I just watched OotP again Saturday night... quite shocking there as well.
Legolas Send a noteboard - 15/11/2010 04:45:48 PM
Tons and tons of stuff they left out or changed, a few completely pointless additions, but the worst thing is that it's quite simply incomprehensible if you haven't read the books. I was watching with my mother, who just gave up trying to follow the plot. Now admittedly I'm not even sure if she'd seen GoF, and either way it was a long time ago that she saw any of them, but I too was often going "er, you do realize that a viewer who hasn't read the books won't understand this leap you've just made".
The HP movies after the second or arguably the third have three strong suits, imho: the set design (their Hogwarts, Ministry, Diagon Alley etc. are rather neat), the action (which is generally quite entertaining and even though they change a lot there too, it doesn't generally matter that much), and a number of actors (in particular Evanna Lynch, Alan Rickman, Emma Watson, Robbie Coltrane, Dame Maggie Smith, and of course Helena Bonham-Carter). Everything else, not so much. They are nearly impossible to follow for those who haven't read the books, and a constant source of aggravation for those who have. I really hope they'll do better in book seven, what with having twice as much time to tell the story. But then, considering how much they've cut out of earlier movies that they now have to get back in (or risk incomprehensibility once more, but then clearly that doesn't bother them much), that might not mean much.
The HP movies after the second or arguably the third have three strong suits, imho: the set design (their Hogwarts, Ministry, Diagon Alley etc. are rather neat), the action (which is generally quite entertaining and even though they change a lot there too, it doesn't generally matter that much), and a number of actors (in particular Evanna Lynch, Alan Rickman, Emma Watson, Robbie Coltrane, Dame Maggie Smith, and of course Helena Bonham-Carter). Everything else, not so much. They are nearly impossible to follow for those who haven't read the books, and a constant source of aggravation for those who have. I really hope they'll do better in book seven, what with having twice as much time to tell the story. But then, considering how much they've cut out of earlier movies that they now have to get back in (or risk incomprehensibility once more, but then clearly that doesn't bother them much), that might not mean much.
The Great Harry Potter Re-read: Book Six, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
- 18/10/2010 06:12:40 PM
3207 Views
General comments on the book.
- 18/10/2010 06:14:10 PM
1864 Views
Suggestions.
- 18/10/2010 06:18:46 PM
1920 Views
*cough*
- 09/11/2010 09:24:21 AM
1787 Views
Chapters 1-3: The Other Minister, Spinner's End, Will and Won't.
- 18/10/2010 06:21:55 PM
2122 Views
Characters: The three Ministers, Snape, Narcissa, Bellatrix, Harry, Dumbledore, the Dursleys.
- 18/10/2010 06:25:12 PM
2126 Views
Re: Characters: The three Ministers, Snape, Narcissa, Bellatrix, Harry, Dumbledore, the Dursleys.
- 18/10/2010 06:55:06 PM
2148 Views
Re: Characters: The three Ministers, Snape, Narcissa, Bellatrix, Harry, Dumbledore, the Dursleys.
- 19/10/2010 01:07:59 AM
2137 Views
*spoilers for book 7* an assortment of characters
- 19/10/2010 01:01:35 AM
2100 Views
Plotting and writing.
- 18/10/2010 06:27:40 PM
1641 Views
*spoilers for book 7* focalisation and why I'l accept it this time, the power/powerless issue &stuff
- 19/10/2010 01:02:53 AM
1925 Views
Re: *spoilers for book 7* focalisation and why I'l accept it this time, the power/powerless issue
- 20/10/2010 02:58:54 PM
1866 Views
Re: *spoilers for book 7* focalisation and why I'l accept it this time, the power/powerless issue
- 20/10/2010 03:14:35 PM
1962 Views
Anything else? *NM*
- 18/10/2010 06:28:16 PM
973 Views
Dumbledore-centered.
- 19/10/2010 01:03:05 AM
2009 Views
Chapters 4-6: Horace Slughorn, An Excess of Phlegm, Draco's Detour. *NM*
- 20/10/2010 03:44:39 PM
1111 Views
Characters: Slughorn, Fleur, the Trio, Draco and Narcissa Malfoy,...
