[HPFGU-Movie] Re: SPOILERS (point by point movie review)

[Chris M. Dickson]

Spoilers of doom below the third-hand...

In message <9sfqj8+41dt at eGroups.com>, cassandraclaire73 at yahoo.com writes
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...and here we go!

>Absolutely, and the excitement of seeing it for the first time is
>pretty overwhelming. I was at such a high pitch of excitement that
>both I and my friend Ashley were depressed after it was over!

Oh yes - and, unlike the book, you can't go back and have another look 
whenever you want. So here's to the sixteenth...

>Mmm. Did you notice the snake was from Burma, not Brazil as it was in
>the books?

Yep. Also note how little the snake spoke.

>Yes, very. Also missed seeing Neville sorted.

Oh, well true, how spotted. It would have been another way to emphasise 
Neville's brave side as well. The movie also doesn't distinguish much 
between the other three houses - there's Slytherin and the rest. A 
couple of derogatory Hufflepuff references remain, but that's about the 
extent of it.

>To me, yes, because the fact that he was nearly sorted into Slytherin
>is such a secret sore point with Harry. IMHO it would be weird if
>others knew about it.

OK, that makes a lot of sense.

>Oh! The way it just barked "Slytherin!" when his hands touched it!
>Priceless!

"...the hat had barely touched his head when it screamed, 'SLYTHERIN!' "
Indeed!

>There'll be a heck of a DVD someday.

Ooohhh, yes!

>"Mmm, yes, very interesting. Also pay attention to which other names
>we see on that plaque, more food for thought."
>
>O_O I've asked Ash and neither of us can remember any other names on
>the plaque in the version we saw. Were there in yours? If so, what?

I might be misremembering, but take a look for something which either 
is, or looks very much like, a famous Potter character name. Something 
to look out for next time!

>"Furthermore, it was a good indication of the continuing increasing
>friendship between the three."
>
>Oddly placed then since it was before the troll incident...?

Mmm, but it probably wouldn't be worth rearranging the scenes just for 
this effect. The kids were fairly clearly becoming friendlier, even if 
not yet bosom buddies, by that point anyway.

>I liked that bit actually. I like McGonagall. Random trivia: that
>scene where the owl delivers the broom to Harry was a real stunt with
>no effects -- they built a special broom that weighed only 150 grams
>so the owl, Gizmo, could carry it.

Cool!

>Oh, did you hate the "Harry surfs"? If so why?

I did - it seemed to be taking the capabilities of what people can do on 
a broomstick rather too far. Now maybe if he was hanging ten and 
grabbing onto the broomstick REALLY hard with his toes then it might 
make sense, but it presupposes praeternatural (praetermagical, even?) 
levels of balance in any case. Now Harry's obviously a very good flyer, 
but THAT good...?

>I just
>think the points business was not well established and a little anger
>from the other Gryffs at this point could have gone a long way.

Good point, well made - would have been a very effective use of what 
could have been just a short use of time.

>Doesn't Harry catch it and throw it to her?

That'd make more sense. Something else to check!

>In the next movie we have Tom Riddle. THAT I want to see.

Ooh, yes... :-)

>It could have been better though and that's what hurts isn't it...

I guess, but nothing's perfect. The books could all have been better 
themselves. Not much point in worrying about it, though maybe there's 
some mileage in the idea of producing a fan Philosopher's Stone play by 
starting from the movie and expanding from there, rather than trying to 
contract the books?

>Agreed, really. I loved it!

Ohh yes. Despite the impossibilities, there were so many things done 
right that the film has got to be regarded as a huge success overall.

Hasn't it?
Chris

-- 
   Chris M. Dickson, Middlesbrough, Great Britain; chris at dickson.demon.co.uk
   Sport Editor, Flagship PBM mag: http://www.antsnest.demon.co.uk/flagship/
   Labyrinth Games: puzzle and game consultancy http://www.qwertyuiop.co.uk/
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