[HPFGU-Movie] I think I understand...

[Valerie Flowe]

From: GulPlum <hp at plum.cream.org>

<snip>
The book is essentially a mystery story.
<snip>
The movie, on the other hand, downplays the "mystery" elements and becomes
a  rites of passage/character study - Cuaron has admitted as much, and
changed the focus from the mysteries to Harry and Co hitting adolescence.
<snip>
Personally, I see the change as Cuaron's masterstroke (his, not Kloves's: I
do recall reading that when he was first engaged to direct, he got Kloves
to re-write the whole thing). The way I see it, his approach was that most
viewers will have read the book (and analysed it in great detail) and thus
presenting the denouement as the resolution of a mystery is pointless:
everyone already knows how the story ends, and building the movie around a
plot twist doesn't make the movie inherently interesting to that audience.
What he did was to delve into the sub-text of the book's plot and make
*that* the focus of the movie.

[from Valerie]
I disagree there. It bothers me that Cuaron changed the focus from main plot
to sub plot. The "coming of age" was such a minor part of the book. In fact,
it is more apparent in GOF, than in POA, what with Harry + Cho, Ron +
Hermione, the dance, etc.
Because of the popularity of the HP series, a director should not be allowed
to take such liberal interpretations (IMO). I would be curious to see
statistics on how many people in the audience actually read the book, and
how many did not. There appeared to be a lot of younger kids in most of my 3
viewing audiences. They probably have not read the book, though their
parents may have read it to them.
I think the charm for many HP fans is seeing the books come to life; not
take on a new life. Masses of people ADORE JKR's stories; they don't want to
see Cuaron's story with shrunken heads and such. I just don't think one can
be separated from the other.
I personally loved the book and also loved the movie (though wish I could've
been in a test-focus group prior to release :-)
But to address the movie on it's own merit (that's what you were asking for,
yes?) I thought POA was beautifully filmed in a much more exciting, all
encompassing way than the first 2. (though I loved those too, in their own
right). The realism made me want to live at Hogwarts as a professor! (check
out the cool carvings on the wall near Trelawny's classroom. Reminded me of
the details involved in making LOTR.
The acting was very good (especially from the masters such as Thewlis,
Oldman, Gambon, Rickman, Thompson and the rat-dude whose name now escapes
me!) The kids' acting MUCH improved.
I hope they continue making the movies as long as they can. My fear is that
the public's attention and fascination will wane. (not mine, of course!)
Then if it becomes unprofitable for WB, they'll stop making them. I also
fear that POA will mark a turning point for viewing audiences. Because
probably half(?) the audience is under the age of 10, and this movie is more
scary than the other 2, I think the parents will not allow their younger
kids to view GOF. In fact, it may even have to go to PG-13, if true to the
book. So if half the audience doesn't go see the film it will certainly flop
at the box office. A dilemma. I hope they don't "Disneyfy" the next HP
movies, just to retain the younger viewing audience.







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