Neville and characterization

[saintbacchus]

Porphyria wonders:

<<
Granted, the scene was deleted in the first place, and
it's clear the whole thing was staged for comic effect,
but still it makes me wonder where they thought they
would've gone with Neville's character if they'd had
more time. I was wondering what other people thought.
>>

I agree; the scene has poor characterization all around,
and shouldn't have gone in the movie. There are two
other points where I think the screenwriter sacrificed
character for humor:

1. Hagrid's excessive stupidity: "Shouldn'ta said that!"
2. Seamus inexplicably taking over Neville's slapstick
schtick. What's the point?

As to what might have happened to Neville with more
time, I shudder to think. His major personality trait
(at least as far as the first book goes) has already
gone to Seamus; what's left? Lots more scenes of him
searching for Trevor or staring despondently at his red
Rememberall, I guess. There isn't much more for him to
do in book one, anyway. I'm hoping they won't confuse
him with Seamus for the next movies, though! He gets 
so interesting in GoF....

--Anna