*~* Muggles, Welcome to the Burrow! *~*

[AuroraBorealis]

Of course, I love Fred and George even more.

Shelby

Of course! I'm glad to hear their grand exit from Umbridge-ruled Hogwarts will be spectacular!

I was disappointed to hear that Snape gets barely any screentime in the movie.

Alan Rickman and Maggie Smith are phenomenal actors.

Oh well, I know certain parts do have to be cut down, especially if they're not totally essential to the main plot. Snape should have a much bigger part in the next movie.

Oh, about Umbridge...yeah, she is supposed to be annoying.

I'm always suprised by what gets cut in the movies. I *think* JKR has final approval over the screen play but I always feel major plot points are left out. She knows what she's doing, though, but I still can't get past the stupid talking shrunken heads in PoA or the complete cut of Winky in GoF.

I do wish we saw more of Snape and McGonagall. The actors are fantastic and I think Snape, while seen very little in OOtP, is very important, especially with the Occlumency lessons. If he gets little screen time in HBP, well then something is wrong!

I love that Umbridge is portrayed exactly as she should be! I was worried because Imelda Stauton isn't toad-like at all but I'm glad to hear she has the sadistic b*tchiness down pat.

I had to laugh when the non-reader expressed frustration that Voldemort kept getting away. What did he think the premise of the series was about?

 

[BuckyFan04]

but I still can't get past the stupid talking shrunken heads in PoA or the complete cut of Winky in GoF.

I think Snape, while seen very little in OOtP, is very important, especially with the Occlumency lessons.

Yeah, they really changed that part of the storyline by excluding Winky.
The Barty Crouch, Sr./Barty Crouch, Jr. storyline in the movie was a bit confusing the way they portrayed it, even though I'd read the book. After watching the movie, I thought that those people who hadn't read the book would be really confused by it.

You're right; Snape is really important in Order of the Phoenix. Since Snape won't be seen much though, I think that in the movie OOTP that they might combine the several Occlumency lessons into just one lesson, or maybe 2, with Snape ending them when Harry ends up seeing Snape's worst memory. That probably won't change the storyline much. That could be one way that they are cutting Snape's screen time.

I wish they had included the part from the end of GOF where Snape marches up to Fudge and shows him his Dark Mark proving that Voldemort has returned, and then shortly afterward when Dumbledore sends Snape back to Voldemort. I wonder if the film will show us that Snape has reprised his role as a spy for the Order.

I had to laugh when the non-reader expressed frustration that Voldemort kept getting away. What did he think the premise of the series was about?

Haha, yeah...what would be left for the sixth & seventh books then??

Yeah, I don't know how they would be able to cut down Snape's role in the sixth movie. After all, that book's title is basically "Harry Potter and Severus Snape." Draco should have a bigger role as well. I think it'll be interesting to see how Slughorn is portrayed.

 

[Kycha]

I had to laugh when the non-reader expressed frustration that Voldemort kept getting away. What did he think the premise of the series was about?

I thought that was hysterical too. But this quote is what had me really scratching my head:

"As I left the theater I initially felt that the film may have been as good as “Goblet” which as I mentioned I think is the best film. However something was bothering me about the film that I couldn’t quite put my finger on and then I realized what it was not much really happened."

Wow! What about the death of Harry's god father? I think that is pretty significant.

 

[TinkInPink]

I will be restraining myself at the midnight showing so I do not stand up on my seat and scream "THAT WASN'T IN THE BOOK"

I think they should just let me direct and write them. They would be so much better!

 

[WeirdTigger27]

I will be restraining myself at the midnight showing so I do not stand up on my seat and scream "THAT WASN'T IN THE BOOK"

My husband is quite used to me shaking my head for the full length of the movie because of the various people screwing up(IMHO) the story.

I think they should just let me direct and write them. They would be so much better!

I have been saying that since I saw POA. Wanna be partners? We could make them together!

 

[TurboKitty]

My husband is quite used to me shaking my head for the full length of the movie because of the various people screwing up(IMHO) the story.



I have been saying that since I saw POA. Wanna be partners? We could make them together!

If you get the chance, do me a favor and redo the whole series...each book as it's own miniseries because each book has too much good stuff that gets cut...And, my biggest pet peeve - quite giving all of Ron's smart/brave or noble lines to Hermione!! (Like in the shrieking shack near the end of POA) He's not strictly comic relief, ya know?

 

[Ariel Wanna-be]

The real pickle now, though, is how to make Harry believe that Snape is still on the right side.

I've thought about that too - the fact that after seeing Snape kill Dumbledore, there was *nothing* that would convince Harry that Snape was a "good guy".

One of the things that I think may happen is that Dumbledore will have left Harry a few vials of his memories. Harry will use the Pensieve (sp?) to view them and see exactly what transpired in the past to make Dumbledore believe in Snape's conversion.

There would also be a memory of Dumbledore telling Snape to kill him if necessary (Snape, of course, would struggle with this, but Dumbledore will would have made him take an oath). This would explain why Snape would have made the Unbreakable Vow to Draco's mother.