- 20/10/2010 03:46:47 PM
2053 Views
Re: Characters: Slughorn, Fleur, the Trio, Draco and Narcissa Malfoy,...
- 20/10/2010 05:27:26 PM
2049 Views
(Mostly) on Slughorn, Narcissa and Fleur...
- 20/10/2010 09:25:20 PM
2121 Views
Re: (Mostly) on Slughorn, Narcissa and Fleur...
- 20/10/2010 09:46:08 PM
2005 Views
Re: Characters: Slughorn, Fleur, the Trio, Draco and Narcissa Malfoy,...
- 20/10/2010 10:15:58 PM
2033 Views
Dumbledore, Slughorn, Tonks, Mr & Mrs Weasley, Hermione, Narcissa and the twins.
- 20/10/2010 09:23:04 PM
1909 Views
Re: Dumbledore, Slughorn, Tonks, Mr & Mrs Weasley, Hermione, Narcissa and the twins.
- 20/10/2010 09:56:28 PM
1871 Views
Re: Dumbledore, Slughorn, Tonks, Mr & Mrs Weasley, Hermione, Narcissa and the twins.
- 20/10/2010 10:17:23 PM
2069 Views
Anything else? *NM*
- 20/10/2010 03:48:07 PM
966 Views
So. Inferi are zombies aren't they? I just realised. Ick. Do they eat brains? *NM*
- 20/10/2010 09:24:03 PM
1013 Views
I was kind of disappointed that Harry didn't remark on that fact.
*NM*
- 22/10/2010 07:24:11 PM
1075 Views
*NM*
- 22/10/2010 07:24:11 PM
1075 Views
Chapters 7-9: Slug Club, Snape Victorious, The Half-Blood Prince *NM*
- 22/10/2010 07:23:03 PM
1124 Views
Characters *NM*
- 22/10/2010 07:23:24 PM
1060 Views
Harry, Romilda, Malfoy (in luuuve), Snape, Lavender Brown, McGonagall, Hermione and Slughorn.
- 22/10/2010 07:26:19 PM
2037 Views
Love is in the air, evidently.
- 22/10/2010 07:54:35 PM
1985 Views
Slytherin had been in need of new blood for a long time. (And assorted other comments.)
- 22/10/2010 10:34:49 PM
1999 Views
Re: Slytherin had been in need of new blood for a long time. (And assorted other comments.)
- 25/10/2010 10:33:04 AM
1746 Views
Plotting and writing. *NM*
- 22/10/2010 07:23:37 PM
1056 Views
Dumbledore, patronuses and the DADA job.
- 22/10/2010 07:27:23 PM
1943 Views
Anything else? *NM*
- 22/10/2010 07:23:50 PM
1071 Views
I believe in Wrackspurts, too. And some questions.
- 22/10/2010 07:28:04 PM
1803 Views
I'm not sure if I noticed this before, but awesome Tolkien shout-out there.
- 22/10/2010 09:58:27 PM
1893 Views
Re: I'm not sure if I noticed this before, but awesome Tolkien shout-out there.
- 23/10/2010 05:34:25 PM
1891 Views
Re: I'm not sure if I noticed this before, but awesome Tolkien shout-out there.
- 25/10/2010 10:35:43 AM
1946 Views
Chapters 10-12: The House of Gaunt, Hermione's Helping Hand, Silver and Opals. *NM*
- 25/10/2010 05:00:02 PM
1125 Views
Characters: The Gaunts, the Trio, Hagrid, and many more. *NM*
- 25/10/2010 05:02:07 PM
1075 Views
Harry's continued insistence about Malfoy really irritates me (even though he's right).
- 25/10/2010 06:15:23 PM
2099 Views
*lol*
- 25/10/2010 06:39:19 PM
1921 Views
Re: Harry's continued insistence about Malfoy really irritates me (even though he's right).
- 26/10/2010 09:23:09 AM
1851 Views
Trelawny, Ogden, Gaunt, Ron, Hermione, Ron and Harry
- 25/10/2010 10:23:55 PM
1839 Views
Plotting and writing.
- 25/10/2010 05:03:16 PM
1932 Views
Amazing amounts of accurate guesswork here, in hindsight.
