Absolute Chaos Discussion Boards
Miscellaneous => Chatterbox => The AC Book Club => Topic started by: Kentuckychickrk on May 17, 2009, 06:37:55 PM
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I thought it would be a good idea for those of us who've read all the books and are getting a bit excited about the upcoming movie to start a thread about all of the other books!
Of course any Sorcerer's Stone/Philosopher's Stone discussion would still occur in the main thread. ;)
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Good idea! Now we can discuss the whole series in detail without worrying about giving away spoilers. So if you haven't finished all the books yet... stay out till you do! LOL
I'm enjoying reading Sorcerer's Stone again, but I have to say, I really just wanna jump to Half Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows. I'm getting excited for the 6th movie and hearing about the filming for the 7th!
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Me too! I'm on the Order of the Pheonix now... it's probably my least fave.
I was watching HP and the Goblet of Fire today after finishing the book in my quest to reread before the movie and I hadn't really realized how much that movie strayed from the book.
I mean they pretty much gave away the fact that it was Barty Crouch Jr. by having him appear throughout the entire movie... when in the book they didn't even let you know he was still alive until the end.
And they completely left Winky's character out.
And the biggest thing of all that I hadn't realized until now... they didn't have anything to do with the house elves at Hogwarts and how Dobby worked there. And Neville was the one who ended up giving Harry the Gillyweed (not Dobby). I really wonder how they're going to make up for the fact that they've left Dobby out of the last two movies in the finale. He was such a crucial part of Harry's life in those years... and that means a LOT in the final book.
That was one of my favorite books though... probably the one that got me most excited about reading ther rest of what JK Rowling had in store for the Hogwarts gang!
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OotP isn't my fave either. I like it, of course, but I like GoF, HBP, and DH better. I don't like Harry's angry attitude in OotP... it's understandable, of course, and good character development, but I like him better in the other books LOL.
I know what you mean about the movies, but at the same time, I don't see how they could have included everything in GoF (or any of the books after it) without making the movie a couple of hours longer. Not that I would mind a four-hour Harry Potter movie LOL, but I can see why they weren't willing to let it be that long, given that most kids just don't have that kind of attention span, and so on. I'm really glad they're making the DH movie two parts, so that they CAN include everything without worrying about length, but I understand why they didn't for the earlier movies.
The movies will never totally live up the books, but I think they do an overall good job of capturing the important stuff in the books and at least staying faithful to the basic storyline. Some of the subplots, like the whole SPEW house elves crusade in GoF, just aren't as important in the overall scheme of things, so I can understand why they cut that out. Although I do agree with you that they probably should have included Dobby, since he does play a big role in DH... and I've heard he is going to be in that movie.
I think the first two movies did the best job of capturing pretty much everything in the books, but I actually have enjoyed the latest three movies even more. Even though they took more liberties in leaving subplots out or changing minor details, I like that they've been darker, scarier, and better-acted just because the actors are more experienced now. The special effects have gotten better too LOL. I'm really excited for the 6th!
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True true... they would have to make EVERY movie two movies long to get all the details in. I think they should have just had Dobby pop up and let them know he was there though... lol. And of course he was actually the one in OoTP who found the room of requirements for Harry too.
I think the only really unforgiveable thing they've done in any of the movies was in OoTp when they had Harry hand Lucius Malfoy the prophecy. I think beyond the fact that Harry it didn't happen that way in the book... it goes beyond anything that Harry would have ever done and changes his character completely >:(.
But really that's the only thing I've really been annoyed about.
I'm rereading that one now of course... I remember they left a whole lot out of that movie that ends up meaning a lot in the next (like Kreacher's sorrow over his betrayal of Sirius leading him to showing them where the Horcrux was)... when they didn't even show Kreacher's betrayal.
It just goes to show how much better a book can be. It can have so much more detail and feeling. I remember actually being more scared and upset during the books than I ever was during the movie.
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Just saw a preview for HBP during Survivor, squee!!
I agree; the books are more emotional than the movies. The power of an author's words and a reader's imagination is incredible. Even good acting and good special effects can't compare to what you see in your head as you read. And the books are just so much deeper, too.
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True true... they would have to make EVERY movie two movies long to get all the details in. I think they should have just had Dobby pop up and let them know he was there though... lol. And of course he was actually the one in OoTP who found the room of requirements for Harry too.
I think the only really unforgiveable thing they've done in any of the movies was in OoTp when they had Harry hand Lucius Malfoy the prophecy. I think beyond the fact that Harry it didn't happen that way in the book... it goes beyond anything that Harry would have ever done and changes his character completely >:(.
But really that's the only thing I've really been annoyed about.
I'm rereading that one now of course... I remember they left a whole lot out of that movie that ends up meaning a lot in the next (like Kreacher's sorrow over his betrayal of Sirius leading him to showing them where the Horcrux was)... when they didn't even show Kreacher's betrayal.
It just goes to show how much better a book can be. It can have so much more detail and feeling. I remember actually being more scared and upset during the books than I ever was during the movie.
This is actually in response to what you were saying in the other thread, but I didn't want to chance someone reading it despite the spoiler alert. About the two deaths in the last book: Did you know she switched it from who she was originally going to kill? It was Lupin (why??? I adored him!!!) instead of Mr. Weasley (because she figured he was more of a father figure to Harry).
In the last book, I had so many moments of denial. Like I was like "They are going back to Hogwarts.. they have to" up until they mentioned it was Sept. 1st and the train was leaving the station. And the part where Lupin's body was lying next to Tonks, I was like, "No, he's just resting after the long battle..." :(
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Just saw a preview for HBP during Survivor, squee!!
I agree; the books are more emotional than the movies. The power of an author's words and a reader's imagination is incredible. Even good acting and good special effects can't compare to what you see in your head as you read. And the books are just so much deeper, too.
