Movie Review: Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 1

[hells_half_acre]

HOME FROM THE MOVIES!

We drove down to Riverport. It's a very sneaky way to go to the movies...it basically feels like you are driving out into the middle of nowhere, except, for some reason when you get to the middle of nowhere, there's a giant SilverCity movie theatre. We didn't take the option of IMAX, because it's super expensive....but, anyway, on with the review....

Book vs. Movies: What Changed and Did I Like It?

I suppose the first thing they changed was that they took away the goodbye between Harry and the Dursleys. I can see why, they've hardly been in the films. I did miss Dudley's confusing slightly-redemptive line though...but only because it was one of my favorite bits of the book, because you get a sense of how absolutely messed up Dudley must be mentally. But anyway, like I said, made sense to skip it for the movie.

I liked the rushed introduction of Bill to make up for him not being in the sixth film at all  - personally, I don't think they scarred up his face enough. I did like the actor though, he was suitably attractive, though I always pictured Bill a little broader than that. The Seven Potter's scene was really well done by Dan Radcliffe, I thought.

I can understand skipping Andromeda and Ted Tonks' house too - though it makes me wonder...obviously their still going to have Teddy exist, but it makes me wonder if they're going to kill off Remus and Tonks still...I mean, will there be a rush to explain that the kid can be raised by his Grandmother? Will Tonks still show up at Hogwarts and say "Oh, Teddy is at my mother's house"? I guess that's simple enough...we don't actually have to see Andromeda.

Anyway, I got off track there...I guess the next major thing they left out was Remus and Harry's fight. I can understand why they did that too - although it's an interesting character event, it's not a plot event. The movies really have to distill the books down to plot events only.

Now, interestingly enough, my sister has never read the books, so she was rightly a little confused with what the hell Hermione was doing to her parents in the beginning. Now, that being said, she never did comment on the inexplicable appearance of the broken mirror that Harry seemed obsessed with...I thought that was interesting - the fact that they just stuck in the mirror with no explanation - the fact that you obviously saw someone else in it, but unlike the book, Harry never voiced outloud that he thought it was Dumbledore.

What shall I talk about next? What else was vastly different? 

I thought it interesting how Harry never said the line about only loving Hermione like a sister. I also feel somewhat cheated by not actually seeing the hug that Harry and Ron have when Harry is completely naked LOL...I'm not a shipper, I swear..and there is already a lot more hugging in the films than there ever were in the books. In the books I always thought it was hilarious how Ron and Harry NEVER HUGGED except you know, that one time when Harry was completely naked....hahaha...ok, sorry, so funny.

Speaking of Funny:

I thought that some of the humour fell a tiny bit flat, but then, other parts certainly made up for it. I liked Harry poking fun at how absolutely cheesy Ron's story of the light touching his heart was - especially as it came right after the scene where he told it and there was all that swelling music, and I was sitting there thinking "my god this is cheesy."

Movie Additions that I Loved:

The dancing scene between Harry and Hermione was excellent. I really liked it. It was humourous and also very touching. Also, speaking as someone who likes to subvert gender roles, I liked the fact that they took turns "leading."

Bathilda Bagshot:

This whole scene inside her house was done awesomely. I love how they didn't translate the parseltongue...and man, the way they CJI that snake in scared the crap out of me. Really well done.

Malfoy Manor:

I thought that the Charity Burbage scene was done excellently. It was horribly creepy and distressing.

I still stand by my original assessment of the scene in which Draco has to try to identify Harry - they could have used a beat or two more of stillness and silence there. But that's being extremely nitpicky. I think you COULD tell that Draco recognized him...and personally, I think the "What happened to his face?" line was delivered very cleverly by Tom Felton in a tone that actually had concern in it. I'm crossing my figures for the second part that we'll get the idea that there's a possibility for redemption for Draco. 

As for Hermione's torture scene, I described the scene in the book to my sister afterwards, and she said it sounded too intense to pull off in the movie and it was probably better the way they did it. Personally, I would have liked to see the torture curse and Ron going insane with distress in the dungeon...but, I guess I understand that the way they did it was more cinematic.

I also understand why they had Wormtail die by Dobby instead of by a rebellious silverhand. It would have been pretty difficult to do the silverhand death on film and have even people who hadn't read the books understand what had happened.

Also, it gave Dobby more off a badass scene before he's ultimate demise.

Dobby's Death:

Nearly made me cry, which is saying a lot because my heart is nothing but an engine formed from the remnants of a dead star.

