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Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
 
Ok, so tell me what you thought.

My initial reaction is a strong sense of...like. I liked it a lot. It was really really fun and I thought they did a great job showing all the complicated things (the time turner thingy etc.) I liked Buckbeak a LOT.

The whole look of the movie was more realistic. Even the weather was more realistic. The look of the castle was darker, drearier, and OLDER, like it should be. I was impressed with the clock they kept showing and the overgrown courtyard right outside. The uneven path to Hagrid's was a lot more realistic than the neatly clipped lawns of the first two movies.

But that's small stuff. Daniel Radcliff is HOT, and I even enjoyed Hermione in this one. The details were really well done too. I'm not sure how I feel about Dumbledore. I got less of the all-knowing father figure that I loved and more of a half-crazed hippy. But I liked him. I'm just not sure if it was Dumbledore.

I felt like we didn't see much more than Harry in this movie, which I guess is good, but I missed Ron...Snape and the other teachers....

And they didn't explain about Moody, Prongs etc and how Lupin knew about the map. They should've stopped to clue us in on that one because now several people have no idea what the Stag from Harry's Patronus signifies. Oh well. They didn't have time for everything.

The Dementors were NOT as cool and scary as I think they could have been. They were just kind of annoying and floaty. They left out the Quidditch cup which was kind of sad cause the good guys finally won in this book...but I can totally understand why the screenwriter did that. I did like that this movie didn't rely on a cool quidditch scene to redeem the entire movie. There was plenty of other good stuff.

All in all, markedly better than the first two and really fun. Gary Oldman is PERFECT as Sirius...in my opinion.

[ June 05, 2004, 03:55 AM: Message edited by: Narnia ]
 

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Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
 
I thought the clock scenes were nice, and the flying over the castle looking like some gorgeous cathedral scene was just awesome.
Loved the Boggart scene. Had be cracking up, and the womping willow
I thought the werewolf looked too much like a naked rat, but the dementors looked so SCARY and ghostly.
I loved that ice thing. That was a great touch.
The twins were also very cute. They had this whole Beatles thing going.
They had some great set design too!
And the way the characters all interacted, like the trio trying to comfort each other after what happened to buckbeak and Lupin hugging his old friend Sirius.
Who had some seriously cool tattoos!
 

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Posted by Megan (Member # 5290) on :
 
I think one of my favorite moments in the film was Ron waking up with a nightmare about spiders, saying, "The spiders...the spiders...they want me to tapdance...I don't want to tapdance..."
And Harry answers,
"Tell those spiders, Ron! Tell them!"

heeheehee

I loved the easy, matter-of-fact friendship that was so evident in that.

I also REALLY enjoyed Alan Rickman dressed up like Neville's grandmother.

I was disappointed by the lack of explanation of Lupin's knowledge of the map and the explanation of why Harry's patronus is a stag. On the whole, though, a good movie AND a good adaptation of a book.
 

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Posted by Carrie (Member # 394) on :
 
Right. I loved the movie - saw it with friends on the IMAX and had a blast. Acting was a step up, scenery was excellent, and Buckbeak! How awesome!

I'd have been more immediately positive about it if I hadn't been suddenly bludgeoned with a question. Pretending I hadn't read the books for a moment, how did Lupin know how to work the map? Did they film that scene and just not include it? Will we get to see it in the deleted scenes on the DVD? They even had the perfect moment to put it in. WHY NOT? It explains so much and adds to the relationship between Harry, Lupin and Sirius, not to mention James. Gah!

Other than that I really enjoyed the movie. Great fun. 4 stars entertainment, 3 stars quality.
 

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Posted by blacwolve (Member # 2972) on :
 
I thought it was a good movie, not great, but a lot better thn the other two.

One thing that really bothered me, though, was the patronus'. They don't look like shields, they look like animals. You really can't tell how far Harry has progressed just by the "small shield, big shield thing."
 

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Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
 
I was annoyed by the shield thing too, but they finally did show the Stag at the end...they just didn't explain why it was a stag.
 

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Posted by ReikoDemosthenes (Member # 6218) on :
 
the first thing I thought of with the shield was "Sauron was defeated, and thus ended the second age of the ring" ...yeah...we apparently annoyed people in the theatre because we were laughing too much all through the film...but it was all too amusing not to laugh
 

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Posted by sarcasticmuppet (Member # 5035) on :
 
I don't think there was enough of Dumbledore. Michael Gambon is really a lot closer to how I imagined Dumbledore being, but he didn't get his moment with Harry at the end. I for one missed that a lot. Harry's Moment With Dumbledore At The End (tm) always seemed important to me because I love Dumbly oh so much.

I loved Fred and George. They rocketh.

The Dementors were uber-creepy, and the near soul-sucking of Sirius had me on the edge of my seat. And I knew how it ended!

I like how they portrayed a fully-formed patronus. To Original!Harry's view, it was a stag, but to Timetravel!Harry's view, it was a shield. Same Patronus, just different angles.

