Harry Potter - The Complete Series Thread

[Doctor Jones]

i do NOT see why they cut the voldemort flashbacks. that sucked, as well as how they cut out the battle at the end, AND snape's lack of emotion at the end. I get snape, but the one time he is supposed to show emotion, he stays exactly the same.

I just explained why. But okay.

You have to put yourself in the shoes of the people making these movies. Everything they do is for a reason. The don't just do these things out of whim. It's either a whole process when the script is being written and then in post when editing is to be done. Movies take on a life of their own in every phase of the production. It doesn't matter if it's an adaptation or not, if it's the story that you see, then as a filmmaker, you're going to do whatever it is to benefit the story you're telling on the screen.

Listen, as much as we want to see some of these things, you always have to be prepared for the fact that you may not see those things in the adaptations. The movie is the movie, and the book is the book. Narrative does not work the same way. The nature of movie making is different form the nature of writing whereas you pretty much have the freedom to go wherever your imagination takes you on the page.

If you must cut something to retain the integrity of the film, then by all means do it, whether it's from the book or not. Keeping scenes from the book does not equate to the overall quality of the film.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

I like watching HBP, but it isn't as strong as the others imo. It has no center, no real story for Harry. It has cute and fun awkward teen moments, but lacks the substance of the others, especially PoA and OotP. It only really picks up in the last act, at with point it is depending on the history of the films and the books, not its own narrative. I feel as if they had left in a few more memories, no more then 5 mins, and filmed them with real energy, they'd have more there. They also really should have avoided the shift in Harry's character.

It is also quite ugly compared to the others. That filter needed to die a quick death.

My take on the series
PoA
OotP
SS
DH Part 1
GoF
CoS
DH Part 2
HBP

 

[Doctor Jones]

I like watching HBP, but it isn't as strong as the others imo. It has no center, no real story for Harry. It has cute and fun awkward teen moments, but lacks the substance of the others, especially PoA and OotP. It only really picks up in the last act, at with point it is depending on the history of the films and the books, not its own narrative. I feel as if they had left in a few more memories, no more then 5 mins, and filmed them with real energy, they'd have more there. They also really should have avoided the shift in Harry's character.

It is also quite ugly compared to the others. That filter needed to die a quick death.

My take on the series
PoA
OotP
SS
DH Part 1
GoF
CoS
DH Part 2
HBP

You make it sound like these type of things are simple. It's pretty easy for us to sit here and say what they could have done but I imagine there's much more to it than that. Especially in making the decisions that they make in order what to write, keep, take out, and then actually film. Once you add or take something out, it creates a house of cards effect. Everything effects the other. If the scene's five minutes, that does indeed effect the momentum of the story. There's a logic that has to be there for things to sync. Once you write that scene, you're writing yourself into a position where things must follow suite. If you're going with that scene or approach, it will effect how the film ultimately turns out in the end. Which is why you cut something entirely and remove it from that narrative equation. And I'm just talking about the writing process.

Which is probably why The House of Gaunt was cut and never shot. If they know the scene won't add much to the film, even if they cut it down, then why even have it? Better to remove it and keep the integrity of the whole film than sacrifice it all for one scene that should just be there for the sake of keeping it. Keeping the scene won't even matter in the end because the movie suffered.

And it's ironic that you say it's less Harry centric because had they kept The House of Gaunt, it would have strengthened your claim even more.

Plus, like I said, HBP as a book as a story isn't entirely main plot centric. It deals more with human relationships than anything. I have more problems with OOTP than anything. It actually feels like it's been cut down and not as natural.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

You make it sound like these type of things are simple. It's pretty easy for us to sit here and say what they could have done but I imagine there's much more to it than that. Especially in making the decisions that they make in order what to write, keep, take out, and then actually film. Once you add or take something out, it creates a house of cards effect. Everything effects the other. If the scene's five minutes, that does indeed effect the momentum of the story. There's a logic that has to be there for things to sync. Once you write that scene, you're writing yourself into a position where things must follow suite. If you're going with that scene or approach, it will effect how the film ultimately turns out in the end. Which is why you cut something entirely and remove it from that narrative equation. And I'm just talking about the writing process.

I understand that it is difficult, but that doesn't change my views, especially considering I find the film lacking in its final form. It is flawed, and it could have been fixed at the writing level.

