HBP your thoughts

[Sprites]

So in light of the new Harry Potter film being released I made this thread so people can discuss their thoughts and feelings on how they felt it compared to the book, what they liked, didn't like and so on.

A warning to those who haven't seen the film yet there probably will be massive spoilers so if you don't want it spoiled, even if you have read the book and know what happens then it's probably best to steer clear of this thread for the time being.


Anyhoo for me the film was alright but wasn't up to the standard of its two predecesors I actually felt kinda let down by the way it turned out after really looking forward to it. I felt like there was too much stuff in it that was funny and not enough darker parts explored. I also thought here were things that happened that were totally unneccesary i.e

Spoiler

the fight at the Burrow and the Burrow exploding. I mean what the hell? Who during the process of filming and script writing of HBP thought I know let's totally move away from the book, have Harry and Ginny chase then fight Bellatrix and Fenrir in a field oh and while we're at it let's blow up the Burrow for good measure! It was so ridiculous and untrue to the book that I actually did a double take when it happened.

Not only that but the lack of battle scenes at Hogwarts towards the end...I mean WTF!, No Order or Dumbledore's Army involved..nothing. To me the fight at the burrow was a poor substitute and completely unnecessary for what should've been a great few battle scenes at Hogwarts

Don't get me wrong there were some really good scenes in the film that were adapted well from the book and it was actually really funny in some parts but I just felt more could've been done to make it closer to the book towards the end rather than adding in unnecessary scenes.

 

[Miscreant]

Just saw the film, I thought the last one was better, kind of lagged at the end which was unexpected for a Potter film. It seemed like they filled it with to many little bits and bobs instead of going into the main story thoroughly. I was hyped and don't get me wrong I enjoyed it, but it felt incomplete.

 

[Sprites]

My thoughts exactly which was disappointing considering the release date was moved back a further 8 months because they wanted it to be a summer box office success. I felt it was incomplete as well it was great right up until Harry and Dumbledore go looking for the horcrux.

In my head I was thinking great this is where loads of action will take place and we'll see some battles, dark scenes etc and yeah they did the horcrux scene well but afterwards everything just sort've happened it didn't flow well and felt rushed in my opinion.

 

[Killer Tofu]

I remember the part in the cave being so intense in the book, and the same feeling was not there in the movie...it could have been conveyed so easily, but somehow they missed the boat. Bleh.

Also, I meantioned this in another thread, but I remember being absolutely obsessed with the Half-Blood Prince during the book (even though I already knew who it was), because she made him so mysterious and engaging...in the movie, he was more of an afterthought...after the two love-triangles, that is.

I think there was too much time dedicated to romance than other substantive things. It was nice having Quiddich back, though.

And Ginny's bothered me since the beginning. She's supposed to be very beautiful...I think she's "sort-of-cute-if-you-squint-your-eyes-and-hang-up-side-down." They tried to pretty her up, but she's still not working for me.

AND TONKS WAS SUPPOSED TO SAVE HARRY, DAMNIT!! Although Luna am win.

 

[Ⓐaron]

I liked it. Crossposted from other thread:

I felt if they'd made the end into a huge action fest it would've lessened the impact of

Spoiler

Dumbledore's death

, which was much more visceral for me on film than it was in the book. One can quibble with what was taken out or put in (I agree that it would've been nice to have the Half-Blood Prince hyped more so that

Spoiler

Snape's Big Reveal

at the end came as more of a shock) but on the whole I found it to be a highly successful adaptation and one of the best films of the summer so far.

Then again I don't find myself caring as much if adaptations stay obsessively close to the details of the source material as long as they're true to the main themes of the original work, which is one reason I liked the LotR films so much as well (for example Boromir's character is completely different in the films than he is in the books). Plus I expect Rowling is able to exercise veto rights over any changes she doesn't like.

 

[Sprites]

That's true she probably did but I'm still not overly sure about it, don't get me wrong it was enjoyable enough but the past two installments were much better than HBP.

Spoiler

yeah to me the revealing of Snape as the half blood prince seemed to just happen there was no build up or nothing to it really. In the books, its a big deal to Harry about who owned the book and there's this massive build up so when the reader does find out they're actually quite shocked too, at least I was anyway. If I was watching the film and had never read the books I wouldn't have been shocked just would've went oh right because there was no suspense it was merely an afterthought almost in the film

I don't mind if a film adaption strays away from a book in certain areas because obviously it is an adaption and you can't fit everything in or you need to adjust the setting in order for it to make sense visually and what not, but I dislike it when it strays too much.

which is one reason I liked the LotR films so much as well (for example Boromir's character is completely different in the films than he is in the books

Yeah I noticed that about Boromir in LOTR film version, he seemed much more arrogant and pulled in by the ring than he did in the book, in the LOTR Fellowship of the Ring book he only seemed pulled in by it towards the end.

