[HPforGrownups] MOVIE: Sunday Times Supplement -- John's reactions

[John Walton]

No: HPFGUIDX 27290


> For those of you outside the UK (or those inside who ignore the
> Sunday Papers!) one of the UK's major broadsheet newspapers has
> published a 'Harry Potter 88-page special' this Sunday; the words
> aren't of much interest (it's the usual, hyperbole about the books,
> and bitching about how Steven Spielberg wanted to Americanize the
> whole thing etc), but there are some fantastic photos, and a Hogwarts
> map.

Actually, it was reasonably well-written and I got much more of an
impression that JKR was more highly involved than I had before. BTW,
American and non-UK listies -- my local Barnes & Noble in the NY 'burbs
carries the Sunday Times -- yours might as well! Call them up and see :D

> Double Page Spread of the Letters at Privet Drive:
> Nothing new here, lots of chintz, we've seen much of the house
> before.  One nice touch is Dudley, who's leapt into his mothers lap
> and has wrapped his arms around her neck in terror - he's already
> nearly as big as she is.

I FAR prefer this to the Vanity Fair shot.

> Double page spread of the Great Hall on the Last Day:
> 
> Student Numbers: 
> This is a slightly clearer picture than I have seen before, and
> there are about 250 - 300 students pictured at the tables, although
> the text states that about 400 kids had to be provied with a uniform.

Don't forget that it said that the main kids (and, we assume, some of the
bit players like Neville and Gred&Forge) had seconds, thirds and even
fourths because of the UK's child labor laws. There are really only 250-300
kids in the picture. Totally.

> Flitwicks Class:
> Flitwick stands on, and amongst a pile of books.  Hermione
> levitates the feather. One significant point: According to the
> students' blazers this is a totally mixed class: two Slytherins
> (girls), four Gryffindors (1 girl, 3 boys), one Ravenclaw (girl), one
> Hufflepuff (girl), one unidentified (boy) (and probably a few out of
> shot).

I had to laugh at the Sunday Murdoch...er...Times which said "Professor
Flitwick...demonstrates levitation to the first-year students" when it is
clearly Hermione who has the raised wand and is looking superior. Indeed,
this is a shot from the first trailer of her working Wingardium Leviosa.
 
> Forbidden Forest:
> Atmospheric shot of Draco, Harry and Fang.  Fang's not particulary
> big, just the size of a large dog.  My personal gripe with the
> picture is that the trees are pines, which althought they make a nice
> dark wood, aren't really indicative of an 'ancient woodland' - this
> lot have only been around for 30 - 50 years....

Pines are, however, very representative of the geographical location of
Hogwarts. I think it looks really spiffy -- scary as hell!

> Chessgame:
> Ron sat on the back knight.  It's very dim, dusty and dark.

And is similar to but worse than the Vanity Fair picture of Ron On Knight.
 
> Diagon Alley:
> Much like the trailer shots.  The buildings lean in at different
> angles, and the street is realitively narrow, and very busy.

We do have slightly more perspective into Diagon Alley. This shot must be
taken after their visit to Eeylops since a snowy owl is flying ahead of
Harry and Hagrid, so is possibly a shot back towards the Leaky Cauldron.
 
> Harry in the Cupboard:
> Harry sleeps under a horrible paisly duvet.  On a small shelf
> above him are a few possessions; what looks like a ball (or an
> apple), some models, maybe soldiers, a guard from Buckingham palace,
> with a guard hut.

It is. I own some similar soldiers, which are small and made of lead,
painted very nicely.

> On the shelf above that is a small soft toy,
> possibly a dog, an electricity meter, a tatty wooden desk/letter set
> and miscelleneous jars and bottles.

This shot is taken from inside the cupboard from Harry's feet, compared with
the Annie Leibovitz shot in VF.

> Shots of the Three, H/H/R plus biogs, etc.

Harry looking very self-confident and possibly arrogant, Hermione looking
bookish, and Ron looking far better-dressed than he should. For one, his
trousers are a proper length, and he's wearing Doc Marten shoes. These are
about fifty pounds a pair...doesn't quite ring with the Weasleys. He's also
looking to smart and coiffed. Then again, it *is* an obvious photo shoot.

