Harry Potter Fans!

[Critter]

So by now any fan here should be well and truly excited for the next installment. So when are we all seeing Deathly Hallows? I myself already have tickets for the midnight showing and am currently on 25 hours away from seeing it! 
Only problem is I probably won't get home until about 3am or even later and have work from 9 the next morning. That should be interesting 

[DJ Doena]

I've read the 5th to 7th book on the day they were released (in english) but I was never too keen on the movies. I like the first two because they transport the charm of the books onto the screen. But the third was already too short and the story in the movie was more like a best of where they didn't even use the best of the book.

I have yet to watch the sixth one.

[Achim]

I will see it next week, hopefully in IMAX.

Jason Isaacs was talking to Mayo and Kermode last Friday. He pointed out that 7a is more about character development, quiet and maybe a bit creepy; well yes, first half of the book was slower. 7b should be where the action is at.

[Critter]

15 hours now!!! 

I've read the 5th to 7th book on the day they were released (in english) but I was never too keen on the movies. I like the first two because they transport the charm of the books onto the screen.

It's interesting you should say that. My friend and I (the one I am going to the midnight showing with) are both obsessed with Harry Potter in a major way, yet films 1 and 2 have always been our least favourite of the movies. 3,5 and 6 are our top favourites (4 didn't do much for us).

I will see it next week, hopefully in IMAX.

Jason Isaacs was talking to Mayo and Kermode last Friday. He pointed out that 7a is more about character development, quiet and maybe a bit creepy; well yes, first half of the book was slower. 7b should be where the action is at.

I have heard that there is some action in this one, but not as much. 7B is looking like it's going to be all our war so that's very exciting. It will be nice to settle down a bit before that.

[goodguy]

15 hours now!!! 

Just to make sure, this is not about the next Twilight sequel, right?

[Critter]

15 hours now!!! 

Just to make sure, this is not about the next Twilight sequel, right?

Haha no you must have confused my smileys. When it's Harry Potter they look like this: 
When it's Twilight they look like this: 

[Dragonfire]

I'm going Friday..I don't know the time yet.  The last time I looked - last night, they were up yet for my theater.  
Originally I was going to have to go into work from 9 to 12 that morning...so I was planning to go right from there to the theater.  I found out yesterday, we aren't going in Friday now.    

I love the books.  I've really liked the movies too, though they aren't as good as the books.  I really like the first 2 because things stay closer to the book.  While I like the 3rd movie, I do think that is where things started getting off track with the movies.  Some important information gets dropped out..and that would have taken just a few minutes to include.  It has gotten worse with each movie since then.

I have major issues with 5 and 6 tied to how much got cut.  Yes I know things need to be cut for movies based on books, but a lot of what is left out just doesn't make sense.  I've read more than one interview with the director - Yates I think his name is - saying that he set out to make the shortest Potter movie with 5 because he thought the first 4 movies were too long.  So the 5th movie got cut to hell and important information that is tied in directly to what happens in the last book, is cut when it would have taken just a few minutes to cover the explanations.  I have a friend who hadn't read the books when 5 came out, and they even they thought stuff was left out and they felt things didn't make sense.

I made a post about the issues I had with the 6th movie once.  Unfortunately, the owner of the board deleted the board for a while.  I'm not fond of Yates..I do not think he is the right director for Potter and the decisions he has made makes me question if he's even bothered to read the books.  I have a story somewhere - or I did have...the magazine may be gone - that points out decisions that were made for 6...the ones I have the biggest issues with ..and Yates was responsible for them.  And he planned a few other things that would have been bad, but the studio put their foot down and stopped him.  

I want to see the last movies, but I have major concerns with how a few things are going to be handled.  

[Dragonfire]

15 hours now!!! 

Just to make sure, this is not about the next Twilight sequel, right?

It is not nice to mention that movie along with Harry Potter. 

[Critter]

It is not nice to mention that movie along with Harry Potter. 

Very true. The 'T' word should never even be in the same sentence 

Marie I agree with a lot of the problems in the films, as to important details being left out etc. In the end though the books are still the books, they are still sitting there on my shelves and have not been changed at all. So I try to view the films in a different light. Instead of sitting back and thinking about all the things they should have left in or taken out I like to try see the films as a stand-alone thing. I have read the books so many times that the plot is in my head like concrete, so it doesn't matter to me if they leave some things out because I personally know that those things still happened.
It really is a huge task to try and cram so much information from those huge books into films with a 2 hour or so length. I honestly don't know how they do it, I would find it impossible to know where to stop. If we put everything in the books into the films then each film would need to be 15 hours long. And also, David Yates is my favourite of the Harry Potter directors  . I know he gets a lot of complaints, but I have just loved his films more than the rest.

[Dragonfire]

I know everything can't be in the movies..I don't have a problem with that.  When I get irritated is when explanations that would take a few minutes are left out yet an entire new sequence that adds nothing to movie is put in. 

