Emma Watson Tribute

With having some time on my hands after finishing university for the year, I thought I would do something a bit different and a bit more in depth. Therefore I decided to combine the main function of this blog (reviewing) with a beautiful and talented young woman in a kind of tribute post. The young lady I am referring to is Miss Emma Watson. As some of you may or may not know, I have a huge crush on Emma, I can neither confirm or deny that I have her calendar, posters and a signed poster in my bedroom…For many Brits around my age she was probably one of our first crushes, and due to the Harry Potter book series becoming almost a sacred text in Britain, and especially since the films came out, the world, Emma now has a global fascination. The film series has complimented the book series and is now recognised as the best film franchise of all time with devoted Potterheads around the world and of all ages. Emma’s appearances in the Harry Potter franchise are what she will always be most famous for, but since her early days as the frizzy-haired know-it-all Hermione Granger, she has developed into an exceptional young woman. Not only is she an actress who is getting better at her craft in a variety of roles, but she is also a University of Brown graduate and a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador. I have included some of my thoughts on each of the films she has appeared in, some gifs and photos of said films (Sorry for the huge amount of them!) and a mention to her upcoming film work and her HeForShe involvement.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (8.5)

This is the first glimpse of the busy-haired-lass in the role of the outrageously clever, loyal and funny Hermione Granger in the global phenomenon Harry Potter. This is the film that is undoubtedly the most watched by Potter fans because it is an utterly nostalgic, magical (‘scuse the pun), and a wonderful look at how Rowling’s ides have translated to the big screen, and how brilliantly loyal the film is to the original material. (Plus it’s on ITV several times a year!) Potterheads are able to quote pretty much every line in the whole film and Hermione has a plethora of brilliant lines that Emma delivers perfectly. From her opening scenes on the train that introduce Miss Granger, it is already abundantly clear that Miss Watson is the perfect person to play the character and this is reaffirmed in the following 7 films.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (7.5)

2 words. Polyjuice Potion. The Chamber of Secrets sees Hermione in the library with a peculiar potion book in hand (shock!). Her bookish nature leads her to brew a potion for the terrific trio as part of a plan to enter the Slytherin dungeons as part of their investigations to the awful events happening in Hogwarts. Despite her meticulous preparations and brewing in the girls bathrooms, her potion contains a hair of a cat, thus her transformation is decidedly different to her intended plan. Although Hermione doesn’t play an overtly important role in Chamber of Secrets in comparison to Harry, Ginny or Voldemort, she does figure out a crucial clue that helps Harry and Ron in their investigations without her. We also meet some hilarious characters in the shape of Moaning Myrtle, Gilderoy Lockhart, Arthur Weasley, and of course … Dobby!

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (10)

One of my favourite books and films in the Potter series, not least because of the introduction of Sirius, Lupin, the Marauder’s Map, the Time-Turner and Micheal Gambon as Albus Dumbledore. Hermione’s role in the events in the Prisoner of Azkaban are crucial, as she uses the time-turner, that McGonagall gave her to take extra classes (typical Hermione!), but more importantly, she and Harry travel back in time to change and reshape events in scintillating and entertaining fashion. However, we also get to see one of the best moments of the film series. THAT PUNCH! And, of course the goose-bump and hair-raising moment of EXPECTO PATRONUMMMMM!!! This is such an amazing film and Emma is equally exceptional in it.

Favourite Line: “You really are the brightest witch of your age.”- Sirius

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (9)

The film, centred on the Triward Tournament and the return of Lord Voldemort, sees Hermione support Harry in trying to discover and prepare for the various tasks that Harry has to face as p art of the tournament. Hermione’s most memorable moment was indisputably her entrance in her pink dress for the Yule Ball as the date of Viktor Krum. Not only does Hermione/Emma look absolutely beautiful in the dress, but we also see the simmering feelings between Hermione and Ron which of course becomes more obvious as the series progresses.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (8)

Emma, Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint all seem to have matured significantly as actors and as people in this one. The film includes the Ministry’s attempt to quell panic at the return of Voldemort, the formation of Dumbledore’s Army in response to Dolores Umbridge’s tyrannical rule and the Battle in the Department of Mysteries. There is a definite shift towards a darker Potter film than before, as it becomes more adult in its nature as the three of them get more involved in defeating the darker powers within the magical world. The film also features one of my favourite Hermione lines from all the films. “Just because you have the emotional range of a teaspoon doesn’t mean we all have” in response to who else but Ron?!

Umbridge … the character that Potterheads hate, more so than Voldemort, also features in the film.

Another Favourite Hermione Line: “Who cares? I mean, it’s sort of exciting, isn’t it, breaking the rules.”