For the record, I'm not a huge fan of any of the movies. They leave too much out.

 

[LiLIrishChick63]

I will be restraining myself at the midnight showing so I do not stand up on my seat and scream "THAT WASN'T IN THE BOOK"

I think they should just let me direct and write them. They would be so much better!

i know, there was a few things that bothered me. the prefects thing being cut didn't really bother me so much. but there not being a lot of Draco?? that kind of bothered me. he was barely in the last movie, too. here's to hoping he doesn't get cut too much in the next movie, that would be stupid.

and the kids hearing the prophecy!?!!? what!?!? uhm......NO!! that's not going to make ANY sense in the next movie! ugh!

 

[WeirdTigger27]

If you get the chance, do me a favor and redo the whole series...each book as it's own miniseries because each book has too much good stuff that gets cut...And, my biggest pet peeve - quite giving all of Ron's smart/brave or noble lines to Hermione!! (Like in the shrieking shack near the end of POA) He's not strictly comic relief, ya know?

Yes, Ron is bigger and better than what they show in the movies. I missed Peeves in the movies. I'll miss him saluting the twins in the coming movie too.

 

[BuckyFan04]

i know, there was a few things that bothered me. the prefects thing being cut didn't really bother me so much. but there not being a lot of Draco?? that kind of bothered me. he was barely in the last movie, too. here's to hoping he doesn't get cut too much in the next movie, that would be stupid.

and the kids hearing the prophecy!?!!? what!?!? uhm......NO!! that's not going to make ANY sense in the next movie! ugh!

I don't think they will be able to cut much of Draco out of the next movie, unless they make up a whole new storyline to explain how Death Eaters got into the school, Snape's Unbreakable Vow, etc. He's essential to the plot in HBP, not just a minor character. I really hope they don't cut him out at all.

Yeah, the thing about the kids hearing the prophecy is strange. That is a big error. Voldemort could try and get it out of one of the kids who heard it then.

Yes, Ron is bigger and better than what they show in the movies. I missed Peeves in the movies. I'll miss him saluting the twins in the coming movie too.

I agree that the Ron in the books is better. In the POA book didn't he stick up for Hermione in POA when Snape called her a know-it-all rather than say that he thinks Snape's got a good point (like he did in the movie)?
I miss Peeves, too! He adds a lot of humor to the books. I'd like to see that scene where he salutes the twins as well. It's also funny when McGonagall tells him under her breath that the lamp unscrews the other way when he's raising havoc for Umbridge.

I've thought about that too - the fact that after seeing Snape kill Dumbledore, there was *nothing* that would convince Harry that Snape was a "good guy".

One of the things that I think may happen is that Dumbledore will have left Harry a few vials of his memories.

I think this is a good possibility. I think that hearing from Dumbledore himself (well, his memories anyway, in which the events are depicted accurately from a third-person objective pov) would probably be the only way that Harry would believe that Snape is still loyal to the Order, unless another member of the Order knows what truly happened, which I don't really think is the case given how surprised everyone seemed to be upon hearing from Harry that Snape killed Dumbledore.

 

[Kycha]

Okay, I have a question that has been bugging me all day. Why did JKR change the title of the first book from HP and the Philosopher's Stone to HP and the Sorcerer's stone for the US release of the book? I didn't start reading the series until Goblet of Fire so I probably missed any explanation for the name change of the first book.

 

[BuckyFan04]

I heard it was because the publishers didn't think that Americans would understand/be familiar with the term "Philosopher," so they opted to change it to "Sorcerer" (probably a more familiar term) instead.

 

[LiLIrishChick63]

I don't think they will be able to cut much of Draco out of the next movie, unless they make up a whole new storyline to explain how Death Eaters got into the school, Snape's Unbreakable Vow, etc. He's essential to the plot in HBP, not just a minor character. I really hope they don't cut him out at all.

Yeah, the thing about the kids hearing the prophecy is strange. That is a big error. Voldemort could try and get it out of one of the kids who heard it then.

i'm hoping they don't cut Draco out. he was a huge part of HBP. it wouldn't make ANY sense at all, of course, some of the other movies have plot holes like that too. ugh. just....why can't they do what LOTR did and make the movies like 2 1/2 hours, and then release it on DVD with extra footage not shown in theaters??

i don't know WHY they would change that story line, with the kids hearing the prophecy. i'm not liking the sound of that at ALL. and the "i must not tell lies" or whatever was changed. why?? is there a reason that one little sentence has to be changed??

ALL i know is, i have NEVER disliked any kind of fictional character like i dislike Umbridge. my god i HATED that woman! EVERY time i would hear "Mr. Potter, detention tonight" i would seriously scream "F$#%!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" lol. luckily she got what she deserved in the end. but oh man it's bad enough when i read the book, i'm thinking my hatred is just going to grow when i see it on the big screen!

 

[AuroraBorealis]

If you get the chance, do me a favor and redo the whole series...each book as it's own miniseries because each book has too much good stuff that gets cut...And, my biggest pet peeve - quite giving all of Ron's smart/brave or noble lines to Hermione!! (Like in the shrieking shack near the end of POA) He's not strictly comic relief, ya know?

