Shorthand in Film(was dark films, but morphed)

[susanbones2003]

--- In HPFGU-Movie at yahoogroups.com, Karen <kchuplis at ...> wrote:
>
> You know,I was thinking too that I read several reviews that 
mentioned 
> the uselessness of the Rita Skeeter scenes in GoF (which, I really 
> love. She's so good.) but I think the writers put her in this film 
> intentionally so that all they have to do is refer to her asking 
Harry 
> if he had a pathological need for attention in conjunction with 
the 
> Daily Prophet slander over the summer and you've covered twice as 
much 
> book material on the subject. I really think is why that kind 
of "B" 
> story line was included. They don't really need the blackmail bit, 
but 
> they DO need her "style" of making up things (his age, his need 
for 
> attention, his not really being a very high level wizard) to set 
up for 
> OoTP.

Hi,
You mention something that's bothered me quite a bit, even back in 
book form. Was Rita merely a plot device? I puzzled over her role 
and I would hate to admit that her sole purpose(s) were to set Harry 
up as a nut-job and then allow him to tell his story to the WW next 
film/book. I think for Ms. Richardson's benefit they allowed her to 
be so over-the-top in a way that I don't even think the book Rita 
managed. That "broom closet" remark, you know, about feeling right 
at home in a broom closet, that was not cricket somehow. Other 
listees have given half-baked ways she could have known he resided 
in a cupboard under the stairs at No.4 Privet Dr. but I just can't 
give them any real credibility. I think the actress wanted to make 
the most of her bits and they let her do some snarky things. 

I also never got the payoff for Hermione's hug. It's as if they set 
up for the triangle and then were satisfied to have only Viktor 
really care. If you remember, dear Viktor basically asked Harry 
about his relationship with Hermy and then said "she talks about you 
all the time." He didn't even seem to need the hug to know that 
Harry and Hermione are close. So, the hug feels like a dead end 
action. How do you place that hug?
Jen D