HP-TSS - NOW DISCUSSING Chapter 16: Three-headed Sentinel

Thank you for all your participation in CBC (Chapter by Chapter). HP-TSS Chapter 8: The Boy Who Lived DISCUSSION will be made available 2:45 PM EST. Although the discussion timeframe has passed, you may still discuss this chapter at your convienience. However, we will be moving on to the next chapter.

-Moleman1138

 

Due to the success of the SFF CBC discussions, I would like to discuss HP-TSS chapter by chapter on the DVD. There are 34 chapters to discuss over the next eight months, excluding Chapter 35: End Credits

Each discussion will last 5 days. At the end of 5 days, the following chapter will be posted.

Chapter 8: The Boy Who Lived
DISCUSSION: July 25, 2006 ? July 29, 2006
DVD TIME INDEX: 28:49 ? 30:13

Synopsis:
Inside the Leaky Cauldron, Harry asks Hagrid about the wizard who gave him his scar. Harry knows that Hagrid knows who did that deed. Hagrid can?t spell the name, but he reluctantly says Voldemort. Flashback to Godric?s Hollow where Voldemort alone enters the Potter cottage taking down Lily Potter with the Avada Kedavra curse. Both his parents died that night, but Harry didn?t. Harry is shocked to learn that Voldemort tried to kill him. Hagrid says that Voldemort is out there, but there was something that night that stumped the dark lord. Harry is the boy who lived. That is why he is famous. END OF CHAPTER

Opinion:
This is a great flashback that helps move the story along and ultimately tells Harry?s backstory and his parents. It?s enough for the first film as more will be revealed in Order of the Phoenix and the seventh book. We establish Voldemort and the importance of Harry.

I?m not sure if I like Dan?s deliveries here. I mean for a ten year old it?s not bad, but it definitely has Jake Lloyd written all over it. I like the fact that Hagrid can?t spell Voldemort?s name. It adds to his giant character and makes you wonder about his relationship with Voldemort. We know they have one after Chamber of Secrets.

The flashback scene is pretty creepy. We see the Avada Kedavra on Lily but not on James. This pretty much says that Lily is more important that James since she provides that protection of love. That?s not to put down James at all. Without him, Harry wouldn?t constantly get into trouble and be good at Quidditch.

It?s good that Voldemort doesn?t talk here to make him more ambiguous in relation to the climax of the film. He looks normal in the scene, just hid under a big black cloak. Well we think he?s normal. Good chapter.

 

For those who are just joining us or would like to review past discussions:

Chapter 1: Doorstep Delivery
Chapter 2: Vanishing Glass
Chapter 3: The Letters From No One
Chapter 4: Keeper of the Keys
Chapter 5: Diagon Alley
Chapter 6: Gringotts
Chapter 7: Ollivanders
Chapter 8: The Boy Who Lived

Don't forget we are still discussing ROTS and LOTR-FOTR in the PT forum and SFF Film and Television forum

 

yeah the flashback scene is creepy. part of me wishes we also saw James' death also

 

I think Jo wanted it to be ambiguous. I mean you know he dies since he comes back during Priori Incantatem in GOF.

 

next chapter anytime soon?

 

Tomorrow sounds good. If I can wake up early or so.

 

I agree it would have been pretty cool to see James's death as well. We haven't really heard a lot about what happened at Godric's Hollow that night, so perhaps this is on purpose - maybe in the Seventh Book we'll hear more, and in future films we'll get to see more as well. I've always wondered what went down as James tried to hold off Voldy.

 

Thank you for all your participation in CBC (Chapter by Chapter). HP-TSS Chapter 9: Platform 9 3/4 DISCUSSION will be made available 2:45 PM EST. Although the discussion timeframe has passed, you may still discuss this chapter at your convienience. However, we will be moving on to the next chapter.

-Moleman1138

 

Due to the success of the SFF CBC discussions, I would like to discuss HP-TSS chapter by chapter on the DVD. There are 34 chapters to discuss over the next eight months, excluding Chapter 35: End Credits

Each discussion will last 5 days. At the end of 5 days, the following chapter will be posted.

Chapter 9: Platform 9 3/4
DISCUSSION: August 4, 2006 ? August 8, 2006
DVD TIME INDEX: 30:14 ? 34:04

Synopsis:
Harry and Hagrid arrive at the Kings Cross Station. Hagrid realizes the time and says that Dumbledore might be wanting what?s in his pocket. He tells Harry to stick to the train and schedule. Harry goes to one of the train officials asking for Platform 9 ¾ and they think he?s being funny. Harry?s confused until he overhears a family talking about Muggles and Platform 9 ¾. Percy is the first to through the brick wall between platform 9 and 10. Harry is astonished. The twins, Fred and George go next trying to trick their mother into thinking they?re the other sibling. Harry asks Molly Weasley how is this happening. She says that it?s Ron?s first time too and that it?s not that hard. Harry goes toward the wall and comes out to Platfrom 9 ¾, where the Hogwarts Express is stationary. END OF CHAPTER

Opinion:
This a more amusing chapter if anything. It does have some seriousness and some ambiguity in the beginning because what Hagrid is carrying, but it?s basically some comic relief that really does this chapter justice and focuses more on that than anything else.

