I was rereading the last few books -- every new movie does that to me -- and it occurred to me that I knew the perfect actress to play Dolores Umbridge: Dame Judi Dench.
Now I can't picture the character as anyone else...
Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
She's not quite... toadlike enough for me.
Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :
Heh, my mom said the exact same thing last week. And I replied as imogen did! Posted by Chris Bridges (Member # 1138) on :
Oh, she could be. Picture her in the awful hat, with her downturned expression...
Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
Maybe. I always pictured Umbridge as younger - more mid-50s.
(How old is Dame Judi, anyhow?)
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
I can't see Judi Dench as Umbridge.
I mean come on, she plays M! She's too cool. I can't see her playing that big a biatch.
You need an actress that can play a character that is really easy to hate.
Posted by Bella Bee (Member # 7027) on :
I think she could do bitchy extremely well. She does pretty much everything extremely well, when it comes to acting.
Posted by Leonide (Member # 4157) on :
i think The Grande Dame would be SUPERB as Umbridge.
I saw her as Lady Macbeth where she was so completely reptilian -- i'd imagine playing a toad-like creature would be too much of a stretch Posted by Enigmatic (Member # 7785) on :
I think she'd be a good Umbridge.
In other HP5 discussion: What scene are you most looking forward to seeing in the movie? For me it has to be the Weasley twins premature graduation.
--Enigmatic
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
How much you want to bet they will cut that scene out? Man, I am so DISILLUSIONED with these movies.
Posted by esl (Member # 3143) on :
Ooo. way to kill the mood.
Here I was, reading and thinking: yeah, that'll be an absolutely awesome scene to watch. Then along comes Synesthesia's post. which is a very good point by the way. I wouldn't be surprised if they cut it out, but somehow I think they won't.
Posted by JennaDean (Member # 8816) on :
They can't cut it out, they must know it's the ONE scene we've all been waiting to see on film since Book 5 came out. It would cause a rebellion.
As for Umbridge, I'm trying to remember the name of the actress who plays Hyacinth in "Keeping Up Appearances". I thought she'd be good in that role. I can just see her in a pink cardigan with a bow on her head, with that sickly sweet voice saying those vile things....
Posted by Enigmatic (Member # 7785) on :
I'm not disillusioned with the movies, because I never thought they were all that great. The third and fourth are almost standalone movies in their own rights, but they still play more like illustrations to complement that book than a full story in their own right.
I think the Weasley's mischief will get decent screentime in #5, and I have a perfectly cynical reason for that belief. Order of the Phoenix was a very talky book with the only real action concentrated at the end. What are the good visuals from this book? Grimwald Place will be a good spooky setpiece, it's in. The duels in the Department of Mysteries are exciting, they're in. Things like the Weasley fireworks and swamp are cool visuals that can be done very quickly, so they're in.
Now, they may not give that particular scene time to do it justice, but I'm hoping they do.
--Enigmatic
Posted by Chris Bridges (Member # 1138) on :
Forget Dame Judi as M, think of her as the woman from "Chocolat," only with frillier clothes.
Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
While she's still not the actress I see in the role (I'm not sure who is though ) she is a great actor and would do a marvellous job.
Posted by kwsni (Member # 1831) on :
The twins have been getting consistently better screen time every movie, and they are incredible in OotP. It would be a shame to waste that.
Ni!
Posted by fiazko (Member # 5812) on :
I think Imelda Staunton (who's actually playing the part) will be fabulous.
Posted by JLM (Member # 7800) on :
I had been thinking Judi Dench would make a great Umbridge too. Either her or the lady from "Murder Most Horrid".
Posted by Sterling (Member # 8096) on :
Judi Dench would be great. I know they're mostly casting Brits, but how about Anjelica Houston?
Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :
They can't cut that scene out, it's a huge moment in the book... that'd be like cutting out the business with the Quidditch World Cup in book/movie #4 (which they didn't do, although they did cut it a bit short).
Posted by HandEyeProtege (Member # 7565) on :
I thought the same thing about the twins' irreverent departure from Hogwarts--it was the one scene I wanted to see more than any other in the movie. Then I realized that what I love most about it is the line "Give 'er hell for us, Peeves!" and the poltergeist's unprecedented salute. It brought tears of mirth to my eyes.
Without Peeves, even if the scene is in there is no way they can do it justice. And THAT also brings tears to my eyes.
Posted by Princess Leah (Member # 6026) on :
Yes, yes! It's practically the only place in book 5 where I wasn't vaugely dissapointed with it! They must put in "Give 'er hell from us, Peeves" , or I will boycott.
And no one will notice, but I'll feel better.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
I have to imagine they will cut a lot of Umbridge. They can't cut her totally, she's in too much of the book. But all those little things take up time, and the book is already so long that just getting the main plot elements into the movie is going to be a challenge.
Posted by BaoQingTian (Member # 8775) on :
I don't know Lyrhawn...IMO plot-wise not a lot seemed happening in book 5. To me it seemed like it dragged on and was quite repetitive. I can't even call it character development--it didn't seem like a lot of that was going on either. I thought they did a superb job with #4, and I expect the same effective condensing yet pandering to the book fans that I enjoyed about GofF to be in the next movie
Posted by BaoQingTian (Member # 8775) on :
But then again, they did almost completely cut Rita Skeeter, so yoiu may be on the mark.
Posted by Megan (Member # 5290) on :
Spoilers for GoF
* * *
They also didn't have Harry giving the twins the Triwizard winnings either, though, so how they're going to pay for the shop is kind of a mystery now.
Posted by fugu13 (Member # 2859) on :
I'm going to assume that's why they made a point of showing the twins doing bets at everything and having stacks of money.
Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :
Yeah, Megan, I was wondering about that...
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
C ome to think of it, no, she doesn't have that high cute irratating voice...
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