Harry Potter and the Uncaring Audience
So, I went today to see the new Harry Potter movie.
I've read the books, and I enjoyed the movie. I think I enjoyed the movie *because* I'd read the books. They've taken great liberties with the series, though some of the changes here struck me more than in previous movies.
There's been talk of the changes like the attack at the beginning, the assault on the house over break, the kiss in the Room of Requirement, etc. Things like that're significant, but can be chalked up to directorial license. It's harder to convey some things in visual mediums than in print, that's just the way it goes.
But there are other things, leaving out HUGE areas, entire plotlines. Who's the Half-Blood Prince? Harry doesn't seem to care, why should you? Oh, hey, last bit of the movie we find out, but why should it matter? Where did the name come from? The movie touches on *none* of that. I'd almost think that if it weren't for the fact that it's the title of the movie (and book) they wouldn't have bothered with the plotline at all. There's other things that get glossed over or fast-forwarded, to say nothing of the jarring transition from last-movie's 'Harry as brooding emo kid' to this movie's 'Harry as good boy that does what he's told'.
Makes you wonder, especially given the splitting of the last book into two movies. How much will they change?
I've read the books, and I enjoyed the movie. I think I enjoyed the movie *because* I'd read the books. They've taken great liberties with the series, though some of the changes here struck me more than in previous movies.
There's been talk of the changes like the attack at the beginning, the assault on the house over break, the kiss in the Room of Requirement, etc. Things like that're significant, but can be chalked up to directorial license. It's harder to convey some things in visual mediums than in print, that's just the way it goes.
But there are other things, leaving out HUGE areas, entire plotlines. Who's the Half-Blood Prince? Harry doesn't seem to care, why should you? Oh, hey, last bit of the movie we find out, but why should it matter? Where did the name come from? The movie touches on *none* of that. I'd almost think that if it weren't for the fact that it's the title of the movie (and book) they wouldn't have bothered with the plotline at all. There's other things that get glossed over or fast-forwarded, to say nothing of the jarring transition from last-movie's 'Harry as brooding emo kid' to this movie's 'Harry as good boy that does what he's told'.
Makes you wonder, especially given the splitting of the last book into two movies. How much will they change?