AGAIN SPOILER ALERT: IF YOU HAVE NOT READ OR SEEN ANYTHING HARRY POTTER (GET OUT FROM UNDER THE ROCK YOU MUST BE WEDGED UNDER) BE WARNED THAT I DISCUSS IT ALL IN HERE.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone-this was pretty easy to translate to the big screen. I don't mean to belittle the difficulty in making the movie; I mean that it is the smallest novel so most of the story made it into the movie with a few minor details that were okay to live without. However, they placed Ron in the Forbidden Forrest when it was in fact Neville who had to accompany Harry, Hermione, and Malfoy on detention. This seems innocent enough, BUT it is a vital piece when thinking about Neville's roll later in the series. It definitely makes his courage at standing up to Harry, Ron, and Hermione a little less urgent than it actually was since in the novel he had to suffer the consequences of their negative actions.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets-Again, the novel is small enough that nothing was really altered too much in the film. I do love Kenneth Branagh as arrogant and incompetent Gilderoy Lockhart. Yet in the end this is my least favorite book and movie. Therefore, I watch it more out of my obsession since I can't just skip it. I do wish they had showed a little more about Ginny's feelings for Harry because it would have tied in nicely in later films.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban-My favorite film (not book). Cuaron managed to completely recreate Hogwarts by giving it a more sophisticated look and allowing the "students" to dress like actual teenagers. The cinematography is unmatched in any other film, and the Dementors are truly frightening. Of course I'm disappointed they aren't more forthcoming about who actually created the Marauder's Map (James, Sirius, Lupin, Pettigrew), but I'm okay with Harry getting his Firebolt at the end of the film instead of the middle. What I wouldn't give for a Time Turner!
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire-Here's where we start running into trouble. The novel is much larger than its predecessors; therefore, there must be decisions made for the movie. I think they did pretty well by making sure the Triwizard Tournament was enticing, but they chose to leave out a few bits I felt needed to make the cut.* Ludo Bagman would have been a great comical character to add a little dimension to wizards in general showing that they too are susceptible to something as minor as addiction. They should have DEFINITELY included Winky and the story behind Barty Crouch Jr.'s escape from Azkaban, Hermione's obsession with liberating house elves (S.P.E.W.), and it should have stayed Dobby and not been changed to Neville giving Harry the gillyweed.
*I will go into greater detail about vital story lines that were left underdeveloped at the bottom.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix-This is the most disappointing of all the films because they cut out incredibly vital information. Naturally, I was a little more critical since this was my favorite novel, but I don't think my disappointment is unjustified. Although this film's take on the fascist-like regime of the Ministry of Magic is intriguing, I would have preferred to see St. Mungo's and the lifetime ban from Quidditch that Harry receives allowing Ginny to start forming as a solid character. This will be sentence five; therefore, I'll save my corrections that should be made for my extended explanation at the bottom.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince-My biggest beef with this film is how they add things that don't even exist in the novel at the expense of omitting some key elements. How about instead of blowing up the Burrow we show the relationship of Fleur and Bill? Or instead of Harry watching the tube cars at the beginning we actually show Harry spending his summer with the Weasleys and getting to know Ginny a little better so that we don't have to fabricate a relationship that seems based solely on inappropriate sexual tension instead of a firmly built friendship?! I am glad they have the memories of Tom Riddle, but the really good back story (the Gaunts) they don't include. The comedy in this film was also pretty good especially the scenes after Harry takes the Felix Felicis.
Here is where I will stop examining each movie since I'd like to tackle both installments of the final film after seeing it tomorrow. Below is a quick list of things the movies didn't cover that I feel cheats the viewer and angers those of us that love the stories:
1. Neville is poorly set up in the earlier movies (remember he was left out of the forbidden forest scene), and they also neglect to show his depth at St. Mungos in movie five. Because of this, his bravery at destroying the final Horcrux (although awesome I'm sure) will be missing some of its greatness.