At first, I wasn't sure whether I liked Dobby's added final words - mainly because it seemed to indicate that maybe Hermione SHOULD have rushed over with the essence of dittany (sp?)....I thought Dan Radcliffe did a good job being sad though - I'm not sure if Dan still can't cry on command, but it sure looks like it - because they just get him wet and then have him make sad faces...or come up to him when he's already been crying such as in the graveyard. That sounds like I'm criticizing him, but I'm not - I thought he did a good job.

OVERALL POINTS

1. As my sister pointed out: Harry and Hermione really carried this film. Both actors did an amazing job. 

2. Rupert Grint was also amazing - I love how expressive his face is, how believable everything he does is...he's a really fine actor that dude.

3. The guys who played Harry, Hermione, and Ron when the were polyjuiced as Cattermole, Albert Rancorn (sp?), and umm...that lady....were awesome! They did an absolutely fantastic job. The guy who was playing Harry was especially amusing, I loved the way he walked around so awkwardly.

4. The scenery was beautiful

5. There was an odd directorial choice to seemingly use a handheld un-steady camera when shooting certain dialog scenes - most notably the one between Harry and Ron just outside the Weasley home...it really bugged me. Use a still shot! There's absolutely no reason for the feeling of a handheld there - I just found it annoying. 

6. It was odd not to have a resolution - even odder for my poor sister who doesn't know what happens next. I thought that the end point was nicely ominous for the next film, but at the same time, I liked the part in the book where Harry SAW it happen...also, it's basically taking away the debate he has about whether he should go after the hallows or the horcruxes...which I guess, again, is a matter of character, and not plot, so I understand why they left it out.

7 The animation of the 3 Brothers was really cool! I really liked the animation style...very interesting choice, and very well done.

Alright, I guess that's it...let me know if there's anything you wish to discuss that I didn't touch on!

Comments

[baruchan.livejournal.com]

My favorite part of the film was The Tale of the Three Brothers. Everything about it was just gorgeous. I can't wait till the movie is out on DVD -- I'm planning to watch the animation over and over again. :D

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

I agree! It was a really excellent style and very beautifully done.

[franztastisch]

I really didn't like this film much. I thought it didn't hang together well and there were bits that I think needed explaining that they just didn't do. I also thought that as far as an adaptation of the book went, it was both good (had most major points in it) and really bad (you HAD to have read the book for it to have made much sense). I HATED the Harry/Hermione dancing scene cos it was just intensely awkward. That being said, I know what they were trying to do with that scene and the idea was sweet, I just thought it didn't come off well.

Things I agree with: the Harry, Ron, Hermione people in the ministry were AWESOME. I wanted to have the bit with Ron going mental in the dungeon while Hermione was tortured, I LOVE RUPERT GRINT, The Tale of the Three Borthers was the best bit in the film, the ending was really anticlimactic. Umm.. I could ramble about this film a lot as I was pretty dissatisfied by it but I won't bore you. Also, I should be doing work...

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

Sorry to hear that!

I thought the dancing scene was funny and adorable, personally.

I can't really comment on whether or not you had to read the book, because I did read the book. Susie seemed fine with it, though she admitted that it was very odd to see a film without a resolution...and she was a little confused about how many horcruxes Harry had actually destroyed.

Rupert Grint is amazing - I can't say it enough. It would have been really awesome to see him completely lose it in the dungeon...I agree with you there.

[franztastisch]

Well I was basing it off my friend who, though she had read the book, could remember very little (she, unlike me, has a terrible memory for books). And she spent a lot of the film looking very confused.

But to be honest, I've always had problems with the Harry Potter films. And thats mostly to do with the fact that I'm a big LotR fan and those LotR films were, in my opinion, fanstastically well done and beautifully adapted. And essentially, I wish they'd done what they did with LotR with Harry Potter; 1. waited til the books were all out (cos how can you cast correctly if you don't know the characters journey? This would also, in my opinion, help with the scripts) and 2. cast worldwide, not just Britain, and teach the actors British accents (cos that way you're more likely to get the perfect actor for the role. Not that I think all the casting in these films were bad, just that I think that some charaters could have been better cast).

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

Hmm, I'm going to have to disagree with you on the world-wide casting + teaching accents. I think that would have led to a host of trouble. I like the fact that they kept the cast from the UK.

I do agree that they should have waited until all the books were out though.