I really wish there was more on the Marauder's relationship. It wouldn't have taken much, and what they did have made me think that Lupin was in love with Lilly Potter more than he was best friends with James.

What urked me: Harry's completely fake crying under the invisibility cloak. I didn't believe it for a second. That and him seeing Pettigrew on the map.

I'm with Narnia, I'm very much in like with this movie.
 

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Posted by VTP (Member # 6600) on :
 
Saw It yesterday night and liked it better then first two, but a big part of the beginning of the book was the restriction of underage sorcery, which they carried over in to the movie when Harry was worried fudge would send him away at the leaky cauldron, But in the opening scene Harry is seen using magic multipliable times, with seemingly no consequence. I can forgive direct contradictions between the movie and book, becuse as OSC always says “the movie doesn’t erase the book“, but contradictions with in the movie itself irks me a little. That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed the movie and suggest that every one goes and sees it.
 

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Posted by T_Smith (Member # 3734) on :
 

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What urked me: Harry's completely fake crying under the invisibility cloak. I didn't believe it for a second.

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quote:

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the first thing I thought of with the shield was "Sauron was defeated, and thus ended the second age of the ring" ...yeah...we apparently annoyed people in the theatre because we were laughing too much all through the film...but it was all too amusing not to laugh

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*tries to calm self down*

Anyway, I read in EW that the secret behind the Marauder's map is being bumped to the 4th book. I'm betting that mysterious stag will be explained as well.
 

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Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
 
Yeah, I guess I can't complain about that...with sequences of movies, we have to wait a little longer for stuff *coughShelobcough*
 

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Posted by Professor Funk (Member # 5608) on :
 
And really, alluding to the marauder's identities by having Lupin inexplicably know how to work the map was a lot better than spelling it out. I hate when they have to sneak a backstory explanation into a character's dialogue. Hinting at things rather than being so didactic (as in the time turner) is what made this movie great.
 

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Posted by The Silverblue Sun (Member # 1630) on :
 
Did anyone get the TOTAL feeling that when Lupin told Hermoine at the end that she really is the best young wizard he's ever seen, and then she stood shoulder to shoulder with Harry they looked like a married couple?

And in Lupin's mind he thought the same thing?

I loved this movie, I hated the first one, liked the second one and loved the third one.

Curon was a genius. His vision was a full 360 degrees. I feel we never got a true look at hogwarts until Curan showed up.

I LOVED Hagrid's Tie.

...and what about the chap reading the Stephen Hawking book. ?

<T>
 

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Posted by Fyfe (Member # 937) on :
 
Oh, God, Snape was so scary. Oh, he was so so so so scary. He was the most terrifying

*calms self down*

Yes, Snape was scary. I thought it was good how you saw the camaraderie between everyone, and finally they got Fred and George right. And there was definitely a sense of the school relationship between Snape and Sirius. Nice.

I loved it...cheers me to know that no matter how bad the other movies are, my favorite book will have made a good movie.

Jen
 

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Posted by fil (Member # 5079) on :
 
Sun, I thought it was Sirius that said that at the end. Something like "You really are the brightest wizard of your age." I loved that.

Gambon was great as Dumbledore. I am looking forward to his bits in the fifth movie (if you haven't read it...and why is that, by the way...I am not giving anything away by saying he begins to show why everyone, even You Know Who, gives him respect).

Rupert Grint doesn't have much in the way of range compared to his co-stars, but he was used better in this movie than the mugging madness of the last movie.

I put this in the "Anticipation" thread but will repeat it here (and it goes well with the 360 view of Hogwarts). Cuaron has brought the magic of the books to the movie for the first time. I think the other movies weren't horrible, just lacking any magic or wonder that the books give me when I read them.

William's music score was wonderful as well. It was much more subtle and not that bombastic sort of score he has been known to do. Great improvement over the first two, as well.

fil
 

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Posted by MidnightBlue (Member # 6146) on :
 
I saw it last night. Overall I thought it was really good. One thing that really bugged me: when Lupin told Harry that he "knew" Lilly, I immediately thought it sounded like he meant it in the biblical sense. I also didn't like the dementors that much. I think a big part of that was because when they were sucking away happiness it looked too much like the soul was being sucked away. And I agree with the werewolf looking like an overgrown rat.

quote:

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But in the opening scene Harry is seen using magic multipliable times, with seemingly no consequence. I can forgive direct contradictions between the movie and book, becuse as OSC always says “the movie doesn’t erase the book“, but contradictions with in the movie itself irks me a little.

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I definitely agree with that. I thought that was a major no-no. But I liked that uncle vernon kept coming in to check on him and he kept pretending to sleep.

What's this about a clock? I don't remember that.
 

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Posted by sndrake (Member # 4941) on :
 
Diane and I are leaving in a few minutes to go see the movie.

When we come back, I get to be a spoiler!

BWAHAHAHAHA!

Really excited here - it's unusual for us to catch a flick we want to see in its first weekend. And I bought tickets online so I know we'll actually get to see the movie, no matter how many people get in line before us.
 