Muggles just don?t understand the wizarding world this early in the series. The train conductor thinks platform 9 ¾ is a joke and this Harry is making a funny, but he really isn?t. The introduction of the Weasleys is pretty funny. Already you can tell who?s who by their delivery. We pretty much see all the Weasley?s here except for Arthur who?ll be introduced in the next film, Charlie and Bill who knows when we?ll see them.

The Fred and George mix-up is pretty funny. I can?t believe how young they look here. I know them more now from Azkaban and Goblet than I did here, but still you know exactly where their characters are going. The chapter also introduces Ron, who doesn?t say anything. Yet Ginny does, wishing Harry good luck.

The music going into the other station is pretty cool and is classic Columbus with a hint of Williams. The Hogwarts Express exterior is one of those things that really makes this fantastical and was one of the things I was looking forward to when I first saw the movie. Good chapter.

 

For those who are just joining us or would like to review past discussions:

Chapter 1: Doorstep Delivery
Chapter 2: Vanishing Glass
Chapter 3: The Letters From No One
Chapter 4: Keeper of the Keys
Chapter 5: Diagon Alley
Chapter 6: Gringotts
Chapter 7: Ollivanders
Chapter 8: The Boy Who Lived
Chapter 9: Platform 9 ¾

Don't forget we are still discussing ROTS and LOTR-FOTR in the PT forum and SFF Film and Television forum

 

amusing chapter. i love the fred and george mix up. they are one of my favorite sets of characters in the series. i always get a laugh at the stuff they do.

 

Thank you for all your participation in CBC (Chapter by Chapter). HP-TSS Chapter 10: Ron and Hermione DISCUSSION will be made available 9:00 PM EST. Although the discussion timeframe has passed, you may still discuss this chapter at your convienience. However, we will be moving on to the next chapter.

-Moleman1138

 

Due to the success of the SFF CBC discussions, I would like to discuss HP-TSS chapter by chapter on the DVD. There are 34 chapters to discuss over the next eight months, excluding Chapter 35: End Credits

Each discussion will last 5 days. At the end of 5 days, the following chapter will be posted.

Chapter 10: Ron and Hermione
DISCUSSION: August 14, 2006 ? August 18, 2006
DVD TIME INDEX: 34:05 ? 37:48

Synopsis:
The Hogwarts Express rides the tracks into the English countryside. Inside the train, Harry is sitting in one of the compartments. Ron comes by and asks if he can sit with Harry. Harry says yes. Ron realizes that it is the famous Harry Potter and asks if he has the scar. Harry picks up his bangs revealing the scar. The trolley comes by and the stewardess asks if they want anything. Ron doesn?t have any money, but Harry will take the whole lot and they share it. Ron then introduces his rat Scabbers and tries to do some magic on it. Hermione comes to the compartment seeing if anyone has seen Neville?s toad Trevor. She one ups Ron with magic and then acknowledges Harry as the famous Harry Potter. She leaves the compartment reminding the boys to put on their dress robes before they reach their destination. END OF CHAPTER

Opinion:
This sets up the main friendships in the movies. Harry meets Ron and Hermione. It seems by destiny. Ironically even Neville is involved in Hermione becoming friends with Harry and Ron. If it weren?t for his toad, Hermione may have not have bonded at that time.

What I like about this is chapter is that it establishes Ron coming from a middle class wizarding family unlike the Malfoy family who we meet in the next chapter. Ron and Harry take together quite fast. This is good for a family film to speed up the friendships but in psychological and analytical nature it is too fast for me.

I do like that Ron calls Scabbers pathetic, exactly what Peter Pettigrew is. I think they used pathetic in the book to describe Pettigrew if I?m not mistaken. Hermione does play the know-it-all way early in this film. Luckily it?s toned down because even though it?s what I look for in a woman, she goes beyond and it shows.

We see Occulus Reparo spell, which will be reiterated in Chamber of Secrets in the Diagon Alley scene with Harry and Hermione. The design of the Hogwarts Express is pretty cool and as I mentioned before one of the highlights of book one. Good chapter.