Ironically, I have a friend who doesn't think the LotR films were well done :P I guess everyone is different. I never read LotR, so I liked them fine. I can't unread Harry Potter, so all I can go off of is my sister's opinion (and my best friend's when he eventually sees it)...and she was fine. She was really only confused by why Hermione was doing that to her parents, and how many horcruxes Harry had destroyed already...which actually were in the movies, so it's just her memory.

[franztastisch]

Yeah but its obvious why they didn't wait, strike when the iron is hot and all that. Sad, how money controls these things...

I think teaching accents would have been fine. Like I said, worked for LotR (99.9% of the time). As to not liking the LotR films... BLASPHEMY! :P Nah, each to their own. I can understand why someone would think they're not well done. Well actually I can't, but I can understand some of the arguments about it being a bad adaptation, not that I agree with them. They are well done films, whether or not they're accurate or correctly adapted. But whatever. It depends on the director, and making 7 films is inherently going to have more problems than making 3 so in a way you can't really compare the two, though I always do. :P

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

Oh, he didn't think they were bad films - just that he didn't understand their adaptation choices and would have done it differently, I suppose.

But did they teach accents in LotR? I don't know...I just know that horrible things can happen when you try to teach accents. I like the fact that everyone in the Potter films is British, because it's a very British series. But that's me. I mean, everyone is entitled to their own opinions...and you are correct, no matter what happened, it was going to be difficult to adapt 7 books into film and get every single one of them perfect :P

[franztastisch]

Yeah they taught accents to almost everyone. The guys who played Frodo and Sam were American and their accents hardly slip through the whole three films. And most supporting actors (non-fellowship) weren't British. I get what you mean about HP being British, but then again LotR is also a very British... thing... But anyway, I'm glad you enjoyed the HP flim. :) My sister absolutedly LOVED it.

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

I know the movie was all sorts of different actors - I just can't remember the characters having accents. That's what's confusing me about LotR. I remember the UK actors having accents, but I don't remember Frodo or Sam having anything other than American accents.

Mind you, I haven't seen the movies since they came out, so I'm most likely misremembering.

[franztastisch]

Nah, they were all taught British accents of some sort. Frodo had a rather generic British accent, Sam sounded West Country, Pippin was Scottish (the actor is a Scot), Merry was generic British (I'm guessing if he went out with his actual slightly Manchester/Lancashire accent it would've been a little weird), Gimli was Scottish (sort of). All the non-British cast members were taught varying generic British accents - some slip occasionally but the vast majority coped very well in my opinion.

Tbh I didn't pick up on it at all (I'm guessing cos I am British and its sounded all normal to me) until I watched the extras and stuff and realised 'oh my! You're Australian' or something to that effect.

(btw loving the confused!Dean icon. :P)

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

Huh, well, learn something new every day - I think in my head I just reset them all to their default accents. Don't tell the actors I did that, I'm sure they put a lot of work into their generic British accents :P

(Thanks - confused!Dean suits so many occasions ;) )

[trystan830.livejournal.com]

i just loved all of it! =)

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

Yay!

[trystan830.livejournal.com]

=)

[lizzy384.livejournal.com]

So, I know we’ve already discussed it a bit, but now that you’ve actually seen the movie, I couldn’t resist a bit more discussion ;-) And yes, I’ve managed to ramble on enough, that I have to split it in two again!

Book vs. Movies: What Changed and Did I Like It?: I agree re the Dursleys – I understand why they did it, but I really missed that scene. I liked the fact that there was that little bit of redemption for Dudley. That he’d actually been affected by what he’d been through with Harry and somehow recognised that his cousin wasn’t the worthless freak his parents had always said him to be.

I agree re Bill’s face – I got the impression from the books that it was much worse than they had it in the film. But I was happy with his built – I remember him being one of the tall and slim Weasleys (like Ron, Arthur and I think Percy too) as opposed to the short and stocky ones (Molly, Ginny, Charlie, Fred and George). I thought Dan did an excellent job playing all the different characters in that scene too – it would have been interesting for the other character too, dubbing in their voice after the scene had been filmed!

I really need to read the final book again, because there is so much that you’ve mentioned that I’ve forgotten about, including the Tonks’ house. And I can’t remember whether they were referenced when Harry was at Grimmauld Place in the fifth film. As you said, Teddy clearly exists – Tonks and Lupin were about to tell everyone and they got interrupted. But it wouldn’t surprise me if all they do is have Teddy mentioned when the final film covers the epilogue, without any reference to who brought him up. I’d forgotten about Harry and Remus’s fight too!