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Posted by Book (Member # 5500) on :
 
Yeah... I get the feeling that the stag was going to be explained in the movie, but they just cut it out. The conversation with Lupin just before he left definitely seemed to be going somewhere, to me. But after the stag the rest of the movie was sorta ruined for me because I kept expecting them to explain it.

Also, you can tell they cut out explaining how Sirius knew to come to Hogwarts because Ron showed Harry the newspaper at the start of the movie.

EDIT: Overall, though, I thought it was a great movie. I hope they have an extended version so that fills in the gaps.

[ June 06, 2004, 01:21 PM: Message edited by: Book ]
 

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Posted by The Silverblue Sun (Member # 1630) on :
 
I would have liked to seen more of the STAG, but I must admit I look at it from a very elitist point of view, as in....

HARRY POTTER is one of the best books written in years. WHY DIDN'T YOU READ IT????

Ya know?

If people don't read the books because

they believe they are children's books, or they don't like to read, or whatever reason, I can conjure up no sympathy.

The books are awesome.

Read the friggin books my fellow americans!

(this note does not apply to my fellow hatrackers, cuz I KNOW 99.9% of us have read them all)

Buckbeak rules!
 

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Posted by FoolishTook (Member # 5358) on :
 
fil

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One thing that really bugged me: when Lupin told Harry that he "knew" Lilly, I immediately thought it sounded like he meant it in the biblical sense.

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quote:

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HARRY POTTER is one of the best books written in years. WHY DIDN'T YOU READ IT????

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I LOVED Hagrid's Tie.

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I agree with everything sndrake said.

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I need to get this framed. I cannot recall the last time someone said this. I need to frame it and date it so I'll know when the last time was when it happens again - years from now.

And even if it never happens again, it will be proof that someone said it once.
 

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Posted by beverly (Member # 6246) on :
 
Luv, luv, luv, luv, luv, luv Alan Rickman!

I have always liked Snape, even in the first book before we were given any reason to like him. I dunno why, I guess I am just weird. So when they picked Alan Rickman to play him, Oh! I could have kissed the Castor.
 

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Posted by dabbler (Member # 6443) on :
 
Every time Snape said something, I kept thinking of him as the Metatron from Dogma. It was kinda confusing

But I really like Alan Rickman, so I forgive him for messing with my head like that. I also thought it was annoying that they didn't explain the Map properly. And Beca was annoyed at the patronus shield. So I think it's safe to say that those were very common fan-complaints.

I thought the movie was incredibly funny. That stood out the most for me.
 

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Posted by hot_toddie (Member # 412) on :
 
I've read this whole thread and haven't really disagreed with anything. I read OSC's review and everything he said was right on.

All the praise is deserved. Hogwarts finally showed its promise. The school and the grounds were visually and artistically fantastic. The actors were much improved (or the director was able to get performances that were a cut above previous displays). Although Oldman as Sirius was not at all how I envisioned the character, he is a brilliant actor and the performance was excellent.

The critisms I've read so far have also been right on, although for the most part fairly petty. Lupin knowing the secret of the map was annoying because it wasn't explained at all (even as a subtle hint didn't work, it was just inconsistent). And the lack of explination about the four frieds bothered me a lot. But I was able to get over it.

But there was something that I wasn't able to get over, and I'm a little surprised that no one else has brought this up: The movie completely glossed over the biggest point of the book.

Remember that this is one part of a series, in which the major conflict is Harry vs. Voldemort. Or the good guys vs. Voldemort and his followers. And although it isn't ever-present in the book, this conflict is the underlying theme.

Peter Pettigrew's escape and reunion with Voldemort, and Voldemort's subsequent return to power is the singal most important fact from this book, and it was hardly even aluded to in the movie.

While the movie was entertaining, I cannot overlook the overall hollowness of it. Perhaps a middle ground can be found between Columbus' lack of vision and Curan's lack of story.
 

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Posted by beverly (Member # 6246) on :
 
More than once I've seen concern about how Lupin knew about the map. I am just wondering, do you not know what the connection is or are you just upset that they didn't explain it in *this* movie? I assume that the reason that they didn't do it here is that they have some reason for wanting it in the next movie. Don't really know that for sure, just giving them the benefit of the doubt. So for me, it wasn't so much of a problem but a disappointment that the emotional reward was not given now as it was in the third book.

Perhaps we will be seeing more of Professor Lupin? Or perhaps it will be eluded to in flashback form.
 

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Posted by Book (Member # 5500) on :
 
I read that Michael Gambon put a remote control whoopie cushion in Harry Potter's bed in one scene. As the proud owner of such a device, this earns me big points in his department.
 

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Posted by fil (Member # 5079) on :
 
I think there will be plenty of opportunities to reveal a bit more about the Maruader's Map in the next movie. Doesn't it get a good work out, along with more of the Invisibility Cloak? I haven't read book 4 is a while so I don't completely recall.