[spoiler]Some more specific examples...  It is made out in the 6th movie like Dumbledore had no clue that Voldemort had created horcruxes when he and Harry see the memory from Slughorn. That just doesn't work for me.  Dumbledore doesn't give Harry any idea of what the horcruxes might be in the movie, while in the book he at least had a clue or two.  The other memories tied to Voldemort are left out..those are very important to show the evolution of Voldemort and how evil he was even years ago.  There isn't any mention of people vanishing like was done in the book.  Instead there is just the attack on the Burrow..which was stupid.  That makes it seem like that was the only attack by the Deatheaters.  It would have been more effective for characters to mention briefly about whoever disappearing...so then it is shown that the attacks are an on going issue.  Maybe showing the wizard newspaper with a few stories or something.  Dumbledore's death was handled in a way that had very little impact...and no funeral.  That is just wrong.  [/spoiler]

Ok..I'm done now.  I have way more issues with things Yates has done.  I know the books and movies are different things.  I just think some choices have screwed things up. 

[Kathy]

I'm afraid to give my opinion!   Too bad...I'm going to anyway.

I've read all the books and enjoyed them. But, they are not anywhere near the top of my favorites list. I consider them to be a "nice read" but nothing more than that.

The thing I most appreciate about Rowling and her world is that she has captured the imagination of a new generation of readers.

As far as the movies, I like them too. But, I never go to the theater to see them, I wait for the DVD and buy them when they come out.

[Critter]

I know everything can't be in the movies..I don't have a problem with that.  When I get irritated is when explanations that would take a few minutes are left out yet an entire new sequence that adds nothing to movie is put in.  

[spoiler]Some more specific examples...  It is made out in the 6th movie like Dumbledore had no clue that Voldemort had created horcruxes when he and Harry see the memory from Slughorn. That just doesn't work for me.  Dumbledore doesn't give Harry any idea of what the horcruxes might be in the movie, while in the book he at least had a clue or two.  The other memories tied to Voldemort are left out..those are very important to show the evolution of Voldemort and how evil he was even years ago.  There isn't any mention of people vanishing like was done in the book.  Instead there is just the attack on the Burrow..which was stupid.  That makes it seem like that was the only attack by the Deatheaters.  It would have been more effective for characters to mention briefly about whoever disappearing...so then it is shown that the attacks are an on going issue.  Maybe showing the wizard newspaper with a few stories or something.  Dumbledore's death was handled in a way that had very little impact...and no funeral.  That is just wrong.  [/spoiler]

Ok..I'm done now.  I have way more issues with things Yates has done.  I know the books and movies are different things.  I just think some choices have screwed things up.  

[spoiler]I agree with some of those things. Such as the attack on the Burrow. I personally didn't see how that scene made any sense, or why it was needed at all. Why add that scene in? They also never follow up on it, we don't see if the Burrow was repaired or how it really impacts on the family etc. So I certinaly agree with you on that scene, I was a bit  '' when I saw it.
I didn't bother me that they didn't have any mention of people vanishing because I think the opening scene of Half Blood Prince sort of summed up all the fear of the Death Eaters anyway. That fantastic scene where they rush through and take out the bridge as well as Ollivanders wand shop to me portrayed the Death Eaters impact at that time, and the true fear being spread by them. Not having a funeral didn't bother me either (I think I'm the only person on the planet it didn't b other haha). They had somewhat of a little tribute and I think a funeral if done correctly would have been too long.
One thing that does bother me is how little Tonks and Lupin have been in it. They went from not knowing each other in the films to being engaged (or at least together, I can't remember) with basically no explanation at all. At the same time though Tonks is just a personal favourite of mine from the books so I of course would want to see her in the films more, even if she is needed or not. Which brings up another problem with the films. Everyone would have different things personally that they would/wouldn't like to see in the films. It's such a massive task to try and please everyone, especially when it is based on such a legacy. Phew, I'm glad it's Yates out there and not me.[/spoiler]

[Najemikon]

This is getting interesting! I think this is definitely "Movie Fan Marie" rather than "Movie Critic Marie"!

You see, all things being equal, I like the Potter films, though I haven't read the books. Interesting diversions one and all. I think the same as Sophie, that I like Yates's take on it more than the others.

But lets take a step back for moment. These films are pointless and the closer they stay to the books, the more pointless they become. Film as an art form should be liberated and interpret an adaptation, but cinema as a business cannot allow it.

Chances are, David Yates saw a way to do something special and make the films actually work as films. But of course, the fans would never stand for it! How DARE he think of CHANGING something! David Yates is nothing but a robot designed to make sure everything goes smooth.

So the question is, why watch them at all?

In any case, it once more exposes the strange business for what it is. Film is an art, but controlled by the money men who throttle the artists. History has proved that those who can walk the line in-between produce genius benefiting from both sides, but the odds are slashed in modern cinema when it comes to an adaptation of a superstar book.

I'm being cynical, but the Potter films are pure entertainment so I don't complain too seriously, but part of me would be fascinated and possibly enchanted by a Potter film made by someone who couldn't be controlled. It would fail of course, but it would probably be wonderful.

[Critter]

I haven't read the books.

[Dr. Hasslein]

Harry Potter as in the character played by Noah Hathaway from the movie Troll?