[HPFGU-Movie] new to the HP movies

[artsylynda at aol.com]

Judy:
> -- did you like how the movies were done?  Were they translated well from 
> the books?  And, how do you feel about the actors who were chosen to play 
> the roles?  
> 

I first discovered Harry Potter via the movies -- saw them both, bought the 
DVD of SS and watched it several more times, and then finally broke down and 
went into the kids' section of the library and got the books.  Now I own the 
whole set of books and have read them six times since January!  YIKES!), have 
pre-ordered Book 5 and the CoS video and have seen CoS 3 or 4 times.  I LOVE 
the movies and I LOVE the books!  They're different from each other, and I 
miss the things in the books that got cut out, but I understand there are 
reasons behind the choices made for the movies.  I may not agree with all the 
choices made, but they didn't put me in charge (daggone it!!) so I can just 
gripe about it and enjoy what they did keep in!  

I thought the ending of CoS with Hagrid coming into the Great Hall was a 
"movie cliche" ending, rather than a Harry Potter ending -- I wanted there to 
be more of what was in the end of the book, but again, I'm not in charge (WHY 
NOT?!).  (I did like the idea someone mentioned here of the Weasleys' car 
circling the castle as the camera pulls out, but again, that's a Hollywood 
ending).  I wanted to see the kids on the train again, and that last line of 
Harry's is priceless (when Ron says the Dursleys will be proud when they hear 
what Harry did this year):  "Proud?" said Hary. "Are you crazy?  All those 
times I could've died, and I didn't manage it?  They'll be furious. . ."  
LOL!

On the casting -- Dan just gets better with age and experience.  Rupert's 
best part (IMHO) may have been that scene where he's trying to tell Harry 
about the spiders descending while Harry calmly (!) talks to Aragog.  The 
scene was scary and funny at the same time, a great combination!  Emma does a 
good job with Hermione, IMHO, more so in CoS than in SS -- she was way too 
annoying in SS, but maybe she was written that way, I don't know.  She was 
still somewhat annoying in CoS, but I think she's written that way to be a 
counterpoint to the boys (they're busy being boys, and she's trying to be 
mother/teacher/coach all the time, which can be wearying, but she is a great 
help when they need her).  The adults are all wonderful, particularly Alan 
Rickman and Maggie Smith.   I like Professor Sprout quite well, too -- she 
looks just as I see her in the book.  Kenneth Branaugh did a magnificent job 
with Lockhart, but I heard Hugh Grant was first considered for the part and 
didn't do it because of a scheduling conflict.  I can see those girls going 
ga-ga over Hugh Grant -- not over Branaugh, no way, he's not the handsome 
"matinee idol" type that they seem to be reacting to.  Hugh Grant absolutely 
is.  He would've been fabulous in the part, I think.  I can picture Grant 
doing the part, and doing it wonderfully well.  Branaugh's delivery of the 
"it's just like magic" line and the other post-memory charm scene lines were 
just brilliant.  But Dan -- he impresses me tremendously.  I've noticed that 
the actors who impress me the most are those who can share a huge amount of 
information with just their eyes -- it seems you can see into their souls, 
know exactly what that character is feeling or thinking.  Dan's got that 
skill too, and it's amazing how well he handles all the extremes of Harry's 
character, as young as he is.  His delivery of the "I'll be in my room, 
keeping quiet, pretending I don't exist" lines and the others mentioned were 
absolutley perfect.  Very in character for a boy his age, as well as for 
Harry Potter in his particular circumstances.  

I can't wait for the DVD of CoS to come out, for the next movie (is it 2004 
yet??) and for the next book -- this entire Potterverse is endlessly 
fascinating.  Oh, on the movies after the first three -- I hope they do all 
seven and do NOT change the actors in the parts (as long as the kids are 
willing to play those parts).  

Lynda 
* * *
"Don't let  the Muggles get you down." Ron Weasley PoA


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