Quotes from Book and Movie Reviews

OotP Movie Review

"Phoenix" of the First Order:
Even his friends seem distant: While we never see Hermione (Emma
Watson) and Ron (Rupert Grint) alone together, they almost always
arrive as a unit, as though they’ve just been snogging.

HP Film Lacks Romance, Yet Triumphs:
Hermione and Ron Weasley glanced at one another so often through the
film that expectations build for them to have an on-screen kiss.

'Potter' Puts A Spell On Viewers:
Emma Watson and Rupert Grint shine while defining the relationship of Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley.

Times News:
The darker tones are emphasized more than ever here, but there is lightness, too, much of it courtesy of the love-hate relationship between Harry’s closest friends, Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson). There’s real chemistry between these two young actors, and the barbs they toss back and forth at one another are just right, and never overdone. 

Hollywood.com OotP Review:
Everyone steps up their game in Order of the Phoenix. Radcliffe, Watson and Grint have shed their adolescent whininess and aw-shucks goofiness to give
their characters the greatest depth so far. They are forced to grow up
pretty quickly in Order, with little time for any playfulness, and the three actors handle the seriousness with aplomb. Of course, both Radcliffe and Grint have already ventured out of the Potter world—Radcliffe shed more than just adolescence on stage in a production of Equus, while Grint lost his virginity in the indie Driving Lessons--and their extra experience shows in Order.

Killer Movie Reviews:
Radcliffe has, like the films, become darker. His owlish cuteness
giving way to a distinct edginess as his character suffers the feelings
of isolation not assuaged by his budding romance with Cho (Katie
Leung). Enchanting as their first kiss is, beneath a bunch of mistletoe
that magically appears when needed and then grows with effusive
abandon, the story overtly, and director David Yates with visual cues
both overt and subtle, emotionally separates Harry from Ron and
Hermione (Emma Watson). In doing so, not only is true to the story, but
also solves one of the other great hurdles the film has to overcome.
The vast majority of the audience, even the ones who haven’t read the
books, knows how the story will turn out. The tension, the interest,
and the emotional tug all have to come from the character interaction
and that component is solidly in place. That is not a little due to
Grint, who though playing a wizard, provides the mortal, accessible,
touch as the hapless but not hopeless sidekick, never quite at ease,
but always game, more or less, and more importantly, always ready to be
the rock Harry can count on when he’s not sure he can count on himself.
Watson has Hermione’s flinty intellect, and Radcliffe has Harry’s showy
inner torment to work with, but Grint gives Ron a goofy sort of
tenderness that is not just sweet, it’s a refreshing counterpoint to
all the dark doings.

GoF Movie Review

Mountain Express:
The looks into the kids' sexual awakening are surprisingly adult and penetrating. It's a very real surprise to find the film at least touch on sexual confusion in Ron's (Rupert Grint) jealousy over Hermione's (Emma Watson) date with competing wizard Viktor Krum (newcomer Stanislav Ianevski), since it's never wholly clear (even to Ron) of whom he's jealous.

Reeling Reviews:
Hermione must also deal with Ron's inability to recognize their new found feelings for each other. When he's too late to ask her to the ball, he's astonished by whose arm she arrives on.

Tyler Morning Telegraph:
And that's another problem altogether. Hermione also is growing up, and starting to notice boys and be noticed by them. The inevitable teenage jealousy over the affections of the opposite sex springs to the surface when she makes a date for the big ball with Victor Krum (Stanislav Ianevski), the muscled Quidditch hooligan competing for the Tri-Wizard championship opposite Harry - while the thick-headed Ron has done nothing to capitalize on the sexual tension he shared with Hermione back in "The Prisoner of Azkaban."

Now Playing Mag:
Also elevating the film from children’s fare to one with more adult sensibilities is its believable portrayal of teenagers coming into their own. Not only do we catch a glimpse of Harry’s secret crush on classmate Cho Chang (Katie Leung), but we also bear witness to a potential shift in the Ron/Hermione relationship. All of the “he said, she said,” “does he or doesn’t he” teenage angst comes to a head at the Yule Ball — a Christmas Eve dance held to celebrate the tournament. Attendance is mandatory, dates are required, and dancing is a must. To watch our young heroes thrown into a scenario where they are forced to interact on a pseudo-romantic level is an absolute delight, especially when played out alongside the more wizard-worthy dangers of dragons, mer-people and grindylows.

Tooele Transcript-Bulletin:
And Ron hasn't admitted it yet, but he's developing an attraction to Hermione.

Philadelphia Daily News :
Adolescence has thrown gasoline on everyone's feelings - Ron is pretending he doesn't like Hermione, which enrages her, and Harry is slow to act on his crush for another girl.