The scene with Hermione obliviating her parents was excellent (though I confess, while I thought the reference to Australia in the TV show they were watching was neat, I would have liked to see them actually there…but that’s just me being a sentimental Aussie ;-). But I can also understand why it might be confusing to someone who hadn’t read the books. I guess though, I’ve seen that kind of thing done before (in Buffy when she starts to realise her sister isn’t her sister, Dawn disappears from all the photos) – I think it’s a very effective technique – so it made sense to me just by what they did (though I would probably not have known why exactly). Conversely, the mirror confused me (another thing I forgot but remembered about later)! For some reason I almost got the impression in the film that it was Wormtail…but it was Aberforth, wasn’t it?

I reckon the films were more overt about the fact that Ron and Hermione clearly had feelings for each other, so I guess the fact that Harry and Hermione’s relationship was more brotherly/sisterly seemed more obvious too. But that was still an interest line to not include – just one line! Hee-hee, yes I agree – the boys should have hugged - gypped! ;-)

The dance scene: It’s funny, that’s been one of the features mentioned in our media, because the song that was chosen is by Nick Cave, an Aussie musician. They apparently had a lot of trouble finding the right song. But I agree it was a wonderful scene. It was just so sweet, what Harry was trying to do and then the actual dancing was appropriately daggy too (I mean, Harry isn’t meant to be a good dancer). And the actors managed to do it in a way that didn’t seem at all romantic. This is the article that talks about it, if you’re interested: http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/movies/a-little-cave-man-magic-in-the-mix-20101116-17vs2.html?from=age_sb.

Bathilda Bagshot: Absolutely awesome! That whole sequence was really well done and scary as all crap!

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

Re Dudley: I agree - it would have been nice to have at least one person in that crazy abusive family show a glimmer of hope that they weren't going to carry on the prejudice.

Re Bill: Yeah, I guess I didn't remember his description that well - I knew he had long hair and piercings and looked "cool", so I guess I kind of turned him into having more of a Dean Winchester build (tall for most people, with broad shoulders). But you are right, the Weasleys are either slim and tall or short and stocky...so they probably did a good job on that in the film. Like I said, the dude WAS attractive. But, I got the impression that the scars were pretty disfiguring, and you could barely see them in the film. Remus' scars are more disfiguring than Bills.

I figure they must be planning to just not mention who brings up Teddy - or maybe imply that it was Harry? I'm not sure. If I didn't know about Andromeda and if they still have the scene where Remus makes Harry the godfather, than I'd probably assume Harry raised him if they still kill off Remus and Tonks.

I agree, it would have been too much to give the whole Australia explanation with Hermione's parents - but yeah...I'm sure it'd have been nice for the Australians!

My sister really liked the song that they danced to. I'll have to tell her it was Nick Cave. I think she knows of him already. And I agree, I liked how they made the dance completely silly...it was far more heartwarming that way.

[lizzy384.livejournal.com]

Re Dudley - I know it's not mentioned in the epilogue, but with that scene at the start of book 7, I hoped that Harry and Dudley might have been able to form some kind of tentative relationship too (like I hoped for Draco and Harry). I know Harry made his own family in the wizarding world, but there seemed to be something nice to me about the possibility that one person of his flesh and blood might actually recognised him as such, as part of his family.

Re Bill's scars - I think because the book makes a big deal of how Fleur doesn't care about what he looks like added to my sense of how bad they were. That Molly really expected her to walk away from someone so disfigured just because she herself was so attractive.

Re Teddy - yes, if they don't mention it, and I didn't know otherwise (but knew Teddy existed) I'd probably assume Harry would bring him up too - most likely with the help of Molly Weasley to begin with. Those are some of the stories I quite love actually, when people have Harry bringing up Teddy. I know Remus had other problems and Harry needed blood protection and all that, but I part of me still thought it was sad, that as one of James and Lily's closest friends, he could bring Harry up.

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

Re Dudley - yes, I think Rowling addressed this is a post book interview. She said that she pictured Harry and Dudley being the type of family that exchange Christmas cards and that Harry might stop in for a visit occasionally with the children (and his children hate it.) It's why I threw in that line towards the beginning of VVV about Harry seeing Dudley at Christmas and it being "awkward as usual."

