Comments about CoS

[mad_about_harrypotter]

Hi guys, I'm new to this board, but thought I'd put my tuupence-worth 
in about the new movie, so if you haven't seen it yet, delete the 
message now!
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Phew! Well, overall, I really enjoyed it. I thought it pretty much 
captured the essence of the books and translated well on screen. 
However, I agree with numerous people that some of the things they 
left out really did need to be in. Ginny seemed a peripheral 
character, I forgot she existed at times, and yet she was the person 
on whom the story hinges! Branagh was perfect as Lockhart, I never 
doubted it for a second, but I know some people wanted to see Hugh 
Grant in the role. Hugh Grant can only act one type of character, 
Branagh bought so much more to the role. 

I actually think this film was "dumbed down" to appease the 
completely misplaced idea the film makers have of the age of their 
target Harry potter audience, which they see as being all the 5-10 
year olds. Like hello!! 
Most Potter fans are aged at least 10 upwards, most are in their mid-
teens or adulthood. I felt we were short-changed for the sake of the 
little 'uns. For example, as good as the Chamber scene was, at no 
point did I fear Harry was going to die. Where was the sense of his 
life slipping away, his quiet acceptance of his fate, the heart-
rening poignancy of this little guy, lying on the floor, as poison 
seeps through him. His "death" just wasn't heart-wrenching enough, 
but it wasn't Daniel's fault. They ironed out aspects of his 
character for the sake of a young audience. I wanted to smell death! 
I wanted to feel sadness that Riddle could do that to our Harry! 
Instead we got the longest minute in history, a kid who looked more 
like he'd grazed his arm rather than been mortally wounded, and the 
hilarious understatement  "Thanks Fawkes" after the phoenix tears 
saved him - the cinema wet itself with luaghter!!

I'm also really angry about the treatment of Ron. Someone was right, 
they've totally assassinated his character. Yeah, Ron is the joker of 
the trio, but he's also the wizarding world "expert" of the three, 
and the loyal friend and protector. Here, they'd given all his guts 
to Harry, all his best lines and knowledge to Hermione, and we were 
left with a bumbling idiot that the other two seemd to be carrying. 
It's a scandal! It's slanderous! Rupert Grint was excellent, but they 
gave him little to work with.

Also, did anyone else notice Lucius Malfoy start saying "Avada..." at 
Harry when he'd freed Dobby, before the house-elf intervened. Talk 
about trampling on canon!!!!! No-one but Voldy has tried to kill 
Harry. This unecessary manipulation of the plot could end up canon-
problematic.

And the end was awful. Me and my friends cracked up. The Hagrid-love 
was way too much. Why does Chris Columbus have to "Home Alone" 
everything, and give it a sugary ending? Life ain't always like that. 
I loved the handshake/hug scene though - as a Ron and Hermione 
shipper, it gave me a warm glow, though it was a bit blatant and if 
the mudblood scene etc, had been done better, such sign-posting of 
their blossoming relationship wouldn't have been necessary.

I'm optomistic for PoA in 2004. THe acting of all involved can only 
get better, and I am praying that a new director will see the third 
film gaiven the darker, edgier feeling it needs. I think they should 
stuff the really young audience, and go all out on the darkness of 
PoA even if it means a 12A/PG-13 rating. It would be better for it. I 
hope Alfonso doesn't hold back, and that he finally lets Ron's true 
character shine through (think of his defiance and willing self-
sacrifice in the Shreiking Shack), because that is possibly my 
biggest criticism of the films thus far.

-*Claudine*-
Who says Ron is more than a bumbling side-kick, he's a guy of diverse 
qualities.