Undeathly Hallows ?

[Steve]

---  "Carol" <justcarol67 at ...> wrote:


> 
> bboyminn: 
> > Still, were to cut? I think possible Ron rescuing Harry
> >  and getting the sword, ...
> 
> Carol:
> Well, true, but that scene involves the resolution of *Ron's*
> self-doubts, not Harry's. The mystery of the Hallows remains
> unresolved until the visit to the Lovegoods,...
> 

bboyminn:

My point is that the first movie needs to end before that is
resolved. In a sense, the second movie needs a brief 
introcution and the transition between finding the sword, and
temporarily losing it at Malfoy manor are the introduction 
that bring us up to Dobby's burial. And that event, leads us
into the next phase of the story.

But again, not knowing what they will and won't cut, it is
hard to tell if that is an effective breaking point. But in
the story, it is the breaking point for Harry, it represents
a transition in his attitude toward what he is doing. So, the
end either has to be before Dobby's death or just after.

> bboyminn: 
> > When we begin the next movie, we start with Ron and Harry in
> > the forest, perhaps with a slight replay of the last of the
> > previous movie, then the go to the tent and Hermione freaks
> > out on Ron. 
> > 
> > ...
> 
> Carol:
> Why not put Malfoy Manor and Dobby's death in the first film,
> so that the second film can begin in reality rather than "in 
> earnest" with Harry's "clear course of action"? ...
> 

bboyminn:

We agree that from a story perspective, Dobby's death is a 
transition point, but is it a good place to break the movie?

What do we need in terms of movie elements to make a satisfactory
break? Well we need climax, wind down, and resolution. Is the
escape from Malfoy Manor a sufficient climax, and does Dobby's
burial constitute sufficient wind down, and resolution? 

> ...
> 
> Carol:
> That's what I thought at first, simply because the destruction
> of the locket Horcrux is an important event that occurs 
> mid-book, but the problem with that division, aside from 
> crowding too much action into the second film and omitting 
> action from the first film is that the scenes you suggest 
> putting into the second film aren't directly related to the
> defeat of Voldmort. ...

bboyminn:

Dividing the last two movies is not an enviable task. What to 
keep and what to lose is difficult. But I do know this, the
existing parts of the Series have been tolerable, but just.
They did a fair, but thin, job on the first movie. The second
was a mess especially the end. The third was moderately good,
but there were some bad choices made there too. ...and so on,
but these last two movies of the final books are their chance
to redeem things. They've got the time, let them tell the 
story. But I fear they have so many poorly developed characters,
and no motivation setup up in earlier movies for action that
must take place in the later movies, I'm not convinced they 
can pull it off. I hope they do, I really hope they do. And,
like I said, OotP was very well constructed as a movie in 
general, but in several places, it made disastrous plot
choices. If the theme continues, I don't hold out much hope.
I'm sure the final movies will be OK, but I was really, as
a fan, hoping for more than OK.

Steve/bluewizard