Northwest Herald:
Ron doesn’t have his eye on anyone, which steams Hermione. It steams her even more that he doesn’t understand why.

Juicy Cerebellum:
Ron's jealousy over Hermione (whom he finally notices is hot) going to the dance with Victor Krum (Stanislav Ianevski) was funny and touching, all at the same time.

Sean the Movie Guy:
Then again, while the growing up stuff works for Harry, the budding romance between Ron and Hermione is barely touched upon. I’m sure that this emission was due to time constraints, but their relationship is far too important to be simply dismissed.

Emanuel Levy:
The already jealous Ron has another reason to be insecure, when Hermione goes out with the Bulgarian champ. If he were not so distracted, Ron might have acknowledged a change of feelings for Hermione.

Atlantic City Weekly:
The dragon battle is easy for Harry compared to asking a girl out to the Yule Ball, while Ron and Emma must fumble about with romantic feelings bubbling below the surface of their friendship.

Denver Post:
Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, who portray Hermione and Ron, do a fine job playing hormone-challenged characters. The ship-smart Hermione is emerging into adult loveliness; Ron embodies that endearing teen-boy collision of soft and lank.

JSOnline:
Harry's freckled friend Ron Weasley, played by Rupert Grint, adds a new epithet to his usual refrain of "bloody hell," and although Emma Watson's Hermione Granger is smitten by a visiting hunk, she and Ron argue like they were meant for each other.

GlobeandMail.com:
Ron Weasley pines for Hermione, but is too clumsy to ask her out properly. She, in turn, becomes smitten with Viktor Krum, the Bulgarian champion.

Reeling Reviews:
Hermione must also deal with Ron's inability to recognize their new found feelings for each other. When he's too late to ask her to the ball, he's astonished by whose arm she arrives on.
The three leads keep getting better, particularly Grint and Watson who are now experiencing a distinct change in their relationship. Watson and Radcliffe enjoy the easy comfort of true friendship.

Rediff.com:
Rupert Grint as Ron steals the show in the Yule Ball sequences. Be it his irritation at wearing a lacey dress robe, the time when his faced is etched with jealousy when Hermione Granger dances with Viktor Krum, or the look of total indifference mixed with irritation when Padma Patil asks him whether he is going to dance with her or not, he is fabulously natural and naturally comic.

SF Chronicle:
Although Harry and Ron assumed Hermione was lying about having a date, she's on the arm of the handsomest competitor, representing the Bulgarian team. Grint's face instantly reflects Ron's torn feelings about Hermione -- is she just a gal pal and, if so, why is he so clearly jealous?

Movie Reviews:
His friend Hermione (Emma Watson) is turning into a beautiful young woman and attracting a fair amount of male attention - a fact that has not escaped the green-eyed notice of Harry's other buddy, Ron (Rupert Grint).

Boston.com:
Any sparks between Ron and Hermione, by the way, will apparently have to wait until the next movie.

CNN:
Ron Weasley is totally oblivious to the growing feelings of Hermione (Emma Watson) as she tries in vain to get him to ask her to the social event of the year.

Scary Harry:
While Hermione and Ron resort to traditional British bickering in the face of their undeclared attraction

Film Critic (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire):
. . . `while Ron (Rupert Grint) tries in vain to suppress his budding love for Hermione (Emma Watson). This comes to a head of sorts during a formal dance, one of the film's most memorable scenes.

MSN Fourth Time's Magic for 'Harry' (Cast Talks to MSN):
Fans of the books are well aware that the long-festering romance between Ron and Hermione doesn't bear fruit in this installment (although Watson wishes they would "just get on with it"). However, "Goblet of Fire" does feature the first glimpses of young love for the characters.
Time Magazine (GoF Movie Review):
In that respect, life distinctly imitates art: Goblet of Fire is the first of the movies to deal explicitly with sexual tension between the characters, especially Ron and Hermione.
Manchester Online (GoF Movie Review):
Radcliffe continues to mature as actor but it's Watson and Grint who impress most, despite their limited screen time. Sparks of sexual chemistry are clear for all to see.

PoA Movie Review

GlobeMail.com (PoA Movie Review):
Of course, this leads to the proverbial reunion with his bosom pals, Ronald (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson), who are themselves showing signs of hormonal eruption - she's armed with a training bra for this campaign, and keeps shooting amorous glances in Ron's receptive direction.

Glasgow Herald (PoA Movie Review):
Meanwhile, with the onset of adolescence comes romance. Not between Harry and Hermione, as one might assume, but, more interestingly, between Hermione (Emma Watson) and Ron (Rupert Grint, no longer playing the geek, though still on occasion the funny fall guy).

Slant Magazine (PoA Movie Review):
Cuaron's characters are very much on the brink of psychosexual enlightenment. (For Ron Weasley, the developing Hermione s mysterious comings and goings are a constant source of wonder.)

