We're getting close now! Enjoy part 4! As ever, Lucy's version is here.
Spoiler warning... yada yada yada.
20. The Quidditch World Cup - Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
The Situation: For the first time in many years, the Quidditch World Cup final is being held in England, and the Weasleys, Harry and Hermione head on over. It's all jolly good fun until those blasted Death Eaters make their debut and spoil it.
Why we love it: It's the first major spectacle of the wizarding world, and the introduction to foreign wizards, which of course plays an important role in this film. It's also the first appearance of the Death Eaters and the Dark Mark, suggesting from an early stage that the film will be dark and dangerous, just as we like it. The effects are breathtaking, from the stadium itself to the Krum showing off on his broom. He's a magical equivalent of an exhibitionist footballer. Plus, there's the great post-match celebration in the Time Lord tent with Harry and the twins singing at Ron, which is a bonus.
The Situation: Thinking it's another part of the Third Task of the Triwizard Tournament, Harry and Cedric are transported to a graveyard that Harry recognises as being horribly familiar. Wormtail then appears, carrying what appears to be an infant Voldemort, and kills Cedric. As if it could get any worse, Harry is then trapped and forced to aid Voldemort in gaining a full "human" (is it? Who the hell knows?) body again. The Dark Lord is back...
Why we love it: It's the moment everyone has been waiting for for three and a half films - the return of Voldemort. And there's so much going on in this scene. It's the first major death in the film series, another indicator that the series is now probably beyond children's film level. Voldemort returns! And with a SEXY V-NECK! Massive duel ensues. It's all very epic, to say the least.
18. Felix Felicis - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
The Situation: Harry finds himself in a pickle as he tries to work out how to get Slughorn to relinquish his mysterious memory, until he remembers that he has a bottle of "Liquid Luck".
Why we love it: Apparently there is some kind of super-strength alcohol in Felix Felicis, as Harry becomes ridiculously comic. It is one of Daniel Radcliffe's best performances in the whole series, and you have to laugh every time you see it. But not only that, but this part also reveals maybe the most major plot development: the revelation of the Horcruxes.
17. Harry's First Quidditch Match - Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
The Situation: It's Harry's first time playing Quidditch as the Seeker of Gryffindor, and the first opponents are Slytherin. It's an action-packed game, to say the least.
Why we love it: There's just so much going on! Blatant fouling on the Slytherin's part as they swiftly knock captain Oliver Wood and another Chaser unconcious, taking the lead in the match, and then Harry's broom is jinxed, supposedly by Snape! Golly. But it's victory for Harry in his first ever game as he plays a determined game (despite the fact he spends most of it dangling precariously from a broom or watching the match instead of doing his job), and he catches the Snitch. In his mouth. Don't worry, it's relevant later.
16. Dance Lessons with McGonagall - Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
The Situation: To prepare her house for the upcoming Yule Ball, McGonagall takes it upon herself to teach the Gryffindors how to dance. Ron ends up as her dance partner. Hilarity ensues.
Why we love it: It's one of the best scenes in the whole series for comedy genuis. Fred and George quite rightly take this immediately as an opportunity to mock Ron, encouraged by Harry. But we mustn't forget Neville. Bless Neville. When all other boys refuse to partake in the dancing, Neville stands up, defiant, and learn how to dance. Reason number 3973 to love him.
15. The Seven Potters - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1
The Situation: To act as diversions in order to get Harry out of Privet Drive safely, Moody gives six other poor people Polyjuice potion to look exactly like him. They then set off to the Burrow, until they are attacked by Death Eaters who have heard that Harry is to be moved that night. And Voldemort comes along too.
Why we love it: Besides the visual comedy of the characters all changing into Harry doppelgangers, Daniel Radcliffe is actually very good at getting everyone's little mannerisms down, and it is quite hilarious to see them all react to looking like him ("Bill, don't look at me, I'm 'ideous!"; "We're identical!") The battle then provides a nice dose of action early on in the film as we get stuck straight in, which tells us from the start that this film is going to be action-packed and non-stop*. There is also the loss of Mad-Eye, a major blow for the Order of the Phoenix, and an indication of the dangers ahead of our three heroes.
*it isn't. This is one of the best bits of action in the whole film.
14. Lupin and Tonks' death - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2
The Situation: Being part of the Order of the Phoenix, the couple fight valiently side by side. And then, during an intermission where Voldemort allows Hogwarts to treat their injured and dispose of their dead, we see them lying together, having died in battle. Sad stuff.
Why we love it: It's a very emotional scene, where we can see the human suffering of the battle so far as well as some of the destruction of the castle too. It may be more emotional in the books due to the film almost completely cutting out the fact that Lupin and Tonks have a son (one little line in the forest does not excuse that!), but it is still sad to see, especially because, let's face it, Lupin was the best DADA teacher. The emotion is heightened through Harry as we see him taking in the deaths around him, and as he spots his former mentor lying dead, it's a very sad moment.
13. The Shrieking Shack - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
The Situation: It's the big reveal of the film: a dog has inexplicably dragged Ron and his rat into the Whomping Willow, Harry and Hermione persue, and the dog turns out to be escaped killer Sirius Black. Not looking good. But then Lupin turns up, and everything that Harry thought he knew about these men is completely turned on it's head.
Why we love it: It's Gary "G-Man" Oldman's first real appearance in the films, and he's wonderful. His interaction with Lupin and Snape is so believable, and even at this early stage we start to fall in love with Sirius. But his innocence is only one secret that comes out in the Shrieking Shack: Ron's rat, Scabbers, is an Animagus named Peter Pettigrew, the one who really betrayed Harry's parents to Voldemort, and Lupin is actually a werewolf. The remaining Marauders are together again! But not for long...
12. The Sexy Malfoy Bathroom Scene - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
The Situation: Malfoy's all angsty again, and then Harry goes and attacks him because he knows he's done some bad, bad things. But that's not the real reason... it has to be Draco leaning over the sink, looking beautifully troubled. We even overlook his crying because he's that damn sexy.
11. Gilderoy Lockhart - Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
The Situation: Like David Tennant (see here), it's not really a moment so much as a celebration of a brilliant performance that should be recognised in it's own right. Kenneth Branagh was absolutely amazing as the conceited, arrogant Lockhart.
Why we love it: He was essentially the best part of this whole film. A vain, lying fraud who takes claim for other wizards' achievements, as well as claiming multiple times that he has knowledge that he clearly doesn't (read: Harry's arm), he finally gets his comeuppance when his memory charm backfires and, in possibly the best part of the entire film, he questions Ron on who he is. Genius acting. It's sad that he never came back, really.
That's it for this post! Next will be the top ten, the final installment, the Big One. Have you guessed the top spot yet?
And here's another little treat for you... I leave you with this:
SEXY MALFOY!
ReplyDeleteThree things:
ReplyDeleteYour lists are incredibly comprehensive and much more satisfying than ITV's.
I'm incredibly pleased that Tom Felton grew up to be as hot as he did. I knew he was gorgeous from the start! ;)
I'm in love with the fact that I share a nickname with Gary Oldman, if inadvertently.
That is all. Well done :)