SPOILER: Snape and the duelling scene, was Lucius and the Curse

[Amanda Geist]

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Wanda Sheratt said:
> I loved both those touches, too, especially Snape pulling Draco up
> and then shoving him right back into the match.  Actually, I very
> much liked Snape in this movie, especially that duelling scene.
> Even though he didn't have a lot of lines, I thought his acting
> conveyed a lot.  In most of his scenes, he is very controlled and is
> looking at Harry and his friends with narrowed eyes (not really very
> attractive, in my view); when Harry speaks the Parseltongue, I saw
> his eyes get really big with shock.  Even the body language (people
> have commented on how his reaction seemed slow) conveyed how big an
> event this was, and you could see his brain processing all the
> implications.  In fact, I think that Snape's reaction is what gives
> power to the next scene, where Ron and Hermione explain to Harry
> what being a Parseltongue implies.  Without that, it would be yet
> another "explanation" scene.

Splendidly put. I've seen the movie twice now, and I think, again, that
Snape is a larger presence in Harry's mind in the books than he ever is
actually in scenes. So in a movie, his screen appearances will never reflect
how much the thought of him looms over Harry in the books. Add to that, that
some Snape scenes must of necessity be edited, and you get reviews saying
that Rickman is underused. I think Alan Rickman made the absolute most of
the time he *was* onscreen, and conveyed something every single moment.

I had read the question about why he hesitated to deal with the snake.
Here's my thought, very much agreeing with yours: He was shocked.

I think he was, first and foremost, shocked to hear Parseltongue at all. It
can be argued that he had heard Voldemort speak it, and hearing it again
would have been a cold-water-splash, given his past. Then it was a shock to
hear it coming from Harry Potter, with the additional repercussions of his
feelings about Harry.

But he still could have responded more quickly, you say? Harry spoke to the
snake three times. The first two, the snake didn't seem all that responsive
to him; it was only after the third time that the snake shut its mouth and
subsided a bit. Only then did Snape step forward and remove it. I think
Snape was waiting to see what the snake's reaction would be to Harry.
Talking to snakes is one thing, having them listen to you is another.

Lastly, Snape's voice when he says the incantation to remove the snake is
shaken. No other word for it. You can hear it. Perhaps he did need some
recovery time after Harry spoke.

His shock is reinforced by the fact that they had Harry look up to him after
the snake was gone. Why would Harry do that? Other than to let them again
cut to Snape, eyes wide and startled and considering. Snape's reaction, as
much as Harry's speaking Parseltongue, was the message of this scene.

More thoughts when I have more time.

~Amanda