MOVIE: NEWS: Book three script and TWO book four movi...

[Cindy C.]

No: HPFGUIDX 28157

Cindy wrote:

> >I know this is controversial, but I'd eliminate the QWC 
> > entirely, just for starters.  
> > 
 
Harriet wrote:

> 
> Oh, but Cindy, what about the conjuring of the Dark Mark, which 
takes place 
> after the QWC is over, not to mention the fact that the cup is 
exciting,what 
> with the Veela and the lepracauns, Krum flying around, etc.
> 

Yes, trying to just yank a chapter out of GoF is darn near 
impossible, isn't it?  I haven't seen many books that had so many 
pieces that had to be there to support other pieces.  That's why I 
like the book so much, and why I think it is going to such a nasty 
challenge to make the movie less than 3.5 hours long.

Only JKR knows what matters most for the series, but we all know what 
matters most for GoF itself.  (It may well be that GoF is going to 
have to be done as a movie that stands on its own, as there might not 
be time to establish things for later films.)  And there are three 
chapters, I think, that have the least to do with the major 
plotlines.  QWC is one.  The Unexpected Task and Yule Ball are the 
others.  So that's where'd start cutting.  The big challenge would be 
figuring out how to establish all of the Dark Mark chapter stuff if 
the QWC isn't there.  Um, I'd have to get back to you on that.  <bg>

The reason those particular chapters would be my targets aren't that 
they lack interest or anything.  I enjoyed them quite a bit, 
actually, although I liked the Yule Ball and Unexpected Task more 
than the QWC.  It is just that I felt that GoF's slowest moments were 
in the beginning -- the parts before their arrival at Hogwarts.  Once 
they got to Hogwarts and Moody was on the scene, we were really 
having a great old time.

Anyway, the job is certainly bigger than I am.  Even if you eliminate 
all of the chapters I would think about cutting, you're still way too 
long for a manageable movie.  Something drastic has to be done, but I 
just don't know what that might be.

Cindy