[HPFGU-Movie] Tolerance and the Last Movie

[Valerie Flowe]

One thing that bugs me about the HP movies is that with the increasing 
size of the books, which, admittedly, would make it a difficult task 
for any writer/director to edit down, the last 3 directors tend to want 
to pick one theme and make that the primary story, whether it is or 
not. Often it is the 'coming of age' of Harry and his mates. I've heard 
Yates say that HBP is a real 'comedy movie' and that it stretches 
Rupert's comedic muscles (referring to Lavender and his mediocre 
Quidditch skills). Dan has voiced that he somewhat misses the dark 
subject material in HBP. We know that there certainly is dark material 
in the book; it's all about Voldemort, for goodness sakes...how much 
darker can you get? And the whole Dumbledore demise, and Harry still 
grieving over Sirius, etc. I hope that they don't give this movie such 
comedic overtones, that we lose the main Voldemort storyline.
I for one think that DH will be a hard story to tell; the whole 
Horcrux/Hallows storyline was quite convoluted. It will be tricky for 
them to simplify it enough for the general movie-going audience. 
Though, I for one, don't think they should. I mean what is the actual 
percentage of movie goers who've never ever seen an HP movie or read a 
book? Minimal, I would imagine. It's very much a fan-based following.  
So cater to US please!!! :-)
Valerie

On Feb 6, 2008, at 3:35 PM, Steve wrote:

> Pardon me while I vent a bit. In the previous HP movie, I was
>  tolerant. I accepted that they had to tell a very limited
>  story. But now we are reaching the end, and my tolerance is
>  waning. I think it is vitally important for the last two
>  movie to tell the story that needs to be told, at any cost.
>
>  From what I am hearing, though I will reserve judgment, there
>  are aspects of the story that are being lost that are vital
>  to telling the story as it needs to be told.
>
>  I think the twin story lines of the Hallows and the Horcruxes,
>  and a reasonably full explanation of them is absolutely
>  necessary.
>
>  How can the last movie possibly end without a reasonable
>  comprehension on the part of the viewer of the significants
>  of the Elder Wand?
>
>  And the whole Horcrux aspect is absolutely necessary for
>  us to understand how Harry can die and be 'reborn'.
>
>  Look at fantasy movies in general, those who have a good
>  story to tell and tell it well are big hits at the box
>  office.
>
>  Dark is Rising: The Seeker - a dud because they reinvented
>  the story into some hollywood box-office impression of what
>  some writer producer thought people wanted to see.
>
>  Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Waredrobe - good movie
>  well told. Yes, the made huge compromises, but they were
>  true to the original story, and it paid off.
>
>  Harry Potter - again huge compromises, but to the extent
>  that they were able, they stuck to the story as it has
>  already been told, and they have been very successful.
>
>  However, in the final two chapters, if they do not tell
>  the story that needs to be told, I think the franchise
>  will fall apart. Certainly they will make their money
>  back. But I don't see the billion dollar box office if
>  they screw this up.
>
>  The 6th film is critical. They can't make the kind of
>  compromises they made before they knew the ending. This
>  6th movie sets up everything necessary for the 7th with
>  the exception of the Hallows. If they fail to do that; if
>  the fail to lay the ground work for the 7th, then the
>  franchise will already be sinking when the 7th comes out,
>  and I predict will be met with less the enthusiastic
>  response.
>
>  We all have years of our lives invested in these books and
>  movies. I think it is safe to say, that to many of us,
>  these character are as alive and real as real people. You
>  can't possibly imagine how disappointed I'm going to be
>  if they just (pardon the expression) half-ass their way
>  through the last two.
>
>  I hope there is somebody involved in the production that
>  has this same vision and isn't afraid to express it. I
>  hope there is someone there who understand how important
>  and how critical these last two movies are.
>
>  The time is past for making these movies as unrelated
>  stand-alone movies. The whole story needs to be brought
>  together now, or the whole thing falls apart.
>
>  At least, that is how I see it.
>
>  Steve/bluewizard
>
>  
>