Yes! You miss so much of the plotline with the movies. Especially 5. I know they can't fit everything in, but that movie could've easily been a half hour longer. The scenes they did choose to use were too choppy.
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This is actually in response to what you were saying in the other thread, but I didn't want to chance someone reading it despite the spoiler alert. About the two deaths in the last book: Did you know she switched it from who she was originally going to kill? It was Lupin (why??? I adored him!!!) instead of Mr. Weasley (because she figured he was more of a father figure to Harry).
In the last book, I had so many moments of denial. Like I was like "They are going back to Hogwarts.. they have to" up until they mentioned it was Sept. 1st and the train was leaving the station. And the part where Lupin's body was lying next to Tonks, I was like, "No, he's just resting after the long battle..." :(
I know! :-[
I think for me the deaths that I was the most upset by were Dobby's... simply because of what he was doing when he died... it was just sad, and Fred's... because why Fred? :shrug:
The most shocking for me was Snape's. As much as I detested his character, I didn't want him to die... and I honestly never suspected that he was involved so I never saw him as the "bad guy"... just as annoying.
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You know what death in DH was worst for me? HEDWIG! LOL maybe it was just because it was the first, and it came so early, and it was unexpected that the carnage would begin right there at the beginning, or maybe it was just because I have a weakness when it comes to animals, but I freaking BAWLED over Hedwig!!! NONE of the other deaths were that bad for me. Dobby came second... and of course Fred and Lupin were sad because I liked both of them. And even Snape, especially after getting his whole tragic story, which I love. I never believed that Snape was really on the wrong side when he killed Dumbledore, I knew there was something more do it, so it was nice to see him redeem himself and sad to see him die for his bravery in acting the spy and sacrificing what was left of his reputation.
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WHOA at DH man. I just finished it.
Hedwig totally got to me. I cried over Hedwig. Seriously, it was soooo unexpected, it really got to me.
Snape...oh Snape. Like I figured that would be one readable character in the book. (like Draco, who to me was a bit predictible). His story is sad, so I was satisfied he was braver than anyone realized while he was still alive.
Ron...oh Ron. How mad I was at him when he ditched Harry. I was furious, ready to yell at my book lol.
Fred...why did he have to die? That one was so sad and senseless. I wanted Percy to die, making up for how much of an ass he was in the last couple books. I mean he earned a death way more.
I was sooo upset about Lupin. I mean come on. He just had a baby, and just gah! :-[
Dobby, oh Dobby. Been attached to him since GOF. His death was so very sad, but it said so much about Harry as a person. Necessary but sad.
Voldemort, oh I was totally satisfied with him. But I was so shocked at Harry being the last Horcrux, totally didn't see that coming. Makes sense, but didn't predict it. Teared up a bit when Harry brought back the spirits of his parents, Lupin, and Sirius too. Such a sad moment when Harry walks off to what he believes is his death.
I looooove the series. So not what I expected. Now I need to watch the movies LOL. (I was so anti HP I formed an anti HP bubble, okay? :P lol)
My rating of the books, fave to least fave. After really taking them in.
Deathly Hallows (it's so freaking EPIC!)
Order Of The Phoenix (I love how dark it gets, and how much character growth involved)
Goblet Of Fire (when things really start getting deep, plus it develops Harry's and Sirius' relationship)
Half Blood Prince (good book, very good, dunno, couldn't capture me as much as the other 3)
Prisoner of Azkaban (The introduction to Harry's parents' past/deaths, and to Sirius)
The first two Harry Potter Books. (Good, but you can really tell who the main audience is)
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I think JKR just felt the need to kill of some main, reader-favorite characters like Fred and Lupin to show the real side of war. She wasn't going to kill any of the trio, but they had to lose some friends and loved ones for it to be realistic. They defeated Voldemort and the Death Eaters, but not without some casualties, some sacrifices. I was still shocked by it though.
That chapter where Harry walks into the forest to confront Voldemort and meet his death has got to be the most powerful chapter of the whole series. I cry at that part too, every time, but it's one of my all-time favorite chapters. I love how he's able to use the stone to bring back his parents and Sirius and Lupin to be with him in the end, kind of like how his parents helped hold off the Death Eaters at the end of GoF. So touching and sad.
There was such a huge debate over whether Harry would live or die at the end of the series, and I think JKR is truly a genius for the way she handled that. Harry DID have to sacrifice himself to kill Voldemort, but thankfully, he didn't die. It's the best of both worlds. Perfect ending.
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Rose, I'm glad the series ended up being different than you expected and that you liked it!
I agree with what you guys are saying about the scene where Harry is walking to "his death" surrounded by his parents, Lupin, and Sirius. So, so sad. It really just reaches out and grabs you into it like never before. If anyone can read that part without crying, I think they must be dead inside! LoL J.K. Rowling's characterizati on is too well-written for a reader not to get sucked into the storyline as if everyone in the wizarding world is real.
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I'm currently working my way through the books, I'm reading The Chamber of Secrets now and hope to have read them all before the new film comes out.
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Random: It took me watching GoF twice (the second time on ABC Family lol) to realize Robert Pattinson plays Cedric Diggory. Didn't recognize him without the Twilight makeup lol.
The movies are good, I like how you grow with the actors, and the casting is fantastic. The first 2 are freaking identical to the books. But GoF made a really good movie. OotP - OMG did they find a way to make Umbridge magically come out of the book? LMAO they casted her perfectly.
Has anyone seen the latest previews of HBP? MTV and ABC Family both played various ones. Can't wait!
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LOL yep, that was like his first big role, back when nobody knew who he was.
And I know; I love Umbridge... she is the best part of OotP!!
