For people worrying that Kloves won’t do a good job on DH… now that there’s two DH films, he’s going to have to step it up in terms of adapting the book. Now people are expecting Ron to stab the locket (which will happen, because it’s necessary to Ron’s return and making amends) and having Hermione tortured at the Malfoys’ by Bellatrix, etc.. Plus, David Yates is directing these films and he’ll have input in the scripts.

I think some fans are overreacting to this news. Aside from these minor complaints about characters given other characters’ lines, I think Kloves has done a fine job with the Potter films. Goldenberg was much better in staying true to the characters and the overall story of OOTP, I’d wish he and Kloves would co-write the DH scripts rather than Kloves flying solo.

I would just like to point out that in ALL cases, JKR has had input and has been involved in the scripting process, and DH is no exception. She buys into the idea and that is what is important. If she had said “absolutely NO way”, then I would be concerned if the movie folks went ahead with their own plans.

Like an earlier poster, I came to the books because of the movies, and yes, there are plotlines and dialogue and a whole host of other things that have been changed or eliminated. But in my view, the books and movies have ALWAYS been different “animals” and should be. Changes are not an issue, and in fact, if things are missing that render the products “unclear”, most folks who are intersted WILL go back and read the book (more on this in a moment) to better understand!!

Let me illustrate an interesting point that, in my humble opinion, speaks to the issue of LOTR and HP and why the two cannot really be compared in terms of their transfer from the written word to the visually stunning renditions on screen (and explains a bit why I have no problem with this turn of events).

If you think about Tolkein and the way he wrote LOTR, you might recall that he spends what I, at least, consider to be an inordinate amount of time on description. He describes the landscape, the clothing, the textures and colours and a myriad of other items and scenes in exquisite detail (excricuating detail, some would say, but please don’t get me wrong, I adore the LOTR Trilogy)). So you can capture a hundred pages of description in a 60 second film scene. The visual impact is such that you are so overwhelmend by the accuracy of the scene, that you overlook, or even forgive other inaccuracies, or, as was the case for me, you look at the scene on screen, and realize in an instant, because this is exactly how YOU pictured it, then everything else is credible!

It is harder to do that with HP, because it is the narrative that makes them so good. And even so, MANY people I spoke to didn’t think that LOTR was an accuraute depiction of what the books described.

I take away from this 2 things; first, it is so important to remember that the books and corresponding films are 2 different tellings of the same story, and as such, rely on capturing the audience in different ways; and, second, obviously everyone will see this in their own way, but I find it interesting that all the movies made lots of money, even the “worst”, and this despite all the commentary that this or that was terrible or bad. People still go, despite the “reviews” to see movies they want to see and will continue to do so, no matter who says what. You can even read this in the preceeding posts from folks saying they don’t like this, that or the other, but that they will be right up there on opening day to try and see the movies! I love it.

If I had to choose what it MY idea of the most important aspect of this whole phenomenon, it is that a movie can generate so much interest and discussion that people who would NEVER have even lifted a book to exercise their arms have lifted books (NOT just the HP ones) in ever-increasing numbers, and discovered for the themselves the differences between the written and the visual stories.

Now THAT is awesome, my friends.

At least in my humble opinion.

M.

Morton, you are very right.

And I know JKR supports them. I honestly think she’s just so damn glad to be getting so many people to read, and to be getting so many people interested in her tale, and I cannot blame her. In that aspect, the movies are indeed wonderful things.

And yes, dear Tolkien, with his vast descriptions… sigh. But being the total nerd I am, I have watched just about every extra feature on my DVDs and can say that the writers had a discussion for about 3 weeks( I think it was) on how to open up the first movie, on that first paragraph for Galadriel alone. I just think that that kind of devotion and patience should be taken with the Potter books, for they are no less loved. WB has this rush to get the movies out b/c, yes, the kids are aging, and I think in the back of their minds there is a fear that the fandom will fade. Which I know we can all agree it absolutely ridiculous.

The attention paid to the details and descriptions in LotR should be paid here to the characters, which are the largest part of the HP whole.

I suppose what it comes down to is what’s most important to you, the story or the characters? For me, it is always the people, and because I have been in love with Ron and Hermione since I was 11, it cuts to the heart to see them rendered so.

But I have faith in Yates. And I am grateful and conscious of the great wonder it is to have so many people reading and loving these books, no matter how they came across them.

I don’t see the point in making us wait so long for the second half of book 7. I think if anything it should come out within at least 6 months after the first one.