[HPFGU-Movie] PoA expectations

[GulPlum]

At 01:53 15/06/04 , joj wrote:
>Hi all!  I was wondering how much our expectations played a part in how 
>much we like PoA?  I personally liked this movie very much.  It lived up 
>to my expectations, which were very high.  PoA though, is only my third 
>favorite book.  I'm wondering if the majority of people who were 
>disappointed in the movie would consider PoA their favorite book?

I had planned to write up some of these comments in reply to someone who 
didn't like the movie, but I'll leave that person alone and respond here 
instead.

I'm on record as saying that PoA is my favourite book (by a fairly long 
distance) and whilst I was slightly anxious about Kloves butchering the 
narrative, I had fairly high expectations because of Cuaron's involvement.

Two of Cuaron's previous English-language movies are book adaptations, both 
of which had previously been filmed, and both the books and the original 
movies are classics; I'd read the books and seen the original movies years 
and years ago. I'm talking about A Little Princess and Great Expectations. 
Cuaron's versions of these books departed from the books quite 
significantly but had a definite visual style to them which I was prepared 
to welcome.

As a result, I was prepared for some major changes to the storyline, so 
although I didn't know the specifics when I saw the movie, when they 
happened I was prepared to accept them. I had deliberately kept myself from 
seeing any of the clips, interviews or reviews in the runup to the film's 
release (nothing strange about that for me - it's my usual routine with all 
movies). However, I had seen the trailers and the Toad Chorus intrigued and 
worried me.

In a word, I went into the movie expecting and wanting to like it. It's 
clear to me that there are some people who went in with exactly the 
opposite expectation. People who wanted to dislike the movie and watched it 
with a view to finding fault. I'm not criticising people for having that 
approach, as I'm just as guilty of giving the film the benefit of the doubt 
in ways I certainly wasn't prepared to do for Columbus.

>Now, GoF is my favorite book. I am really looking forward to the graveyard 
>scene.  It is my favorite scene in all the Harry Potter books.  I imagine 
>I will be quite upset if they water it down.  I don't even think they can 
>really do it justice if it's a PG movie.

Whilst GoF isn't my favourite book, and that's not my favourite HP scene 
for several reasons (among them it's far too talky and Voldemort is too 
much of a stereotypical baddie explaining his plans to all and sundry), I 
suspect that if well adapted (we all live in hope...) and directed, there 
is no reason why it shouldn't become THE classic HP movie sequence, as in 
many respects it's the turning point of the series.

Mike Newell has my confidence, for the time being.

I do agree, however, that it will be very easy to ruin the sequence if 
killing Cedric and Wormtail cutting off his hand (probably the two scariest 
moments) aren't shown in all their goriness. Fawkes pecking out the 
Basilisk's eyes was shown in shadow to allay the kids' fears - I don't 
think that a similar ploy would work here. In terms of UK certification, I 
think the movie should forget attempting to be a PG and aim for 12A (which 
is what e.g. Spiderman got - the certification was invented for that movie 
- I thought that the impalement at the end was the main issue; if that got 
through, then Wormtail cutting off his hand should as well).

>Another thing I wonder about, is if people who were less "spoiled"  were 
>more disappointed?

I was completely "unspoiled" and it didn't disappoint me at all. I didn't 
know *what* would be changed, but I knew that some things would, and was 
prepared to accept them (and even be an apologist for them, as I have been).

>One of the scenes I was looking forward to was Harry getting his firebolt, 
>and Hermione telling, and their rift.  I knew quite a bit before the movie 
>came out, that scene wasn't in it.  I had time to be disappointed and then 
>move on.

I didn't know that the sequence would be changed/moved, but seeing as they 
did exactly what I would have done (moving it to the end and completely 
removing the sub-plot about Harry's rift with Hermione), I was quite 
pleased. :-)

>So, were the people most disappointed in PoA those who PoA was their 
>favorite and were less spoiled?  Or am I way off base?

I expect that, like most things in the HP fandom, it's very individual and 
different people had differing expectations and differing exposure to being 
spoilered, whether deliberately or accidentally. Spoilers have a multitude 
of effects - in my own case I avoid them mainly because I try my best to 
allow any film to tell me all it needs to, without the benefit of hype or 
other previous knowledge. Whilst I'd like to "un-remember" any book I've 
read before I see its movie version, I usually at least avoid looking at it 
for as long as possible.

For instance, I had a very tough time accepting The Bourne Identity last 
year - I finished reading the book on the way to the cinema and whilst the 
movie was a fairly good all-out action/adventure, it had absolutely none of 
the subtlety of the book, and indeed lost the most significant element 
which made it original: the hero is NOT a spy or assassin, but trained to 
appear to be one. What surprised me the most was that Robert Ludlum, who 
had written the book (and its two sequels) was a producer and involved in 
the script. The fact that the author had completely emaciated and gutted 
his own work made me feel that JKR has a right to feel pleased about the 
way her books are being filmed. Sure, the occasional detail is missing, but 
overall, they remain true to the events and personalities (except for 
Wimp!Ron) of her work.

--
GulPlum AKA Richard, already despairing for the Bourne movie sequel