Reflections on Harry Potter

     Two days ago I saw the new Harry Potter movie.  It was good (that's one thing about me: as long as a movie is entertaining, I usually like it.  I rarely call a movie bad, unless it's totally uninteresting or just flat out stupid.  I also have a hard time picking favorites.), but what really stood out were a few scenes that were shot/edited wonderfully.

     The scene in which the characters are having their little chase/fight scene through the field at the Weasley's house blew me away.  The cinematography in that scene was amazing. I especially liked how they used both the rushed, shaky, close up shots like the ones you see in films like "The Bourn Identity", and the farther out, steady shots.  The combination of these two styles gave the scene the excitement factor from the close up shots, but also let you know what was going on.  I loved it.  Another thing that made that scene so cool was the lack of background.  You saw the character, the grass/wheat/whatever that was, and nothing else but blackness.  That gave it a cool effect.  And also, looking back, it seems like they partially desaturated the film.  I've never really thought about using partial desaturation as an effect, but the way they used it really worked.  

SPOILER ALERT!

     Another part I liked was after Dumbledore was killed, and everyone morned, and there was the dramatic orchestra music, then it went to a silent, black screen.  It stayed black for what seemed like the perfect amount of time, then opened, still silent, on the dining hall, with sunlight shining in.  that short sequence is what I consider amazing editing.  I don't think there was a better way they could have dealt with this main character's death. 

     I'm going to try to keep this kind of thing in mind for when I'm making my own stuff, and try to learn from all of the movies I see.