Which is probably why The House of Gaunt was cut and never shot. If they know the scene won't add much to the film, even if they cut it down, then why even have it? Better to remove it and keep the integrity of the whole film than sacrifice it all for one scene that should just be there for the sake of keeping it. Keeping the scene won't even matter in the end because the movie suffered.

And I think it would have enhanced the film. That is really the point. I think it would have helped. My two favorite Potters are PoA and OotP. They are trimmed massively. I understand the need to focus, but that is my problem. There is no focus with HBP.

And it's ironic that you say it's less Harry centric because had they kept The House of Gaunt, it would have strengthened your claim even more.

I don't think I said this. My problem with Harry in this film is his sudden "in loveness" with Ginny. A relationship, while not very good in the books imo, is made massively worse over the last three films. The last 3 films cement Hermione as the meaningful relationship in Harry's life.

Plus, like I said, HBP as a book as a story isn't entirely main plot centric. It deals more with human relationships than anything. I have more problems with OOTP than anything. It actually feels like it's been cut down and not as natural.

How does this matter? Considering we are talking about adapting for "the best", you can fix that. Though I'd say there is a few main plot threads in HBP.

 

[A Necessary Evil]

Do you have details on this? Maybe I'll hold off on Hogwarts collection. I was literally just about to order mine.

Unfortunately not. This is all the info that's been released :

http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Harry-Potter-The-Ultimate-Collection-Blu-ray/75410/#Forum

 

[A Necessary Evil]

You make it sound like these type of things are simple. It's pretty easy for us to sit here and say what they could have done but I imagine there's much more to it than that. Especially in making the decisions that they make in order what to write, keep, take out, and then actually film. Once you add or take something out, it creates a house of cards effect. Everything effects the other. If the scene's five minutes, that does indeed effect the momentum of the story. There's a logic that has to be there for things to sync. Once you write that scene, you're writing yourself into a position where things must follow suite. If you're going with that scene or approach, it will effect how the film ultimately turns out in the end. Which is why you cut something entirely and remove it from that narrative equation. And I'm just talking about the writing process.

Which is probably why The House of Gaunt was cut and never shot. If they know the scene won't add much to the film, even if they cut it down, then why even have it? Better to remove it and keep the integrity of the whole film than sacrifice it all for one scene that should just be there for the sake of keeping it. Keeping the scene won't even matter in the end because the movie suffered.

And it's ironic that you say it's less Harry centric because had they kept The House of Gaunt, it would have strengthened your claim even more.

Plus, like I said, HBP as a book as a story isn't entirely main plot centric. It deals more with human relationships than anything. I have more problems with OOTP than anything. It actually feels like it's been cut down and not as natural.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

 

[ShadowBoxer]

To this day I still haven't read through all the HP books, i stoped after the fourth book I think. But one thing that bugged me about the movies is how they portrayed Harry's dad in the films. In the movies he seems like a arrogant *****e/ bully much like Malfoy. I am told his dad is portrayed better in the books but they really should have taken more time with him just like they did with his mom. Also, the new expansion to the Universal Orlando park seems awesome!

 

[XtremelyBaneful]

I just explained why. But okay.

You have to put yourself in the shoes of the people making these movies. Everything they do is for a reason. The don't just do these things out of whim. It's either a whole process when the script is being written and then in post when editing is to be done. Movies take on a life of their own in every phase of the production. It doesn't matter if it's an adaptation or not, if it's the story that you see, then as a filmmaker, you're going to do whatever it is to benefit the story you're telling on the screen.

Listen, as much as we want to see some of these things, you always have to be prepared for the fact that you may not see those things in the adaptations. The movie is the movie, and the book is the book. Narrative does not work the same way. The nature of movie making is different form the nature of writing whereas you pretty much have the freedom to go wherever your imagination takes you on the page.

If you must cut something to retain the integrity of the film, then by all means do it, whether it's from the book or not. Keeping scenes from the book does not equate to the overall quality of the film.

you wrote that they would have been redundant but I don't agree that they would have, I think they were vital. While I do believe david yates was the best or second best director of the harry potter series, I don't think all the changes were necessary. this is the guy who said christian coulson shouldn't come back for flashbacks because he was too old which is ********.

and I know you're right, it is impractical to believe that a book can be replicated to the big screen, even jk rowling herself... but that doesn't mean it couldn't have been done better. however, I think the dh films were a very fitting conclusion to the franchise

 

[Asteroid-Man]

Unfortunately not. This is all the info that's been released :

http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Harry-Potter-The-Ultimate-Collection-Blu-ray/75410/#Forum

It looks like a repackaging of the Ultimate Blurays. Which is all the Wizard's collection and Hogwarts collections were. It probably just has different cover art or packaging.

