[HPFGU-Movie] Re: Shorthand in Film(was dark films, but morphed)

[Karen]

On Sunday, March 12, 2006, at 07:25 AM, susanbones2003 wrote:
>
> 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.

kchuplis:

The wizarding world is a tiny place. I can believe she would know that. 
Hagrid would certainly know and he is not prone to keeping quiet about 
things. I suppose she is a plot device, but what isn't? She fits the 
pattern well. I see on JKR's site she replaced the know-it-all 11 y.o. 
Malfada, that JKR had originally thought about (who I think also is a 
bit of Bertha Jorkins in reincarnation too, only without the brains.) 
She wasn't too much more over the top than book Rita, I didn't think, 
but she stands out. Since she is NOT in OoTP the film it was IMO a good 
move.
>
JenD:
> 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?
>
>
kchuplis:

I place it just as Rita bait.  But still, it'll be useful for OoTP. 
Only a mention of it will be needed to set up how Harry and DD have 
been set up to look nuts. I wonder if there are any missing Rita bits 
in the edited film. We *know* there is more scenes than what made it on 
the DVD from stills. It's really too bad they seemed to want to keep it 
at 2.5 hours so badly. Looking at the deleted scenes, they really 
should have probably kept Moody telling Harry off for playing "hero" or 
else refilmed the bit on finding Barty Crouch dead. I wondered why 
Harry looked so pensive in that scene when here Hagrid, Ron and 
Hermione are singing.  Again, I am hoping that since OoTP is of epic 
length, they will let small bridges like that in even if it increases 
playing time a bit.  I am wondering how they will start OoTP though. 
I'm thinking a flashback dream of Cedric for Dudley to overhear and 
then straight to Harry mooning in the park and then provoking Dudley. 
They don't really need the news bit. I wonder how much they will keep 
of "after the dementors" and the owl barrage. I'm also really hoping 
they keep some of the stuff like the buttocks bits at the beginning in. 
And one of my favorite lines and Tonks introduction "Why are we all 
standing in the dark?"  They can crop out quite a lot at Grimauld place 
after Harry gets there (the cleaning etc.) or cut it way down. Though I 
really hope they keep capslock!Harry. I think it is really important. 
Have to keep the Thestrals bit, which begs me to wonder how much they 
will keep of the Hogwarts train. Oooo, the suspense. :D