#55425 Harry Potter Movies

[C is for]

I tend to be a Harry Potter purist. I haven't liked any of the movies much (though I surprised myself by at least not hating HBP) and I certainly have a lot to say about the things that bug me.

In the fifth movie, the way the Death Eaters could hang around as pillars of black smoke, and the Order Members as flashes of light, drove me barmy.

Also, what was the point in showing Snape's Worst Memory if they didn't even show the worst memory part of it? Yeesh. The seventh book wasn't out yet but I was in the camp of Severus-and-Lily-were-friends and when I saw they got rid of that it bothered me a little, then when Deathly Hallows came out ... well, I'm just really not fond of that scene.

I guess I just really hated the 5th movie. Remember how Fred and George caused a disruption in the middle of O.W.L.s? They might not have any respect for Umbridge, but I'm sure they had at least a little respect for the OWLs. They would never ruin the test like that. Their mother (not to mention Hermione) would never ever forgive them. Guess no one was in N.E.W.T. Charms the next year...

One more. This one in the sixth movie (so, SPOILERS if you haven't seen it). You know the first scene, where Harry's in that subway cafe or whatnot and this girl comes up and starts flirting with him? That bugged me too. I can kind of understand why they did it (supposedly Harry's gotten a lot taller, which of course means he's more attractive [right?]) but mostly in the book they like him because he's the Chosen One and famous. The random waitress didn't know he was famous, so her attraction for him just seems kind of weird compared to Harry's other pursuers. It made her seem like almost on an equal footing with Ginny, who also likes Harry for reasons other than that he's the Chosen One. And I think that's why it rubbed me wrong.

I'd better stop. Just know that the things that bothered the writers in their actual answer also bug me.

Bah, I keep thinking of others that weren't mentioned. Must. hold. my. tongue. or more like still. my. fingers.

Anyone else have pet peeves about the Harry Potter movies? Or like them better than the books?

[Tao]

While I've not seen any of the movies all the way through, I must admit I was surprised to see the number of people who are fanatical over the books but not overly fond of the movies. I guess it shouldn't, considering the number of movies that have done a disservice to what I consider good books (Michael Crichton comes to mind). I guess I just assumed the same thing that sold the books would sell the movies. Obviously I was incorrect.

If I may ask, what drew you to keep reading the series that was lacking in the movies?

[Darth Fedora]

When I read HBP, I was so freaked out by the Inferi stuff that I slept with my lights on for about a week. In the movie, there was like one jumpy part with them but it wasn't nearly as scary as it was in my head. I was disappointed, but I think that's just the way it goes with movie adaptations: they never really live up to your imagination. I also agree with Commander Keen regarding the ending of HBP being super lame.

[C is for]

While I've not seen any of the movies all the way through, I must admit I was surprised to see the number of people who are fanatical over the books but not overly fond of the movies. I guess it shouldn't, considering the number of movies that have done a disservice to what I consider good books (Michael Crichton comes to mind). I guess I just assumed the same thing that sold the books would sell the movies. Obviously I was incorrect.

If I may ask, what drew you to keep reading the series that was lacking in the movies?

Actually, I'm pretty sure that the movies sell pretty well even though there are so many disappointed fans. The story is largely the same, after all, and that's the big draw for many people.

I'm just crazy, I guess. I did try to keep the pet peeves I listed above things that actually make a difference to the story.

As for what keeps me reading the books and not liking the movies...

For one thing, J.K. Rowling created the universe and the characters. I like what she does with what she's made. Other people, while they can do a pretty good job, don't quite compare.

For another, I just prefer books to movies in general. The saga of Harry Potter is just too complex to show properly outside an imagination, I think, and while I'm sure the directors do their best it just doesn't measure up. I think this is the main reason.

Yeah. The more I read over this, the crazier I sound. I've really mellowed a lot when it comes to this subject, too.

[TheAnswerIs42]

Yeah, the mediums are just so different. Books have a way of creating a mood and developing character, especially since you have so much more time to see characters develop. Movies have to be condensed so much that we miss the "good stuff". I have had gripes with every Potter movie, despite loving the books. The oddest one is probably that I love every cast choice except Ginny. Ginny is supposed to grow up into a fiery, fiesty re-head. And they cast a wide-eyed shy looking girl for the Chamber scenes. Which now just looks wrong. But they shifted the Harry/Ginny relationship all out of twist in the movie anyway. That bugged me this time. But I'm kind of an H/G purist, so oh well.

I do like seeing the movies- it gives me a visual picture of the characters and settings when I read the books. But I get too nitpicky and offended when they muck everything up and delete my favorite scenes.

[Castle in the Sky]

So The Defenestrator read me this question last night and we both griped over the movies for at least a good half-hour. While I'm not as much a book-to-movie purist I feel that the movies straddle this weird line between trying to be faithful and be a completely different take on the books. It's one that frustrates me to no end. Give me fidelity (like the amazing Princess Bride) or something completely different (Jurassic Park, Count of Monte Cristo, Cheaper by the Dozen) and I'm satisfied but trying to play for both teams irks me to no end.

