Re: ***SPOILER*** POA Movie: Top 10 things

[Scott Peterson]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, "Kaisenji" <kaisenji at y...> 
wrote:
<snip>
> >  Emma and Rupert were sensational, but I got 
> > nothing from Daniel in this movie.  Yes, Harry has a somewhat 
wooden 
> > personality, but I just didn't see the facial anxiety, or any of 
the 
> > things that endear us to Mr. Potter (except for the first few 
scenes 
> > at the Dudleys).
> ------------------------------
> Completely disagree with you on this one but I promise no flames!  
<snip>
> Rupert on the other hand-ugh. I disliked how they've turned Ron 
> into the clown (though he(as Ron)is good with his comic timing) 
and a
> chicken at the worst of time.  What's up with that??? Ron's 
importance
> in Harry's life is far underused and frankly I'm tired of seeing 
it. I
> hope that this Michael guy can do what no one else has done since 
SS,
> Make Ron an essential next to Harry.  GoF is where Ron has to 
shine,
> be himself, show his colors or I'll be very disappointed if they 
hand
> lines off. 
> Ron is my favorite character and I hate seeing him so disused 
*sigh*

Ron is one of my favorite characters as well, but I think we see him 
under different lights.  

JKR seems to want balance in the Potter world.  Good vs. Evil seem 
to be mostly balanced, old vs. young, dimwitted vs. smart, fear vs. 
love.

I have always seen Ron as the balance (or complement, if you will) 
of Hermione.  Here are a few of the balances that I see:
Muggle-born/Pure Blood
Diminutive stature/Tall
Brown, bushy hair/bright red hair
Pretty/Crook Nosed
Studious/Apathetic towards education
Wealthy (2 dentists?)/Poor
Only child/Many siblings

The interesting thing in all of this?  I have to wonder what would 
happen if Ron and Hermione had the chance to switch places...Ron 
going to live with rich muggles, and Hermione joining the Weasleys.  
With Hermione's early life loneliness, and Ron's overbearing 
brothers, my guess is that both of them think the other has it good.

OK, long build up - let me get to the point.  IF (big "if" here) Ron 
and Hermione are opposites, then Ron plays the emotional, colorful 
part of the equation.  If that is true, then I suspect that the 
course we are on here will not only continue, but you may see Ron's 
side of the friendship increase in intensity - he will get MORE 
colorful/emotional/blundering.

<snip> 
> > ·	Dumbledore – I REALLY missed Richard Harris.  Michael Gambon 
> > was too comedic, and didn't have the commanding presence of 
Richard 
> > Harris.  And what was with the beard jewelry?
> -----------------------------------
> I like him!  He shows the other side of Dumbledore Harris couldn't 
or
> didn't want to show.  Where Harris was the Grandfatherly yet 
powerful
> wizard that stared Lucius in the eye w/o blinking; Gambon had the
> humor w/ a touch of seriousiness and quiet power that is also 
Dumbledore.

I hear what you are saying here - Harris struggled to connect with 
the kids, and show a side of Dumbledore that was in the books.  
Maybe it is personal experience with principals (as they were called 
when I went to school), but I needed him to be more powerful than 
what I saw from Gambon.  One picture that sticks in my mind is 
Gambon banging on Hagrid's door with a walking stick when 
accompanied by the executioner.  Why does that bother me?  I guess I 
just don't see him acting that way. Another is showing off with 
turning the candles on and off.  Dunno why, but these things didn't 
quite click with what I imagined.

> Mind ya know, these are also my interpretations from reading the 
books.
> Jewelry!? LOL. I missed that!
> 
> Kai

Thanks for posting - this is a lot of fun trying to reconcile all 
these interesting feelings!

Scott