- 25/10/2010 05:37:28 PM
1966 Views
Re: Amazing amounts of accurate guesswork here, in hindsight.
- 26/10/2010 09:46:47 AM
1852 Views
Anything else? *NM*
- 25/10/2010 05:03:32 PM
886 Views
Dumbledore still sounds like Stephen Fry. And reflections on the nature of Potions class.
- 25/10/2010 05:11:24 PM
1806 Views
It's like baking, I think.
- 25/10/2010 05:32:42 PM
1895 Views
Yes, exactly like baking - and advanced baking involves experimenting, substituting, improvising.
- 25/10/2010 06:42:42 PM
1999 Views
Also, Parseltongue - is Harry that thick, or is it a magic thing?
- 25/10/2010 05:18:41 PM
1876 Views
I think it's a magic thing.
- 25/10/2010 05:34:09 PM
1868 Views
It can be learned actually. Dumbledore implies he knows it and Ron uses it in book 7
- 25/10/2010 05:55:28 PM
1865 Views
Re: It can be learned actually. Dumbledore implies he knows it and Ron uses it in book 7
- 27/10/2010 04:31:45 PM
1892 Views
parseltongue
- 25/10/2010 10:24:46 PM
2004 Views
Interesting how many of our remarks are along similar lines.
*NM*
- 25/10/2010 10:27:30 PM
941 Views
*NM*
- 25/10/2010 10:27:30 PM
941 Views
Chapters 13-15: The Secret Riddle, Felix Felicis, The Unbreakable Vow *NM*
- 27/10/2010 04:16:28 PM
1061 Views
Characters: The Trio, Ginny, Tom Riddle, Draco,... *NM*
- 27/10/2010 04:17:12 PM
1049 Views
Dumbledore, Voldemort, Ron & Hermione, Harry, Ginny, Luna
- 27/10/2010 10:31:39 PM
1918 Views
My take on Ginny is rather different, I must say... at least this time around.
- 29/10/2010 01:47:20 PM
1835 Views
Re: My take on Ginny is rather different, I must say... at least this time around.
- 29/10/2010 09:06:16 PM
1856 Views
Re: My take on Ginny is rather different, I must say... at least this time around.
- 29/10/2010 11:02:15 PM
1922 Views
Plotting and writing. *NM*
- 27/10/2010 04:17:26 PM
851 Views
plot and writing.
- 27/10/2010 10:30:14 PM
1910 Views
Anything else? *NM*
- 27/10/2010 04:17:42 PM
909 Views
Re: Anything else?
- 27/10/2010 10:30:55 PM
2043 Views
I wonder if that's actually true, though.
- 28/10/2010 10:39:20 AM
2073 Views
Re: I wonder if that's actually true, though.
- 28/10/2010 10:44:22 AM
1900 Views
Crabbe and Goyle show us what happens when you fail (most of? all of?) your OWLs.
- 29/10/2010 02:10:39 PM
2007 Views
Chapters 16-18: A Very Frosty Christmas, A Sluggish Memory, Birthday Surprises *NM*
- 29/10/2010 05:40:39 PM
1062 Views
Characters: The Trio, Fleur, Scrimgeour, Percy, Remus, Slughorn,... *NM*
- 29/10/2010 05:43:02 PM
1126 Views
Mr Weasley, Lupin, Fleur, Harry and Scrimgeour
- 29/10/2010 08:51:58 PM
2042 Views
Re: Mr Weasley, Lupin, Fleur, Harry and Scrimgeour
- 02/11/2010 06:23:04 PM
1923 Views
Anything else? *NM*
- 29/10/2010 05:44:04 PM
938 Views
Chapters 19-21: Elf Tails, Lord Voldemort's Requests, The Unknowable Room *NM*
- 01/11/2010 02:00:22 PM
831 Views
Characters: The Trio, the elves, Draco, Dumbledore,... *NM*
- 01/11/2010 02:00:56 PM
1179 Views
the twins, Hermione, Ron, Luna, Voldemort, Draco and Tonks
- 01/11/2010 02:08:32 PM
1759 Views
Anything else? *NM*
- 01/11/2010 02:01:27 PM
946 Views
I want to hear the joke about the hag, the Healer and the Mimbulus mimbletonia. *NM*
- 01/11/2010 02:10:11 PM
1573 Views
Me too. And is a "hag" just an old witch, or something more specific?
