More on Parseltounge...

[GulPlum]

Steve wrote:

<snip>

> In the book, nobody hears anything, JKR explains it to us in 
> narative.

Sure, nobody else hears the Basilisk in the walls (not even hissing), 
and I don't have a problem with that.

However, the rest of your statement is slightly disingenuous, as ALL 
dialogue in the books is from a Harry POV. Portraying Parseltongue 
was always going to be problem in the movie, as we're obviously not 
inside Harry's head. However, as the narrative and characters *are* 
all portrayed from that perspective, it wouldn't be entirely 
unreasonable to have Harry's perspective on Parseltongue, especially 
as we the audience can hear (and understand) the voices, whereas none 
of the other characters can.

Although I originally said that I had a problem with doing 
Parseltongue as such in the movie, I've slightly changed my opinion. 
I've realised (upon re-reading the book and later re-viewing the 
movie) that my problem isn't with having Harry not speak English, but 
the way in which the Parseltongue sequences are portrayed. There's a 
musical crescendo, a pause, and then Harry starts hissing. This gives 
entirely the wrong impression, and undermines his statement to Ron & 
Hermione that he wasn't aware that he was doing anything unusual.

Which, ultimately, simply leaves the non-book-reading viewers 
considerably perplexed. And I'm not just saying that as a 
hypothetical assumption. Having seen and later discussed the movie in 
(anal) detail with my sister, her husband and their sons (6 and 3), 
NONE of them got the point. Whilst it's not in the slightest bit 
strange that a 3-year-old wouldn't understand, and whilst I might 
perhaps over-estimate my six-year old nephew's intelligence, neither 
my sister or her hubby are stupid or cinema-illiterate.