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

[Schlobin at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 13713

--- 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


Oh, my goodness, Dr., you have helped! I am trying to explain to my 
son (now aged 3.5) about different versions of stories. He has no 
problem with the different versions of Robin Hood (he's seen at least 
four), Zorro (at least six)...he's figured out that Zorro is Don 
Diego, and the Scarlet Pimpernel (4 or 5 versions?)....He has a hard 
time distinguishing who is Robin Hood and who is Errol Flynn..but 
what he is REALLY struggling with is that he's seen the videotape of 
the Hobbit, and the audio tape doesn't sound the same (the audiotapes 
of Star Wars are close enough to the movies)...anyway...this is a 
long pompous way of saying that thinking of the movie as a VERSION
of the story is very helpful to me...

Various versions of all of the above are tolerated pretty well. I can 
tell you who I would like to play the various parts in the various 
versions of the Scarlet Pimpernel...who is the best Chauvelin, who is 
the best Marguerite St. Just, who is the best Robespierre....

OT (those youngsters who think some of us are too old for this 
stuff), let me remind you that the Swamp Fox (Colonel later General 
Francis Marion) took to the swamps to wage guerilla warfare against 
the British at age 44. He left the swamps at 50 to live in the newly 
independent United States of America. (hee, hee.....Snape is NOT some 
old guy, okay? Albus Dumbledore is rather elderly, perhaps)

While I was gone, things were changed. Should I take this post to OT 
chat? Even though I'm thanking Amanda for her therapy about the HP 
movie?

I really want to follow the rules.

Susan