2. Dobby disappears after movie two and doesn't reappear until the first part of film seven. Dobby is a constant aid and support for Harry throughout the stories (Dobby gives the gillyweed, discovers the Room of Requirement, follows Malfoy around to see if he's a Death Eater, and encourages Hermione's obsession with S.P.E.W.) and isn't given his proper due. Therefore, his death in the seventh film, though sad, isn't nearly as devastating as it was when I read it. Not to mention the importance of Harry carving "Here Lies Dobby: A Free Elf" on Dobby's tombstone is completely ignored.
3. Harry and Ginny's relationship is a ridiculous and awkward one because they are trying to cram a whole bunch of feelings into inappropriate moments (bending down to tie Harry's shoe, snogging in the Room of Requirement-for some reason they gave Ron and Lavendar Harry and Ginny's kissing scene, zipping up dresses where clearly no bra is being worn). Ginny gradually rises as a strong and independent character throughout books five and six. She takes over as Seeker when Harry receives a lifetime ban on Quidditch in book five proving her athletic ability. She also becomes a key member of Dumbledore's Army showing she doesn't mind getting her hands dirty and is a powerful witch. All of these things make her a sharp contrast to the other girls in Potter's world who are focused on the lovey-dovey girly things of adolescence. Harry doesn't have time for this kind of nonsense since his whole wizarding life has pitted him against pure evil. Ginny gets that hence making her the perfect partner for Harry.
4. They should have had some form of Quidditch in movie five in order to lead to the lifetime ban to lead to Ginny's character development. They should have showed Ron and Hermione becoming Prefects and not Harry in order to show that Harry isn't always the Chosen One and how he handles that (not very well actually). They should have shown St. Mungo's in order to see the broader world of witches and wizards AND how Neville handles being the son of demented aurors. They should have made the prophecy more clear in that it only states a child born near the end of July and not specifically Harry Potter because Neville was also born near the end of July and could have been the Chosen One. However, Lord Voldemort decided Harry (the one who's ancestry was only half-wizard like his own instead of the pureblooded Longbottom) would be his equal. It's all so necessary! They should have shown Harry destroying Dumbledore's office at the end because Harry's a teenager who's been expected to act as a savior on multiple occasions and just lost the last living member of his family. He needed a catharsis and this would have shown it. Ahhh!
Regardless of my "issues," I never miss a chance to watch these films. I love when ABC Family has a Harry Potter weekend. I own most of them on DVD and have already informed my husband that I will be purchasing the super-duper mega extras included blu-ray complete set once they are all out. I just love this magical world and will relive it as often as possible.
Tomorrow's a big day, and I must prepare for it!
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets-Again, the novel is small enough that nothing was really altered too much in the film. I do love Kenneth Branagh as arrogant and incompetent Gilderoy Lockhart. Yet in the end this is my least favorite book and movie. Therefore, I watch it more out of my obsession since I can't just skip it. I do wish they had showed a little more about Ginny's feelings for Harry because it would have tied in nicely in later films.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban-My favorite film (not book). Cuaron managed to completely recreate Hogwarts by giving it a more sophisticated look and allowing the "students" to dress like actual teenagers. The cinematography is unmatched in any other film, and the Dementors are truly frightening. Of course I'm disappointed they aren't more forthcoming about who actually created the Marauder's Map (James, Sirius, Lupin, Pettigrew), but I'm okay with Harry getting his Firebolt at the end of the film instead of the middle. What I wouldn't give for a Time Turner!
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire-Here's where we start running into trouble. The novel is much larger than its predecessors; therefore, there must be decisions made for the movie. I think they did pretty well by making sure the Triwizard Tournament was enticing, but they chose to leave out a few bits I felt needed to make the cut.* Ludo Bagman would have been a great comical character to add a little dimension to wizards in general showing that they too are susceptible to something as minor as addiction. They should have DEFINITELY included Winky and the story behind Barty Crouch Jr.'s escape from Azkaban, Hermione's obsession with liberating house elves (S.P.E.W.), and it should have stayed Dobby and not been changed to Neville giving Harry the gillyweed.
