Book Bellatrix
Book Bella for me is everything I look for in a villainess. She's ruthless, she's wild, and she's got no mercy and no qualms about her bad deeds.While movie Bellatrix does share this trait I feel as though she has her moments of guilt. I say this because I really don't know how else to interpret this;
Just that brief dismal expression before she starts smirking. This is something book Bellatrix doesn't have. She's completely ruthless. And she's completely rooted and devoted to her belief that muggles and muggleborns are beneath her. And that's what I like about book Bella; she's very nearly a pure villain with very nearly no redeeming qualities (I could state where I think she's not pure evil but I feel as though that's getting off topic and I'll likely make a separate article for it). It's rather hard to come par a character that is so completely twisted as Bella is. So I really latch onto her character.
For that reason I think book Bellatrix is a pretty frightening villain. Between the complete lack of mercy, the actual enjoyment and Glee she gets from hurting people and her mock-baby voice I get chills when I read her parts. But in a good way. I like those chills, they are my favori part of the book. Frankly I have yet to come across another character quite like Bellatrix with her odd blend of adult-like sadism and her childish mannerisms.
And while a tragic backstory is a plus for me in terms of villains I think Bellatrix is a strong enough character without. In fact she's one of those villains that I think is just better without. Especially in the books.
Another area in which I see Bellatrix's book self as different from her movie counter part is the intensity of her l’amour for Voldemort. Frankly I'm 90% the only reason for this is because Helena has much less time to portray it and film directors chose to up the action when in came to Bella--in the films I think she was far plus impulsive because Hollywood has this craving for the fast paced.
This is why I prefer book Bellatrix's relationship with Voldemort than movie Bella's. Her devotion seems much deeper, plus complex, and plus imploring in the books. And it gives her just one plus strange contradicting set of character traits; on one had she's this strong, tough, dare I say, independent woman who can completely dominate. But at the same time she's dependent, longing, and in need of praise and affection from Voldemort. These contradictions and layers also have me drawn to book Bellatrix.
Another thing I would like to refer back to is that impulsivity bit. I really l’amour that book Bellatrix--as crazy as she is--is also rather calculating in the books. She is the one who actually took Snape's loyalty with a grain of salt when even Voldemort was fool. She's also the one who seemed to do most of the decision making in the Malfoy Manor scene. In other words, book Bellatrix thinks things through and doesn't always just dive right into it.
Honestly I can see book Bellatrix being the Hermione of her day; very well-versed in her spells and on haut, retour au début of her classes. After all it is mentioned that she is of 'prodigious skill'.
She may be unhinged but she's a brilliant woman no less.
Movie Bellatrix
Where book Bella is a much darker character through and through, movie Bellatrix brings some refreshing gallows humor. That is the first thing I l’amour about movie Bellatrix that she really doesn't share with her book self. Helena bought in some comedy and I think that it really worked with Bella's character. toi have her skipping around and singing, toi have her jumping on tables, toi see her fidgeting with Snape's stuff and pouting when she's scolded, and toi have wonderful citations like, "you stupid elf toi could have killed me." Movie Bellatrix is a riot and I l’amour her for it.
Because of this, movie Bellatrix is (as mentioned) conveyed as plus impulsive with a hot sort of anger. She casts crucio on Harry in HBP and Snape has to remind her to chill. And then there's the way she flew off the handle during the Malfoy Manor scene. I enjoy wild and impulsive Bellatrix just as much as the plus in control (as far as in control goes for her) Bellatrix.
Bellatrix's impulsiveness goes hand in hand with Helena amping up the childlike part of Bella that Rowling briefly touches. I think Helena/movie Bella utilizes the baby voice and the childlike delight a lot plus than book Bella does. Again, while I l’amour the darker Bellatrix, I adore the childlike portrayal of her too. I believe I can also say that this is one aspect of movie Bellatrix that I like plus than book Bella. She's just such a fun character.
The final thing about movie Bellatrix I'd like to discuss is something I mentioned above. And that is the guilt thing. However small that is I think it was a neat thing to throw in the movie. I mean he was her cousin so seeing that small twinge of guilt added something to her character for me. As I said, I think Bella's a strong character both with and without sympathetic traits.
So if I had to draw an global, ensemble conclusion I'd say that I do prefer book Bellatrix, but only slightly because Helena does a wonderful job.
The letter we have all been waiting for
