CoS film comments (minor spoiler) and Sticker Books with Wands

[Felicia Rickmann]

Firstly, I saw CoS on 8/11 in preview and posted comments at that 
time.  Last night, some ten days later, I saw it a second time and 
with a bit of time between me and it to absorb things, I must say 
it's a terrific film. The 10 year old with me was thrilled and  
delighted with it, believing it better than the first film, (and his 
favourite character is Hermione too).  I thought, this is Cinema 
doing what it does best; distilling the book's essence into visual 
form in the most entertaining way, underpinning stunning visuals with 
excellent music. 

It brought home to me that literal adherence to a book is not what 
cinema is about.  If it WAS we should all just go home and just 
twiddle our thumbs until OoP arrives, not bothering with PoA and 
Senor Cuaron at all.  Hand-wringing about departures from canon are 
IMO not relevant (others have already strongly disagreed with this, 
at considerable length, BTW so refer to previous posts).  By way of 
back up, I note that JKR has stated that everything she wants in the 
film is there, so, other departures from canon are not, maybe, 
crucial to the long term plot in JKR's opinion, which on 
consideration, is actually the most important opinion of all, is it 
not?

Secondly, I am not sure if this has been mentioned but there is a 
nice glossy Panini sticker book on CoS, which even in sticker-less 
form, is a fund of visual information including (for Amanda) a 
splendid full page close up of Snape's Wand (and Lockhart's) on pg. 
21 which is fascinating; shots of lamps, badges, cases, cauldrons; 
pictures of Stuart Craig's terrific sets, and an owl.  It costs 99p 
here in the UK, or is attached to a teen magazine called Girl Talk 
for * free *.  I don't know if it is available in the US?

Finally, people have commented that Harry stays alive longer than one 
minute after being nipped by the basilisk.  Actually, Tom Riddle is 
not sure how long Harry will stay alive in the film, as his remark 
shows on the time remaining indicates. I noted that it begins "I * 
guess * you have about
." etc., etc..  So he does not know for 
certain and, as Harry bests him at every given point (with Fawkes and 
a wonderful theme tune to help) why should we, when viewing the film, 
take Tom Riddle at his word, Harry is made of sterner stuff and Tom 
is, ultimately, wrong in his estimate of time.

Felicia
Still unable to find her page a day CoS calendar


..