A.P.R.M.L.A.T.F.P.O.

[eccleston at clara.co.uk]

No: HPFGUIDX 13484

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., Amanda Lewanski <editor at t...> wrote:
> For all of you out there who have memorized the book, and are going
> crazy trying to place the now-infamous "Screaming Scene" from the
> trailer--I have a therapy program!
> 
> Amanda's Pre-Release Movie Letdown Avoidance Therapy for Potter
> Obsessives
> 
> 1. Become familiar with the following definitions:
>          a. "adapt" -- to make fit (as for a specific or new use) 
often
> by modification
>          b. "adaptation" -- something that is adapted: specif. a
> composition rewritten into a new form.
> 
> Repeat these definitions aloud until you can say "modification" and
> "rewritten" without choking, coughing, gagging, passing out, or 
other
> generally negative reactions.
> 
> 2. Go to the various HP sites, and follow links to various JKR,
> screenwriter, etc., interviews, and read again how they are 
encouraging
> her input, trying to remain true to her vision, etc.
> 
> 3. Realize that JKR's vision is a broad one, not necessarily 
confined to
> the specific words in the book, no matter how we might have our 
favorite
> lines.
> 
> 4. Watch the trailer again (or view the stills, for those of you 
like me
> who have computer imps who delight in confounding you), and soak up 
the
> atmosphere. Realize that in the face of most of our experience with
> movie adaptations, they seem to have accurately caught the "feel" 
of the
> world and the character of its inhabitants.
> 
> 5. Remember that the special effects are being done by some of the
> finest effects people on the planet.
> 
> 6. Remember that the cast is, unbelievably, talented enough to keep 
the
> focus on THEM and not on the special effects.
> 
> Okay, are you calmed down now? Because without a doubt there will be
> major things that have been altered. I'm certain the screaming 
scene is
> either the troll or Fluffy, and we all know they're dressed wrong. 
So
> what? Some changes must be made for an adaptation to screen. Plot
> devices are compressed, some things are left out, etc. Because the 
goal
> is a film that can translate the STORY told in the book, not the 
book
> itself.
> 
> I'm approaching the film as a version of a story I love, and I'm 
not too
> worried. I do understand that quality pieces (actors, effects, 
music,
> etc.) do not necessarily make a quality whole, but JKR's 
involvement,
> and now the trailer, seems to indicate that this is going to be 
really
> good.
> 
> Hope I helped!
> 
> --Dr. Amanda

Hear hear. The film won't be exactly like the book, but then how 
could it? It's only a film, and the books are only books. We need to 
enjoy them for what they are.