Re: Sigh.

[Lorpius Prime]

Saw the movie today, and I must say it dissappointed me. It seems to me that a person unfamiliar with the Harry Potter story wouldn't understand quite a bit of what was going on, and it wouldn't seem to make sense on a broader scale. It did not pace itself very well, Hermione's crying over the "death" of Buckbeak didn't seem justified having seen only the single lesson and very little interaction with Hagrid prior to the execution. The origin of the Marauder's map was never explained, the Quidditch season was almost completely ignored, and the House Cup was left out entirely. Many of the conversations between characters seemed unlikely, and forced. And they were all wearing muggle clothing!

I worry that if this book gave the movie-writers this many problems with time-flow, then the next few movies are going to suffer even more.

As for the actors themselves, this may just be my personal taste, but I didn't like the casting for Lupin, I'd always thought of him as much older, with graying hair. Sirius was OK, and so was Dumbledore, I don't remember the previous movies well enough to really comment on the difference between the two Dumbledore actors. I still think Snape is by far the character with the best acting job.

[Lolua]

Note to Lorpius Prime: I fixed the oddness that was your first post. Hope you don't mind.

Yes, I agree there were quite a few problems with the adaptation of the storyline from the book. For example, how did Lupin know about how to work the map? They never explained that Lupin was one of the mapmakers. Why does Harry identify the stag with his father when no one bothered to explain Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs to him? Why does Snape hate Sirius and Lupin so much? His rivalry with James at school wasn't covered in the first two movies, and it wasn't really dealt with here, other than in a few remarks by Sirius about how Snape was usually wrong and he should go play with his Chemistry set.

I'm not really bothered by the Muggle clothing. Martin was complaining about it before we saw the movie, but I think he was swayed by... well, by Hermione's tight jeans.

I liked David Thewlis better than others they were considering (Ewan McGregor turned down the part). He's not any older than Gary Oldman, and both are supposed to have been prematurely aged: Lupin by his lycanthropy and Sirius by Azkaban. I was a bit disappointed that they didn't make Thewlis's hair grayer, he did, I grant you, look a bit young.

No arguments here about Rickman being the best actor in the cast. ;D

[Oracle Of Odd]

I must say ... I wasn't as disappointed as some. I mean, sure, the movie did move rather quickly, and Lupin and the Marauder's Map did seem to be thrown in more for filler than plot. However, in terms of the movie not explaining the book well enough to those not familiar with the books ... I'm one of those people who doesn't like watching book-to-film adaptations unless I've read the book first ... I absolutely despise the mentality "Why read it when there's a movie?"

Muggle-clothing I didn't mind.
I wasn't impressed by Thewlis' just because he has mannerisms that I never saw Lupin actually having and I'm easily annoyed.

That's just me, though ...

The Oracle

[mooncroww]

I enjoyed it.

The casting for Lupin was fine with me, though he didn't have the right air about him. I always saw Lupin as seeming a little tired and a little bit defeated. Thewlis seemed fairly... healthy. And did anyone else notice how awkward he seemed when training Harry to do the Patronus thing?

But they could have done worse.

I was very happy with the new Dumbledore. He seemed just about right. Though he was in desperate need of a manicure. Those long nails were creepy.

And Sirius was just right as well. Figure the guy hasn't bathed in a few years... he can look like heck and it's okay. Time will tell with that one.

The flow of the movie was a bit fast, but I liked the way it was done. The way you knew the tree was important even though no one said it was. And the way the scenes changed. It didn't have the same feel as the others did. I enjoyed the difference.

The muggle clothes were just there. And we did get to see them in an out of school setting. So it wasn't as bad as it could have been.

All in all I was pleased.

And you are right. Snape is just wonderful. I think he's in need of a hug. ;D