Movie plot holes & why the cuts? Was: Gof: Good Movies, Time, and Coffee

[Diana]

Steve wrote (bboy_mn):
> was the result-
> 
> Extended Pudding Scene - 01:11.94 (Min:Sec.TensHundredsSec)
> Train Station/Flying Car - 00:29.62
> Harry/Malfoy Knockturn Shop - 03:23.37
> Filch Office-KwikSpell - 00:29.97
> Knockturn Shop Exit/Outside - 00:24.28
> Extended Colin Intro - 00:25.81
> Lockhart Class Quiz - 01:19.03
> Justin Intro Dualing Club - 01:19.03
> Twin's Seriously Evil Wizard Comment - 01:18.96
> Hagrid with Rooster Hallway - 00:55.31
> Harry/Hedwig Questions Self Heir of Slyth - 00:55.69
> Studyhall Hufflepuff Comments - 00:51.69
> Quidditch Bludger Chase  - 00:20.00
> Meet Fly Car in Forest - 00:42.25
> Ha/Ron Visit Her in Hospital, Ron remembers Riddle name - 01:51.34
> Poly!Ha/Ron meet real Crabbe/Goyle - 00:19.78
> Harry wakes Ron after Diary scene - 00:19.50
> Harry/Ron arrive with Cr/Go Hair at MM!Bath - 00:31.40
> Harry/Ron put on Cloak - 00:18.03
> 
> Total = 16:40.90
> 
> Given that much of what is contained here overlaps with or 
duplicates
> what was actually seen in the movie, the actual runtime is
> substantially less.
> 
> Combine that with trimming some of the extisting scenes that many
> believe dragged on too long, we are looking at adding about 10 
minutes
> to the movie to develop characters, make scene transition, and 
develop
> the plot. 
> 
<snip>
> As an additional note, I thought many of the scenes that were on 
the
> 'extras' were better than the ones that made it into the movie. 
> 
> But then, that's just my opinion.

Diana L.:  
I agree with your opinion wholeheartedly.  Several of the scenes 
needed to be in the movie.  The longer versions are always (there 
may be exceptions out there, though) the better movies.  The Lord of 
the Rings movies are the most current examples I can think of at the 
moment - and their additions are a whopping 30 to 45 minutes per 
movie!  
My guess as to why the cuts were made are attributable to the 
agreement/contract between the director and the studio.  Usually a 
director is required to deliver a movie a specific length (i.e. 
between 2 hrs 28 min and 2 hrs 32 min).  The studio will 
occasionally like a movie and/or the director enough to extend the 
agreed-upon running time of the movie.  In this instance, the studio 
probably did lots of opinion polls and test screenings, which made 
them decide that this "kids movie" needed to be no longer than 2 hrs 
30 min or whatever, period.  
What I find more interesting about the scenes that were cut were how 
many of those scenes closely mirrored scenes in the book.  Granted, 
other nearly-verbatim or close-enough book scenes were left in (even 
if they were very short), but many of the scenes cut were very 
memorable scenes from the book (Fred and George calling 
out 'seriously evil wizard coming through'; Ernie MacMillan's 
comments in the library; Harry's near run-in with the Malfoys in 
Knockturn Alley).
If I was cynical, I could conclude that the filmmakers figured their 
movie audience had already read the books and could just fill in the 
details (the cut & extended scenes) themselves.
If you view CoS as an separate story, independent from the books, 
the viewer is left with large gaping holes including:

*Since the moviegoers never see an owl deliver a 'no magic' 
admonishment to Harry about the exploding pudding, why aren't the 
Dursley's afraid of Harry turning them into toadstools for locking 
him in his room?  In fact, why wouldn't they think he can get out of 
his room with magic?  
*Ron doesn't answer Harry's question at the Burrow about what 
Arthur's raids were all about; Ron just said his dad works at the 
MOM in the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts office.
*Why does Harry ask Riddle's diary about the Chamber of Secrets?  
What would make him think the diary is from the time the chamber was 
last opened? 
*Why did the basilisk attack Mrs Norris, Colin and Justin?  We know 
Hermione is muggle-born, but we know nothing about Filch being a 
squib or Colin and Justin being muggle-born.  Because without Harry 
finding out about Filch being a squib and Justin and Colin being 
muggle-born, there is very flimsy reasoning behind the rest of 
Hogwarts suspecting Harry is the heir of Slytherin and attacking 
them. 
*Why is Hagrid carrying a dead rooster around inside Hogwarts? 

And these are examples I came up with without going through the book 
or movie thoroughly.  I'm sure there are more examples.  Several of 
the cut scenes would have answered these questions for the 
moviegoer.  Readers of the books knew the answers, but anyone who 
hadn't would be going 'huh'?
I must admit I am now completely spoiled by LOTR and wish all movies 
were released twice, one with the theatrical version and one with 
all the cut and deleted scenes completely re-integrated into the 
movie.  If I had enough savvy with DVDs, I'd love to make my own DVD 
version of CoS, complete with cut scenes put back in (or replacing 
other scenes) where they belonged.  

Diana L.