*I will go into greater detail about vital story lines that were left underdeveloped at the bottom.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix-This is the most disappointing of all the films because they cut out incredibly vital information. Naturally, I was a little more critical since this was my favorite novel, but I don't think my disappointment is unjustified. Although this film's take on the fascist-like regime of the Ministry of Magic is intriguing, I would have preferred to see St. Mungo's and the lifetime ban from Quidditch that Harry receives allowing Ginny to start forming as a solid character. This will be sentence five; therefore, I'll save my corrections that should be made for my extended explanation at the bottom.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince-My biggest beef with this film is how they add things that don't even exist in the novel at the expense of omitting some key elements. How about instead of blowing up the Burrow we show the relationship of Fleur and Bill? Or instead of Harry watching the tube cars at the beginning we actually show Harry spending his summer with the Weasleys and getting to know Ginny a little better so that we don't have to fabricate a relationship that seems based solely on inappropriate sexual tension instead of a firmly built friendship?! I am glad they have the memories of Tom Riddle, but the really good back story (the Gaunts) they don't include. The comedy in this film was also pretty good especially the scenes after Harry takes the Felix Felicis.
Here is where I will stop examining each movie since I'd like to tackle both installments of the final film after seeing it tomorrow. Below is a quick list of things the movies didn't cover that I feel cheats the viewer and angers those of us that love the stories:
1. Neville is poorly set up in the earlier movies (remember he was left out of the forbidden forest scene), and they also neglect to show his depth at St. Mungos in movie five. Because of this, his bravery at destroying the final Horcrux (although awesome I'm sure) will be missing some of its greatness.
2. Dobby disappears after movie two and doesn't reappear until the first part of film seven. Dobby is a constant aid and support for Harry throughout the stories (Dobby gives the gillyweed, discovers the Room of Requirement, follows Malfoy around to see if he's a Death Eater, and encourages Hermione's obsession with S.P.E.W.) and isn't given his proper due. Therefore, his death in the seventh film, though sad, isn't nearly as devastating as it was when I read it. Not to mention the importance of Harry carving "Here Lies Dobby: A Free Elf" on Dobby's tombstone is completely ignored.
3. Harry and Ginny's relationship is a ridiculous and awkward one because they are trying to cram a whole bunch of feelings into inappropriate moments (bending down to tie Harry's shoe, snogging in the Room of Requirement-for some reason they gave Ron and Lavendar Harry and Ginny's kissing scene, zipping up dresses where clearly no bra is being worn). Ginny gradually rises as a strong and independent character throughout books five and six. She takes over as Seeker when Harry receives a lifetime ban on Quidditch in book five proving her athletic ability. She also becomes a key member of Dumbledore's Army showing she doesn't mind getting her hands dirty and is a powerful witch. All of these things make her a sharp contrast to the other girls in Potter's world who are focused on the lovey-dovey girly things of adolescence. Harry doesn't have time for this kind of nonsense since his whole wizarding life has pitted him against pure evil. Ginny gets that hence making her the perfect partner for Harry.
4. They should have had some form of Quidditch in movie five in order to lead to the lifetime ban to lead to Ginny's character development. They should have showed Ron and Hermione becoming Prefects and not Harry in order to show that Harry isn't always the Chosen One and how he handles that (not very well actually). They should have shown St. Mungo's in order to see the broader world of witches and wizards AND how Neville handles being the son of demented aurors. They should have made the prophecy more clear in that it only states a child born near the end of July and not specifically Harry Potter because Neville was also born near the end of July and could have been the Chosen One. However, Lord Voldemort decided Harry (the one who's ancestry was only half-wizard like his own instead of the pureblooded Longbottom) would be his equal. It's all so necessary! They should have shown Harry destroying Dumbledore's office at the end because Harry's a teenager who's been expected to act as a savior on multiple occasions and just lost the last living member of his family. He needed a catharsis and this would have shown it. Ahhh!
Regardless of my "issues," I never miss a chance to watch these films. I love when ABC Family has a Harry Potter weekend. I own most of them on DVD and have already informed my husband that I will be purchasing the super-duper mega extras included blu-ray complete set once they are all out. I just love this magical world and will relive it as often as possible.
Tomorrow's a big day, and I must prepare for it!
I have the same feelings regarding the 6th movie. I was so ragey when they burned the Burrow. Seriously?! And I was FURIOUS when they messed up Ginny and Harry's first kiss. FURIOUS. I kept saying "that is NOT what happened!" throughout the entire movie.
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