SFGate.com (PoA Movie Review):
Adolescent themes merely touched upon in Rowling's "Azkaban" book are embellished and made explicit in Cuaron's cinematic interpretation. The opening wand scene, a thinly veiled allusion to masturbation, is a new addition. So are several scenes hinting at sexual tension between Harry's best friends, Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson), who can't keep their hands off each other -- and can't figure out why.

Dallas Morning News (PoA Movie Review):
Ron, the third member of the Hogwarts trio, is more obvious in his feelings for Hermione.

ECinemaCenter.com (PoA Movie Review):
Deep sexual undertones also exist, and they go beyond Ron & Hermione brushing hands. There's a clear envy in Harry present, as he feels left behind by his friends' clear (if not yet admitted) feelings for one another -- look only to the moment after Buckbeak's execution. Hermione throws her arms around Ron's neck in tears, and Harry puts his arms around her soon after, trying desperately to remain as integral a part of the triangle as his first year at Hogwarts.

Palo Alto Weekly (PoA Movie Review):
Subtle matters of the heart involving Hermione (Emma Watson) and Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint).

Reeling Reviews (PoA Movie Review):
Cuaron subtly introduces adolescent changes within his stars' dynamics. Hermione is less talk and more action, including small physical indications of an attraction to Ron. Ron, in turn, lets his annoyance with his female friend slowly turn into appreciation.

Mixed Reviews (PoA Movie Review):
there seems to be a certain something brewing between Ron and Hermione that's still so far under the surface even they aren't even aware of it yet.

TheMovieChicks.com (PoA Movie Review):
Hermione and Ron are having feelings they don't know how to deal with

Kansas City Star (PoA Movie Review):
Watson and Grint in particular are turning into accomplished scene-stealers.

JAM! Movies (PoA Movie Review):
Hermione and Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) are beginning to develop a crush on each other which Watson and Grint handle with sensitivity.

Gazette (MD) (PoA Movie Review):
Cuaron gets to tease at slight romantic tension between Hermione and Ron, with Watson and Grint once again providing the perfect team for Radcliffe.

Film Snobs (PoA Movie Review):
Potter soon teams up with his old friends Ron (Rupert Grint ) and Hermione (Emma Watson) who all seem a little more... touchy with each other in the past.

The Juicy Cerebellum (PoA Movie Review):
Cuaron, director of one of the most carnal films of the early 21st century (Y tu mam tambi n), can't resist giving us an awkward moment between Ron and Hermione, when the characters find themselves clumsily holding hands. The two, both embarrassed, quickly pull away from each other, but the tension is there.

Tyler Morning Telegraph (PoA Movie Review):
With that Latin sensibility lurking behind every frame, we can sense him chomping at the bit to get these kids together, dropping obvious hints of carnal attraction between Hermione and her dim-bulb sparring partner Ron.

The Detroit News (PoA Movie Review):
Throw into this mix a werewolf, a bit of time travel, the occasional awkward teenage moment between Hermione and Ron, that wondrous bird-horse creature and a handful of solid surprises, and 'Prisoner' becomes a roaring good yarn.

Movie View (PoA Movie Review):
Later on, during a magic class, there are numerous references to stroking one's wand. The thought of sexuality is starting to emerge in these young adults and Cuaron is sure to foreshadow towards future romantic twists. Hermione (Emma Watson) and Ron (Rupert Grint) share a couple of awkward moments that are all done in spontaneous innocence but hint towards growing feelings towards one another beyond the platonic friendship shared thus far.

Las Vegas Weekly (PoA Movie Review):
Now 13, the central trio start to show hints of adolescence, and Ron and Hermione share a few moments that hint at future romance.

Reel.com (PoA Movie Review):
He also picks up nicely on threads that are understated in Rowling's book, notably the emerging sexual tension between Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson), which manifests, as adolescent crushes are wont to do, in much mutual taunting and snippiness.

Looking Closer (PoA Movie Review):
With all of its recurring focus on young boys having trouble with their wands, and with the slightly changing dynamic in the relationship between Ron and Hermione, the story is a not-so-subtle drama about coming of age.

Zap2It.com (PoA Movie Review):
She [Hermione] becomes more aware of Ron, (Rupert Grint) as their hands sometimes touch and they deny their attraction toward each other.

Boston Herald (PoA Movie Review):
Clearly, adolescence has changed Harry Potter and Hogwarts. In one scene, Ron and Hermione touch hands accidentally and react as if an electric current has crackled between them.

(PoA Movie Review):
Moments of character development are widely spaced. (That has a lot to do with the deeper cuts made to the source material.) Still, we learn a few things about Harry's background. The Malfoy/Potter feud enters another chapter. And we see the beginnings of a tentative affection between Ron and Hermione. (The two of them exchange glances and hold hands. There's little question where Rowling is going with this relationship, especially considering the predictability of romance in fantasy stories.)