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Thought I'd revive this thread! Has anyone else been re-reading HP books since the HBP movie came out? LOL I read Half-Blood Prince a couple weeks ago, Deathly Hallows last week, and then I jumped back to Goblet of Fire and am reading that now. That one used to be my favorite, before DH came out. DH is my favorite now. And HBP is a close third.
Which book is your favorite?
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I am bringing this topic back from the dead because I have FINALLY read all the HP books. I just finished the Deathly Hallows yesterday. I have to say, on the whole I really enjoyed them. At first they were kind of slow and I was afriad I wouldn't want to finish the series but when I started to read things that weren't in the movies and learn more about the characters I was sucked in. By the time I hit OotP I found myself excited to read on.
I think the last three books are my favorites, although with the last one, i'm still trying to get some of it. I know most people read the books more than once and I think maybe that's what I have to do. lol Some of her explanations confused me. It's almost like she was explaining too much. Especially the part with Dumbledore and Harry at the end.
I also didn't get some of the random killings. I do understand the point of killing off some of the characters because it's a war etc... but at the end I almost giggled when Colin died. It's like she just decided to throw him in there or something, "Eh, i'll kill him too." I also don't get the Tonks and Lupin thing. Who took care of the kid? Maybe that's something I have to reread. I was also sad that Hedwig's death was so, just eh. LOL I can see why she needed to kill her off because there was no way the owl could have gone with them, but I was hoping for more.
I did like the Nineteen years later thing. That was nice to see.
As far as the movie. I'm not sure why they are making 2 movies for this last book. unless they are going to finally introduce Bill, Charlie and Fluer in it? I mean, they haven't really done that yet which sucks because I LOVED the Weasleys over all the other characters (minus Ginny who annoyed me). I almost wish she'd do a companion book but write it from their POV. I can see the first movie being kind of dull but the second one being all kinds of awesome. JK is great with the action and descriptions.
I'm glad I read the last one before the movies come out. I did find myself wanting to watch the movies over again after reading the books and I actually did that. The movies make a lot more sense after you read the books so anyone who hasn't read them yet, I recommend doing it before the final ones come out.
:)
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Ah, I have just gone back and read what all of you have said and I knew I forgot things. I have to agree with everyone about the scene where Harry is walking to his death. That one was really powerful. And of course Dobby was so important in this as well. I do hope they include his death in the movie. I hope they put Dumbledore's funeral in the movie as well, even though it was in HBP I loved that chapter. I got teary and I usually do not. I have to say I didn't get teary at all through this series until that chapter.
I felt for Snape as well. I love the fact that Harry gave his son Snape's name as well. It would have been nice if Ron's son was named Fred instead of Hugo lol
I loved the twins in this one. I agree it should have been Percy who died or maybe even Mr. Weasley over one of the twins and again it just felt like his death wasn't as big of a deal as it should have been.
I also hope they give Neville more to do in the movie. I love how heroic he became at the end and I have to say I have always loved Malfoy. I would have liked to know more about what happened to him.
Okay, now i'm done lol
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I loved reading your comments, Mare! I'm glad you finished the series and enjoyed the last three books especially! I like the later books better too, as a whole - my favorite is Deathly Hallows, followed by Goblet of Fire and Half-Blood Prince. They're much deeper and darker and complex than the first two books.
I think they're definitely worth reading again - you pick up a lot when you reread. I love how JKR planted bits of information that would be important later in the series in the early books - seemingly minute details became vital information later on! She's brilliant.
Your comments about the deaths were interesting because my reaction was completely different LOL. The first time I read DH, I absolutely BAWLED over Hedwig's death. It doesn't make me cry like that anymore, but the first time through, that was the worst one for me, crazy as it sounds! Dobby's death does still make me cry. I guess it's the deaths of those who were most loyal to Harry and most innocent hit me the worst. By the time it gets to the Battle of Hogwarts, you get to where you just expect the deaths, so maybe that's why those don't get to me as much, even though I love the characters of Fred, Lupin, etc. I don't think any of those deaths were pointless - I think she needed to kill some big characters in order to show the real danger of what they were facing; it would have been unrealistic for everyone Harry was close to to survive. Tonks and Lupin both dying, leaving their baby an orphan, paralleled what happened to Harry's parents, so I thought it was fitting - and I'm not sure it ever says, but I always assumed that Tonks's mother raised the baby, Teddy, because from the epilogue it sounds like Harry and Ginny didn't. As for Colin, I think he was put in as just another innocent figure in the long line of those who died trying to protect Harry: his parents, Sirius, Dobby, etc. The fact that he's mentioned as Harry is leaving the castle to go into the forest and surrender himself to Voldemort is significant - I think it's what helps give him the strength to do it, seeing yet another dead body of someone who was fighting for him, who had no business being there, and knowing that he's the only one who can stop it.
I'm super excited they're making this one into two movies - I think if they didn't, it would be too rushed and not nearly as powerful as it should be. From what I've heard, it sounds like they're splitting the movies around the Malfoy Manor chapter, where the trio gets captured by the Snatchers and taken to the Malfoys'. That will take them far enough to introduce the Deathly Hallows in the first movie (and I think there will be plenty of action between them going on the run, sneaking into the Ministry to get the locket, Godrick's Hollow, the silver doe, the scene at the Lovegoods', etc.) and leave most of the second movie to be dedicated to the action at Hogwarts, which means it should be awesome! Sometimes the climactic parts of the movies are rushed, so that shouldn't happen this time around. I'm sure they'll include Dobby and Neville and everything because those parts are so important. I know they're having the wedding in there too, so Bill at least should be in it, and Fleur will be back too. I can't wait!