- 03/11/2010 09:52:12 PM
1951 Views
Re: Me too. And is a "hag" just an old witch, or something more specific?
- 03/11/2010 09:54:05 PM
2234 Views
Re: Me too. And is a "hag" just an old witch, or something more specific?
- 08/11/2010 01:54:59 PM
1906 Views
Chapters 22-24: After the Burial, Horcruxes, Sectumsempra
- 03/11/2010 09:50:17 PM
2153 Views
Characters. *NM*
- 03/11/2010 09:50:33 PM
1088 Views
Malfoy, Ron & Hermione, Slughorn, Voldemort, Snape and Ginny.
- 04/11/2010 12:12:57 AM
1929 Views
Plotting and writing. *NM*
- 03/11/2010 09:50:50 PM
962 Views
Harry wrong again, house elves, horcruxes, free will, well hidden clues and some irony *DH spoiler*
- 03/11/2010 10:35:20 PM
1893 Views
Re: Stuff.
- 04/11/2010 04:28:04 AM
1931 Views
Re: Stuff. *spoilers for book 7*
- 04/11/2010 09:10:19 AM
1991 Views
This "we'll see in book seven" thing is getting old, but still that's what I have to say here...
- 04/11/2010 01:23:01 PM
1779 Views
- 04/11/2010 01:23:01 PM
1779 Views
Chapters 25-27: The Seer Overheard, The Cave, The Lightning-Struck Tower
- 05/11/2010 05:37:42 PM
1773 Views
Characters: Harry, Trelawney, Dumbledore, Draco, Snape. And maybe some other people. *NM*
- 05/11/2010 05:38:19 PM
933 Views
Romilda, Snape, Trelawny, Draco, Dumbledore, Voldemort, Harry *spoilers book 7*
- 05/11/2010 07:34:01 PM
1921 Views
Anything else? *NM*
- 05/11/2010 05:39:43 PM
968 Views
I like how good magic is not flashy. Also, a Tolkien thing
- 05/11/2010 07:55:27 PM
1875 Views
I didn't take the comparison as far, but the gate thing did remind me of Moria, yes. (DH spoilers)
- 05/11/2010 10:03:16 PM
2122 Views
Chapters 28-30: Flight of the Prince, The Phoenix Lament, The White Tomb. *NM*
- 09/11/2010 02:13:12 PM
1086 Views
Characters. *NM*
- 09/11/2010 02:13:25 PM
907 Views
Snape, Lupin, Hermione & Ron, the Order, Mrs Weasley & Fleur, Luna & Neville, Scrimgeour, Ginny *DH*
- 09/11/2010 02:20:01 PM
1824 Views
Plotting and writing. *NM*
- 09/11/2010 02:13:40 PM
1035 Views
Spoilers.
- 09/11/2010 02:26:38 PM
1795 Views
Re: Spoilers.
- 09/11/2010 04:49:06 PM
1862 Views
I'm assuming not even the Ministry knows 100% what she did.
- 13/11/2010 12:26:14 AM
1966 Views
Very true.
- 15/11/2010 01:48:36 PM
1950 Views
Not much, no, but there's one fairly crucial mention.
- 15/11/2010 04:37:23 PM
1909 Views
With my keen attention to detail, I somehow missed that.
Another good catch!
- 15/11/2010 09:36:37 PM
2097 Views
Another good catch!
- 15/11/2010 09:36:37 PM
2097 Views
Anything else? *NM*
- 09/11/2010 02:13:53 PM
938 Views
We did the Harry Potter marathon thing on Sunday
- 09/11/2010 02:28:08 PM
1930 Views
This is definitely the most painfully altered of the movies.
- 09/11/2010 04:34:33 PM
1970 Views
Re: This is definitely the most painfully altered of the movies.
- 09/11/2010 04:36:29 PM
1919 Views
I just watched OotP again Saturday night... quite shocking there as well.
- 15/11/2010 04:45:48 PM
2016 Views
Re: I just watched OotP again Saturday night... quite shocking there as well.
- 15/11/2010 04:50:57 PM
1837 Views


Some comments inside. *DH Spoilers*