I know Pettigrew was a rat for quite some time, but his buck-toothed look was eerily like tha to of Harry's resident hanger on, Neville Longbottom? The books go pretty far to compare Harry's crew to his father's crew when he was in school. I don't see Neville as some turncoat, but still the similar look was kind of creepy (and Neville DID kind of turn on them in the first book).

fil
 

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Posted by Anna (Member # 2582) on :
 

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Oh, God, Snape was so scary. Oh, he was so so so so scary.

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The word you're searching for is "sexy"
Snape is my hero. As I stated in another thread a long time ago, having followed the wrong path, realizing it and help the good ones is far far harder than be in the good path since the beginning.
 

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Posted by Fyfe (Member # 937) on :
 
sarcasticmuppet--Oh, me too...and the whole scene in the shack (pre-Pettigrew) was nice...Lupin and Sirius arguing and all.
 

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Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :
 

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I think a big part of that was because when they were sucking away happiness it looked too much like the soul was being sucked away.

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and Neville DID kind of turn on them in the first book

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I don't recall this. How did he do that?
 

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Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :
 
Yeah, I think Neville was just trying to keep them from getting the Gryffindor house into any more trouble. And since he wasn't being included in the activities of the "three" he couldn't really be turning on them.
 

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Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
 
He "turned" by standing up to Harry and confronting him about his rulebreaking. Unfortunately, he did it at just about the worst possible time -- but it was done with the best of intentions, and Dumbledore awarded him for it.

To me, I think it's inconceivable that Neville will turn dark; he's obviously fated to be an auror. I think it's far more likely that RON will temporarily turn dark, along with Percy (although I think Ron'll come back, and Percy won't.)
 

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Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
 
Neville tried to stop them from going after Voldermort in the first book and movie because he didn't want Griffindore to get punished.

As for Snape, he's fascinating. James Potter and his gang treated him like crap and;
I think he was the one who informed Dumbledore that Voldermort was after James and Lily at a great risk to his life.
Most of them didn't even like him and saw him as being some greasy headed jerk, but he still worked with the good guys.
James seemed to have been a pampered, spoiled rich kid at first. Just by that small flashback in Order of the Phoenix you can tell that Snape wasn't that rich, that he didn't come from a very good and supportive background.
In fact, he and Harry probably have a lot more in common than they think. Brilliant of her to add that scene. I hope there is a lot more about Snape in the next book.
 

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Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :
 
If we end up finding out that Neville is really "the one" I'm going to be SO upset.
 

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Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
 
See I LIKED the fact they didn't explain everything. To me that was what made the first two drag. They were trying to fit way too much in. The new director just let it flow togetther and if there were some non-essential loose ends, well that was why the book was written first, so go read it! I really liked the time turner sequence. I thought the bus sequence went on a bit long, but the dialogue was necessary for essential explanation of what happens later.

I wonder if Voldemort coming back will be a prologue for the next book. Besides he's not totally "back" yet til the whole scene with the portkey at the triwizard tournament.

While the visuals weren't always as rich in this one, I think that the fact that the first two were allows the whole thing to be a bit moodier in feel. You don't have to show Christmas at hogwarts because we've already seen it. Overall I liked it much better than the first two and am extremely glad they changed directors. And yes, I liked this Dumbledore just fine.

AJ
 

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Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
 
The visuals weren't as rich in this one? I think the opposite is true. Howgarts was simply stunning.
 

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Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
 
The colors were more washed out IMO though I think the purpose was to set the mood which it did beautifully. You didn't see the huge dining scenes. You didn't see nearly as much of the awe-inspiringness IMO.

AJ
 

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Posted by Altáriël of Dorthonion (Member # 6473) on :
 
I overall did like the movie, specially the fact that Alfonso Cuaron directed it. However, there was SOMETHING missing from it. I dodn't really know, but by the end of the movie, I was like, "What?! Thats it?!" I don't know whats missing in the movie, but I know something WAS missing.
 

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Posted by Anna (Member # 2582) on :
 
The only thing I didn't like was the ending - too brutal in my mind. I didn't imagine Lupin and Sirius that way, but the actors were very good so I didn't mind.
I SO hope Malkovitch is really to play Voldemort. He can seem so evil sometimes ! I hope we will see the good sides of Snape on the next movies (I too think he is the one who warned Dumbledore that James and Lily were in danger, which was very noble).
 

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Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
 
You are right, Banna, you didn't see as much of it. But I much preferred what we *did* get to see.
 

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Posted by The White Whale (Member # 6594) on :
 
I personally loved the movie so much I went back to see it that night (I went to the midnight showing 1st, so I managed to see it twice in 24 hours) (That also means that I watched HP twice as long as I slept on that day!)

But an interesting thing happened @ my school...half of the people loved it, and half hated it. The people that hated it seemes pissed at its differences from the book.

Also, my favorite part was the dementors because they werer awesome. I guess in the book they didn't fly. They glided. But if in the movie, they only glided, they would have been a lot less terrifying.

