People often tell me that I'm obsessed with Harry Potter. When I drop random things into conversations such as "That reminds me of when Hermione missed the Cheering Charms lesson in book 3" or "That reminds me of when Harry gave Uncle Vernon's socks to Dobby on Christmas day," these accusations are pretty much correct, so I don't really mind being called obsessed. But I hate it when people say to me "You're obsessed with Harry Potter. I can't believe you like those movies, they were so bad." This has happened about 5 times, and it makes me very angry, because I do not like the movies at all.
My obsession is with the books. I have read the first 4 nine times each, and I have just finished the fifth one for the 3rd time. I could go on and on about how magnificent the books are, but I won't. I'm sure if you are reading this, you have experienced for yourself the wonder and delight of the books, and if you haven't, GO AND READ THEM NOW! I want to talk about the movies, and my problems with them.
My first is the reason they are being made. Many books are adapted into movies because writers or directors love the books, and want them to reach a wider audience, or want to re-interpret them, or add something special and different to their existence. The Harry Potter movies were made solely because Warner Bros want to make money. You can't blame them for seizing this franchise, the most popular children's book phenomenon of all time. But, sadly, instead of living up to the potential to make the movies an exciting addition to the books, they never once stopped looking at Harry Potter as a product.
For the first movie, they hired one of the blandest, most unremarkable directors you could think of. Shunning all kinds of more interesting, daring candidates such as Tim Burton and Terry Gilliam, they opted for someone who they knew would provide them with a safe, money-making adaptation. And Chris Columbus did. But his direction in the first movie lacked flair and excitement; it felt as if there was little passion for the material, and although the second movie had some more show-off direction and arty angles, it still felt like he wasn't hugely interested in the story he was telling.
Steve Kloves, the screenwriter, is very talented, but seems unsuited to writing English schoolboy fantasy stories. His scripts are unable to manage the seamless mixing of comedy and terror that the books contain, and while the humour within the books is very smart and always surprising, the movie chooses obvious comedy targets without real wit or subtlety (e.g. Dudley stealing Harry's cake, Malfoy saying to Goyle "I didn't think you could read").
And then the acting. I'll say some good stuff about it Rupert Grint plays Ron really well (although his character seems to have morphed into an idiot) and Emma Watson is wonderful as Hermione, brilliantly conveying the character's intelligence and kindness. But Daniel Radcliffehis 2 performances of Harry Potter have not shown us the character that we know from the books. Rather, in the movies, Harry is not a character at all- just an empty body who we witness the events through. In the books, Harry is constantly thinking, moving, amazed by the new world around him, having fun with his friends, afraid of You-Know-Who, but brave and strong and kind. In the movies, he is not surprised by anything, his interaction with Ron and Hermione feels fake, and Radcliffe seems unable to portray any emotion except blankness. Even in the snake fight in the CoS movie, he manages to stay totally cool, when in the books, Harry is terrified but faces his fear and defeats the snake.
I could go on, but I'll stop. I'd be interested to hear anyone's comments. Hopefully, Alfonso Cuaron, an astonishingly talented director, will make the 3rd movie better, but I'm not getting too excited. And sadly, the first 2 books are stuck with two bland, dully-directed movies when (if they had to be made into movies at all) they deserve classics. It's such a shame that the makers of the movies decided not to include any magic. |
User reviews
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| Reanne |
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| 2006.06.18 |
I agree, but not completly because I didn't even know what Harry Potter was...
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| Dark Soul1990 |
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| 2006.06.11 |
Yes. I quite agree. Dan isn't an awful actor, but he doesn't have the abili...
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| jess |
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| 2006.05.05 |
This review is amazing!!!!. i can't beleive i finally found someone who agr...
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| julia |
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| 2006.04.29 |
i think you need to go back and actually watch the movies more carefully. Y...
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| thomas |
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| 2006.03.22 |
i understand the feeling of the books being misinterpreted occasionally, bu...
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| Half-Blood Moon |
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| 2006.03.06 |
I HATE the movies. Seriously. Daniel is hot and all, and so id Rupert, but ...
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| D.sist |
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| 2006.03.05 |
I agree with you but it's not that i didnt like the beginning movies its ju...