 

[A Necessary Evil]

Possibly. I'm only picking the Hogwarts collection up because it's cheaper than buying the rest of the UE's I need (SS, COS, POA, HBP)...seeing as sellers put the prices way too freakin' high for those things. I wish they would put out all the footage for these movies they shot, I don't understand what's so wrong about wanting deleted scenes.

 

[Asteroid-Man]

Possibly. I'm only picking the Hogwarts collection up because it's cheaper than buying the rest of the UE's I need (SS, COS, POA, HBP)...seeing as sellers put the prices way too freakin' high for those things. I wish they would put out all the footage for these movies they shot, I don't understand what's so wrong about wanting deleted scenes.

I honestly feel like Yates is embarrassed.

GOF seems to have all the deleted scenes, and I think Alfonso Cuaron is busy as hell.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Do you mean the extended version they show on ABC family? I'd like those, but what I really want is a full on reedited version of OotP. It is for me one of the best, but I think that if they brought back that abandoned +45mins, it could be legend.

 

[Asteroid-Man]

The extended editions on ABC are just the films with the deleted scenes reinserted. The ones we're talking about are including the scenes that were shot and never released, including the 45 minutes that were cut from OOTP (and the multiple rooms in the MOG)

 

[DarthSkywalker]

The reason we haven't seen most of those scenes is because they are incomplete in terms of filming and effects. We will probably never see them. They will be the new version of Luke in the cave, or the crew in the sandstorm. We assume that the Priori Incantatem scene was shot because of the cards, but we don't know if it is simply a shot taken out of context.

 

[Asteroid-Man]

Apparently Best Buy exclusive is fake:
http://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?p=8703437&posted=1#post8703437

 

[A Necessary Evil]

I honestly feel like Yates is embarrassed.

GOF seems to have all the deleted scenes, and I think Alfonso Cuaron is busy as hell.

I don't know what he'd be embarrassed of, he made the three best HP movies (if the 3 hour OOTP was released I'd say 4) of the series.

The reason we haven't seen most of those scenes is because they are incomplete in terms of filming and effects. We will probably never see them. They will be the new version of Luke in the cave, or the crew in the sandstorm. We assume that the Priori Incantatem scene was shot because of the cards, but we don't know if it is simply a shot taken out of context.

Regardless, we know some sort of explanation of it is shot, especially since the image that card used wasn't in the final film. I'd also like to see the waterfall scene from GoF, but those are the only two shot that I think I really wanna see. There's a few here and there (like harry opening the egg in his dorm room) I'd like to see, but yeah I really only want the two listed above from GOF.

 

[Asteroid-Man]

I don't know what he'd be embarrassed of, he made the three best HP movies (if the 3 hour OOTP was released I'd say 4) of the series.

Ok, first of all that's completely false. HBP was a horrible adaptation. Even from a strictly cinematic perspective, the film lacked any colour or proper balance of the stakes, and uncomfortably expressed the emotions of the characters; namely Ginny and Harry who are supposed to be incredibly coy and playful with each other. Why is this detail so important? It contrasts the lack of love in Voldemort - speaking of which, this point was almost completely missed, leaving out the Gaunt Shack and the bewitchment of Tom Riddle Sr.

Second, Harry Potter 1 and 3 are arguably the best. The first one had nothing to build off of, so that film really set the groundwork - non of the other films struck a balance between the fun and "homelike" feeling of Hogwarts with the darkness of Voldemort's presence like this one. It was a perfect adaptation of the book - I don't mean literally, I mean as far as tone goes.

The third one set up the dark tone, but still had a bit of that playful Hogwarts balance. Yates's films attributed "awkwardness" to Hogwarts.



Aaaaaaaaaaaaanyway, what I meant was he was probably embarrassed in the scenes that were cut out specifically, either due to performances, cinematography, effects, editing, continuity, etc and didn't think it fair to those involved to show it. A lot of directors share this same feeling.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Prisoner of Azkaban is the Harry Potter film and I honestly don't think it is close. OotP is probably the one I watch the most, but PoA is truly great filmmaking. Heck even John Williams went 70s/80s on us, and delivered one of his best scores. A truly underrated score.