Also, did anyone else notice this?: In the Leaky Cauldron, the wizard who was stirring his coffee with magic...he was reading Stephen Hawking's A Brief History of Time! How freaking cool!

Also also...the director was mexican right? I read somewhere that he added a bunch of Mexican culture to the movie. 1. The shrunken heads on the bus and in the pubs. 2. In Hogsmeade's candy shop, there were those little candy skulls that are used in the Mexican Day of the Dead. How cool!


 

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Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
 
I'm actually reasonably sure that the guy reading A Brief History of Time was the director himself. While I don't have the faintest idea what he looks like, it'd be exactly what I'd expect.
 

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Posted by hansenj (Member # 4034) on :
 
About Snape: A friend and I have a theory that he was actually in love with Lily, which would explain what made him so loyal to helping them but also so bitter towards them (especially James). Lily was always kind to him, and among everyone else being so awful to him, that had to be pretty attractive.
 

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Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
 
I already wrote in my "anti-spoiler" thread which has fallen off into oblivion in general what I thought, so I'll not repeat that...

Let's say I liked it all except:

The Patronus never charged. I mean, what a rip-off.

Peter Pettigrew. He was too silly. He should have been more slimy, and lose the buck teeth, that was pretty dumb.

The Shreiking Shack scene was somewhat unbelievable, but then I always thought that.

Freeze-frame ending. ARG!

Will add more later.
 

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Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
 
hansenj, that makes a lot of sense. A *lot*. No wonder Snape can't stand Harry -- not only does he remind Snape of Harry's horrible (to Snape) father, but he also reminds Snape of what could have been if she hadn't gone with the jerk Potter.
 

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Posted by MidnightBlue (Member # 6146) on :
 

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I think a big part of that was because when they were sucking away happiness it looked too much like the soul was being sucked away.
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But, that's what's happening.

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I have to disagree. When dementors are anywhere near you, your happiness gets sucked away, but your soul isn't sucked away until/unless they administer the dementor's kiss, something that wasn't explained much in the movie. And you couldn't understand that simply by watching the movie because none of the dementors actually had its mouth (hole, whatever) near Sirius's when he almost lost his soul. But there is a very distinct difference and I was disappointed that that difference was ignored. If they had simply not explained it I would be perfectly okay with that. But it seemed to me that the director went out of his way to blur that line.
 

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Posted by Book (Member # 5500) on :
 
I liked how much grayer and darker the movie was. It looked a lot more English this time around.
 

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Posted by Fyfe (Member # 937) on :
 
My mother is absolutely convinced that Snape was in love with Lily. She also thinks he's going to die and confess to Harry with his last breath that he loved Harry's mother and...blah. This is a result of reading too many books by Rafael Sabatini and P.C. Wren. I despise Snape, and it's all his fault that Sirius died, and I hate him. I hate, hate, hate him, and the more I read about him the more I dislike him, especially because now I have to feel sorry for him for having a wretched upbringing and school experience.

*hates Snape*

Jen
 

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Posted by Abrynne (Member # 5826) on :
 
What they made it seem like in the film is that Lupin may have had a thing for Lily, the way he spoke about her. But of course we all know that's not true! Otherwise it'd slowly change into "As the Cauldron Turns" or something.

I think Snape just hates Harry cause he hated James and Harry reminds Snape of James and of all those traumatic things that happened to him during his adolescence. And of course simply because he was teased, et cetera, in school gives him no right to humiliate anyone else so....I hate Snape too. Alan Rickman, however, plays him with a little more dignaty than the character in the book. A little less greasy.
 

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Posted by Jen (Member # 6585) on :
 
I’m too tired to go into all the tiny idiosyncrasies that bothered me about the transformation from book to movie. What really sticks out in my mind is the positive anyway. We have seen the true Harry Potter for the first time in this film. The first two movies still moved me, but this is what I always imagined and I can’t help but chalk it up to the new director. I also loved this new Dumbledore. Also with the kids’ maturity came better acting skills which helped, with the exception of that one Harry crying scene as mentioned earlier (horrid! Almost ruined the moment) I’m not quite sure how to express what I’m feeling… I enjoyed the first two in the ‘I’m not sorry I saw the movie’ kinda way, but this movie had the same effect on me as the books, that same kind of unexplainable enchantment.

I got very downtrodden today when I had to explain half the movie to my very uninterested parents. I get so upset when they don’t feel all that I feel about movies/books.

And in my moment of weakness when I morph back into a girl, I must say that I have a very inappropriate crush on Ron.
 

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Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
 
As the Cauldron Turns!

I also think Snape was in love with Lily. I had a theory about that reading the first 3 or 4 books.
I also think he hated James because, like I said before-
He was an arrogant git
He had a lot of money, why else does Harry have so much gold? His father was loaded!
He was an excellent Quiddich player.
He teased Snape all day from the very start like Malfoy teases Harry. Oddly, Snape=Harry. Malfoy=James.