Count me in to help make a miniseries!

I, too, am frustrated with the wimpy movie Ron compared to the growing, maturing Ron we see in the books. I also hate how Hermione is sometimes only used for exposition in the movie.

I know the movies are long now, but honestly, I'd sit through something much longer to see fewer plot holes and better story-telling. I think a lot of the core youth audience would as well.

 

[Stew_Mouse]

I heard it was because the publishers didn't think that Americans would understand/be familiar with the term "Philosopher," so they opted to change it to "Sorcerer" (probably a more familiar term) instead.

Hello everyone! Great discussion, I'm excited to join it - and it is going to take me a long time to read through it, what with all these great observations and thoughts.

My book club and I were just discussing the "Philosopher" vs "Sorcerer" title issue last night. Somebody in the group said the same thing, that the publishers didn't think American audiences would understand the book's meaning of Philospher. They also Americanized some of the dialogue. Very interesting!

 

[Daxx]

Somebody in the group said the same thing, that the publishers didn't think American audiences would understand the book's meaning of Philospher. They also Americanized some of the dialogue. Very interesting!

The US publishers also felt that the term "philosopher" sounded dry and boring. And, they're right ... Sorcerer's sounds so much more mystical and magical!

They Americanized some of the vernacular. For example, the British version uses the term "dustbin" ... which we Americans refer to as a garbage can. There are a few other terms here and there ... would have to pull out and compare my Brit copies to their American counterparts. The US pubs. thought that readers might not understand some of the British terminology.

 

[BuckyFan04]

ugh. just....why can't they do what LOTR did and make the movies like 2 1/2 hours, and then release it on DVD with extra footage not shown in theaters??

and the "i must not tell lies" or whatever was changed. why?? is there a reason that one little sentence has to be changed??

ALL i know is, i have NEVER disliked any kind of fictional character like i dislike Umbridge. my god i HATED that woman! EVERY time i would hear "Mr. Potter, detention tonight" i would seriously scream "F$#%!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" lol. luckily she got what she deserved in the end. but oh man it's bad enough when i read the book, i'm thinking my hatred is just going to grow when i see it on the big screen!

That would be nice if they released it on DVD with a bunch of extra footage. I think they could get away with extending the HP movies to 3 hours even. The length of the LOTR movies didn't stop people from seeing them. It would hopefully help the non-book readers to understand the storyline a bit better, and the diehard book readers would also be happy!

At first I heard that the "I must not tell lies" line was changed, but then I read some reviews of the movie that said it was "I must not tell lies" afterall. I don't see why they'd change that little line either.

I hear you about Umbridge! I cannot stand her! She is by far my most disliked character in the series (with Fudge coming in behind her). I was so happy when she got carried off by the centaurs, and I really loved the scenes where the teachers were being sarcastic towards her or not tolerating her little "hem, hem"s (the "hem, hem"s really got on my nerves!) and also when the students were causing trouble for her. Yeah, I wonder what I will think about her after seeing the movie, actually seeing that woman doing such sadistic things in her sickeningly pink outfit and with her high-pitched girlish voice. The actress supposedly does a good job portraying her in the movie.

 

[BuckyFan04]

The US publishers also felt that the term "philosopher" sounded dry and boring. And, they're right ... Sorcerer's sounds so much more mystical and magical!

They Americanized some of the vernacular. For example, the British version uses the term "dustbin" ... which we Americans refer to as a garbage can. There are a few other terms here and there ... would have to pull out and compare my Brit copies to their American counterparts. The US pubs. thought that readers might not understand some of the British terminology.

I agree with you. Sorcerer's does sound a lot more magical. I wouldn't think of a magical, mystical person when I hear "Philosopher." I like that they did leave in some of the more commonly known British vernacular, like "snogging" for example. It gives me more of an impression that it really is taking place in the UK, which I like. I had no idea what "snogging" was when I first read it in HP, but it was pretty easy to figure out what it meant.

 

[Daxx]

I like that they did leave in some of the more commonly known British vernacular, like "snogging" for example. It gives me more of an impression that it really is taking place in the UK, which I like. I had no idea what "snogging" was when I first read it in HP, but it was pretty easy to figure out what it meant.

I agree w/you that I like that the pubs. left some of the British vernacular in ... however, in reading and comparing both versions, I think American kids could pretty much figure out the meaning of the UK terminology! I suppose they did it b/c the "younger set" which started reading the HP books might have not known what things were as opposed to us adults who are a bit more "well read".

 

[BuckyFan04]

I agree w/you that I like that the pubs. left some of the British vernacular in ... however, in reading and comparing both versions, I think American kids could pretty much figure out the meaning of the UK terminology! I suppose they did it b/c the "younger set" which started reading the HP books might have not known what things were as opposed to us adults who are a bit more "well read".

Yep, I agree...they could probably figure it out. I also think that's a good reason why they probably "Americanized" some of the dialogue.
One of things that's nice about the HP books is that they appeal to both young kids and adults!