> Costume Shots:
> Flitwick: Close up, on a pile of books, he's quite scarey looking
> actually.

Nah...he's really cute and sweet, with loads of floating feathers around.
His wand is also very different from the ones we saw in the trailers -- much
thinner and with something that looks a bit Celtic Knot-ty just above where
he's holding it.

> MAP OF HOGWARTS:
> 
> Apparently this is drawn from the model of Hogwarts used on set,
> although I have some problems with it.
> As best as I can describe in words - imagine a clockface:

The map is really rather dire, I have to say. Sure, it looks cool, but the
captions are WAY off -- the Marble Staircase is marked as being inside the
tallet steeplesque tower instead of starting at ground level. Moreover,
there's no lawn in front of what must therefore be the main entrance. URGH.

> Cast Photos:
> 
> Harry: Harry is sat in a large window at the castle, Hedwig perches
> on a pile of books - this is going to be made into a poster for next
> week!

If anybody in the USA or elsewhere would like a copy of this very wonderful
picture, I would be happy to either mail it (shouldn't be too expensive)
from the UK or carry it back with me. More info in separate email.

> McGonagall: She wears dark Emerald velvet-looking robes.  Kabbalistic
> symbols are ont eh blackboard behind.

I am once again very glad that Maggie Smith is playing McGonagall -- she's
PERFECT :D

> The Dursleys: Vernon and Dudley grin for the camera, Dudley in his
> new school uniform (dark red-wine colour) whilst Petunia fusses over
> his appearance.

This is a much better (more Dursleyesque) picture than the Annie Leibovitz
one from VF. I am very disappointed at the un-orangeness of Dudders'
knickerbockers.

> Hagrid:  Hagrid's fur jacket, apparently, is made of fake fur, cut
> into the shape of tiny, molesized pelts, shaved, and then stiched
> toegther, to make it look like moleskin.

And looks amazing, as do his enormous clodhopper boots :D And Fang is soooo
cute! </simper>

> Draco, Crabbe and Goyle:  The slytherin logo is ckear on their
> cloaks.  They wear green and silver striped ties.

Oh yes, Tom Felton is going to be a major league hottie when he grows up.
Although his collar isn't starched enough for Draco :D
 
> Snape: (sorry, can't talk about this photo, I've drooled all over it)

Oh, Rickers...Amanda, send me your address and I will post you a copy of
this picture. (from the second paper I bought to cut the pictures from) It's
just fantastic :D He's wearing this smashing long cloak which from the
lighting used is almost indistinguishable from his high-necked Victorian
suit. Bravo! Bravo!
 
> Hooch: In her Quidditch gear, looking just like a really jolly
> hockey teacher...

Again, this is in the Quidditch Referee robes that we saw in the VF picture.
Yay for Zoe Wanamaker!
 
> Dumbledore:  Apparently it took 3 hours to fit that beard on to
> Richard Harris, and it had to be tied up with ribbons during their
> lunch break.

Grr...the Dumbledore picture is too small! But at least he doesn't look as
tired as he did in the VF pics.

> Hagrid's Hut: We've seen this before, but it's made of stone, not
> wood...

Yeah -- isn't that weird? What is WITH that? There's even a line from
Hermione which says "Hagrid, you live in a *wooden* house!"

> The Leaky Cauldron: Hagrid introduces Harry to Quirrell.  the walls
> are pale plaster, with decorative inlay, pewter mugs hang from above
> the bar, and coloured bottles lie behind it.  A very Dickensian
> wizard in a large top hat looks on eagerly, and behind him a grey
> haired wizard in a skull cap grins inanely.

I think this is likely to be Daedalus Diggle :D

Anyway. It was a super section of the magazine and I shall definitely be
putting some of the piccies into my HP collage. ::grin::

--John

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"The Universe is not only Queerer than we suppose,
it is Queerer than we can suppose." - JBS Haldane, 'Possible Worlds'

John Walton -- john at walton.vu
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