Critic Doctor (PoA Movie Review):
Grint is quite funny as Ron, who appears to be developing a mega-crush on Hermione almost against his will.

SMH (PoA Movie Review):
Hermione (Emma Watson) has become a feisty adolescent who punches Draco Malfoy and seems to have emerging feelings not for Harry but the guileless Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint).

RottenTomatoes Review (PoA Movie Review):
Cuar n directs an angrier Potter. Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) is becoming jaded and skeptical over almost all that he's been told. Hermione (Emma Watson) is dabbling in girl power as much as she is her studies. The only character who hasn't really changed much is Ron (Rupert Grint); outside of some obvious adolescent type feelings toward Hermione that, while subtle, are still the closest a Potter film has came to being sexually charged. Cuar n, director of one of the most carnal films of the early 21st century, can't resist giving us an awkward moment between Ron and Hermione, when the characters find themselves clumsily holding hands. The two, both embarrassed, quickly pull away from each other, but the tension is there.

Scotsman Review (PoA Movie Review):
Finally, the characters look - and act - like real kids rather than idealised portraits of childhood. There s even a hint of hormonally charged young love (Hermione and Ron, who would have thought it?).

The Sun (PoA Movie Review):
But the real highlight of the film is the changing relationship between Harry, Ron and Hermione. Thrown together by their determination to protect their friend from Sirius Black, Ron and Hermione become close. If you watch carefully, you'll even see them holding hands and exchanging hugs.

The Sun (PoA Movie Review):
But the real highlight of the film is the changing relationship between Harry,

The Sun (PoA Movie Review):
But the real highlight of the film is the changing relationship between Harry,

Yahoo News (PoA Movie Review):
Cuaron also juiced up the romantic tension between his young stars, 14-year-old Daniel Radcliffe (news) (as Harry), 14-year-old Emma Watson (news) (Hermione Granger) and 15-year-old Rupert Grint (news) (Ron Weasley) - an idea that comes both from Rowling's books and from the real-life flirtiness that Cuaron sensed around the Potter set. "There were a lot of kids around," he says. "And there was a lot of whispering and passing notes. You could feel the pollen in the air. "I wanted that spirit to be alive in the film. I just wanted it to flow." In one scene, Hermione grabs Ron's hand in fear - and then they both realize what happened and look away bashfully. The playful and awkward flirtation was played up even more in another scene that wound up on the cutting-room floor. The scene was meant to come after a frightening one involving several wizards who turn into animals and fight each other. Once the drama is resolved and everyone has a chance to breathe, the friendly Hogwarts magical creatures professor, Hagrid, teasingly suggests that Hermione and Ron "have a great big, good hug." "At first, they're like, 'ick,'" recalls Robbie Coltrane (news), who plays Hagrid. "But they do hug - sort of awkwardly, at first - and then there's one wee, melty moment when they do get really close. "You'll love it when you see it on the DVD."

CoS Movie Review

Time Magazine (CoS Movie Review):
In Chamber of Secrets, the romance between Hermione and Ron begins to blossom-but just slightly.

GoF Book Review

Entertainment Weekly (GoF Book Review):
Goblet presents Harry with a task more daunting than defeating Voldemort: asking a girl to the Yule Ball. Cootie-phobic readers need not panic; Harry's crush on the Quidditch-playing cutie Cho Chang remains unrequited. The real magic is between wiseacre Ron and huffy Hermione, whose bickering evolves into a screwball-style courtship - especially after Ron learns Hermione is attending the dance with someone else. ("Just because it's taken you three years to notice, Ron, doesn't mean no one else has spotted I'm a girl!" she fumes.)

Sparknotes.com (GoF Book): The Preoccupations of Adolescence
The first feelings of romantic attraction are stirring throughout this book. Sexual tension between Ron and Hermione causes numerous arguments in this book, and it is clear that much of the book's events reflect subtle changes within the maturing process of the characters themselves.
The unexpected task of finding dates for the Yule Ball brings many of the sexual tension issues to fruition. Ron, meanwhile, after making a fool of himself by asking Fleur, is desperate for an attractive-looking date, and he makes more of a fool of himself by noticing suddenly that Hermione is a girl, and asking her as a last resort. Ron has had quite a lot of passionate, heated spats with Hermione over the course of this book and others, but here the spats have more to do with romance-for example, Ron accuses Hermione of liking Cedric just because he is handsome, and Hermione is annoyed with Ron for fawning over Fleur. From here until the end of the Yule Ball, their tension blossoms fully, making it clear to both of them what is going on, even though neither will or want to admit their attraction to the other.

 

~Originally compiled for and by RonandHermione.net