PoA casting (was Call me nuts...)

[Scully931]

--- In HPFGU-Movie at y..., "shelaghcol" <ShelaghC at a...> wrote:
> I think we'd be pretty safe about Daniel being firmly in place 
now, 
> with or without Spielberg. It's doubtful anyone else could *ever* 
> play the part - or at least not for several decades.
> 
> However, I just got hold of a copy of the Sunday Times Magazine 
(won 
> it on ebay) from October 7th with all the HP articles. I didn't 
> realize how dire the Spielberg situation could have been had JKR 
not 
> stood her ground.
> 
> According to one of the articles, (or has this been discussed 
> already?) Spielberg had not only wanted Haley Joel Osmond as 
Harry, 
> but he wanted to transplant Hogwarts to an American high school. 
> Quote from the article: "Cheerleaders are said to have been 
involved."
> 
> Being from the states myself, even if I hadn't seen the movie 
before 
> reading the book, I would have been baffled by the idea of 
changing 
> the location of the story completely. The phrase "if it ain't 
broke, 
> don't fix it" comes to mind.
> 
> It would have been like trying to transplant the Shire into New 
> Mexico.
> 
> There are times that Spielberg has been far more than brilliant in 
> his directing of movies, but making ridiculous changes in HP 
wouldn't 
> have been counted as even mildly intelligent.
> 
> I, for one, am exquisitely relieved that SS packed up his goodies 
and 
> went elsewhere.
> 
> Shelagh
> half ready to renounce citizenship should Spielberg end up 
directing 
> any future HP movies
> 

Shelagh, I am with you on denouncing citizenship if Spielburg 
directs! We can move far far away! 8-0 I, too, read about him wanted 
to transplant the movie. And, I read that long before the Oct. 
article you are referring to. So, I'm thinking that may be true. I 
had heard it was planned for Hollywood High. I can't even IMAGINE 
why anyone - let alone an award winning director - would think that 
was a good idea! I understand when some reviewers said Columbus 
could have taken more risks. Perhaps. Perhaps not. But, moving the 
movie into something as NON magical as Hollywood High is... well, I 
can't even say it because I don't swear. But, you get my drift. And, 
as far as Columbus taking risks - better to ere on the side of 
caution in this case. That's why - after hearing Spielburg's plans - 
I just cannot come down hard on the movie. Yeah, there were little 
things that annoyed me. But, far better that we be annoyed by little 
things (which is inevitalbe) than be outraged at what they did to a 
classic like Harry Potter! 

Deborah :-)