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Since we're talking Harry Potter, I just have to say, I forgot how much I love (love to hate) the character of Gilderoy Lockhart LOL. Of all the books, Chamber of Secrets is probably the one I've read the fewest times, but I'm reading it now to my class (I read Sorcerer's Stone to them earlier in the year, per their request, and they voted to read Chamber of Secrets now too), and I absolutely love reading Lockhart's parts. I always did enjoy his character, but it had been so long since I'd really read that book, I almost forgot how delightfully obnoxious he is. Umbridge is still my favorite villain/Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, though. LOL
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Does anyone else wish she would write a prequel series about the Marauders? (James, Lily, Sirius, Lupin, and Wormtail) I think that would be amazing. It could cover their time at Hogwarts, the rise of Voldemort, the original Order of the Phoenix, and everything up to the night Voldemort killed the Potters. Sadly, I don't think it will ever happen, but it would be awesome. I love every part involving those characters.
In my brief foray into Harry Potter fanfic, I was working on a story like that, but I got too anal about wanting to get all the details right (this was before OotP came out, so I was missing a lot yet!) and gave up LOL.
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Aww, that would be interesting to see. Like I said, I would also love a book about the Weasleys too. I can see it being comedic but I don't think she'll ever do it. I bet she's tempted to though. I can only imagine how hard it was for her to let go of these characters.
I was wondering where they would split the movie. That does seem like a good place. I need to reread the last two books I think because I am getting what happens in each confused. It wasn't until you mentioned all those things that I realized they all happened in the last book. LOL This is what happens when you only get to read during lunch period. I need to just sit on my front porch and plow through the book in one or two sittings.
I also like the fact that JK made James kind of Malfoyish as a kid and Sirius as well. Snape and Lily were more like Ron and Hermione. She's a great writer. I'd love to see what else she comes up with. I hope she is working on something new.
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I know she is working on something new and un-Harry related; she hasn't said what it is yet. I'm sure it will be great no matter what it is; she's such a talented writer.
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I'd definitely check out whatever she cooks up next. Her writing is just so creative and intricate. My fave thing about the HP series is how she effortlessly created this entire world, and made it so that it seems possible for it to actually exist.
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Mare, glad you finished the books! To what you were saying about the deaths-- such as Lupin and Tonks being random-- I just wanted to say that Lupin wasn't supposed to die originally. Rowling was planning on having Mr. Weasley die, but she decided that he was too much of a father figure for Harry, so she switched his life for Lupin. :'( I love Lupin... when I read that their bodies were lying there motionless, I was in denial. "They're just lying down after the battle, they're tired!" LoL
And I wasn't quite sure about where their child went to live either. Harry was the godfather but in the epilogue it didn't seem like he lived with them... I probably need to read the book again, too!
And Julie, about Umbridge being your favorite villain/character- I seriously hate her more than I hate Voldemort!!!!! Odd, perhaps, but I feel like she never gets what is coming to her! In book 7, she's all evil, and she basically gets away with it. If there's ever a HP 8, she needs to die. I'm just saying. :D
Anyone excited about the HP park opening in Universal Studios later this month? ;D ;D ;D
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I'd definitely check out whatever she cooks up next. Her writing is just so creative and intricate. My fave thing about the HP series is how she effortlessly created this entire world, and made it so that it seems possible for it to actually exist.
Yes! I felt the same way. Some people don't get that (probably mostly people who haven't read the books lol). I know that its about wizards/witches, but she does make the world seem normal within the magical elements!
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In a way, I liked that she killed Lupin (even though I love him - I love all the Marauders) because I loved that Harry then had his parents and Sirius and Lupin with him when he walked into the forest. It was just fitting, in a tragic way, that the last of the Marauders died in the last book. And I agree - Harry lost so many other father figures, it was nice that Mr. Weasley and Hagrid, at least, were spared. And Mrs. Weasley too. It was bad enough that Fred died, but I couldn't handle Mr. or Mrs. Weasley dying.
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In a way, I liked that she killed Lupin (even though I love him - I love all the Marauders) because I loved that Harry then had his parents and Sirius and Lupin with him when he walked into the forest. It was just fitting, in a tragic way, that the last of the Marauders died in the last book. And I agree - Harry lost so many other father figures, it was nice that Mr. Weasley and Hagrid, at least, were spared. And Mrs. Weasley too. It was bad enough that Fred died, but I couldn't handle Mr. or Mrs. Weasley dying.
I did appreciate that the group was together in the woods again... Although I bawled through that scene! Haha. Very well done on her part. And it should have been Percy, not Fred... LoL
Also, as far as Hagrid is concerned, I remember that J.K's sister told her that if she killed Hagrid, she would never speak to her again. :D I'm sure J.K. already had it planned out by then and wasn't going to kill him anyway, but I thought that was cute. I wonder how many people she had telling her that for each character? It's a bit stressful, I'd imagine, to be the author of such a popular series.
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Omg, that whole chapter makes me bawl too!
I was afraid Hagrid was gonna be killed in the 5th book, cause it was so hyped that a major character was going to die, and Hagrid was gone for so long with the giants, I was worried. But I love Sirius even more, so... :(
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Mare, glad you finished the books! To what you were saying about the deaths-- such as Lupin and Tonks being random-- I just wanted to say that Lupin wasn't supposed to die originally. Rowling was planning on having Mr. Weasley die, but she decided that he was too much of a father figure for Harry, so she switched his life for Lupin. :'( I love Lupin... when I read that their bodies were lying there motionless, I was in denial. "They're just lying down after the battle, they're tired!" LoL
And I wasn't quite sure about where their child went to live either. Harry was the godfather but in the epilogue it didn't seem like he lived with them... I probably need to read the book again, too!
And Julie, about Umbridge being your favorite villain/character- I seriously hate her more than I hate Voldemort!!!!! Odd, perhaps, but I feel like she never gets what is coming to her! In book 7, she's all evil, and she basically gets away with it. If there's ever a HP 8, she needs to die. I'm just saying. :D
Anyone excited about the HP park opening in Universal Studios later this month? ;D ;D ;D
Ugh, I agree. I hate Umbridge more than Voldy too. In a way I'm glad that they brought her back in Deathly Hallows, but I wish the centaurs would have finished her off for good or Nagini squeezed her to death or something equally fitting. :) I have to say, I'm almost as obsessed with HP as I am BSB!
