Some thoughts about the next movie

[huntergreen_3]

Lani wrote:
>> I'm pretty new to the list. I've waited to catch up on all
the post-PoA discussion before airing any of my pet peeves about the
movie because I don't want to bring up something that has
been run into the ground. <<

Rebecca: 
Welcome to the list! Thank you for looking through the archives a 
little before posting (I know I did on both groups before I ever 
posted), because there are some discussions that, as you said, have 
been run into the ground.  

>> Before I go into why that bothers me so much, I want to review and
comment on some of the discussion that has already taken place
concerning Hermione's appearance in PoA. I'll summarize it
into 3 broad categories:

(1) Movie-Hermione vs Book-Hermione

[snip]
I also acknowledge that Movie-Hermione doesn't have to replicate Book-
Hermione, either as described (frizzy hair, buck teeth) or as 
imagined (I have always pictured her in clothing that is more 
sensible than chic, with a body type that is more sturdy than 
svelte). Besides, Emma Watson delivered her opening line in SS so 
perfectly that I immediately forgave her for not being an ideal 
physical match.<<

Rebecca:
The strange thing is that she looks less and less like Hermione with 
each movie. In the first they made an attempt to make her hair a 
little bushy, it wasn't as extreme as the books, but the effort was 
there (IMO, Hermione having big, bushy hair is part of her character, 
as she's not the type who cares about being 'pretty'). In the second 
movie her hair was more crimped or wavy for the most part, she looked 
more stylish. By the time they got to PoA, however, they stopped 
trying. Her hir isn't even *long* any more. Not a huge thing, but the 
little details that are missed bother me more than the big ones, 
because they'd be so easy to fix (if Emma doesn't want to grow her 
hair out or let them tease it until it gets huge, then they can have 
her wear a wig).

Lani:
>>(2) Heremione's clothes
[snip]
After 4 viewings, I still have trouble accepting a Hermione in
a too-small jacket and low-riders. Loose-fitting pants and shirts
would be more her style. And, as the quintessential perfectionist,
she would never, ever, show up to class (even Hagrid's COMC) with
her shirt hanging out. Still, there's relatively little in the canon
that says she can't look cool. <<

Rebecca:
I can't see her looking that stylish either. And I'm assuming her 
dentist parents (who don't look "stylin'" themselves when we see them 
briefly in CoS) wouldn't buy her those clothes either. I think its 
just a case of movie Hermione being more with it than book Hermione. 
And as you said, there's nothing *specific* in canon saying that 
Hermione can't look 'cool'.

Lani:
>>(3) Cuaron's vision
[snip]
I believe this is the crux of the problem. Emma is a lovely
girl and Cuaron has chosen to play that up to the detriment of the
character. <<

Rebecca:
And (although this isn't your point) to the determint of Ron's 
character. Much of him has been sacrifriced to make room for 
Hermione. Or, looking at it another way, Kloves seems to think that 
the only person who can say something intelligent is Hermione.
Emma is slightly different than Hermione, she is far more bubbly and 
spirited, and I think in an effort to make Emma's acting more natural 
they've had to stretch her character a bit. Nothing horrible, but a 
little annoying all the same.

Lani
>>Why I hate the french twist:

I do not intend this to degenerate into a nitpick. I see this as one
of those "foreshadowing" elements we've been looking for
ever since JKR told us they existed. When PoA Hermione (who, even at
her grimiest, remains hearthrob pretty) casually pins her hair up for
class, the impact and credibility of the opening scene of the Yule
Ball in GoF is destroyed. <<

Rebecca:
You have a very strong point. But since Hermione's hair is no longer 
bushy and wild, then the impact is already ruined without the French 
twist. Actually, most of that scene is now ruined with her little 
stylish outfit she wears in the end of PoA, and her general looks 
through the whole movie. Its quite hard to believe that movie!Ron and 
movie!Harry wouldn't notice that 'she's a girl' or be SO 
flabbergasted by her appearence at the Yule Ball. If it is indeed in 
the movie, they might have to play up the shock of Hermione in a 
dress (she was in a skirt at the end of PS/SS but that was 3 movies 
before GoF), and her going to the dance with Victor Krum of all 
people.