Hogwarts Express: The Harry Potter Discussion/ Appreciation Thread! (Spoilers)

Welcome to the magical world created by JK Rowlings!

Come in here to discuss/debate all things Harry Potter. Feel free to discuss the books vs. films, current news regarding both genres. Feel free to post your reviews of the films, casting choices, special FX in the films, etc.

Any and all news regarding the new films is most appreciated!

 

I enjoyed the books, but not so much the movies. However, I haven't seen the last one.

 

You should, it is actually pretty good

 

FYI, you guys can create specific threads on different aspects of movies/series.

 

I personally love the movies. Even though there are large hunks of story that get cut in order to make time allowances for the films, I feel that so far the directors have done a great job of keeping not only the spirit of the books alive, but the sets, and their visions of the school and JKs world, beautifully matches what I always envision in my head when I'm reading the books.

In a lot of ways, I think that POA the film is better than the book, I love that they extended the back in time part in the book to help to build the drama. I also liked that Harry figured some things out in the film, whereas he was told them in the book.

 

Only thing I didn't like with the POA movie was the fact they could have done a bit more on the Marauders, even if it was in the deleted scenes.

 

And explaining Harry's Patronus Other than that I loved the film.

 

Yeah see that would all have tied in with that, unless they plan on doing that in another movie but not much point then

 

Hey everyone. What do you think of the GoF movie?
I liked it becouse of the story (GoF is my fav HP book), but the movie really lack all the brilliant details of the book. I mean, they haven't even mentioned Dobby and Winky, SPEW or other cool stuff, like classes of that crazy prof. Trelawney, Blast-Ended Skrewts... They have butchered the book!

 

"Dobby and Winky, SPEW or other cool stuff, like classes of that crazy prof. Trelawney, Blast-Ended Skrewts"

Were not really essential to the book.

Dobby will probably make a come back later but isn't really that important to the story and obviously there were ways to get around it. Personally it wasn't my favourite book, actually second least favourite so I rather like the movie with the changes.

 

I agree that the stuff that they cut out wasn't entirely necessary to the overall storytelling. I might've liked a few more class scenes - or at least seen Harry struggle w/ mastering the "Accio" spell so that we could truly appreciate it when he succeeds in getting the Firebolt to come to him in the Dragon challenge.

Other than that, I enjoyed the film as it was. I liked how they allowed Neville to become a star w/ the gillyweed as opposed to Dobby giving it to Harry. I do wish that they'd given us a bit more info about Neville though, especially after how freaked out he was after seeing the unforgivables. My sister (who's never read the books) had to be told about the reference of Neville's parents in the Pensive scene. Your "I've never read the books" crowd simply won't catch those small hints in such an action packed film.

Like Amber GOF is one of my least favorite books, not that it's bad, I just don't feel it added a lot to the overall story other than bringing Voldermort to life.

 

Like peas in a pod us two

Actually, Mike caught on.

I guess it depends on how much attention you are paying as Neville Longbottom and Frank and Alice Longbottom you could pretty much guess. Especially after the class with the torture spell and in court it being said they were tortured

 

Yeah, I guess if people are really paying attention they can catch it. But if they just breeze over that Neville's last name is Longbottom, etc.

Oh well - it's mostly important for OOTP. Maybe they'll have Harry and Dumbledore talk about it in the next film to help fill in a plothole.

 

The Prizoner of Azkaban rocked. and not to mention the book.

Sirius's dog Animagus was cool too...If I had a dog, I was gonna name it that, but sadly..I have no dog.

 

lol when I get a house I am getting a black dog and naming it Padfoot

 

I've always wanted a black lab to name Vader

But I love Sirius as the happy, loveable, loyal dog though

 

But I love Sirius as the happy, loveable, loyal dog though

Yeah. it is funny when he says in Poa that he is usually a good dog and that he was hinking about staying like that, but the flies were killing him.

 

I recently made new posters for my room out of my several old Harry Potter calenders and I put quotes on with the pictures... I had Sirius' one about staying as a dog permanently!

*sniff* I miss Sirius. I wish he hadn't died, but alas.

 

I was so sad when he died. Even more sad than in the HBP when Dumbledore died.

BTW; what about the spoilers? Is this thread spoiler-free or not?

 

Humm...I don't know, didn't think about spoilers. Perhaps we should just black them out for the future books. There are other spoilers Harry threads out there already.

Spoilers shouldn't stop the conversations though

 

You know what I love best about the Harry Potter books?

The extensive backstory, and how more of it is revealed with each new installment. it's been said multiple times that J.K. had all seven books planned out long before she started writing them. Considering how perfectly nearly everything slots together, I'm inclined to believe that.

After Book 7, Jo should write a book about plotting and worldbuilding.

 

I've been addicted to Harry Potter (well, Ron Weasley, actually, LOL) for a long time now.

I, too, find it amazing--the amount of work JKR put into creating the whole world of HP. After the last book I'd love it if she put out some sort of encyclopedia or scrapbook of her thoughts on the Wizarding World and the characters--the little bits that she posts on her excellent website only intrigue me more.

And I could spend hours at the HP Lexicon, so I'd certainly buy some sort of book like that if JKR put it out.

But, I've heard that she is starting the writing of Book 7 soon....man, I can't wait!

ETA: Wait, just realized I was in the film thread. Whoops! Well, I've enjoyed all the movies, but they can't compare to the books. Especially poor Ron. They have him just mugging at the screen all the time, and you loose the Ron from the books, who is harsh and silly (and, quite frankly a normal boy) but who is so loyal, and caring for his friends. I don't feel that comes across well in the movies, though they did some better with his character in POA and GOF.

And wasn't that dragon in GOF amazing? I think that was my favorite part of the movie!

 

I think they still maintain the essence of Ron in the films. The casting of the main 3 were wonderfully chosen. Even though they may not have their characters fleshed out as well in the films as in the books, I think the actors do a superb job w/ the material given to them. They all seem to be fans of the books and really take their roles to heart.

So many times Rupert makes faces and acts out his scenes and they perfectly mirror how I envisioned Ron behaving in the scenes in the books.

I'm always amazed by the talent of the young.

 

lol well I'd agree on Dan and Rupert

 

Oh yeah, yeah, move along...move along....