That said I think LOTR is one of the most successful film adaptions from a book ever to be made. Normally I'm all for the book and always do prefer it to the film but in the case of LOTR part of me almost enjoys that film more than the book although there are scenes in the book I absolutely adore that aren't in the film.

 

[KissTheRain]

That said I think LOTR is one of the most successful film adaptions from a book ever to be made. Normally I'm all for the book and always do prefer it to the film but in the case of LOTR part of me almost enjoys that film more than the book although there are scenes in the book I absolutely adore that aren't in the film.

Well I think more people enjoy the movies more because Tolkien is a very boring writer. He seems to over analyze things and hold things out a while where in the movie it seems to flow better. He gets most of the points of the books and adapted the characters right imo.

Spoiler

But then again Jackson completely changed the ending of LOTR to make possibly a happy ending, but you must keep in mind in the book's ending the Shire was destroyed. Although, I personally think Jackson's ending was better as a writer even though it was not realistic, but I think that is fine seeing it is a fantasy book.

As for HBP, I'll be seeing it on Thursday so I have nothing to say now except I heard the movie was excellent. I hope that is true because HBP is probably my 1st or 2nd favorite of the series.

What is your guys opinion on the movie 1-10?

 

[Isabella]

I think the movie was very well done, on the whole. Much better than 5, which I hated. The book purist in me was sad to see some scenes and lines missing, but what can you do? I think leaving out the battle at the end puts more focus on the Big Event, plus it saves that aspect for the end of 7.

 

[Madame Mayor]

I don't read the books but I like the movies, and I liked this one. Going to have to agree though that the build up for the reveal seemed like someone at the end said, "Oh ya, we forgot about that part."

 

[Sprites]

That's exactly what it was like, in the books its much more of a build up and OMG are you serious!? Balthea I'd highly recommend you read the books they're excellent, I think my favourite book is book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban whereas my favourite film is probably Goblet of Fire.

Well I think more people enjoy the movies more because Tolkien is a very boring writer. He seems to over analyze things and hold things out a while where in the movie it seems to flow better. He gets most of the points of the books and adapted the characters right imo.

Spoiler

But then again Jackson completely changed the ending of LOTR to make possibly a happy ending, but you must keep in mind in the book's ending the Shire was destroyed. Although, I personally think Jackson's ending was better as a writer even though it was not realistic, but I think that is fine seeing it is a fantasy book.

I actually really like the Lord of the Rings books especially Fellowship of the Ring, its my favourite out of all three I don't find them boring at all but I can see why in parts of the books it could be seen as boring.

Yeah Jackson's adaption was great I'm really looking forward to The Hobbit when it comes out

Spoiler

It was a bit sad that the shire scene wasn't in the film, thats one of my favourite sequences in the book because its all about the Hobbits and trying to save the Shire without humans being involved

My opinion 1-10 is probably a 5/6, there was some really great comedy moments in the film but at the same time it felt like the lightness and comedy removed too much of the darker side or events which are just as important, also because of some unnecessary changes or new scenes I didn't rate it as much. It was great however to have Quidditch back in the film and you can definitley see character development in terms of how the trio is growing up and how this reflects their relationships. On the whole though I felt it was an alright film but definitley one of the weakest ones out of the movies, I just hope the two final films make up for it

 

[Madame Mayor]

Balthea I'd highly recommend you read the books they're excellent, I think my favourite book is book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban whereas my favourite film is probably Goblet of Fire.

If I had a penny for every time someone tried to get me to read them... I've read bits and pieces but to be honest I could never get into her style of writing. Tried, failed, moved on. Plus the story itself from what I know about it (I was the person everyone let out their spoilers to since I didn't care) I don't find interesting enough for me to sit down and read. Watch a movie, sure, read hundreds of pages... not so much.

 

[Sprites]

lol yeah there's been books that people have recommended to me before the I just can't get into either, The Da Vinci Code being one of them.

Oh hey for anyone whose seen HBP was there any spells or anything like that, that turned out how you thought they would. Sectumsempra turned out the way I thought it would although I thought Felix Felicis would be gold coloured rather than silvery.