Harry Potter Challenge: Day 3

Today's Prompt: Which (if any) of the films have made you angry because they've ignored important parts of the book?

I could point to so many things from each book that I wish they had included/done differently and many things that upset me. Just owing to the difficulty in crunching an entire novel into a movie, there are things that have to be left out and/or changed to further the plot in a timely fashion. I get that, but it doesn't mean I can't get ticked when things don't go to exactly according to the books.

Here are a few of the more glaring omissions/changes I take issue with:

• Harry and Sirius's Relationship
  • Offending Film(s): Mostly Goblet of Fire
  • My Issue: So, let me get this straight...Harry risks his life and liberty (fighting off Dementors and helping a fugitive escape) to save Sirius at the end of Prisoner of Azkaban, then has ONE CONVERSATION with the man during the whole next school year? Based on what we see in Goblet of Fire, why should Harry and Sirius share such a warm embrace when they meet in Order of the Phoenix? I know Goblet of Fire is long and must have been difficult to adapt, but for goodness sake, how could they have possibly ignored one of the most important relationships with an adult that Harry has?
• Dobby
  • Offending Film(s): Goblet of Fire and Order of the Phoenix
  • My Issue: I like Dobby, very much, and I don't like that they give all of Dobby's important tasks (getting Harry the gillyweed, finding the Room of Requirement, etc) to Neville. Why should Harry be so heartbroken at Dobby's death in Deathly Hallows if he's only seen Dobby once since second year?
• Most of Goblet of Fire
  • Offending Film(s): Goblet of Fire
  • My Issue: Most people love the Triwizard Tournament, I get that. It's entertaining, what with evading dragons, fighting off merpeople, and navigating a maze filled with dangers galore. I, however, rather prefer the sub-plots of Goblet of Fire (Barty Crouch Jr, Ludo Bagman, SPEW, and Rita Skeeter). Not that I dislike the Tournament – I just wish they would have included more of the mystery sub-plots.
• Voldemort's Back Story
  • Offending Film(s): Half-Blood Prince
  • My Issue: Oh, c'mon, you're telling me you wouldn't want to see more of how Tom Riddle became Lord Voldemort? What Harry learns in Half-Blood Prince is SO important to his understanding of Voldemort and defeating him, I'm just sad they left so many of those Pensieve memories out.
• The Veil
  • Offending Film(s): Order of the Phoenix
  • My Issue: I have spoken, at great length, about my issues with this scene. They got my favorite character's death wrong, and I'm still not over it.
• The Mauraders
  • Offending Film(s): Pretty much everything from Prisoner of Azkaban on
  • My Issue: I SO wish they had paid a bit more attention to the Marauder's backstory. Not that it's essential to the audience's understanding of the plot, but I love the Marauders.
• Lupin and Tonks
  • Offending Film(s): Order of the Phoenix, Half-Blood Prince, Deathly Hallows Part 1
  • My Issue: I feel like they glossed over so much of Tonks and Lupin's relationship, and I think it will cheapen their deaths in Deathly Hallows Part 2. Their deaths are heartbreaking – not just because Tonks is a funny, kind woman and Lupin is a force for good – but because little Teddy Lupin is left fatherless. From the films, we barely know that Remus and Tonks are married and we have yet to find out about Teddy. So, what, at the beginning of Deathly Hallows Part 2 they're going to toss in something about Teddy being born and we're supposed to feel sorry for the kid? Listen to “Lullaby” by The Remus Lupins. That's how we're supposed to feel. Also, I LOVED Lupin's indecision about his relationship with Tonks. I wish they'd kept that part.
• RAB
  • Offending Film(s): Order of the Phoenix and Half-Blood Prince
  • My Issue: Sirius had a brother named Regulus. His initials were RAB. Thus, Regulus MUST have been RAB. Because there couldn't POSSIBLY be ANY other wizards with those initials. Riiiiiight.

Harry Potter Challenge: Day 2

Today's Prompt: Your favorite of the 7 films so far. 

One of my favorite things about the films is that they improve considerably over time. One reason for this, I think, is that the principal actors improved with each film. For most of the actors, Sorcerer's Stone was their first major role, and it took time for them to grow into themselves as actors. By Order of the Phoenix, and especially in Half-Blood Prince, I think the principal actors transitioned from child actors into grown-ups, and that shows with the improvement in their acting.

That said, I think my favorite move is probably Half-Blood Prince. Granted, I wish they had spent more time on Riddle's past and I wish they had thought better than to put in that scene at the Burrow. However, the thing that really makes me love this film is Michael Gambon's performance. I spend three films wishing Richard Harris hadn't passed away, because I missed his portrayal of Dumbledore. Michael Gambon just got it wrong. Very, very wrong in some cases. However, in Half-Blood Prince, Michael Gambon transformed into Dumbledore. He was gentle, commanding attention and respect without raising his voice, and self-possessed right down to the all-important “Severus, please.” He did such an amazing job, that I can't help but be touched by his performance, and it makes Half-Blood Prince my favorite of the Potter films. 

Mischief Managed,

Slim Pearl Silver-Feather 

Harry Potter Challenge: Day 1

A few friends of mine are doing this on Facebook, but I figured this would be a good way to guilt me into blogging every day for the next month...At any rate, there's one prompt per day, each related to the wide and wonderful world of Harry Potter.

Today's Prompt: Your favorite of the 7 books.



This one is surprisingly tough for me, since I love so many things about each of the books. My favorite story, probably, is Prisoner of Azkaban, but I think Deathly Hallows is my overall favorite book (I know that's a cop-out, but I really can't pick!).



Prisoner of Azkaban is a wonderfully nuanced story that balances Harry's quest to understand his past (and how that past relates to his future) and the changing dynamics of friendship and loyalty for 13-year old wizards. Harry's worldview expands to include the goings-on in the wizarding world outside of Hogwarts (granted, not as much as in later books, but it's a start). Rather than just worrying about lessons and the mysteries inside the castle, Harry begins to realize that it's not all about Hogwarts. Harry also learns lessons about acceptance, facing his fears, and realizes that the adults around him may not have revealed everything about his past.



And then there's Sirius Black. I love him so much, I can't even begin to explain it in a single paragraph. Granted, you spend most of the book thinking he's a murderous, raving lunatic, but he's still an interesting character. He escapes from Azkaban when no one had done it before. He breaks into Hogwarts castle and evades the teachers and dementors twice. Oh, and he doesn't murder Harry outright when he has the chance (more than once, I might add). You can tell right away that there's something more to his character than meets the eye. Overall, I think Prisoner of Azkaban is a fantastic, intriguing, and engaging story with wonderfully unexpected twists and turns. I love it. A lot.



Deathly Hallows, on the other hand, is a masterpiece of fiction. It manages to tie together so many important plots, resolve the story beautifully, and give a wonderful sense of closure. This book made me cry like a baby, more than once. And I loved every moment of it. Every character's death, every heartbreaking thought Harry has, and every terrifying moment are beautifully written and meaningful. No scene is wasted, and Rowling brings her epic to a stunning conclusion. It's a wonderful book, and probably the best-written of the series.

Mischief Managed,
Slim Pearl Silver-Feather