Re Teddy - I agree. It's part of the tragedy of Harry Potter (or of Remus Lupin)...blood-connection aside, Sirius couldn't bring Harry up because he was in Azkaban, and Remus couldn't bring him up because he was a werewolf who barely scraped by. I like the stories where Harry brings Teddy up too. From the sounds of the epilogue, Teddy just came over for dinner a lot :P It's why in my story, I have him staying over...almost like Andromeda and Harry have joint-custody.

[lizzy384.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes, I'd forgotten that you'd included that comment from Harry re Dudley early in your story. And I think somewhere in the back of my mind I remember that comment from Rowling too.

I read a short story recently called "Off to Muggleland" by Ayla Pascal, about Rose and Albus running away to Dudley's house, that was cute and amusing, but also captured that awkward family relationship that Harry and Dudley might share in the future.

I really love that about your story - that it seems like Harry and Andromeda have joint custody of Teddy ;-)

[lizzy384.livejournal.com]

Malfoy Manor: I know we’ve talked about this…I understand what you mean about the extra silence/stillness, but I went back and re-read that part of the book and I guess I’m comparing it to that in thinking it was better. The book has Draco look at him quickly (and not that close up) and then retreat to a distance, so I loved the way they were so close, staring into each other’s eyes, with definite recognition by Draco, I’m convinced! I think it’ll be interesting to see in the next film if they show how Harry saw Draco being forced to torture people and that he developed sympathy for Draco through that. But I do agree re the redemption – it’s part of what I love about your Draco in VVV.

And, as I’ve said before, I missed Draco going down to the dungeon. Also missed having the other characters in the dungeon, like Dean.

Re Hermione’s torture – I think part of the reason they changed it was also because of their still trying to cater to the younger audience. I know the film already has lots of stuff that I personal don’t think it appropriate for kids, but I think her torture perhaps crossed another line, that went just too far for the studio.

If Wormtail had died by his silver had, I think it would have been more likely people would have laughed (especially if they didn’t understand what was really going on – they never really made the life-debt thing clear in the film) – you’d have to do that really well to pull it off, so it was easier for Dobby to kill him. Plus, as you said, it just adds to Dobby’s bad-arsedness in his final moments.

Dobby’s death: I actually think I got the lumpy throat when Harry said he wanted to bury him the muggle way. Clearly his final words didn’t stick in my head because I’ve forgotten them already! Poor Dan, yeah he can’t do the crying thing, but he did do well with the emotion in that scene regardless.

OVERALL POINTS: 1. Totally agree – they were amazing. Hermione totally kicks arse too (the boys would have been absolutely lost without her). 2. Ditto Rupert Grint. I actually think of the three actors, he’s perhaps the best of them all (seeing him in another film too).

3. I loved that sequence with them going into the Ministry and I loved what Hermione’s lady was wearing! Getting into the Ministry but flushing yourself down the toilet was just too funny! Ditto poor Ron, with his “wife” – he was trying to do the right thing and she goes and kisses him!

4. Absolutely stunning! Such an amazing array of landscapes in such a small country – kind of like New Zealand (and the locations they used for Lord of the Rings). The different places they had them apparating to were brilliant.

5. Ever since films like Bourne (and the Blair Witch Project) directors seem to feel the need to use the handheld camera. For something like Harry Potter, it is totally unnecessary. There are so many other special effects and things that give it an edge, you don’t need it – like you I found it annoying.

6. I thought the end point was very effective – it actually makes me think they might start the next film, re-doing that scene through Harry’s eyes as he sees Voldemort taking the wand.

7. The animation was very cool – reminded me of Lemony Snicket.

Other points: I liked seeing Neville on the train, standing up to the Death Eaters – just a small short scene, but re-enforced the way his character has matured and grown in confidence from the boy he was in the first book.

I’ve found the way they’ve dealt with Ginny and Harry’s relationship a bit funny – it’s almost sort of just there, but without any emotional depth. But then the way they changed their kiss in the last movie was truly bizarre too. So I guess given they hadn’t done much to establish that he was in love with her meant that him breaking up with her to protect her would have made less sense.

Also loved the scene with Hermione and the Snatchers, when they could smell her perfume. It emphasised how frightening it would have been for her, by actually seeing them so close to one another.

I love Bill Nighy – I know it might have been a small role, but I thought he made a great impact as Scrimgeour.

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

Malfoy Manor: You're right. I actually DID like the more prolonged eye-contact. I guess I'm just way more critical when it comes to how they portray Draco in these later films. I have such a set way that I saw him in my mind while reading the books.

