Differences in books to movie Options

[Heart of Gold]

First, I understand and recognize (and have since I was a young teen) that books and movies are different media interpretations, so I do not compare them critically.

I just read a CNN review of HBP, (see here: http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Movies/07/...nce/index.html) and it mentions on major character who is missing from the movie. Who is it?

I have tickets for the 7pm show tonight, so I will find out soon enough, but I would be interested to know who so I may ponder it before I see the movie.....

[whitewolf]

That would have been a sight and a comfort to behold. It also underlines my ambiguity about the movie. The wand scene was one of the best alternative ideas in the movie and worked its magic for those who wished to see a sembalance of the story we knew.

The other good alternatives: Hermione and Harry commiserating over the Weasly sibliings; everything Ginny (I love what they did with her); the humanization of Draco Malfory (I actually felt sorry for him); the Felix scenes(Daniel was soooo funny!) and then it was so touching between Harry and Slughorn in the part about Lily. (That may haven been the best written and excuted scene in the whole movie).

My problem with the movies has always been the issue of context and continuity. Small details mean a lot and if you leave the wrong one out you have to change course (i.e. Sirius' mirror, Dobie's entire role as a free elf, Bill and Percy Weasley's relationship to Harry, just to name a few)
Then you make huge changes (burning Burrows was a stragtegic move; don't like but understand it); Remus and Tonks in full relationship mode (also understandable); the venture of the "kiss" (was a let down, but still good). While these things may work for the movie they change the basic story itself.

The scene of the "killing of Dumberdore" killed this movie for me. The way it was done assassinated the character of Harry Potter, himself. There was a reason JK wrote that scene the way she did, and this alternative changed that reason. This was the foundation of who Harry was to become; learning the lessons of there are things that you are powerless to change, trust must sometimes be blind and patient when validation is not always immediate and that how and when a sacrifice is made is as important as the sacrifice itself. Yes all this was in the scene in the book, but not in the one in the movie, and true Harry Potter fans know why!!

For those who wish to see the movie go! It's not a bad movie. The cast is excellent, the effects done very well and not all the alternatives were bad ones. I will be adding this one to my collection, so go and enjoy!

This post has been edited by whitewolf: Jul 19 2009, 10:18 AM