Question for Pre-Nov 2001 HP Fans

[serenadust]

--- In HPFGU-Movie at yahoogroups.com, Taykimson at y... wrote:

<snip> 
> Anyway...the movies introduced me to the books.  Azakaban is the 
> first movie in which I had read the book prior to seeing the 
> movie...and I was quite dissapointed.  For those who had read 
PS/SS 
> and CoS before seeing the movie, how did you feel initially - 
where 
> you happy with the adaptation?


I'd read the first four books 2 or 3 times (at least) and had 
listened to both audio versions before seeing the first film.
I think that my first reaction to the SS/PS film was to be thrilled 
at finally "seeing" the characters, Hogwarts, Diagon Alley, and 
relieved that it hadn't been *totally* screwed up.  After all, we'd 
been hearing horror stories for a year or more about moving the 
story to an American high school (complete with cheerleaders), 
casting Haley Joel Osment as Harry, and all sorts of odd things that 
made me very apprehensive about the final product.

However, after repeated viewings the first two movies just didn't 
hold up very well for me.  I found that the script was full of weak 
jokes that the writer substituted for JKR's own (superior) wit and 
that the only one of the trio who seemed at all natural in his part 
was Rupert Grint.  Poor Daniel Radcliffe seemed particularly stiff 
(but so adorable, I just couldn't be too critical at the time).

Based on this experience, I prepared for viewing POA by making a 
real effort to *not* re-read the book during the year leading up to 
the premiere.  This was made considerably easier by the fact that 
OOP came out a year ago, so I could easily focus on that.

Anyway, I did enjoy POA much more than the first two, although I 
still have major issues with the script.  I loved the look, the 
music, the humor, and most of all the improved performance of Daniel 
Radcliffe, who apparently just needed the right director to bring 
out a more believable Harry.  Given that GOF's script is still a 
Steve Kloves product, I'll probably use the same strategy beginning 
next winter and hope that there'll be a new writer in time for the 
fifth movie.  I just have to keep telling myself that the movies 
have nothing whatsoever to do with the "real" story, and I hope I'll 
be able to enjoy them on their own terms. 

Jo Serenadust