Fudge & the Leaky Cauldron, and Wood

[Steve]

Please correct me if I'm wrong. (as if you actually need that invitation).

I'm assuming that the lack of Fudge is based on the filming of the
Leaky Caulron/Knight Bus scene. True we didn't see Fudge outside the
Leaky Cauldron, but that doesn't mean he isn't inside waiting for Harry.

Scene:
Harry has just entered the Leaky Cauldron, and is contemplating his
next move.

Voice from the dark shadows: 
Ah... there are are Harry. You had us worried.

Harry is startled and turns around quickly. A face appears out of the
shadows. It's Ministry of Magic Fudge. Blah blah blah... etc...

They can still incorporate Fudge into the scene effectively without
his approaching Harry while Harry is outside.

Additonal Note:
I'm troubled by the lack of Oliver Wood in the PoA. He is seen more in
PoA than any other book. Quidditch is the framework for Harry
obsession with learning how to ward off the Dementors. Part of this
sense of Quidditch obsession is re-enforced by Wood's 'Last Chance'
speech. Unless I'm mistaken, not only does Wood have a greater role in
this book/movie, but Quidditch itself is more prominent in this book
than any other. 

To some extent, I would like to trust the Director's vision, but once
the movie is made there is no correcting it. He may have a great
vision that we, from our limited perspective, can't see. But when it's
done it's done forever.

We need to step back and ask ourselves, 'What is the greater story?'.
The greater story would be the Harry/Sirus Black story, but I don't
see how to frame, set up, build drama toward that story without the
subplots of the minor stories like the Quidditch Cup/Dementor story.
It is in this subplot that the true horror of the Dementors is developed. 

So, I am somewhat at a loss for what to do. On one hand, I want to
trust the director. But on the other hand, if you look at the movies
as a series just as the books are, then one bad movie in the series
messes up the whole series as a set. 

One thing I REALLY hope is not happening, is that Warner Bro.s has
just decided to milk the franchise. Cut corners, reduce the budgets,
etc... with the primary goal of maximizing profits rather than making
a good movie. I'm reminded of the tale of 'The Goose that Laid the
Golden Egg'. Kill the goose to get the gold, and you lose both the
goose and the gold.

I confess myself confused.

bboy_mn