opening scene of PoA

[Matt]

Susan:
Er, no it doesn't. Matt, go back and watch PS again and tell me where 
the crane shot of Privet Drive is. Pre-titles it's McGonagall and 
Dumbledore dropping Harry off with the Dursleys; post titles it's 
Harry in his cupboard, then into the kitchen. The first exterior shot 
of Privet Drive is when they set off for the zoo, and it's not a 
crane shot.
> Me:  Apparently I am in the minority.  SS Does actually begin with 
a crane shot (albeit a smaller one then CoS).  Last time I checked 
the opening scene is Dumbledore putting out the lights, which is an 
exterior of Privet drive, which does exactly as I said it did, which 
is set the scene of furutre events and set the "mood" of the film.  
The movement of the camera while zooming down the street to 
dumbledore is an example of a crane/dolly shot

> Susan:
> If they could find someone who could do for HP for Jackson did for 
LOTR (coughgilliamcough), then I would be ecstatic. LOTR fans who 
hate the movies purely on principal still cannot deny the movies are 
amazing in terms of craft. I don't know about anyone else, but the 
moment the Battle of Helm's Deep began in TTT, I could barely 
breathe, I felt like I was there. Plus, Jackson loves these movies 
like they're his children - the FOTR extended DVD is the DVD dipstick 
by which all other movies should be measured. He spent hours in the 
editing room and back on location making sure the DVDs and sequels 
were perfect. 

Me:
i am also, apparently, in the minority in thinking that we have 
raised Peter Jackson to such a level we can't look at the movies 
objectively.  I try and refrain from comparing the too becuase they 
were VERY different films and have VERY different audiences.  And I 
realize that this is an adult orientated group, which leads to this 
type of thinking, but we have to consider the main audience of HP is 
CHILDREN.  Thus making a film that would garner a PG-13 rating would 
not serve the books at all.

> 
> We need a director who will show the same amount of devotion to HP. 
Alright, so they are seen as kid's books rather than masterpieces 
like LOTR. They still mean a huge amount to the fans. PoA is my 
favourite book, and I will be distraught if it is handled in the same 
slapdash manner as the first two. Someone lock Columbus up (maybe in 
Azkaban) until book 7 has been filmed, he cannot be allowed to spoil 
the following films. And while you're at it, throw Kloves in there 
too. 

Me:  Dare I ask for specifics as to how you mean they were handled?
> 
 
 
> Me: 
> Sorry, Matt, but this is just transcripting the book, as Dan said. 
That shot is exactly what Columbus would do (possibly excluding the 
shot of Harry's room - bit extraneous, they're trying to keep the 
running time down, remember). This movie needs to be handled with 
care - it's very important to setting up the rest of the series. CoS 
was the last movie that didn't really matter - from PoA onwards we 
are getting into important clues and significant characters that need 
developing. If we don't learn to love Sirius now, why will we care 
when he dies in OoP? It's not like he has a huge role in GoF or OoP - 
no, our affection for Sirius comes from his righteous anger at Peter 
and his crushing sorrow and remorse towards Harry for his part in 
James and Lily's death. I still can't read the bit where he says "I 
would never have betrayed James and Lily. I would have died first" 
without welling up (nor the bit where he asks Harry to come live with 
him, either).

Matt:
Don't get me wrong.  I never said that the scene was not needed, I 
just challenged the placement of it.  A scene with Peter/Sirius would 
be better told later.  My example would be while Harry is in the 
Leaky Cauldron for 2 weeks.  He finds the story in the Daily Prophet 
and asks either Tom, or the ice cream lady (sorry forgot the name)  
about it and that person narrates the story and shows the flashback 
sequence.  It would make the story have more basis in magical terms 
and more effect on Harry as was the Scene with Hagrid in SS when 
Hagrid tries to explain to Harry his destiny.  Harry needs to have a 
trusting character explain it to him so he can beleive it.  This way 
the audience will understand why Harry has so much emotion about it.  
If the audience is just shown the Flashback then we won't have the 
connection to Harry.

> Susan:
> As for my own idea of the PoA opening scene? Well, I'm quite fond 
of Oldman in his cell, thin as a rake, reading the Daily Prophet (we 
don't see the cover), before standing up, walking over to the bars, 
putting a hand on them, and then, and only then...smiling. 
> 
> BAM!! Cut to Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban.
> 
> Not as good as yrs, Dan, but maybe mine for the trailer :)
> 
Matt:
Not a bad teaser.  Especially he Oldman mumbles in his "sinister" 
voice "he's at Hogwarts".
>