[HPFGU-Movie] The Generation Game (was ... Aunt Marge scene)

[GulPlum]

At 01:51 16/06/04 , Cindy replied to my previous:

> > There isn't a single doubt in my mind that the reference was deliberate.
> > Cuaron is just the kind of director who'd do that kind of thing (Terry
> > Gilliam, Quentin Tarantino and Tim Burton are a few others who immediately
> > spring to mind).
>
>Well, I myself had no idea what the show was, being an American who has 
>never heard of Generation Game ;-) So I guess the reference was lost to some
>members of the audience. But it is a nice thought that they picked that 
>show for the reasons you mentioned.

I'm perfectly aware that the reference would be lost on all non-Brits (and 
a significant proportion of Brits as well, as the show isn't *that* easily 
identifiable - it's not as if they play the signature tune), which is one 
reason I went into such detail about it. I'm sure (in fact, I *know*) that 
some details and puns in the books  are lost on Brits without explanation, 
so I consider it behoves us Brits to pass on such gems. :-)

>Also, I thought it was funny that Dudley is watching two   television sets
>within close proximity to one another - it was like they had two sets to 
>cover
>his eye view if he happened to turn ;-)
>All in all,I was glad to actually see a television set since in the books,
>Dudley and the rest of the family are Muggles and they do watch tv, like the
>rest of us Muggles ;-) In the first two films, their home seemed more like 
>a set
>than a house - in this one, it looked like people actually lived there.

I wouldn't go quite that far, but I will agree that any Muggle home seems 
incomplete without a TV in evidence. :-) In this case, it helps underline 
the very "Muggleness" of the Dursleys' existence, and Dudley's in 
particular: it's interesting that he's the only one paying any attention to 
the TV (in addition to the TV taking up *all* his attention).

I only just realised while writing that sentence, that he doesn't actually 
utter a single word in the movie. He only gives a couple of grunts when hit 
by Marge's buttons, but otherwise - nada.

--
GulPlum AKA Richard, in Brit trivia mode