Trailer disappointment and other syndromes

[Amy Z]

No: HPFGUIDX 21735

Amanda wrote:

>My main worry was always that the special effects would drown 
anything
>else, story included. No more; the cast is more than able to carry 
the
>movie, relegating the effects back to where they belong, in a
>"supporting" role. I never thought they'd be able to make a movie 
with
>this much "magic," where it was nonetheless almost not noticed (i.e., 
in
>that it is simply appropriate and fits, the way a superb soundtrack 
is
>"not heard").

It would also be very much in keeping with the books for magic to be 
more in the foreground in this first movie.  PS/SS gives the most 
attention of the four to the amazing aspects of the wizarding world 
because Harry himself is so amazed by the smallest thing.  By GF, he 
takes most of it in stride, only occasionally bumping up against 
something so new that it startles him (e.g. the Pensieve--actually, 
even there, he catches on quickly because he's had a similar 
experience with Riddle's diary).

A bit of wide-eyed wonder is more than appropriate, IMO.  It's also my 
answer to Arden's question:  people who haven't read the books won't 
get much sense of the plot beyond "this kid is a wizard and only just 
learned it," which if they don't know it by now, they must live in a 
cave inside the Arctic Circle, but they'll get a good sense of the 
magical world.  If they're intrigued by three-headed dogs, goblin bank 
tellers, owl UPS, and flying broomsticks, they'll say "Wow" and go to 
the movie.  And, one hopes, read the books!

I also agree with you on translation from book to movie--the "feel" is 
the main thing and changing details in order to achieve that bigger 
picture is fine, not to mention necessary.  Some details will drive 
some of us nuts and cause others merely to shrug.  I personally don't 
care whether Potions is held in a dungeon or Harry's broomstick is 
packaged in a box, but there are other small details I care 
passionately about (Ron MUST be much taller than Harry!  It's vitally 
important!  Sigh . . .)  

On a related issue, though, I can't agree with Steve that we can 
consider elements like Hooch's whistle anything like canon just 
because JKR did so much consulting on the film.  Just for starters, we 
know that the film explicitly contradicts canon in spots, e.g. Harry's 
hair is jet-black, period, no room for negotiation, in the books.  JKR 
obviously didn't care enough to insist on it--apparently the climactic 
scene of Book 7 will not hinge on the color of Harry's hair, in case 
any of us were wondering--but brown hair still isn't canon.  By 
extrapolation, I'll accept that Hooch can have a whatever-it-is 
whistle (how DO you all get such high-resolution trailers?), but it 
still isn't the Word of God, otherwise known as Jo.  Steve, we count 
on you to be Guardian of the Canon!  Don't desert us nitpickers now, 
in our hour of direst need!

Amy Z

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 Professor Trelawney kept predicting Harry's 
 death, which he found extremely annoying.
                -HP and the Goblet of Fire
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