List of 'Mistakes' according to Dark Mark

[cynthiaanncoe at home.com]

I, too, had a look at the list of so-called "movie mistakes."  (For 
what it is worth, I plan to only see the film once, so it was helpful 
to have a list of things to look for so that I can focus on it, but 
to each his own.)  Anyway, I'll duck down below the spoiler space and 
rant a bit:
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First, I want to nominate Edis for an honorary, advance membership in 
S.A.D.[Society of Apologists for the Director.]  I agree that most of 
the changes listed are at worst small potatoes and at best brilliant 
efforts to shorten the book to make the movie a manageable length.

Edis wrote:

> Category A Frankly MD I don't give a damn
> 
>  They never introduce Crabbe and Goyle, matter of fact they 
don't 
> introduce 3/4 of the characters

I'm glad they don't introduce huge numbers of categories.  If they 
did, we'd be left with scores of characters wandering through the 
film who do not become important until later.  Good call by the 
director, I think.

> 
Edis again:

>  Lee Jordan looks too much like a girl (that is, they might 
as well=
>  
> have just made him a girl)
> And the point is?  Actually Lee (like Robin) Is both a male and 
> female name in Britain. So this could be a visualisation thing, 
> personal preferences or maybe we will see a switch and a serious 
> content change (But I cant remember without the books if Lee is 
> refereed to as `He' in canon). 


Wasn't Lee the boy on the train with the tarantula?  Didn't he have 
dreadlocks?  So wouldn't he maybe look like a girl?  Not a problem 
for me.


> 
Edis again:

> Category B  Use of cinematic resources  and taking essence of 
> storyline
>  
>  They never even get in the car (when running away from the 
letters=
> ).
>  No Railview Hotel.
>  The 1st years meeting ghosts scene never happens. They 
have a lot more ghosts in the movie then there should be.
> 


I'm bummed about the increased use of ghosts, as I don't really care 
for the ghosts much.  But they axed Peeves, and he was one of the 
more juvenile characters, so it's a fair trade.  (Am I the only 
person on the planet who didn't care for Peeves?)

> 
Edis again:

>  Movie starts with Dumbledore actually summoning the light 
of the 
> posts with the Light Putter Outer
> 
> Arma Virumque Cano. Getting started in the middle of action is a 
good 
> way of gripping viewers. Jo has a wonderful literary trick for 
> opening the book but it wouldn't  work on film. This sounds 
> effective, uses material from the book and exploits strengths of 
> cinema. 

I agree.  I also think we all need to go back on the main list and 
figure out the deal with the Put Outer, because they sure are 
emphasizing it when they could have easily omitted it.  I don't think 
the L.O.O.N.s have agreed on a satisfactory explanation yet.


 Edis again:

>  Meets Malfoy right before sorting, instead of at Madam 
Malkins 
> Robes For All Occasions.
> 
> I would have recommended this myself. Good Cinematic concentration. 
> We will get the central dialogue (Malfoys offer of alliance and 
> warning against getting involved with dubious Wizards). 

Frankly, having Draco and Harry meet at the sorting actually makes 
more sense than having them meet in a robe shop.  The central thing 
about Draco that Harry should learn is his prejudice, preference for 
Slytherin, disdain for those with less money, and background about 
the houses.  It makes sense that they would discuss this before 
sorting, not at a robe shop.  Good call by the director.

> 
Edis again:

>  Harry and Hagrid don't sleep over on the House on the 
Rock. After =
> 
> telling him he is a wizard, the scenes merges into them walking in 
> London. 
> 

Now that you mention it, why would Harry and Hagrid want to sleep 
over with the Dursleys, in this cold place with hostile Vernon and 
Petunia and their son who has just been given a pig's tale.  Good 
call by the director.

>
Edis again:

>  They delete Herbology, DADA, and History of Magic classes.
>  Qurriel and Snape Forest conversation never occurs, it 
actually 
> happens in the school.
> 

I agree, and I'll add that I can't even remember what happens in 
these classes, so it must not be very important.

> Category C Serious Plot transfigurations  
<snip> Two DM  points I will comment on: 
> 
>  They delete the Potions Challenge, Hermione actually 
leaves with 
> Ron from the Chess game.  
>  

I think dropping the Potions Challenge is a plus.  How exciting could 
this be compared with the chess challenge?  By this point, we know 
Hermione is really smart and logical.  No need to see it again.

>  Flashback to the Killing of the Potter's scene added, they 
show 
> Lily getting killed but they don't show James getting killed?
> 
> The Serious Addition! Tenterhooks on this
maybe in effect we get a 
> little GoF right at the start???
> 
Oh, I can't wait to see this!

Cindy (who just declined the opportunity to see the film on Nov. 10 
because she'd have to drive 30 minutes farther away and pay $4 more)