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Lupin and Tonks son Teddy lives with Tonks' mother. It's very different from what Harry went through. But I love love loved all the books.I can't wait for november!
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I know!! The DH trailer gives me goosebumps every time I watch it! Even the poster gave me goosebumps!
And Jen, I'm the same way. I'm annoyed that DH Part I comes out on our last day of parent-teacher conferences; otherwise, I would so take a personal day that day so I could go to the midnight showing. Oh well... I'll do it for Part II for sure!
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I know!! The DH trailer gives me goosebumps every time I watch it! Even the poster gave me goosebumps!
And Jen, I'm the same way. I'm annoyed that DH Part I comes out on our last day of parent-teacher conferences; otherwise, I would so take a personal day that day so I could go to the midnight showing. Oh well... I'll do it for Part II for sure!
The poster did for me because it's so much like the one for SS...but of course SS's castle is happy (The Magic Begins) and DH's castle is destroyed (The End is Here).
I'm going to cry when the last movie comes out...I just KNOW I will. At that point I will begin campaigning heavily for a book 8. Until then I at least have the movies. :)
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I know! And me too...
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I wish JKR would do a "prequel"/full-length of Dumbledore's story. It would be EPIC.
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I wish she'd do a prequel too! The Marauders Era would be my pick, but a Dumbledore one would be interesting too.
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That would be awesome i would love to hear about the marauders adventures as well as a nice dumbledore story.
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I wish she'd do a prequel too! The Marauders Era would be my pick, but a Dumbledore one would be interesting too.
Ohhh, I never thought of the Marauders! That'd be great.
Or Regulus Blacks' story.
I'd also like to learn more about Snape. I ended up really liking Snape after the revelation in Deathly Hallows. After that one chapter it throws so much of the rest of his actions into perspective...
Neville Longbottom has a lot to offer a sequel, too, IMO.
LOL JKR has sooo much work to do if she listens to me.
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Ohhh, I never thought of the Marauders! That'd be great.
Or Regulus Blacks' story.
I'd also like to learn more about Snape. I ended up really liking Snape after the revelation in Deathly Hallows. After that one chapter it throws so much of the rest of his actions into perspective...
Neville Longbottom has a lot to offer a sequel, too, IMO.
LOL JKR has sooo much work to do if she listens to me.
I'd love a Marauders one, which I would hope covered the Snape angle. :)
That and Dumbledore, epic stories.
I'll read anything JKR does in the future though, her ability to create a totally new universe that detailed and creative just amazes me.
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I'd also love a book just about the Weasleys lol I loved them.
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That's one of the many awesome things about this series; all the characters are fantastic!! You can't help but love all of them, even the ones you love to hate. There's so much depth to all of the main and even supporting characters, and even though there are so many, they're all different from each other. I've never been able to pick a favorite character because I have way more than just one!
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Seriously, the characters are epic. I always wanted to really see things from Draco's POV too. Cause even though his a "villain" he's also a victim of everything too. Just as much as Harry is by the end of it. He's what his parents raised him to be, and he knows nothing else. It almost gets him killed, and he has that idea of competing with Harry jealousy too. I'd just love to see something from his POV.
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Draco is absolutely fascinating, that's for sure.
But I can hands down say Dumbledore is my favorite character. I literally find myself pausing to think about everything that he says in depth, even the silly things, because there's a meaning to all of it. Like I spent an hour thinking about the wool socks he claimed to see in Erised.
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Dumbledore is definitely one of mine too. Sirius is another. I love anything to do the Marauders!
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you know when it comes to HP and the HBP i loved the book a little more than the movie. I guess it's because HBP was supposed to be the final boiling point for Snape and the ending where he litterally blows up in an emotional sence it didn't appeal to me. I don't think they gave Alan Rickman(the actor who plays Snape) A good dialouge for the movie i really wanted him to come out like in the book very sinister and still in character for the double cross.
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I love the HP movies, but the books are always better. HBP is one of my favorites of the movies (that one and PoA), but I do think the end was rushed. They did a great job with the Dumbledore stuff, but they should have left more of the battle with the Death Eaters at Hogwarts, instead of throwing in the random burning down of The Burrow at Christmas in the middle. The Snape part was so quick that I was worried people who hadn't read the books might have missed the fact that Snape admitted to being the Half-Blood Prince - and that's the freaking title! Other than that, I adored the movie, though. My favorite part is the whole Felix Felices/Aragog's funeral sequence... Dan's acting there is hilarious!
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I'm disappointed they didn't do more with Dumbledore's funeral at the end too. Seeing that movie before I read the book, I did catch Snape saying he was the half blood prince. The only part that confused me in that movie was the burning down of the Weasley's houseso it's kind of funny it wasn't even in the book lol
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I don't know about prequels. If I was JK Rawling, I woudl be sooooooo Harry Pottered out by now. I'd like to see what else she could come up with. Is she writing anything new now that HP is done?
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I don't think she'll write a prequel series. She's said she won't. She is supposedly going to write an encyclopedia of the wizarding world, with all her notes and info she came up with that didn't necessarily make it into the books, so that will be cool.
I know she's writing another book, something non-Potter-related. No details on it yet though. I'll be excited for it, whatever it is. She's a brilliant writer!
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I'm disappointed they didn't do more with Dumbledore's funeral at the end too.
True, but I did like the scene where they all lit their wands and held them up. That made me tear up when I saw it in the theater. But yeah, the actual funeral from the book would have been good, too.