To me, Snape was a nerdy, skinny, pale, greasyheaded awkward kid with an interest in the dark arts who worked hard at his studies like Hermione did. He got teased by Black and James and their crew because they were more powerful and popular. He got mixed in with the wrong crowd, had misgivings, so he switched sides and became a spy at great personal risk, a double agent of sorts.
But, James isn't completely a bad guy in this. He did save Snape's life, something, which, much to my irratation is not addressed in the movie. This probably made Snape hate him more because now he had to be in dept to a man he dispised.
He finds out about Voldermort's plans to kill Lily and James, tells Dumbledore. James, with advice from Black gets Pettigrew as their secret keeper.
Pettigrew, as we know spills the beans.
Snape's effort to save James life, thus making things equal is thwarted.
Enter Harry Potter at school, looks just like his dad, plays Quidditch.
But like Snape he grows up poor, gets teased all the time, doesn't really have that much privelege.
Snape still hates him... Furthermore, Snape, prepared to be in his double agent role cannot get to close to the boy anyway.
Yet, he still tries to save his life all through the first book.
Snape is a fascinating and mysterious fellow. There is more to him that meets the eye.
What other reasons make him so horrible to Harry?
 

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Posted by Chris Bridges (Member # 1138) on :
 
Snape is actually Harry's real father, a surprise twist that explains why everyone who sees Harry is compelled to tel him how much he looks like James. Won't see it coming, will he? Ha!
 

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Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 
*dances* It was WONDERFUL!!!
 

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Posted by hansenj (Member # 4034) on :
 
Another cool theory (not very relevant, and would be more appropriate in a thread about the fifth book, but anyway), the Sorting Hat's song in the fifth book talked about unity between the houses being important and as I recall mentioned a past when the houses weren't so divided. Well, my friends and I noticed that it's interesting to imagine which house each of the four friends could have been in. It seems unlikely that they would have all come from Gryffindor, and when you think about it, it makes sense that one could be from each house. James- Gryffindor (just makes sense), Lupin- Ravenclaw (he's certainly smart enough), Pettigrew- Hufflepuff (he's clearly not smart or brave enough to be in Ravenclaw or Gryffindor), and Sirius- Slytherin (dark wizards do run in his family. Just something to ponder...
 

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Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 
Huh. Someone I know on another board, who I am fairly certain you do not know, came up with essentially that same theory, hansenj.
 

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Posted by Anna (Member # 2582) on :
 
I'm pretty sure I read about the same theory when we spoke about fifth book last summer.
 

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Posted by Fyfe (Member # 937) on :
 
I thought of that...although we don't know for sure what house Pettigrew was in (I find it very difficult to believe it was Gryffindor, but who knows?), we do know about the other three:

interview

quote:

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Sirius Riddle: What houses were Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, James Potter and Remus Lupin in? Everyone tells me they were all Gryffindor, but I won't believe it unless I hear it from Ms. Rowling herself!
JK Rowling says: This is JK herself saying that they were indeed in Gryffindor!

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So there we are.

Jen
 

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Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 
Wow.

My brain really does become more like swiss cheese every day . . .
 

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Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
 
Just some thoughts about the houses.

For the longest time, Slytherin (sp?) has been portrayed as just downright evil, and Griffindor as good. But it seems to me that they aren't divided along moral lines, they are divided according to the students' strengths and weaknesses.

We've seen a little bit of how good can come from Slytherin from Snape, but that is only a partly true. He was first a follower of Voldemort, and then switched sides.

I wonder if we'll see some more goodness come out of Slytherin, and some evil come out of Griffindor.

Just some thoughts.
 

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Posted by The White Whale (Member # 6594) on :
 
Well from reading the books, I would love to go to Hogwarts.

BUT

I would hate to be in Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff because they don't really do anything.

Gryffindor is idolized.

Slytherin seems to be all around evil.

I'm sure I've offended someone, so I welcome any scoldings.


 

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Posted by fil (Member # 5079) on :
 
I would assume Pettigrew would be in Gryffindor as well. I think people seem to really hang out with their houses more than anybody else. Keeping in my mind the Old Potter/New Potter, Pettigrew would clearly be akin to Neville, who is a sort of hanger-on that is in Gryffindor. Don't they do a bit more with the other houses in 4? I have only read 4 once (when it came out) but I remember Cho being a big character and she isn't Gryffindor and whatsisname...the person OFFICIALLY chosen for the Tri-wizard...he was Ravenclaw, wasn't he?

It would be nice if they did more to explore other houses, but then JK's giant books would become even more deadly if dropped from a building.

fil
 

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Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
 
I'm pretty sure Cedric was Hufflepuff. Right?
 

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Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
 
Yes.
 

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Posted by Glenn Arnold (Member # 3192) on :
 
I guess I'm the only one here who doesn't like the new Dumbledore. He seems dim-witted to me. Harris always seemed like he knew something he wasn't letting on about; which I think is very important to the character.

