10/2/2006 1:28 PM
posted awhile ago
First Glimpses of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and New Forum for HP Commentary
There are new studio stills up at the IMdb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0373889/. Check em out.
As a side comment, I have to really register my apprehension on this one. This, the fifth in the seven-part series, is my very close second favorite to Prisoner of Azkaban, and I have to say, that PoA was the worst of the movies so far. I don't think Alfonso Cuaron's direction was bad (except for the multitude of shots of the Whomping Willow...who cares???). I think it was the plot sacrifices they chose to make for that book to movie transition. They failed to explain a lot, which fans who never read the book clearly did not get (after my own infomal polling). I like that book the best because it ends on a semi-hopeful note and connects Harry to his past more than any other, a connection he needs before he can forage ahead against Voldemort and his followers. I missed the plot points they failed to include, like explaining who created the map, who Prongs was, and why Harry's Patronus turns into a stag for starters.
OotP, however, is the polar opposite of 3 in a sense. This book was very dark. Harry finds himself in his worst spots to date, even worse than the end of the Goblet of Fire. You've got a horribly sadistic Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. You've got this whole Snape-Harry enmity building to a climax. Everyone is against Harry and Dumbledore. And what's worse? The book was 900 pages long.
Unlike GoF, with the protracted descriptions of the Quidditch World Cup, I almost feel like just about every scene, every passage in Book 5 is necessary in the transition to film. I know it won't all make it, but I can't help feeling like very important parts are going to be sacrificed in favor of making a 2.5 hour film that kids can theoretically sit through.
Of course, the question is whether it's a good idea to have kids sit through this one. If they stay true to the plot of the book, it's not going to be a pleasant one to watch. Especially when they get to the Department of Mysteries.
My questions for you fantasy lovers out there are how would you rank the Harry Potter films? What did you like/dislike about them? Did you read the books first? And what do you hope to see in 2007 when the Order of the Phoenix is released? Discuss!
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