The Pacing of GoF [was: GOF Movie : My Thoughts]

[Sara]

Cassandra Wladyslava <evilemperorcassandra at gmail.com>
wrote:

"... But there were times when I think they should've
slowed down. Like in the Pensieve scene. I would've
liked to see Harry reaction to the torture of
Neville's parents (or his putting two and two
together) and his reaction to Snape being a former DE.
Just a simple reaction shot would've sufficed."

I couldn't agree more, Cassie. While I enjoyed the
film for the most part - the relationship between the
kids was especially well done, as were the comic
elements - there were a few plot points that needed to
be emphasized for the sake of the development of the
whole story, yet were passed over as if totally
irrelevant. The scene at the trial could have been a
bit longer, or could at least have been followed by a
scene between Harry and Neville or Harry and
Dumbledore further exploring the connection between
Neville's parents, Crouch Jr., and the Curses that so
upset Neville in the earlier DADA class. I agree with
another poster (forgive me for not being able to name
you or quote you at the moment) - why bother having
Neville get upset about the Curses if you don't go on
and spend a little more time on that plot? 

Secondly, having Harry show no reaction to the news
that Snape was indeed a Death Eater (confirmed by
Dumbledore, no less) was unforgivable, especially in
light of Snape's forthcoming role in the series. I
suppose that the filmmakers may have considered
establishing Barty Crouch Jr.'s evil credentials at
the trial the main point of that scene in the context
of the film, but how they are going to stuff all these
important pieces of foreshadowing into a later movie
is beyond me. Besides, as I said, we know now how
important a role Snape has to play. You would think it
would be more of a concern to each filmmaker to give
some hint of that in each film.

In agreement with you, Cassie, I think the scene that
really went too fast for my liking was that of Harry's
confrontation with Voldemort in the graveyard.
Everything happened too fast, and the speed of all the
events prevented there from being the really profound
emotional payoff there could have been. It was a
moment that the whole film had been building up to -
and all three previous films, in a way. It was the
great return of the arch villain, a moment when Harry
is faced with the real possibility of death, a
terrifying situation that he is aided in escaping by
the "ghosts" of his parents, no less. I thought Ralph
Fiennes was wonderful, but I also thought the whole
scene could have been so much more powerful, so much
more terrifying and sad, if it had just been set at a
slower, more menacing pace. It didn't bother me that
we sped through the World Cup, the second and third
tasks, and even the Yule Ball to some extent. But the
graveyard scene was the big one, the one I'd been
waiting to see, and they might have at least let that
one play out at a more leisurely pace.

Sara
 


		
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