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| Evans |
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| 2006.01.14 |
I fully agree with you and loved seeing my opinion on the movie in words. ...
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| Silver Apocalypse |
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| 2005.12.27 |
I find this editorial to be quite accurate, though a little harsh in terms ...
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| HP 4Ever |
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| 2005.12.20 |
I agree completely. Wholeheartedly. You have broadcasted my feelings exactl...
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| Phoenix Feather |
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| 2005.12.18 |
I could not agree more. I think that most of the true fans are dissapointed...
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| HandofGlory546 |
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| 2005.12.16 |
I feel your pain. These movies give HP a bad name. I am probably HP's bi...
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| zak |
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| 2005.11.07 |
I totaly agree w/ u! I just wish QUENTIN TARANTINO directed the movies! lol...
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| padfoot99 |
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| 2005.10.31 |
i partially agree the first and second movies didnt at all live up to the b...
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| Squidward |
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| 2005.10.29 |
I would also like to say that Daniel Radcliffe is not really an accurate de...
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| Squidward |
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| 2005.10.29 |
I agree with you. Especially regarding Daniel Radcliffe's acting. They coul...
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| Nicholas Howley |
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| 2005.10.28 |
I completely agree. Often it is a book that captures the mind more than ...
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| Shanti Knight |
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| 2005.10.24 |
I second this completely! I think Rupert and Emma really make things happen...
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| Linz |
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| 2005.10.02 |
I think that Tim Burton is a genius, and if he directed the movies, they de...
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| Tink81 |
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| 2005.09.20 |
I disagree. I found the first movie to be amazing and unique.... all the li...
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| Granger4ever |
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| 2005.09.18 |
I totally agree! I really didn't like the movies at all! I find that the mo...
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| kahlilah |
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| 2005.07.26 |
you made the point no one else seems to make. i think you've over looked on...
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| Kate |
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| 2005.07.24 |
i cannot believ all the people who agreed with you on this editorial. it wa...
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| Samantha |
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| 2005.07.10 |
I am so glad this has been addressed! I was quite disappointed in the movie...
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| Lauren |
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| 2005.07.03 |
Yes! Thank you! No one else seems to understand that I love the books, but ...
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| melie |
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| 2005.07.02 |
i agree with this almost entirely. though i thought the movies were ok, i l...
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| Tipp |
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| 2005.06.30 |
Well quietly I liked the first two movies than the third. It was the first ...
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| Mandy |
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| 2005.06.23 |
Movies almost never live up to books, but I have to say that if it wasn't f...
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| Jeremy |
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| 2005.06.20 |
I absolutely agree that the movies were horrible compared to the books. The...
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| Eligh Li |
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| 2005.06.16 |
I agree to your comment about Daniel Radcliffe. He is undeniably handsome b...
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| cassi |
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| 2005.06.16 |
first of all I'd like to say that I did not mean to rate your"Harry Potter ...
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| Roka |
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| 2005.05.28 |
I almost always agree with you on this. The only thing is that I DON'T thin...
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| Lune |
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| 2005.05.18 |
I couldn't agree more. After watching the first two movies, I was highly di...
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| fv |
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| 2005.04.11 |
Josh, this is a well written piece and I found myself nodding in agreement ...
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| Luna |
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| 2005.03.23 |
I agree on everything you said. I'm SOOOOO glad that the third film was be...
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| Laura |
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| 2005.03.23 |
I agree mostly with what you say. Yes, Daniel Radcliffe seemed very unexper...
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| Dark Lord Hector |
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| 2005.03.14 |
What can I say... You are quite right... I know it's a bit late to review t...
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| Sarai |
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| 2005.02.12 |
I totally agree! I hated watching the movies. I really wish they would get ...
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| Mikejo |
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| 2005.01.17 |
Excellent point that the scriptwriters and acting coaches should look into....
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| Kirsten |
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| 2004.12.16 |
Here here! I completely agree. But y'know -and I'm serious, don't laugh- I ...
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| Dracobolt |
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| 2004.12.10 |
Wordy McWord to that! I, too, love the books but loathe the movies. My main...
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