I liked the change in mood, especially the weather, but I didn't like the fact that Hagrid's house was clearly in a different location. I also didn't like the lake. Isn't this the same lake where the Weasely's tickle the Giant Squid? It seems that Hogwarts has actually CHANGED, as opposed to merely having more about it revealed.

iirc, Harry's first patronus was just a wisp of mist that didn't take a real form. That could have solved the problem of showing the patronus, without showing the stag and "giving it away." Except of course, they never told us about the stag.

I also REALLY dislike the clock. It was mechanical, not magical. When does it point to "mortal peril" or some such? The clock was a waste of time and footage, they could have used that time to explain some of the things they left out. I thought Hermione popping into classes was "foreshadowing" enough for the time thing.

Yes, Harry's crying was really bad. And especially since he wasn't visible, they could have dubbed it from someone who could cry well.

And how about that cut to Harry and Hermione flying on Buckbeak? That was just amateur. (But Buckbeak flying was sensational)

And Sirius, Harry and Hermione yelling with delight as they flew away? I felt like yelling: "Hey, your life is in danger! You're not supposed to be seen. Shut up and be sneaky, will you?"

What else? The Bus. I just wanted one mailbox to pull up its skirt and jump out of the way.

Didn't someone witness the Dementor attempting to do the kiss to Harry? or was that in another book? I didn't like the dementors. They should have used the "Blair Witch" technique of not showing them to us, to make them more scary.

The general consensus seems to be that the movie was great, but left a lot out. I agree, they left a lot out, and the movie could afford to be quite a bit longer.

For all my criticism: Yes, I liked the movie. But it isn't my favorite.
 

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Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
 
"It seems that Hogwarts has actually CHANGED, as opposed to merely having more about it revealed."

Is that bad? Is continuity of landscape essential, rather than continuity of plot?
 

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Posted by MidnightBlue (Member # 6146) on :
 
In the fifth book she does a lot more to show characters from other houses with D.A.

quote:

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Snape is actually Harry's real father, a surprise twist that explains why everyone who sees Harry is compelled to tel him how much he looks like James. Won't see it coming, will he? Ha!

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quote:

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And in my moment of weakness when I morph back into a girl, I must say that I have a very inappropriate crush on Ron

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Aah, yes, I've seen that among several of the women I've spoken to, with Harry and Malfoy as well.

My name's Abrynne and I'm a(n) Harry Potter fancier from the films. The boy is freaking adorable!
 

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Posted by Space Opera (Member # 6504) on :
 
I took my kiddos to see it today. In my opinion, the movie is the reason you should really read the books. I did enjoy the scenery - some of it was absolutely beautiful. But for some reason, none of the movies, including this one, have drawn me in. But my kids really did enjoy it, though they were left with a lot of questions since the movie didn't explain things well enough.

space opera
 

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Posted by hansenj (Member # 4034) on :
 

quote:

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Sirius Riddle: What houses were Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, James Potter and Remus Lupin in? Everyone tells me they were all Gryffindor, but I won't believe it unless I hear it from Ms. Rowling herself!
JK Rowling says: This is JK herself saying that they were indeed in Gryffindor!

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*sigh* Well, there goes that theory...

I saw the movie for a second time with my family last night, and I must say I enjoyed it even more. I was worried that the second viewing would be disappointing because I'd notice more things that were wrong. It turns out though, that since I already knew what they were going to leave out, I could focus on enjoying the movie alone. I know everyone has already said this, but it really is a good adaptation of the book. It's rather impossible to pick up all the intricacies and emotional tensions from a book in a film, and I think they did a wonderful job of capturing the magical world. Great fun.

And yes, I have an unexplainable crush on Harry and Ron as well. I'm a dirty old woman!
 

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Posted by Space Opera (Member # 6504) on :
 
Ok, here's my true problem with this movie - I ended up with both kids sleeping in my room last night! Operaetta was afraid of "the werewolf guy" and Boy Opera said "everytime I close my eyes I see dementers." Dang those special effects!

space opera
 

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Posted by beverly (Member # 6246) on :
 
Hmmmm. Porter, maybe the kids aren't ready for Harry Potter yet.
 

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Posted by Miro (Member # 1178) on :
 
Am I the only one here who didn't like it? I thought it was boring.

It was great, though, when all the eight to ten-year-old girls sitting in the two rows in front of us (wearing schoolgirl uniforms) clapped when Hermione punched Draco.
 

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Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
 
yes, you are the only one that didn't like it.

Just kidding.
 

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Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 
I liked the clock! I thought it was a great visual presence. I also like the music at the beginning and end of the time-turner sequence.

My favorite new parts of Hatrack: the bridge, Hagrid's pumpkin patch, and most of all, Lupin's office! That place was cooooool!

I also liked the fact that many of the scarier scenes had humorous bits. It worked well in the theater I was in -- the woman a few seats over shrieked at each startling or scary bit, and I giggled. The friend I went with thought it was great.

Oh, and she hasn't read the books, but didn't really seem bothered by the origin-of-the-map question.
 

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Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
 
I loved the clock too rivka...(but, minor spoiler. In one scene, they show Harry standing directly behind the clock and looking out onto the courtyard. In following scenes, they show the clock as a mess of gears and mechanisms with NO WHERE to stand near the window...Hm....)

