Still More Musing on Adaptations

[David]

--- In HPFGU-Movie at y..., "Julie Balfour" <j.balfour at l...> wrote:
>I think the "Hut on the Rock" scene 
> was shambolic.  The Harry using Hagrid's lines at the Dursleys you 
> have already mentioned, and I agree with your comments.  Hagrid not 
> explaining things to Harry there and then is not at all feasible!  
> How can you have an 11 year old boy a discover a piece of news like 
> that and then just carry on the scene without him asking questions 
or 
> wanting to know more?
> 
> But my main beef with the scene is that Petunia's outburst becomes 
> totally out of place.  If Harry and Hagrid had the conversation 
they 
> were supposed to, with the Dursleys listening it would have made 
> sense for Petunia to suddenly start ranting - a natural 
progression.  
> As it is it comes as a surprise and seems a bit irrelevant (to 
> someone who was expecting it and knows its relevance!!).  Am I the 
> only one??

Nope, I absolutely agree. It just doesn't work. I think this is an 
example of the screen-writer and director trying to stay *too* 
faithful to the book, and not really considering how it would appear 
to people who haven't read the book. I think they tried to keep a lot 
in (e.g. Norbert) that really would have been better cut out then 
just hinted at, and it would give more time for other more important 
things like character interaction (which is so lacking).

Dave