Milking It For All It's Worth

Like most people, last weekend I went to go see Part 1 of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I am generally in agreement that it was one of the better, if not the best, of the movies so far, but this doesn't mean that it didn't have ridiculous or terrible moments. Unlike Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, this was actually a film that had to take place in the magical world instead of in any random setting with teenagers. Because I am not in the mood to put this in a cohesively flowing manner:

• There is just no way around it: Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint become less attractive with every passing movie. It is probably a bad sign for Radcliffe that he is more attractive in character than he is on the red carpet.
• When a close-up of Cornelius Fudge opened the movie, I knew it was all over--all I could see was Billy Mack from Love Actually. It's not quite the association that makes for dark and serious times.
  
• I know that this was taken straight from the book, but did any of the characters really find it all that surprising that their plan to move Harry from Privet Drive was discovered? It's not suspicious at all that seven pairs of people suddenly take off flying at once, or that a crazed one-eyed man is yelling "Ready! Set! GO!" at the top of his lungs in a quiet neighborhood. I can be all for theatrics, but come on.
• Radcliffe is an even more awkward dancer than I am. Also, it is puzzling to me that of all the scenes that the writers could have included courtesy of the doubled available film time, a dancing scene between Harry and Hermione was chosen. Character development? Maybe. But this over scenes that establish the threat towards Muggles, where the Dursleys went, what Hermione's parents are doing, and what Hogwarts is like now?
• Biggest tool ever: "My father will hear about this!"
• Why did Hermione and Harry wish each other a "Merry Christmas" instead of a "Happy Christmas"?
• The three actors who played the unfortunately chosen employees at the Ministry of Magic were surprisingly good. They didn't have the luxury of acting anything by voice, and yet Harry, Ron, and Hermione's emotions came through brilliantly. It was uncanny how they all vaguely looked like their counterparts.
• The writers may have been smart enough to have Harry make fun of Ron's description of the light hitting his heart, but still, no. Just no.
• Ginny Weasley's dress at the wedding was so beautiful. But asking Harry to zip her up in the middle of the kitchen? Surely she could have found another person and place.
• I understand that Hermione prepared ahead of time by packing the "essentials" into her purse, but the extent of the three friends' wardrobe while on the run rivals mine in my own apartment. Emma Watson might be fun to dress, but keeping Hermione trendy when she didn't even know it was Christmas Eve is an inconsistent move to say the least.
• In general, Watson outacts Radcliffe and Grint here, although it's not like that bar is particularly high.
• I love that Michael Gambon was credited in huge letters at the end.
• Dobby. =(