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I don't think she'll write a prequel series. She's said she won't. She is supposedly going to write an encyclopedia of the wizarding world, with all her notes and info she came up with that didn't necessarily make it into the books, so that will be cool.
I know she's writing another book, something non-Potter-related. No details on it yet though. I'll be excited for it, whatever it is. She's a brilliant writer!
I heard she wouldn't write prequels too which is too bad cos I think they'd be really good - and it would build the series the way that all of Tolkien's prequels to LOTR did. That said, I don't blame her if she's HP'd out.
I'd like to see what else she can do, too. She was wonderful writing HP, but my worry is that she's going to be similar to the problem Stephenie Meyer has... I didn't like The Host AT ALL. It's like the characters of Twilight were what made her a good writer - like she only had the one story behind her and now that its over she's left kind of floundering to find the next one. I don't wanna see that happen to JKR but it does to a lot of the major series people. I think JKR is far and away more talented than Meyer, but it's still a concern for any writer, no matter their talent. Like C.S. Lewis, for example... his non-Narnia books (other than The Screwtape Letters) were all kind of "eh".
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really I loved the Host. I liked it a lot better than the Twilight books actually. And I'd like to see JK Rawling do something else because she is a really good writer and so creative, but for some reason I just couldn't get into Harry Potter.
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really I loved the Host. I liked it a lot better than the Twilight books actually. And I'd like to see JK Rawling do something else because she is a really good writer and so creative, but for some reason I just couldn't get into Harry Potter.
I liked it at first, but the further I got into it, the less I liked it.
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Can we not taint this thread with Stephanie Myer talk? lol Sorry, I had to!
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Can we not taint this thread with Stephanie Myer talk? lol Sorry, I had to!
:D
Aye aye, cap'n crunch!
Okay, so what was everyone's favorite HP spell that they'd like to be able to perform themselves?... LOL, I know that question is such a 12-year-old mentality question.... but... *looking at my water bottle across the room that I forgot to bring with me and is wishing I could do accio right about now*
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HP weekend on ABC Family started today btw... They're showing Behind the Scenes footage from HP&tDH and the movies over the weekend... Mugglenet has the first preview clip with new shots from the movie if anyones interested. :)
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LOL I forgot they have to start Harry Potter "weekend" a day early now that they can show the 5th movie too. *turns on Sorcerer's Stone*
Deathly Hallows looks sooo epic; I can't wait!!
Favorite spell... definitely the summoning spell would come in handy LOL. I like the stunning spell, too, but mostly just because I like to yell "STUPEFY!" (Not that I do this often in real life... OR DO I?)
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I bet you doo-ooo...
I like saying "expecto patronum" sometimes too LOL...it just sounds cool
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I yell STUPEFY all the time! lol It gets the kids to shut up! Works better than a bell!
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I yell STUPEFY all the time! lol It gets the kids to shut up! Works better than a bell!
:D OMG, that's hilarious! That must be so funny to see. Y
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It is! My poor kids, I torture them so. Between that and telling them my mysterious off limits closet in the back of my classroom is where I keep my invisble pet dinosaur i'm pretty sure they will all need therapy because of me one day. lol and yes, i'm not only talking about the little ones. I torture my middle school kids too! They are the ones I yell STUPEFY too! lol
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It is! My poor kids, I torture them so. Between that and telling them my mysterious off limits closet in the back of my classroom is where I keep my invisble pet dinosaur i'm pretty sure they will all need therapy because of me one day. lol and yes, i'm not only talking about the little ones. I torture my middle school kids too! They are the ones I yell STUPEFY too! lol
:D I'm just imagining like a roaring classroom and you yelling STUPEFY! and 30 faces turning like ??? at you.
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lmao yup that's pretty much what happens. Followed by "Did she just call us stupid?" Or the ones who have read the book actually freeze!
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My favorite isn't an actual spell. I'd love my own Firebolt dammit LOL. If I could have my own flying broom, I'd be happy.
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My favorite isn't an actual spell. I'd love my own Firebolt dammit LOL. If I could have my own flying broom, I'd be happy.
Oooh.. If we're gonna get into stuff we want THAT way from the books, then I want an Owl!
..no I take it back. I want Ron. :D ;)
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It is! My poor kids, I torture them so. Between that and telling them my mysterious off limits closet in the back of my classroom is where I keep my invisble pet dinosaur i'm pretty sure they will all need therapy because of me one day. lol and yes, i'm not only talking about the little ones. I torture my middle school kids too! They are the ones I yell STUPEFY too! lol
LMAO, that's hilarious!!!
I have this pretty realistic-looking skeleton that I prop into a chair at Halloween. He's a little smaller than child-size, and I tell the kids he's a former student named Steven who didn't do his homework and had to stay after school for detention, and I forgot about him... ??? They think it's funny; this year's class got pretty into it.
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My favorite isn't an actual spell. I'd love my own Firebolt dammit LOL. If I could have my own flying broom, I'd be happy.
That'd be sweet! I'd want the invisibility cloak.
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I bet you doo-ooo...
I like saying "expecto patronum" sometimes too LOL...it just sounds cool
I do "Wingardium Leviosa" the way Hermione says it in the movie... "swish and flick!"
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The spell I'd want, whatever the spell is that Molly Weasley uses to clean... gosh darn it!
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LOL seriously! That'd come in most handy, the cleaning and cooking spells!
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I think it would be pretty nice having a house elf as well. As long as they wanted to be there of course lol
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LMAO, that's hilarious!!!
I have this pretty realistic-looking skeleton that I prop into a chair at Halloween. He's a little smaller than child-size, and I tell the kids he's a former student named Steven who didn't do his homework and had to stay after school for detention, and I forgot about him... ??? They think it's funny; this year's class got pretty into it.
LOL! Yay i'm not the only one! That's what I say about my closet when one of the kids move to another school. They'll ask where so and so went and i'll say I fed her to my dinosaur because he was hungry and she was talking!