 

For those who are just joining us or would like to review past discussions:

Chapter 1: Doorstep Delivery
Chapter 2: Vanishing Glass
Chapter 3: The Letters From No One
Chapter 4: Keeper of the Keys
Chapter 5: Diagon Alley
Chapter 6: Gringotts
Chapter 7: Ollivanders
Chapter 8: The Boy Who Lived
Chapter 9: Platform 9 ¾
Chapter 10: Ron and Hermione

Don't forget we are still discussing ROTS and LOTR-FOTR in the PT forum and SFF Film and Television forum

 

good job of introducing Ron, Hermione, and Neville in this chapter. i also liked the design of the Hogwarts Express.

 

Thank you for all your participation in CBC (Chapter by Chapter). HP-TSS Chapter 11: Welcome to Hogwarts DISCUSSION will be made available 11:30 AM EST. Although the discussion timeframe has passed, you may still discuss this chapter at your convienience. However, we will be moving on to the next chapter.

-Moleman1138

 

Due to the success of the SFF CBC discussions, I would like to discuss HP-TSS chapter by chapter on the DVD. There are 34 chapters to discuss over the next eight months, excluding Chapter 35: End Credits

Each discussion will last 5 days. At the end of 5 days, the following chapter will be posted.

Chapter 11: Welcome to Hogwarts
DISCUSSION: August 29, 2006 ? September 2, 2006
DVD TIME INDEX: 37:49 ? 41:28

Synopsis:
The Hogwarts Express stops at Hogsmeade. Hagrid gathers all the first-years Ron is amazed by the size of Hagrid. They go by boats to Hogwarts. Everyone is amazed by the castle. The first-years go up to the main entrance where they are welcomed by McGonagall. She explains the houses and a few of the rules. She leaves then Malfoy comes over to Harry starting trouble. He makes fun of Weasley, introduces himself and offers his friendship. Harry says he can make up his own mind in terms of friend. McGonagall returns to escort them into the great hall. END OF CHAPTER

Opinion:
Like the film as a whole, this is a long drawn out scene that is quite forgettable and needs to be absorbed. Before watching this on DVD, I almost forgot what actually happens. I like the entrance into Hogsmeade. Good to see a reaction shot from Ron definitely.

The boat ride is excellent complemented with eerily magical music. There?s too much emphasis on the ooos and ahhs that it goes on for far too long. There a few small shots we should see since I think we are already in Hogwarts Castle.

The scene where McGonagall explains the houses and the rules is some good exposition, very generic but necessary for the following chapter. You should absorb it the first time watching, but you?ll understand it as the movie goes along. The Malfoy and Harry exchange is the main focus at the end of this chapter at from the get go we can already see they will be enemies.

Even at such a young age, Tom Felton can pull off some great villainy as Malfoy, but he does get better as the series progresses. There is animosity towards Harry and Weasley, which will be carried over in Potter Stinks (GOF) and Weasley is Our King (OOTP). Good chapter but could be edited.

 

For those who are just joining us or would like to review past discussions:

Chapter 1: Doorstep Delivery
Chapter 2: Vanishing Glass
Chapter 3: The Letters From No One
Chapter 4: Keeper of the Keys
Chapter 5: Diagon Alley
Chapter 6: Gringotts
Chapter 7: Ollivanders
Chapter 8: The Boy Who Lived
Chapter 9: Platform 9 ¾
Chapter 10: Ron and Hermione
Chapter 11: Welcome to Hogwarts

Don't forget we are still discussing ROTS and LOTR-FOTR in the PT forum and SFF Film and Television forum

 

I like the nightly boats trip as well as the first sight of Hogwarts castle ? mystery atmosphere. The Ah-s and Oh-s are a bit much, I agree, but then again we're talking about 11 year old children here.

Wonderful appearence of Maggie Smith as McGonagall, who nails her character in this scene, not to mention Tom Felton as Draco - I find this young actor very very good, I think he's capturing Draco's arrogance and pretension perfectly

 

The best moment in this scene is when Neville spots his toad in front of McGonagall, yells "Trevor" and scrambles to grab him, then looks up at McGonagall. Her reaction is hilarious: a sort of "I can't believe you just made such a faux paux" look on her face.

And Felton is definately great as Draco here. I really hope he gets some great scenes for Half-Blood Prince.

 

i like the brief conversation between Draco and Harry. right away you know Draco is no good. good performance by Felton

 

There is that immediate temptation, something that festers in the house of Slytherin.

 

yeah. i got the idea that slytherin was bad right away from there

 

Thank you for all your participation in CBC (Chapter by Chapter). HP-TSS Chapter 12: Sorting Hat DISCUSSION will be made available 8:20 PM EST. Although the discussion timeframe has passed, you may still discuss this chapter at your convienience. However, we will be moving on to the next chapter.

-Moleman1138