SS/PS MOVIE DISCUSSION

[cubfanbudwoman]

SSSusan:
> > Call me a dweeb, but I remember being *thrilled* to see some of
> > this stuff brought to life on the big screen.... NOW I can see 
> > all the flaws, the poor CG, etc., and I find parts of this one 
> > and CoS to be tedious. 

Potioncat:
> Dweeb? Well, it would take one to know one. Last week I slipped the 
> SS/PS VHS into the VCR and felt the original excitement as the HP 
> soundtrack played and the HP orientd Coca-cola sponsored reading 
> promotion came on.

SSSusan:
Good to know I'm not alone in DweebLand!


Potioncat:
> Then the movie came on. I was still thrilled! Harris!DD, Diagnon 
> Alley, the hills around beautiful Hogwarts Castle... It must be 
> years since I watched this movie. Turns out, our SS/PS and CoS are 
> missing. Perhaps the Borrowers have them...

SSSusan:
I had forgotten how very content I was to see Richard Harris as DD.  
He fitted my image perfectly.  (Less so in CoS, when his cancer had 
clearly weakened him.)  But Harris did "twinkle in the eye" so very 
well.  
 

SSSusan:
> > Honestly, that one line already mentioned, where Ron tells 
> > Hermione that she's a little bit scary... brilliant, but scary... 
> > I really like.  I love how Ron delivered it.
 
Potioncat: 
> Yeah, I know what you mean. But this time he sounded just like 
> Ollivander speaking about You-Know-Who, "He did great things, 
> terrible! but great." (or something along that line.

SSSusan:
So *that's* what you were getting at in your question.  I didn't 
respond to it because I hadn't been able to figure out what you were 
referring to, heh.  Of course, Ollivander was more creepy, delivering 
his line!

You also asked about which CGI had seemed sub-par.  Some others have 
posted on this point, so there's not much more to add, but Quidditch, 
in particular, in retrospect looks a little "cheaply" done, as well 
as the learning to fly scene w/ Harry, Draco & Neville in the air.

Maybe I'm being biased by the fact that I've heard Chris Columbus in 
an interview express that he, himself, was disappointed w/ some of 
the special effects, and I'm nearly positive that he mentioned 
specifically the ghosts.


Potioncat:
> Did anyone find the troll scene to be scary? Or scary enough? As I
> watched it this time, the whole thing was more humorous than
> frightening. 

SSSusan:
Truly, yes, more humorous than scary.  I think it was the "d'oh!" 
factor that they played up with the troll.

Potioncat:
> Fluffy didn't seem scary either. The kids got away too easily. 

SSSusan:
Yup.  He was used more for comic play, when the kids have their big 
in-unison scream and when Fluffy slobbers on Ron.  Truthfully, 
though, isn't this all classic Columbus??  Think about his Home Alone 
movies; it's just the same.  Take kids that age, put 'em in 
difficult, even dangerous, situations, and make it as humorous as you 
can along the way.  I'm not saying that's inappropriate necessarily 
(I *love* all the humor JKR puts into the story!), but I think 
Columbus/Kloves maybe played up that kind of stuff w/ Fluffy & the 
troll more than others might have done.  


Potioncat:
> Speaking of the Dark Forest, I'd forgotten about one of my favorite
> movie scenes--Flich escorting the kids to detenion. His comments and
> facial expressions break me up. However, now that we've seen 
> Umbridge and DH....the "old punishments" take on a more serious 
> note. (He's still funny.)

SSSusan:
My husband is right there with you, Potioncat.  He thinks the Filch 
scenes are the best of all. ;)

Potioncat:
> Good to see you posting, SSSusan.

SSSusan:
Thanks.  I've missed the place!

Siriusly Snapey Susan