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LOL!
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I think it would be pretty nice having a house elf as well. As long as they wanted to be there of course lol
Aw, yeah a Dobby would be kinda cool, but I think it would be too much like having a well trained dog. :D Aw Dobby would be a cute name for a dog actually....li ke a Chinese crested. LOL
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I personally would love expecto patronum i could use it to distract my Students at the dance studio while i make my escape. I love them but ithink theylove me to much!
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This is so random but just now I was watching PoA on ABC Family and I noticed the ending, when they all come up from the Whomping Willow and Lupin changes under the full moon... Snape kind of reveals his "true colors" by instinctively protecting the 3 students (at least in the movie, lol). If Harry had been right about Snape being out to kill him the whole time, he would've run to save his own skin instead of protecting Harry, Ron and Hermione from Lupin. Just a random thought.
I love Snape, btw. LOL He kind of rocks.
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^ True. I never believed Snape was really evil in the books, even when he killed Dumbledore. I always thought there had to be something more to it than that, and I would have felt cheated if it had turned out he really was sided with Voldemort the whole time LOL. I love Snape's story.
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I love Snape too! I forgot this was HP weekend although it seems like every other weekend on ABC fam is HP weekend lol
I always secretly wanted Draco to turn out really good as well. Not that he was a horrible person, just brougt up by horrible people but still. In my head I wanted him to help bring down Voldermort.
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LOL I know, they do it pretty often! I always catch at least part of it for the previews of the next movie! I have it on right now LOL.
Draco's another good character. I like his vulnerability in the last two books especially. I don't know that I would have wanted him to completely pull a 180 and turn good, but I like how it turned out with the Malfoys, the way that Draco was kind of struggling between the two sides by the end of DH, and how Harry's saving his life essentially served to save his own later, when Narcissa lied and told Voldy he was dead when he really wasn't.
All through DH, you see that - every character Harry has shown kindness or mercy to throughout the series does something to help or even save him in DH. Dobby, Kreacher, Wormtail, Griphook, Malfoy, etc. It's such a powerful message of good karma, what goes around comes around. I also love how each of the Horcruxes was destroyed by someone different - the only one Harry actually got rid of himself was the diary, back in Chamber of Secrets. He may have been The Chosen One, but he would never have survived and conquered Voldemort without the help of his friends.
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Thats important lesson in anything - even when we think we are (or in Harry's case, he actually was) the one who is "chosen" to do something, that doesn't mean we can/have to/will do it all alone. Even the "secondary" characters are heros in HP, as it is in real life.
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LOL I forgot they have to start Harry Potter "weekend" a day early now that they can show the 5th movie too. *turns on Sorcerer's Stone*
Deathly Hallows looks sooo epic; I can't wait!!
Favorite spell... definitely the summoning spell would come in handy LOL. I like the stunning spell, too, but mostly just because I like to yell "STUPEFY!" (Not that I do this often in real life... OR DO I?)
I really love the riddikulous spell. :) I'd love to yell that at some of my co-workers some days and have them change into something far less annoying. Oops, did I just say that? :)
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You know of all of them, looks-wise, Neville has changed like the absolute most. I can only just barely recognize him each time as he changes... Its his mouth that gives it away it's him. He just changes so much from film to film, its crazy.
I was really glad Neville got to help in HP&DH in the end, too.. Neville was such a misunderstood little guy.
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^ He has! They make him wear a mouthpiece to make his cheeks look fuller and also something behind his ears to make them stick out more, so he looks a lot different in real life too LOL. It's really cool that they've kept the same child actors this whole time, so we've been able to watch them grow up over the last ten years. I remember back when the first few movies were being made, and everyone said they'd have to replace the trio for the last few movies because they would be too old to place the characters. I thought it sounded stupid at the time, since obviously the characters age with each book anyway, and I'm so glad they were able to make the movies on a tight enough schedule that it worked out fine - it totally would have ruined the film series if they had replaced the actors!
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LOL I know, they do it pretty often! I always catch at least part of it for the previews of the next movie! I have it on right now LOL.
Draco's another good character. I like his vulnerability in the last two books especially. I don't know that I would have wanted him to completely pull a 180 and turn good, but I like how it turned out with the Malfoys, the way that Draco was kind of struggling between the two sides by the end of DH, and how Harry's saving his life essentially served to save his own later, when Narcissa lied and told Voldy he was dead when he really wasn't.
All through DH, you see that - every character Harry has shown kindness or mercy to throughout the series does something to help or even save him in DH. Dobby, Kreacher, Wormtail, Griphook, Malfoy, etc. It's such a powerful message of good karma, what goes around comes around. I also love how each of the Horcruxes was destroyed by someone different - the only one Harry actually got rid of himself was the diary, back in Chamber of Secrets. He may have been The Chosen One, but he would never have survived and conquered Voldemort without the help of his friends.
it's what makes Harry Potter not a Gary Stu like The Matrix series ended up being
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^ Yeah, I think Harry is far from a Gary Stu. He may be the "chosen one," and he's certainly a hero, but he's far from perfect.
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^ He has! They make him wear a mouthpiece to make his cheeks look fuller and also something behind his ears to make them stick out more, so he looks a lot different in real life too LOL. It's really cool that they've kept the same child actors this whole time, so we've been able to watch them grow up over the last ten years. I remember back when the first few movies were being made, and everyone said they'd have to replace the trio for the last few movies because they would be too old to place the characters. I thought it sounded stupid at the time, since obviously the characters age with each book anyway, and I'm so glad they were able to make the movies on a tight enough schedule that it worked out fine - it totally would have ruined the film series if they had replaced the actors!
I had no idea they made him wear a mouthpiece - how uncomfortable! But definitely made him look like a "Neville Longbottom"... lol.
