Snape's the Rescuer - Really?/Justice to Snape

[julie]

No: HPFGUIDX 170705


> 
> Lanval:
> Interesting call -- but even as a mere occasional writer I cannot 
> see anyone going through the trouble of writing not just a short 
> scene, but several chapters (stretching from the Shrieking Shack to 
> the last Hospital scene where Snape loses it completely ), putting 
> all that energy into writing such wonderful scenes of Snape being a 
> petty, nasty, vengeful, spittle-spouting GIT... only to later agree 
> that a scene written by someone else is the *real* or *better* 
> version? That she didn't really mean what she wrote? And I think 
> that she merely checked for major pitfalls (such as the graveyard 
> that Cuaron wanted to add), but otherwise let Cuaron and Kloves 
> create their own story. After all, there is so much that's 
different 
> from PoA. And she's been letting Kloves get away with his version 
of 
> Ron for a LONG time. 

Julie:
I really doubt JKR thinks the way Snape was written in POA
or in the movies in general is a more *real* or *better*
Snape. Not at all. But she did read the scripts, as you say,
to warn of any major pitfalls. As for the characters, I 
imagine as long as they aren't portrayed truly out of 
character, she leaves it to the script writers to portray
the character nuances, such as they are. (So Ron can't be
portrayed as a spy for Voldemort, or secretly in love  
with Draco, but the script writers *can* amp up the funny
side of his character while neglecting other aspects.)

The movies also have to cram several hundred pages into two
plus hours of script so the focus is going to be different.
The movies can't afford to go too deeply into those character
nuances, especially for the characters outside the Trio, as
these three are the stars of the movies to a greater degree
even than in the books. While the books focus on character
conflict, including conflict between characters outside the
Trio, for the movies the most important elements are The
Trio, and Action pertaining to trials of The Trio. 

So what does that mean for Snape's complicated character,
his abrasive personality? Like everything else not central
to the main plot, or that doesn't lend itself to colorful
action scenes, it is downplayed. If Snape's ambiguous  
loyalties and hatred of James that carries over to Harry
becomes a critical part of the main plot in a future movie,
then it will be presented in that movie. (I won't be at all
surprised if Harry's consuming hatred of Snape throughout
HBP translates to something much milder in the movie version,
at least until the revelation of Snape leaking the Prophecy
to Voldemort, and the murder of Dumbledore.)

> 
> 
> > colebiancardi wrote:
> > I do wonder what JKR discussed with Alan Rickman about his role as
> > Snape.  In the movie versions, he is not at all the nasty git, 
> unlike
> > the book versions.  I have to think there is something there that
> > speaks to the final version of the Snape in DH.  I've been an
> > DDM!Snape'r for a long, long while now - thinking that his 
> description
> > and his mannerisms in the books are the classic "villian" 
> stereotype,
> > which is why I think ESE!Snape is a red herring.  That scene in 
PoA
> > cemented it for me.
> 
> 
> Lanval:
> But why would the directors or Rickman try to tone down Mean!Snape? 
> If he is supposed to be a red herring, why not bring him on, full 
> force? After all, a Bang!effect would be in the movies' best 
> interest too, so why soften it?

Julie:
As I said, the Bang in the HP movies tends to appear
later, when it's directly relevant to the main plot
of *that* movie. So when Harry discovers Snape leaked
the Prophecy, and of course once Snape murders Dumbledore,
this will be the point when movie-only HP fans recognize
that Snape's current loyalties are suddenly in question. 
Up until then, Snape was merely former!DE not-so-nice but
not-too-hateful Potions professor to HP movie-only fans.
(Of course, that will then be followed by the second Bang!
when Snape helps Harry defeat Voldemort in movie DH ;-)

Truthfully, that's just how it works in the movies. If
the Bang isn't imminent, then they won't bother building
up to it until the Bang is imminent. Moviegoers expect an
immediate payoff, not one six movies down the line.

As for Snape's ultimate loyalties, JKR did tell Rickman
something about the character. Whether it pertained to
that issue, I don't know. But Rickman does play down
Snape's nastier expressions, and plays up Snape's sense
of responsibility toward his students. Maybe it means
something, or maybe Rickman's setting up the character
for the ultimate Bang effect in DH. I doubt it's the latter,
but you never know ;-)

Julie, who thinks the movies are fun, but they cannot begin
to compare to the immense pleasure of reading the books.