HBP commentary

[Carol]

Valerie wrote:
>
> LOL! Well I agree that there is much catch-up to be done. My boss is
currently reading HBP (awesome; I love it when others share my passion!)
> He is almost through and said that he doesn't think it will make for
a good movie. Not enough action. Just Harry running after Malfoy the 
whole year, trying to figure out what he's up to. Dumbledore giving
him backstory on Voldemort. I think the ending with the cave and the
tower will be very powerful and climactic (as all Potter films are). I
myself was a bit disappointed in the anti-climax of finding out that
Snape was the half blood Prince. <snip>

Carol responds:

Snape as the HPB is an anit-climax? How so? I think it's beautifully
ironic that Harry's "frind" who has been teaching him so much more
than snape (or Slughorn) turns out to be--Snape! And, of course, it's
preparing us, as the SWM did, for "the Prince's Tale" in DH.

and films don't have to be all action (we'll certainly get enough of
tht in the cave and on the tower and in the duel where snape parries
every one of Harry's curses--also, of course, the scene in which Ron
is poisoned). There's all sorts of wonderful dialogue, much of it
involving Snape, in HBP.

"Spinner's End" is indispensable in setting up the events at the end
(too bad that Snape can't inform Narcissa and Bellatrix that *he* sent
the Order to rescue Harry and friends in OoP--DD will have to do that
somehow, maybe when Harry expresses his distrust of Snape); the
various conversations at Slughorn's party and the eavesdropping scene
afterward involving Draco and Snape; the aftermath of "Sectumsempra"
(another action scene). And maybe we'll get to see snape teaching
DADA, at least the nonverbal spells scene where Harry forgets that
he's supposed to be using nonverbal spells and hits Snape with a
Protego--for which Snape does *not* punish him (the detention that
follows is for "cheek").

Won't make a good movie? I think it may be the best film yet. And, as
you noted in the part I snipped, we can get some great Potions action.
Let's hope that the keep the part where the HBP tells Harry to use the
flat side of the silver knife to crush the sopophorous bean and all
that. And for comic action, maybe we'll see Harry trying out some of
the Prince's spells--the toenail hex on Crabbe and Langlock on filch,
not to mention Levicorpus on Ron. It won't be all snogging and
Quidditch, I hope!

BTW, there was a tiny snippet at Leaky from Helen McCrory, the actress
playing Narcissa Malfoy, about her costume for HBP, presumably the
"Spinner's End" scene. I doubt that the costume designers would go to
such lengths if that was the short scene that Missy Gallant predicted.
No, I'm sure they'll give Miss McCrory full scope for her talents,
complete with tears falling on Snape's chest and kissing his hands.
The moment when the chains of fire encircle their hands--especially if
Rickman!Snape's hand trembles and he hesitates before saying "I will"
should cause some hearts to pound!

Carol, hoping that the Prince (severus Snape) will at last be given
his due as an important character and Alan Rickman will at last be
given scope for his talent