Dan's acting (with serious deviation)

[susanbones2003]

--- In HPFGU-Movie at yahoogroups.com, Richard <hp at p...> wrote:
Okay Richard,
I'd just finished watching "Chariots of Fire" (a good movie?) and 
that's what got me thinking of the amateur vs. the professional. I 
do agree with you that our education in the art of film is sorely 
lacking. I guess that's what leads us to spend so much money seeing 
so many bad films these days. I am glad you pointed out the two 
previous films/series of films that were as well known and perhaps 
as beloved. I plowed my way through "GWTW" as a younger person and 
believe me, the film adaptation was amazing. The novel was over-long 
and the cuts made for a wonderful film. I wouldn't have wanted all 
the little side bits in. As for Dan and his acting ability, I love 
him and therefore will stop talking about him. 

What I'd really like to talk with you about is the art and nature of 
adaptation. It's long been a very keen interest of mine. 
What makes an adaptation work? I got called a literalist because I 
didn't think POA had enough plot in it to say grace over. Isn't plot 
important? And my point about these films in the earlier post was, 
with so many threads in each book, how can HP ever be adequately 
adapted? I am very happy about a lot of things in GOF, but so 
many things had to be left out, how will the next film stand without 
the deep connection to Serius that was formed in GOF? That 
connection changed so completely from GOF to OOTP. I know there are 
plenty of ways to suggest things but at some point, don't we need a 
little depiction of things? Was Chris Columbus' major fault that he 
was a literalist? That he made little set pieces put together with 
soaring music? He was unimaginative? Or slavishly devoted to JKR's 
work as it stood? Cuaron was lyrical but perhaps he could have cut 
out one or two little vanities to include a bit more time in the 
Shrieking Shack? I will be the first to admit I do not know how to 
evaluate these films if I am not supposed to care about the plot. 
Tell me if you can, how important is it?
JenD