The movies (as with the books) continue to get better (and clearly there is some correlation). Once we left behind the sucktastic world of Chris Columbus, we've been treated to a pretty solid series of movies, each remaining true to the general feel while allowing the influences of the varying directors. So it is with the latest, number 6 of what is now 8 - yes they opted to split #7 into two, with the last coming out in the summer of 2011, ten years after the first. Holy crap.
Other than to say it is worth your while, especially to experience on the big screen, I have only a couple of nits to pick, and then a return to the meta narrative that has framed these conversations from the beginning. Spoilers ahead...
The biggest little nit in #6 regards the manner in which Harry witnesses the death of DD at the hands of Snape. In the book he was an entirely reluctant (having been frozen in place under his invisibility cloak) witness, while in the movie he has been compelled by DD to watch and do nothing. This choice, while somewhat understandable given they chose to forgo all plot points related to silent spell-casting, is completely at odds with the very nature of Harry. While he was able to abide DD's wishes in the cave in order to secure the alleged horcrux, there is no way in hell he would stand by and watch Snape kill DD without being restrained. Harry hates Snape about as much as he hates inaction. Harry's constant willingness to throw himself into the fray, despite the misgivings of all around him, is part of what makes him such as appealing character. Harry is selfless to a fault. Showing him otherwise is an affront to his character.
The second nit regards the lack of pageantry surrounding the death of DD. The song of Fawkes the phoenix, the respect shown by merpeople and centaurs alike, and the general sense of gravitas that should go along with his passing has been left out. Perhaps this becomes the beginning of #7 or finds a home in an expanded DVD edition, but either way, that seems wrong. After 2:33 minutes, another 5 showing the importance of this event should have been included. They could have still returned to the discussion amongst Harry, Hermione and Ron in order to allow the audience to leave buoyed by their resolve, but DD should have had his moment.
Third nit: burning down The Burrow? I understand that the whole wedding plot in #7 could be difficult to make sense of, and could possibly be left out, but good grief, burning down the Weasley home really seems to have been unnecessary.
And now for the meta. No one seems to have read or found interest in the previous posting about how HP would have been better as TV, but I think the idea of a denser, more serialized HP would have been great. So much has to be left out of an 800 page book to fit it within the running time of even a long movie, stuff that matters, and stuff that helps put flesh on the bone of the detailed world that JKR created. Dozens of minor characters and the little details of their lives. all of them helping to round out and make Harry Potter real; most of it flushed down the toilet. It's a bummer. 7 years of 22 episodes (or perhaps combining books 1 and 2 into one season) could have really been magical.
The other meta is the decision to eliminate Harry's inner voice from the movies. So much of the books is in Harry's head, and while Daniel Radcliffe (along with all of them) is really coming into his own as an actor, you simply can't get all the details across with a look. Perhaps it would have been hokey, but it seems like it would have been worth a try, in some form or other.
And none of this to say that I don't like the movies. I do.
9 comments:
I agree on the previous post's topic about HP fitting in well as a television series. Actually, isn't this true about some of the best TV shows and mini-series? I continue to watch "lost" for this reason. They have the room to follow elements that resemble literary detail (note they are not equal, but just less surface-y than movies.)
As for HP6, I liked it. I read the book two years ago, so I don't recall all the details.
I guess I count as a nobody?
My apologies.
No appologies needed Meth. I think that you were looking for more of a discussion on your post instead of a brief comment.
ponse: When RES is on strike this is all that you will get back from someone else.
Just saw it tonite.
Sharon & I had the exact same nit to pick about the lack of pageantry & funeral proceedings following DD's death. That said, they didn't rule it out; they just didn't show it (director's cut??)
The other big one -and kind of surprised you didn't mention it - was the Battle Royale. The movie makes it look like the cabinets served no real useful purpose. Draco & Snape, who were already inside, did the deed. In the book there was a major all-out assault on the Castle, while teachers and Aurors were collectively working for its defense. Usually movies don't opt to forgoe their climaxes, but it almost seemed like, in this instance, they took the easy way out (f/x-wise).
Other than that - a very well directed movie. Very enjoyable, and blissfully free of "convention." In many ways, a more enjoyable movie than the Star Trek one, for me.
corrato: not sure, but it's gonna be on the Taco Bell menu for 89 cents next week
They certainly implied the cabinets let people in – since Bellatrix and others were on the grounds to blow up Hagrid’s house.
I think they’ve tried to minimize the secondary (tertiary?) characters so as to keep the storytelling cleaner given the time constraints.
The book has the virtue of lots of pages for people to tell Harry what happened. It would be perhaps difficult to show it without any narrative description later.
fledsteg: mysterious brown slab served on Thursdays in the cafeteria.
I realize the movie suggests they came in by the cabinets; but in the end, it was unnecessary for them to do so; other than for them to be a witness to Snape's act. In the book, there was a Helm's Deep-styled battle at Hogwarts, was there not? Just a little surprised they passed up the chance to show that.
Helm's Deep battle is in Book 7.
Battle in book 6 was among 10 or so people on each side, including the bad werewolf dude and some miscellaneous Death Eaters against good werewolf guy, Tonks, Hermione, Ron, some other students, etc.
ah - remembering them a little wrongly. Believe it or not, I've only made one pass through books 5-7.
difil: What Bill Cosby calls the stick that you use to check your oil.
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