My favorite FAVORITE musical addition by the beloved John Williams was when Harry flew over the water on Buckbeak the first time. It was just beautiful!!
 

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Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
 
I too like the clock, and if someone can give me old clock or watch gears I'd be stupidly happy.
 

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Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 
Oh, yeah, I loved the music! I didn't bother to get the soundtracks from the first two, but I will be getting this one!
 

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Posted by Abrynne (Member # 5826) on :
 

quote:

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I liked the clock! I thought it was a great visual presence.

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This director was very good at how he discreetly sneaked in those foreshadowing. The opening scenes with the Whomping Willow and the big clock sequences. Because I had already read the book I noticed those points the first time I saw it. Very well done.

I also loved the music in this one (the Buckbeak sequence too!) but it's not surprising because I always love John Williams' music.
 

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Posted by accio (Member # 3040) on :
 
I loved the movie. I was a little ticked off that they did not mention the Firebolt after the game so I was relieved to see it at the end.

When I was at the movie theater there was this boy about 5 sitting close to us. When Hermione punched Draco, he yelled “HERMIONE! You are BAD!�.

It just made me smile.
 

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Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
 
bump just for page 3 goodness.
 

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Posted by Miro (Member # 1178) on :
 

quote:

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yes, you are the only one that didn't like it.

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Posted by punwit (Member # 6388) on :
 
I watched the movie yesterday and really enjoyed myself.

I liked the mood and setting better than the first two. Hogwarts aligns more closely to my imagined one than the previous attempts.

I have two complaints: The Patronus not being explained and the scene in the Shrieking Shack. What irked me in the Shack was the dialogue. Sirius and Remus are arguing about killing "him". Harry believes he is the object of their concern. I thought this was too contrived. I don't remember if the book did this but it is just SILLY.

Overall I thought this was a better presentation than the previous ones.
 

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Posted by fil (Member # 5079) on :
 
I haven't read the third book in a while, but you need Harry and gang to think that HE is the object of Remus and Sirius' plan, not Pettigrew. Contrived or not, that was the point of that scene in the book and movie. I thought it worked out well and it actually played pretty close to how I imagined it. Actually, there were a few scenes that played closely to how I imagined it. The first sight of the Dementor on the train and Harry's response (and Lupin's save) was right on. The first Buckbeak scene was right on as well as as the Buckbeak trial and "execution" (along with Dumbledore's obvious attempts to distract Fudge).

Others were fairly different, though still good. I did wish to see the quidditch scene with Harry flying and looking down at row upon row of Dementors pointing up at him. Them flying around was cool, but it seemed creepier with them on the ground and still being able to affect him way up in the air.

I also missed the Knight who took the job guarding the painting door of the Gryffindor's suite. I liked that he was in the background running around and saying "Ha!" but I missed him as the guard.

Groovy,

fil
 

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Posted by gnixing (Member # 768) on :
 
Was it just the theater I saw the film in, or did anybody else notice all the blurry scenes... I mean there were a number of scenes where nothing was quite in focus which really bothered me!
 

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Posted by fil (Member # 5079) on :
 
Must have been the theater. While the DP of this film shot a movie with heavy blacks and grays, it was still a sharp and clear picture where I saw it.

fil
 

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Posted by gnixing (Member # 768) on :
 
That's a shame, because I went to what I always thought was a top-notch theater. Guess I'll have to see it somewhere else! I know other people who saw it where I did that had the same complaint but on a different viewing.
 

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Posted by hansenj (Member # 4034) on :
 
At the theater I was at for the midnight showing it was kind of blurry at the beginning and several points throughout the movie. But when I saw it a second time at a different theater it was nice and clear. Don't know what would make that happen though.
 

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Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
 
fil, I missed Sir Cadagon too!! I was just waiting for him to show up and he never did!
 

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Posted by Anna (Member # 2582) on :
 
I did miss him too, but also missed Nearly-Headless Nick (cause he's played by John Cleese and I like John Cleese).
 

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Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
 
Yeah. It's funny how they gave hints of the headless hunt going on (with all the ghost horses passing through at breakneck speed (no pun intended) and ghosts we didn't recognize) but they never really told us what was up. I'm glad they included it in its own small way.
 

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Posted by skillery (Member # 6209) on :
 
I saw the giant screen version on Friday.

I liked the director's choice of filmstock for this movie. The coarse grain and stark contrast gave a darker feel to the film.

The Marauder's map was awesome, especially its use in the final credits. Did anyone notice the behavior of the footprints in the Smoke Bomb Shop on the map?
 

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Posted by FoolishTook (Member # 5358) on :
 

quote:

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Oh, and the lake... Isn't that the same lake that the 1st years cross in a boat? This one was some icky little forest pond. You could have walked around it. Considering that the lake comes in again in "Goblet of Fire" this lake must be a different lake.

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quote:

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I solemnly swear I am up to no good.

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