Ballet Shoes (7)

I actually watched this when it was first broadcasted on the BBC around Christmas 2007. I have to admit the reason I watched this short TV movie was because of my massive crush on Emma, but having said that I remember it being quite good. It is a story of three orphan girls who are raised as sisters by a rich traveller, and as they grow up, each of the girls develop their own dreams and ambitions. Pauline (Watson) wants to be an actress, Petrova dreams of becoming an aviator and Posie just wants to dance. The three of them vow, as the Fossil sisters, to be the best there is in their own discipline as they each go on their individual voyage, a journey that they undertake on their own as well as together. The actions of these 3 girls creates a story that would serve as inspiration to any young girl who watches. Can we already see a possible influence in Emma’s film work that has contributed to her work as the UN Women’s Equality Ambassador?

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (8)

Slug Club. Lavender Brown. Christmas Party. Potions Class. Malfoy. Dumbledore. Snape.

The book acted as a build up to Deathly Hallows, so it perhaps lacked the action of previous books/films. The film is again quite dark and the main storylines in Half-Blood Prince concern Harry’s unnatural association with his Potions book, the beginning of the hunting down of Voldemort’s horcruxes and the confrontation at the top of the astronomy tower. Hermione’s feelings for Ron also come further to the fore in this film as she reacts jealously to Ron dating Lavender, typified in the scene where she sends birds darting at him. She and Harry also come even closer together as they deal with their own heartaches in a tearful moment in the film that shows the closeness of them, reminiscent of a brother and sister. The film though mainly concentrates on the Malfoy/Snape/Dumbledore storyline and the hunt for horcruxes as the film gears up for the thrilling final 2-Part Deathly Hallows…

Favourite Hermione Line: “How does it feel Harry? When you see Dean with Ginny?”

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 (9)

Hermione becomes such a protective, brave and courageous young woman in Part 1 as she begins the film in heart-wrenchingly loyal and caring fashion by wiping her parents’ memory of her and hiding them safe from Death Eaters. The three of them begin their search for horcruxes in their bid to weaken Voldemort so that he can be defeated once and for all. Their plans in Grimmauld Place see them hunt down a locket from around the neck of Umbridge in the Ministry of Magic, before going on the run and fleeting from secluded woods and forests to the next one. The film is full of incredible moments, ranging from Harry and Hermione’s visit to Godric’s Hollow in a beautifully poignant moment, to the trio’s capture and imprisonment at Malfoy Manor. The film ends in heart-stopping fashion as Hermione’s torture by the evil Bellatrix Lestrange is cut short by a daring escape, but their escape comes at a devastating price… 😦

Favourite Hermione Line: “You complete ARSE Ronald Weasley! You show up here after weeks, and you say ‘Hey.’”

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (10)

The concluding chapter to this epic tale draws every little strand of this brilliant story together as the brave trio hunt down the last of the horcruxes and attempt to destroy them. This sensational finale includes the breaking into the banking fortress of Gringotts and the subsequent escape on a dragon, the breathtaking fire and chase scene in the Room of Requirement and of course, the epic saga culminating in The Battle of Hogwarts. The film is everything that a Potter fan would have hoped for and more.

Let’s not forget to mention that Hermione and Ron finally kiss! The Chamber of Secrets has a thing of bringing couples together…

My Week With Marilyn (7)

The first post-Potter film. Watson has a small role as Lucy, a wardrobe assistant. The film is quite a nice watch and an interesting presentation of Marilyn Monroe during a brief period in 1957. Marilyn is starring in a new film but continually fluffs her lines, My Week With Marilyn shows a side of Marilyn’s persona that many forget or simply do not know about. Michelle Williams is wonderful as the complicated and wondrous woman, and Emma along with Kenneth Branagh, Judi Dench, Eddie Redmayne and Zoe Wanamaker all support Williams in creating a very good film. The feel I got from this film, was that it gave off the vibe of being a BBC drama rather than an Oscar-nominated film, though that is not a bad thing, it seems to be better suited to a family sitting down on a Sunday night and watching it on TV rather than watching it on the big screen at the cinema. The film also presents the chance to see Emma on a date with Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne.

Perks of Being a Wallflower (9.5)

The best non-Potter film and a personal favourite of mine, this brilliant film based on the Chobsky book of the same name has a great young cast that contribute to this meaningful, deep and emotional story. Charlie (Logan Lerman) is a socially awkward boy with no friends and has recently started high school, then he meets Sam, played by Emma and Patrick (Ezra Miller) who befriend him, and he happens to fall in love with one of them… Though it sounds predictable, the film is so much more than that. Charlie’s awkwardness is hinted to an event that happened in his past that explains his nature in the present, but gradually as the film progresses, flashbacks are delivered and they begin to show Charlie’s story more deeply and eventually show how he has became who he is. This journey of self-discovery coupled with a turbulent first year at high school with his new friends, who also attempt to deal with their own personal issues, make this film an emotional roller-coaster.

