Random Movie Observations (LONG, like the movie)

[Megan]

<Cindy wrote:>

MAKING THE MOST OF A TINY ROLE:  Sean Biggerstaff as Oliver Wood. 
He's very talented, not to mention absolutely hottie.  His acting
skills are absolutuely SUPERB compared to the piitiful time they gave
him to play his role.  If he had been allowed to actually HAVE a
practice, I think he would definitely have been some spectacular.  The
kid did magnificent considering what he had to work with.  I really
really hope they do his role right in COS.

LEAST COMPELLING SPECIAL EFFECT:  Centaur.  As for human effects,
Neville falling from broom and a some Quidditch shots.

BEST SPECIAL EFFECT:  The Invisibility Cloak.  **Agreed*.*

MOST INEXPLICABLE DECISION BY THE FILMMAKERS:  (Practical) omission of
Neville's role & Harry's dad-casting.  Both were obviously botched. 
Continuity of Flamel-Fluffy-Stone plotline is also very confusing.

MOST LOGICAL CHANGE OF A BIG DETAIL:  Malfoy's meeting Harry on the
stairs.  Could have added a few more Weasley cracks, but it worked out
much better this way.

BEST CURE OF A PLOT MYSTERY:  It always bothered me that Hagrid gave 
Dudley, an innocent child, a pig's tail.  If Hagrid is mad at Vernon,
 why does he pick on Dudley?  In the movie, they provided nice 
motivation for this by having Dudley steal the cake.  Nice touch.
**Agreed**

MOST ANNOYING ASPECT: Harry's blue eyes.  How much trouble would THAT
have been to change?

MOST POTENTIALLY CONFUSING ELEMENT TO NON-READERS: Voldemort's
evilness & the fact that he was after Harry, this most-feared wizard
of all times.  I felt that this was not established well enough to
those who wouldn't know othewise by reading the books.  Runner-up:
Quidditch.  Never explained as a sport before Harry even got his
broom!  Also in the game anyone who hadn't read would be completely lost.

MOST CONFUSING TO ANYONE: The scene after the Mirror where Harry is
releasing Hedwig in the snow.  I understand now that I read what Luke
said about "letting go", but sitting in the theatre, that COMPLETELY
lost me.  Beautiful scene, but held absolutely no meaning to ME, and
probably not any kid until explained by someone else.

BETTER IN MOVIE THAN IN BOOK: The Mirror of Erised.  Didn't really
like it in the book; LOVED it in the movie.  Runner-up: Wizard's
chess-challenge.  Good in books, but it's just so much better visualized.

-Megan (trying to figure when she can go back to see it again!)