I loved the beginning scene.

-Even though I'd already seen the movie, it was really neat seeing it again because I'd forgotten quite a few things, and I liked comparing it to the audiobook. It wasn't annoying at all.

Has anyone else tried the audiobook?

By the way, incase you were wondering, Jim Dale narrates it. Just so you know.

Thoughts: Harry Potter 2 Audiobook

Click to see my review of HP Sorcerer's Stone Audiobook.

Making my way through the HP series on audiobook :) Here's my thoughts on the second:

-either someone complained, or they just realized Hermione's voice was creepy in the first book, because I noticed a marked change in her voice that was far better and much less annoying. Bravo!

-AMAZING. BRILLIANT. FANTASTIC STORY.

-I gasped quite a few times out of shock, and was white-knuckled during the climax, so no excitement lost. (it's unabridged if you were wondering... so its basically just like reading it)

-I kept thinking throughout how perfect the voices of the characters were. Jim Dale is excellent. Once I finish HP, I'm going to see what else he has narrated.

-again, it's not like someone reading you a story, it's like someone telling you a story, but far more exciting than when your friends do it ;) haha jk.... but really.

That's about it. I'm falling in love with the HP audiobooks, because I don't really have time to read the big fat things as well as other book I want to, and I've found the audiobooks to be quite brilliant and amazing. Really. 

I know some of you don't believe me.

*gives up*

Thoughts on Harry Potter 1 Audiobook

A little while ago I was thinking how awful it was that I hadn't read the Harry Potter books. Before you murder me, here's my reason: normally, if I read the book first then see the movie, it ruins the movie for me. So I decided to wait until all the movies came out.

Who knew it would take a hundred billion years?

So I decided that, yes, I'll go ahead and read them, why not? But as I looked at that biiiig book sitting on the shelf, and then thought about all the other books I needed to read, I shied away.

And then I thought: ...audiobook.

I had been wanting to listen to an audiobook, so there was my opportunity. I got the HP1 audiobook, downloaded the CD's, and listened to Harry Potter. 

Thoughts:

-The reader was fantastic. It wasn't like someone reading you a story, it was like someone was telling you a story.

-The voices were perfect, and actually very similar to the movie (I've been meaning to look at which came first...)

-Oh, voices were good with the exclusion of Hermoine--she always sounded very quiet and whiny and slow. (i.e. my favorite was: "Oooooooooh, Haaaaaarrrrrryyyyyy"

And no kidding. Sound that out, and that's what she sounded like)

-But I have to forgive the reader, because Hermoine is a girl, and our reader is a guy.

-It didn't lose any emotion that I would have gotten from reading the book. 

-As a story, it was fantastic XD just thought I'd add that

-Everything was still very exciting

-I didn't tire of the voice of the storyteller, and am now listening to HP2, told by the same guy.

So if you haven't tried an audiobook, I really suggest anything by Jim Dale--this was wonderful!