An interesting conundrum

[Cindy C.]

Since it seems that Luke also found the movie wanting in some of the 
same areas I did, I hope you'll all indulge me with a few quick 
reactions:

Luke wrote:

> This movie is the only film adaptation that I can think of that 
seems 
> completely incapable of standing on its own two feet.  

I can't think of a film adaptation of a book with the problems you 
identified either, Luke.  But I can think of a film that was based on 
a TV show with a huge fan following in which the film suffered from 
some of the same problems.  Remember the first Star Trek movie?  
Maybe not, because it was dreadful.  The thing that made it dreadful 
was that the filmmakers were so in awe of the franchise that they 
forgot to make a good film.  A bit of that was going on in HP.  I 
sensed a feeling that the original (the book) is so good that all we 
have to do is go through the motions, and all will turn out well.  I 
guess that strategy will get you a base hit, but never a home run.


Luke wrote:

> The time factor:
> 
> I really, really hate to say this, but Kloves or Columbus or 
whoever 
> completely copped-out on some of the tough decisions about what to 
> include.  They got in quite a bit.  But the problem here is that 
they 
> had so many characters to introduce that they never spent long 
enough 
> on several of the characters.  

Yes, the list of cameo appearances (characters who appear and do next 
to nothing) was way too long.  Fred and George.  Percy.  Ginny.  
Seamus.  Neville.  NHN and the other three ghosts (who were 
introduced by name).  Flitwick.  Filch.  Mrs. Norris.  People just 
streaked by.  Characters should have been combined and/or 
eliminated.  I wonder why this wasn't done.  Could it have been 
anything other than JKR's influence?


Luke wrote:

> There is a scene immediately following Dumbledore's speech to Harry 
> where Harry walks out onto the ground with Hedwig and he allows 
> Hedwig to fly off into the sky.  This scene symbolizes how Harry is 
> letting go of the dream of being with his parents, so that he can 
> continue to live.  

Oh, is that what that was supposed to be?  Because I was totally 
lost.  I figured Harry was sending a message to someone, and I 
couldn't figure out who it might be.  

Cindy