Still More Musing on Adaptations

[Lino Padrun]

I had little to no problem with the way the film was
adapted for film. I do think some important premises
were either lost or did not come across strongly
enough. 

I also think that while some of the changes made in
the name of adaptation may have sounded great on
paper, they would have worked just as well if left as
is in the book -- most of these issues have to do with
minor changes in the order of events (i.e., Hagrid
telling Harry about his parents in the Leakey Coldren
instead of "on the rock" -- it's half dozen one and
six the other and works either way).

The thing that does bug me are all of the details that
were changed, seemingly -- to me anyway-- for no other
reason than a lack of attention to detail. The snake
is one example that has been brought up here. In fact
the very first thing we see in the film is the
Put-Outer working in reverse (from furthest lamp to
closest, instead of closest to furtherest). Snape's
class not being in a dungeon, the color of some
people's hair, Hargid saying he got fluffy from a
Irishmen instead of a Greek, etc. There are tons of
small things like this that were either needless
changes or just plain lack of attention to detail --
at least, that's my opinion.

There is only one part of the whole movie though that
sticks out in my mind as being just out and out wrong.
On the rock, after Hagrid tells Harry who he is, Harry
starts yelling at the Dursleys. As we all know those
should have been Hagrid's lines, but my real problem
with this scene is that it's totally out of character
for Harry to be yelling at his Aunt and Uncle like
that (yes, even after being told what he was told).

All and all, I think most of the changes not directly
related to "editing down" the book to fit into movie
format were superfluous, if not a bit annoying.

Oh, but I did like the movie and I will be seeing it
again.

Michael

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