Movie 1 - Unlike the books, there is no reason to like Hermione Granger and Ron is extremely annoying and out of character. Even worse is Professor Quirrell. The movie drags on and on. The entire first scene with Dumbledore and Harry worked really well in the book but was awful in the movie (since the rest of the movie sticks to Harry's perspective alone). I almost gave up on Harry Potter completely because of this movie (I had just read the first book a few weeks earlier). They really did get a ton of things RIGHT that make me happy. Dumbledore was good (not great), Snape, Minerva, Hagrid, Harry (though his acting was pretty terrible I cut him slack because of his age) and John Williams.
Movie 2 - I find the opening car scene not only illogical but too dramatic (they almost fall out of the car? /sigh).
Movie 3 - I loved it. It wasn't the same as the book and they left out a ton of things that I really really missed but it was so much more stylish than the rest. I felt that Cuaron really understood the characters and the world. Hermione's comment near the Shrieking Shack was perfect ("Shall we move closer?").
Movie 4 - The new Dumbledore. Nothing makes up for that. He shakes Harry and yells at his students. Vomit. Also in this and the following movies we never see anything that makes Ginny interesting/likable.
Movie 5 - The beginning was weird. The romance was awkward (though not as bad as Star Wars Episode 2). They did a great job with Luna and Umbridge but they messed up my favorite scene (the Weasley's flying off into the sunset and Peeves's salute)! Liked the end wizard duel but the weird perspective changes and Voldermort's "You will lose everything" took away a lot.
Movie 6 - The worst yet. The only thing I liked (besides the special effects) was the lack of the students fighting at the end of the film and the death eater's trashing Hogwarts. I felt it better set the mood of Dumbledore's death -- quiet, somber, awfulness. Though, by the middle of this movie, I was excited to see Dumbledore die because I am so sick of this actor's interpretation. So glad he's gone. Really didn't like Ginny - It seems to me that Harry/Hermione have way better movie chemistry than they should. Ginny/Harry was awkward. Worst part of this film for me was definitely missing out on the REAL way Hermione attacks Ron.

The door behind them burst open. To Harry's horror, Ron came in, laughing, pulling Lavender by the hand.
"oh," he said, drawing up short at the sight of Harry and Hermione.
"Oops!" said Lavender, and she backed out of the room, giggling. The door swung shut behind her,
There was a horrible, swelling, billowing silence. Hermione was staring at Ron, who was refusing to look at her, but said with an odd mixture of bravado and awkwardness, "Hi, Harry! Wondered where you'd got to!"
Hermione slid off the desk. The little flock of golden birds continued to twitter in circles around her head so that she looked like a strange, feathery model of the solar system.
"You shouldn't leave Lavender waiting outside," she said quietly. "She'll wonder where you've gone."
She walked very slowly and erectly toward the door. Harry glanced at Ron, ho was looking relieved that nothing worse had happened.
"Oppugno!" came a shriek from the doorway.
Harry spun around to see Hermione pointing her wand at Ron, her expression wild: The little flock of birds was speeding like a hail of fat golden bullets toward Ron, who yelped and covered his face with his hands, but the birds attacked, pecking and clawing at every bit of flesh they could reach.
"Gerremoffme!" he yelled, but with one last look of vindictive fury, Hermione wrenched open the door and disappeared through it. Harry though he heard a sob before it slammed.

-Castle in the Sky

[Tao]

The door behind them burst open. To Harry's horror, Ron came in, laughing, pulling Lavender by the hand.
"oh," he said, drawing up short at the sight of Harry and Hermione.
"Oops!" said Lavender, and she backed out of the room, giggling. The door swung shut behind her,
There was a horrible, swelling, billowing silence. Hermione was staring at Ron, who was refusing to look at her, but said with an odd mixture of bravado and awkwardness, "Hi, Harry! Wondered where you'd got to!"
Hermione slid off the desk. The little flock of golden birds continued to twitter in circles around her head so that she looked like a strange, feathery model of the solar system.
"You shouldn't leave Lavender waiting outside," she said quietly. "She'll wonder where you've gone."
She walked very slowly and erectly toward the door. Harry glanced at Ron, ho was looking relieved that nothing worse had happened.
"Oppugno!" came a shriek from the doorway.
Harry spun around to see Hermione pointing her wand at Ron, her expression wild: The little flock of birds was speeding like a hail of fat golden bullets toward Ron, who yelped and covered his face with his hands, but the birds attacked, pecking and clawing at every bit of flesh they could reach.
"Gerremoffme!" he yelled, but with one last look of vindictive fury, Hermione wrenched open the door and disappeared through it. Harry though he heard a sob before it slammed.

Pardon my ignorance, is the above quote from the books or extrapolated from the movie?

[Castle in the Sky]

From the book -- that's what really happened. In the movie the scene is there but altered.