Hermione's torture: Good point about the rating. I always forget about that.

Also, good point about Wormtail and the silver-hand being comical rather than dramatic. Like I said, I was back and forth on that, because I realized it'd be a hard thing to capture on film.

I've only seen Rupert Grint in one other production - but he was marvelous in that too. I really like that guy.

Ministry: I loved Ron's emotional reaction to everything - like, like the line where he's say "what am I going to do? My wife..." and Harry has to remind him that he doesn't actually have a wife. Ron really does lead with his heart.

I think people forget how beautiful geographically the UK is. They tend to just think of cities...but there's a lot packed into that little island (especially a lot packed into the Scotland portion of that island).

NEVILLE: I can't believe I forgot to mention him!! That scene was fantastic, and I really think they'll do a good job in the next film of making him sufficiently BAMF. That actor is really good too (not that I've seen him in other stuff, but I've seen his brother in other stuff and he's good too).

I agree about Harry and Ginny - they never actually talk about that at all...and the one time we see Harry with the map in the tent, he's spying on Snape, rather than Ginny.

Hermione and the Snatchers was an awesomely intense scene. I also liked the illustration of exactly what those wards Hermione put up do.

Bill Nighy is excellent! No role too small!

[lizzy384.livejournal.com]

Re Draco - yes, I'm like that too with how I see him in the final books - I think he gets more three-dimensional. Obviously he was influenced by his upbringing, but in those final two books you really get a sense of a child suddenly realising this isn't a game and that there's a difference from being the "bad guy" and being truly evil.

And I saw similarities with Harry, in that they both seemed to feel the need to take their "mission" totally upon their own shoulders, believing they couldn't really turn to those around them (specifically adults) for help.

That line from Ron in the Ministry really was funny ;-)

Yes! Scotland is simply stunning - I love its geography!

Question re your Neville comment...um...what does "BAMF" stand for? ;-)

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

Re Draco - that's a cool way to see it. Especially since in the final book, Harry learns to open his trusted circle and accept the help of the other students (at least briefly)...whereas Draco still has absolutely no one to turn to - because apparently you can't make friends while being evil. ;)

BAMF - sorry about that. I hate it when people use internet abbreviations that I don't know. It literally stands for "bad-ass motherfucker"...personally, I read it like a sound effect BAMF! Neville kicks arse! (Um...my first word as a baby was actually a paragraph complete with sound-effects...it's still the way I talk, much to my mother's amusement.)

[lizzy384.livejournal.com]

Hee-hee...BAMF, I like it! I'm not big on the abbreviations - they are convenient when texting, since you only have a limited number of characters. But things like LOL or LMAO etc, I don't tend to use, probably because they are not really things I would say!

But there are a few I really like, in part just because I like how they sound. FUBAR (fucked up beyond all recognition), which was popular in Dark Angel ('cause I think it has military origins), is one I really like. And I think BAMF can be added to that list. So appropriate for Neville ;-)

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm the same way with abbreviations. I only use a select few. After years of resistance though, I finally conformed and started using LOL - mainly just on livejournal, because I feel like people expect it and my "Hahahaha" aren't conveying that I'm laughing enough :P

In Canada we actually have a movie called FUBAR - it's one of those mockumentary comedies, except that it's horribly depressing in the end :P It has a sequel too that is much the same. And yeah, I think it's of WWII origins? Definitely military in anycase.

I like BAMF, because although I'm an adult and I'm allowed to swear, I still tend to watch my language like my mum is watching me...and my mum is the type that says "sugar" and "fudge" ;) So, it gives me a nice alternative to actually using the swear words in the phrase it conveys.

[lizzy384.livejournal.com]

Hee-hee! (yes, that is my laughing!) - I know what you mean about livejournal (and other sites like fanfiction.net) seeming to expect an LOL to say they are laughing. But I am still being resistant and just using my "hee-hee" and exclamation marks and actually saying I thought something was funny! And smiley faces if I'm smiling ;-)

I understand the language thing. I do the same thing, though it's more like in work situations, out in public or around kids. My mum swore like a trooper - "fuck a duck" and "shit a brick" were two of her phrases when she was really pissed off. So, I use sci-fi speak. "Frack" is a favourite (from Battlestar Galactica and Veronica Mars liked to use too ;-) or "dren" (which I think they used in Farscape).