Ralph Fiennes is perfect as Voldemort. Despite the makeup, his icky Ralph-Fiennes-ness was evident in his mannerisms and gestures. Frankly he didn't look a lot different than he did in "The English Patient," before or after the burns. To my way of thinking he'd be just as scary-looking with no makeup at all.
I got all bouncy during the preview for "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe," which looks like it might be worthy, and TMH confessed she hasn't read them. I leaned as far away from her as I could. She suggested borrowing mine, and while I could easily lend The Last Battle, which I think I've read just twice (the first time and when CLH gave me the boxed set), Lion is as necessary to my household as a dishwasher. I've owed her Sound and the Fury for a while now, so afterward I bought her both and explained that though Lion is marked #2, it is really the first, because while C.S. Lewis could write them he had no idea how to order them. How do these 6-1-5-2-3-4-7 heretics explain the order of the movies?
Anyway. Discussing Half-Blood Prince after its release this summer, I said I was frustrated by Rowling's sudden invention of the convenient Retiring Room, but a Suspect said it did appear previously, in Goblet, during the Yule Ball. I emailed myself to check that, and today I finally did. It is there, indeed, as Dumbledore's well-proportioned room of chamberpots, in a line as seemingly throwaway as any other. Now I know very well than Rowling deliberately plants disguised clues, but jesus. Harry has to refurbish his Potions kit as well in Goblet, and is essence of belladonna going to be the key to everything in #7? There are artful disguises, and there red herrings, and then there is mishmash.
The movie's a lot better than the book--Harry's not as whiny, his fight with Ron is shorter, Fleur's disdain for all things non-Beauxbatons that comes off as nothing more than Brit disdain for all things non-British is absent.