My second viewing and some things I realized

[Theresa]

--- In HPFGU-Movie at yahoogroups.com, shannon.koch at p... wrote:
> 
> Dear all,
> 
> This is my second post to the group, my first being right after I 
saw the
> film the first time when it opened at midnight in the US and I have 
to say,
> because I am such a fan of the book, my initial take on the film 
was utter
> disappointment because it did not follow it the way I had always 
envisioned
> as it was for a lot of people.  However, after reading so many 
posts and
> taking into consideration the truth that, yes, books and movies are
> different vehicles and since I saw the PS/SS without ever having 
read a
> book and loved it so much it got me into reading the series I 
decided it
> was only fair to give it a second viewing with the thought of only 
seeing
> it as a movie which I did yesterday afternoon during an extended 
lunch
> break from work.
> 
> My back story being told, I have to say going in with no 
expectations other
> than enjoying the visual world of HP I did enjoy the movie that 
much more
> this time and I was able to look for things I had not paid 
attention to the
> first time that have come up on the list.
> 
> Dumbledore's nails had never registered with me the first time, but 
now see
> them and it is a bit disturbing, however given his age and 
remembering how
> my grandmother's nails used to look at 75 (not quite as bad, but 
similar) I
> can forgive that, though I still am disappointed that they changed 
the
> character so much.  I know a new actor plays him differently, but 
IMHO
> Gambon's DD is nothing like the written character would ever be.  
He does
> not seem as wise as I know DD is and while I know no one will ever 
be
> Richard Harris, the character should not be so totally different in 
dress
> and personality as to confuse people from one film to another.
> 
> There was a lot of speculation in earlier posts on whether 
Trelawney was an
> animagus because of the cat on the chair and her subsequent 
hairball cough
> after delivering the prediction to Harry.  Well I stared so hard at 
that
> scene because I never had a feeling this was true and in the very 
end you
> can still see the back end of the cat peeking out behind her as 
Harry is
> turning to leave so I am happy to report that she is human, not 
that I ever
> had a doubt.  I was not sure if I saw anyone else post this yet and 
sorry
> if you have.
> 
> The ticking during H/H time turner scene.  I think I noticed it the 
first
> time and never made a mental note and then saw so many posts from 
people
> who had seen it 2 -3 times and did not hear it that I started to 
wonder
> myself, though I was totally delighted to see this time that I 
definitely
> did hear it.  there are times when it fades out almost totally but 
it
> always comes back.
> 
> There were other things I though could have been added as do most 
people,
> like a better explanation of the map but those are small issues 
that I can
> live with I guess cause I have that knowledge.
> 
> So I guess the reason I am writing is to just amend my earlier 
panning of
> the film and to ask some of those who, like me, were disappointed  
to try
> to see it as I did, as just a film and see the story that 
Cuaron/Kloves
> tell as it's own and save the movie we have in our heads for when 
we red
> the book again.
> 
> Shannon

Hey Shannon,
I am happy to hear that you liked it better the second time. I would 
have to agree with you. My first time was on the 24th of May at a 
sneak preview and in fact I wrote in my post #8756 on this list:

"I will try not spoil it for any of you but I will give you all one
piece of advice - go in thinking of seeing a great film about Harry
Potter and try not to compare it to the book like I kept doing
subconsciously - had to tell myself to stop it about half way
through - as there are LOADS of differences. Some good, some well, 
just different."

I did have some issues after I watched it the first time and had to 
reflect while the credits were running - that I knew it was not going 
to be exactly like the book so I should not have expected it to be. I 
did still enjoy it for the most part that time. And when I saw it on 
opening day - I made sure I told myself to see it as a HP film and 
not compare it. That time I thoroughly enjoyed it. Yes, I am still 
bothered by no background story on MWPP but maybe they will have some 
little blurb in #4 to say who they were. One can only hope. I know it 
always bothered me in PS/SS that Neville was not on detention - it 
was Ron and that Seamus had such a clumsy person role. He only messed 
up the feather in the book - the water to rum scene was not in my 
version of the book nor was the eyebrows line. Granted Devon is a 
neat kid but I wanted more Neville. Especially now what we know from 
OotP. I really felt sorry for him reading the first book (and yes I 
read the books and was a fan before the films). 

Anyway, I hope some of you who disliked the film will watch it again 
and even though it may not change your mind about the disappointment, 
maybe you will find something to like about it. I know I had to watch 
a version of Jane Eyre (one of my absolute favorites as a young girl) 
before I could accept Timothy Dalton as the lead. He just wasn't how 
I picture the character. I know I planned to see POA again at least 
once more in the theater as I must see it on IMAX.

Theresa