Emma plays Sam, an American senior student (a chance to hear her American accent), can relate to Charlie’s state of mind, though this is silently acknowledged, as Sam had a rough and damaging upbringing with her still feeling the effects even now. Sam has had to deal with her personal issues as well as repressing them, and Emma has shown she is a superb actress in this film, more so than any other, as she has shown her capability of playing a complex and difficult character. Emma, Logan Lerman and Ezra Miller were brilliant together and the chemistry between the three of them is evident throughout the film, with all of them playing complex individuals perfectly. A definite must-watch if you’re an Emma Watson fan. A must-watch if you’re a film fan.

The Bling Ring (5)

The premise of the film sounded quite good. Based on real events of a group of LA youngsters stealing from the celebrities next door. I thought this could be a thrilling film of robbery and close-call escapes, but to be honest, there was not much edge-of-the-seat scenes that warranted a higher than 5 rating. I would have liked more build up rather than jumping into the first robbery as I didn’t really feel much for any of the characters as I didn’t sufficiently know their backstory enough. This combined with the sense of déjà vu with all the robberies made the film seem very flat and one-paced. Another thing I found odd was the lack of security that these multi-millionaire celebrities had! On the plus side we got to see a more sexy side to Miss Watson as emphasised in the many gifs appearing on tumblr and social media. It was a film in which she shown a side to her vastly different to any of her other characters, showing that she won’t just play the goody two shoes type of characters, she is capable of playing loose-moral characters too.

This Is The End (7)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVMv8gM4Zig

A brief appearance in this typically ridiculous American comedy starring Seth Rogen, James Franco, Jonah Hill and many others. Emma makes a cameo appearance as a fictional version of herself as do many others, but hers and Michael Cera’s are by far the funniest. I have included a link to her cameo. The film in general is in the same vein of comedy films that Seth Rogen, Danny McBride and Craig Robinson usually make, so if you enjoy these types of films then this is something you’ll enjoy, if you’re going to watch this purely for Emma, then maybe go into the film with an open mind rather than a critical one.

Noah (7)

https://rwh92.wordpress.com/2014/05/18/noah-film-review/ (Sorry for the font and layout for this one! Not sure why it’s like this.)

Emma’s latest film that she has appeared in is the epic Noah. The amalgamation of high-tech visual effects and the spiritual core of this biblical story make for an immense film that delivers a gritty and graceful re-telling of an old tale. It is full of drama and suspense, as this thrilling and well known story is given a fresh and exciting update, tailor-made for the big screen. You’ll walk out of the cinema with a fresh sense of wonder. Truly, a very good film.

There is one film I did miss out, The Tale of Desperaux, as I have not seen it…:s

Upcoming Roles

Emma has 2 upcoming films that are due to be released this year: Regression, a thriller starring Ethan Hawke and David Thewlis (Remus Lupin in the Harry Potter series), and Colonia, a thriller starring Daniel Bruhl (Rush). Both of these are another step towards Emma becoming a well-rounded actress as she takes on roles in 2 intriguing thrillers that will no doubt showcase the acting talents of Emma in a different light. She is also realising a childhood dream of playing Belle in a remake of Beauty and the Beast scheduled for release in 2017 with a stunning cast including: Dan Stevens, Luke Evans, Ian McKellen, Ewan McGregor and Emma Thompson.

#HeForShe

I’m going to finish this review/tribute/ by highlighting some other work that Miss Watson has undertaken alongside her acting career. Her appointment to the UN Women’s Equality Ambassador role has also seen her take charge of the He For She campaign that has seen it garner global attention not only for the #HeForShe hashtag on Twitter, but most notably for Emma’s amazing speech. I urge anyone that hasn’t pledged their support for gender equality to go to the He For She website and sign up (only takes 10 seconds!). If you want to know more about the He For She movement and Emma’s involvement in it then keep an eye on her Twitter and Facebook pages. Here are four links to an interview she did with Greg James earlier this year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IT8hoTf1K_Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-G7evk0ucw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMKUj6UfYwA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTQvkSW2MBs

The Harry Potter Films from Hermione’s perspective…

Hermione Granger and the time she saved the boys from strangulation

Hermione Granger and the time she became a cat

Hermione Granger and the time she turned back time (Cher’s favourite)

Hermione Granger and the time she was the Belle of the Ball (nod to Beauty and the Beast)

Hermione Granger and the emotional range of a teaspoon

Hermione Granger and the frizzy hair

Hermione Granger and the dance in the tent with Harry

Hermione Granger and the magic moment in the Chamber of Secrets

I might do some tribute/blog posts similar to this one at some point, but as it is quite time-consuming these types of posts will be rare. Nevertheless, if I do something similar, let me know who you think I should consider posting about. I have made a shortlist already including Leonardo DiCaprio, Jim Carrey, Ewan McGregor, Keira Knightley and Hugh Grant, but I am open to suggestions!

Thanks for reading!