 

[A Necessary Evil]

I actually don't really like POA that much. I just don't understand the massive love it gets. DH1/DH2 are much better. SS is good, but suffers from lack of experience for the young actors (don't blame them), and being too close to the books. Now that we're on the topic of both POA, I don't love either book nor movie, although I like them both. I know HBP is a bad adaptation, but as a film I love it. As someone mentioned earlier, it's about love (a BIG thing in the HP world), and a lack of it, which is presented in both stories being told (draco and voldemort.) I mentioned it elsewhere, yeah I would have liked a more direct adaptation, but oh well.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

I actually don't really like POA that much. I just don't understand the massive love it gets. DH1/DH2 are much better. SS is good, but suffers from lack of experience for the young actors (don't blame them), and being too close to the books. Now that we're on the topic of both POA, I don't love either book nor movie, although I like them both. I know HBP is a bad adaptation, but as a film I love it. As someone mentioned earlier, it's about love (a BIG thing in the HP world), and a lack of it, which is presented in both stories being told (draco and voldemort.) I mentioned it elsewhere, yeah I would have liked a more direct adaptation, but oh well.

I am a big fan of DH part 1, but Part 2 isn't even a complete film.

PoA gets so much love down to its film making merits. It has a fantastic energy, grows darker while still keeping it truly fantasy. It is shot and edited beautifully, with the score to match. If you break it down scene by scene, it really is a wonder. The mechanics of the third act are insane.

PoA for me is what an adaptation should be. It captures the ideas and essence of the book, without being slave to it.

 

[A Necessary Evil]

How does Part 2 not even feel like a complete film? It wrapped up every loose end nicely, finished the story that began in SS, and was a more than fitting end to the series.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

How does Part 2 not even feel like a complete film? It wrapped up every loose end nicely, finished the story that began in SS, and was a more than fitting end to the series.

That makes it a good ending of a series, but it isn't its own film. It starts slow, with an oddly truncated first and second act. It is almost all third act.

Part 1 is a much better, more complete film imo. With that film, they took part of the book and molded into one film beautifully. There is resolution and growth self contained to the film, while still having the overarching threat.

 

[Asteroid-Man]

That makes it a good ending of a series, but it isn't its own film. It starts slow, with an oddly truncated first and second act. It is almost all third act.

Part 1 is a much better, more complete film imo. With that film, they took part of the book and molded into one film beautifully. There is resolution and growth self contained to the film, while still having the overarching threat.

I actually don't really like POA that much. I just don't understand the massive love it gets. DH1/DH2 are much better. SS is good, but suffers from lack of experience for the young actors (don't blame them), and being too close to the books. Now that we're on the topic of both POA, I don't love either book nor movie, although I like them both. I know HBP is a bad adaptation, but as a film I love it. As someone mentioned earlier, it's about love (a BIG thing in the HP world), and a lack of it, which is presented in both stories being told (draco and voldemort.) I mentioned it elsewhere, yeah I would have liked a more direct adaptation, but oh well.

But it fails because it doesn't even show the wonders of love... it portrays love as being awkward, and they barely touch on Voldemort and Draco not being loved. Sure you can say "pity them Harry - they are not loved" or you could bloody SHOW it to your audience. Telling your audience something when you can show it is ****** writing and directing - what's worse is that they didn't even have to come up with something original, IT WAS IN THE BLOODY BOOK. And instead, he focused on aspects of the book that did not need to be in the film at all, and skewed them to a point where it was even depressing to watch the romance scenes. From a cinematographic point of view, the film lacked all colour. It stands out like a soar thumb from the rest.

I am a big fan of DH part 1, but Part 2 isn't even a complete film.

PoA gets so much love down to its film making merits. It has a fantastic energy, grows darker while still keeping it truly fantasy. It is shot and edited beautifully, with the score to match. If you break it down scene by scene, it really is a wonder. The mechanics of the third act are insane.

PoA for me is what an adaptation should be. It captures the ideas and essence of the book, without being slave to it.

Couldn't agree more.

 

[Octoberist]

Has anyone seen this?

[YT]bXaGF8e8-EI[/YT]

It's about Universal Studios Orando's new expansion of their Harry Potter Land.

But the craziest thing about the video is the dude who played Longbottom. He's actually a good looking dude now. Who knew??

 

[Raiden]

J.K. Rowling regrets pairing Hermione with Ron in the Harry Potter ending