films as canon was

[Ali <Ali@zymurgy.org>]

Heidi asked:-

 Since this is the movie list, though, let me make this post fully on
 topic by asking a question - those of you who came to the HP series 
and the fandom through the books - do you consider the films to be
 canonical, and if so, why?

In general, I would have to say, that no, the films are not 
canonical. For me, they are somebody elses representation of canon, 
albeit an informed person. There are slightly grey areas though. 
The "extra scene" in PS/SS was written by JKR especially for the 
film. This is sufficient for me to think that Voldemort (or one 
person) went to the Potter's House, by himself, at night. In fact 
though, what we actually see is very limited so it could be even here 
that only part of the events that night are being shown giving us a 
false understanding.

I do understand that Robbie Coltrane and Richard Harris were given an 
insight into their characters, but to take this into account when 
looking at their portrayals could be dangerous. Supposing they 
misinterpreted? Hagrid's pause over the Flesh-eating slug repellent 
is perhaps a scenario where much could be read into his somewhat 
shifty appearance which I for one did not get when reading the book. 
Is this because the film makers are trying to show Hagrid in a 
different light, or was he just having difficulty trying to recall 
what he was doing?

Whilst the directors and producers may well have extra information, 
they also use their own "artistic licence" - I cannot think what that 
syrupy scene at the end of CoS means for example. Perhaps they are 
trying to foreshadow the end of Hagrid, or show us the developing 
relationship between Ron and Hermione, but the whole scene seems at 
odds with the scene I thought I had read in the book. 

Another problem with viewing the films as canon is when they 
contradict the books. The book Hermione does not say, and presumably 
would not say "Voldemort", but the film one does and provides us with 
Dumbledore's explanation. That to me is a canonical error of which 
there are several, and is more than canon explanation or artistic 
licence, it's actually character development.

In short, I believe that the films are a (usually) fairly faithful 
interpretation of canon, but can be no more without JKR writing the 
screenplay and directing the actors.

Ali