DH Movie Speculation

[stephab67]

> Cat writes:
Quite true about the directorial changes. However, Cuaron went too 
far overboard in putting his "signature" on the movie and the changes 
were far more drastic than they have been since. In terms of "what 
difference does it make?" It makes  a great deal of difference to the 
audience that is expecting certain visual and thematic consistances 
in a sequel. Gradual changes are to be expected and truly anticipated 
because the films (as are all the charaters) are growing up. 

Steph:
Newell and Yates have based their sets on the changes Cuaron had made,
although every director has changed the location of Hagrid's hut and I
hear it's changing again for HBP, and Yates is directing that one.
 
Steph wrote:
but there were so many other wonderful shots, such as the flower 
that freezes up as the dementor goes by. 
 
Cat writes:
What purpose did it serve? It was already established that there was 
a drastic temperature drop when the Dementors approached. I site the 
train scene when the windows frosted up and one could see the breath 
of the Trio.

Steph:
It served to remind the audience that the Dementors were still on the
grounds of Hogwarts and what effect they have on living things.

Steph wrote:
The trio's acting was the best out of the first three films as well. 
 
Cat writes:
Well, that is to be expected, they were older and already had two 
movies under their respective belts. Their acting chops have improved 
with every single outing.

Steph:
I'm going to have to disagree with you here, except in the case of
Rupert, who's gotten consistently better.  Dan didn't really improve
from POA to GOF, and Emma's acting was actually worse in GOF than POA.
I don't think Newell could direct kids, and the trio all said that he
yelled at them, which likely didn't help.  I'll agree that they all
got much better with Yates, though, especially Emma.  She's still not
quite as good as Rupert and Dan, but she's much improved.
   
Cat writes:
Every "season change" scene with the Whomping Willow was a dead spot.

Steph:
I thought it was a great way to show the change of the seasons, and
went nicely with the time motif.  Wasn't dead time at all to me.
 
Cat Writes:
The job of a Producer has to do with the $. They usually do not weigh 
in on "artistic" or "directorial" decisions (nor do they usually have
the right) unless it compromises the budget.

Steph:
That's not entirely true.  If they don't like how something's going, 
even if it's not budget-related they'll step in, after all it's their
fiscal responsibility to make sure the film does well at the box
office.  Again, since Columbus had directed the first, he'd have an
interest in making sure the next one didn't lose the thread, as it were.

Cat writes:
Set Design, Lighting Design, Costume Design, Cinematography do a lot 
more than establish day and night. As a recent example of "changing 
mood with color" look at Doloris Umbridge's costume progression in 
Order.

Steph:
I know.  I was responding to *your* comment that the film could be
made darker using paint and lighting.  Clearly all those other methods
are used to make the mood of the film darker.  And they have, by every
director since Columbus.  
  
Cat writes:
I reread your original post and I saw no reference to "Children of 
Men" ... Did I miss it?

Steph:
No, you didn't.  I was thinking it but failed to write it.  Oops! My
apologies.  But you still should see "Children of Men" anyway, as
you'll see Cuaron can direct battle scenes.

When it comes down to it, this is all about taste.  What didn't work
for you worked for me.  I tend to like more artistic films, and the
concept of "show, not tell," which I think Cuaron did very well.  BTW,
I did *not* like GoF, which felt to me like a series of scenes strung
together with little transition.  It's the second worst of the bunch
after CoS.  And again, I'm OK with Yates going for Round Three, if
he's not too exhausted to do it.  All in all, though, I'm not so put
out by the choice of directors that I won't see DH if they pick
somebody I don't like.  Others don't feel the same way and they're
free to not see the films.  No one's putting a gun to anyone's head
here.