I'm VERY glad they kept the same actors, too. It's so awkward when people suddenly change looks. Like Dumbledore from films 1-2 is so NOT Dumbledore... They definitely made the change for the GOOD there, IMO, but still, the change itself was awkward.
I know it's not supposed to be a Twilight discussion... but they totally did that with the new Twi-movie, too. The bad vamp Victoria was played by a different actor in Eclipse, and you could tell they didn't want anyone to notice cos they kept doing these cheap shots of her from behind instead of showing her normally until they absolutely HAD to show her face, then it was like... they chose someone who looked nothing like the original actress, either. It ruined the effect of the hatred you should've felt for that character by that point.
Plus nobody could ever play the trio the way these 3 do... they just are perfect for the parts. It definitely would've ruined the movies to suddenly replace them.
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LOL about Eclipse - I know! They tried to just show her hair most of the time and hide her face with it. I like Bryce Dallas Howard (the new actress), but they should have not have fired Rachel LaFavre. That whole thing was just silly. With Dumbledore, they didn't have a choice, but with Victoria, they could have made it work.
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LOL about Eclipse - I know! They tried to just show her hair most of the time and hide her face with it. I like Bryce Dallas Howard (the new actress), but they should have not have fired Rachel LaFavre. That whole thing was just silly. With Dumbledore, they didn't have a choice, but with Victoria, they could have made it work.
Right.
I must say Dumbledore did change for the better though. He looks much more how I imagined Dumbledore when I was reading after the change. He looked like Santa in purple before. :-X
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^ I am glad I'm not the only one who prefers the new Dumbledore. Richard Harris is an awesome actor and it's sad he died when he did, but I really prefer how Michael Gambon portrays him.
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I think Michael Gambon is great in some scenes and way off in others. I wish they had made him read the books, cause I don't think he quite "gets" it, and there's only so much the director can do to get the perfect performance out of him if he doesn't fully understand Dumbledore's character. One scene that comes to mind is in GoF when Harry's name comes out of the goblet of fire, and he runs up to him and grabs his shoulders and shakes him and demands to know if he put his name in the cup. Dumbledore would never act that way, especially to Harry. But then there are other scenes where he does get the little quirks and humor and wisdom that make Dumbledore so great. I think he's best in PoA and HBP (which is good, cause he needed to be epic in that one!). I think Richard Harris was a good Dumbledore too; to me, he had the look and the twinkly blue eyes and all of that. But I think Michael Gambon portrays him with more strength, which was needed. Overall, I like them both... I think maybe a blend of the two would be the perfect Dumbledore in my eyes.
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^ I am glad I'm not the only one who prefers the new Dumbledore. Richard Harris is an awesome actor and it's sad he died when he did, but I really prefer how Michael Gambon portrays him.
My feelings exactly. He just wasn't... I guess "dark" looking enough to be Dumbledore. Not that Dumbledore is dark, but he's been around the block... He just looked like he was kind of waiting for the house elves to start making toys for the good students of Hogwarts before.
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I am totally with Julie. The original Dumbledore looked too sweet but he understood the role better. He knew about the special relationship with Harry and acted in the movie as such. While the new one he looks more the role, by having that strength evidently in him... but he understands the role less. GoF bugs me so bad cause Dumbledore is just so out of character when Harry's name is called it's ridiculous. It wasn't until HBP (which he ends up dying in anyway so it was kinda vital) that he seemed to FINALLY get all aspects of the role right. The fierce strength when he fights off the Inferi, and the soft quirks he has commenting about knitting patterns. Like he finally got the attitude right...on the last movie he's "alive" in.
Combine the two and it's a good deal.
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I think my favorite shot in the whole 6th movie is when he casts the circle of fire around the rock to ward off the Inferi. It's so epic and really shows his strength, even after he was so weakened from the potion. And yes, the knitting pattern line too, LOL. I really like him in that whole movie, way more than in GoF and OotP.
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I love the Inferi scene. It's just so epic all around.
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I am totally with Julie. The original Dumbledore looked too sweet but he understood the role better. He knew about the special relationship with Harry and acted in the movie as such. While the new one he looks more the role, by having that strength evidently in him... but he understands the role less. GoF bugs me so bad cause Dumbledore is just so out of character when Harry's name is called it's ridiculous. It wasn't until HBP (which he ends up dying in anyway so it was kinda vital) that he seemed to FINALLY get all aspects of the role right. The fierce strength when he fights off the Inferi, and the soft quirks he has commenting about knitting patterns. Like he finally got the attitude right...on the last movie he's "alive" in.
Combine the two and it's a good deal.
Part of how he reacted to the name being drawn out of the goblet would be up to the director. I'm sure it wasn't Gambon's idea to run up the Harry and shake him. Part of the reason that he probably did not portray him well in that movie is the director changed from PoA to GoF, and then again with OoF and HBP.
I really did not like how the director took the story of Gof at all.
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I feel like the reaction Dumbledore had in GoF when Harry's name came out was dead on. I mean, he would've been worried and livid that Harry - of ALL the students - would try to undermine his request for 17+ on the entries. He worked so hard to protect Harry (even though we don't know all the protection Dumbledore's been doing until later in the series) and Harry (apparently) disregarded all of the work of EVERYONE for a chance to compete in some "silly game" -- which was not silly, perse, of course, but in comparison to defeating Voldemort it was!! So I didn't find Dumbledore's reaction overacted or out of character. I think Dumbledore was probably overcome with a fit of emotion, which was rare for him yes, but shows just how strong the relationship between he and Harry was.
I agree that battling the Inferi was probably the most epic scene thus far in the movie series. In the books... I'd have to think about my favorite book scene. There's so many excellent ones.
I've got a feeling my all time favorite scene is going to be in DH if they portray Snape's story correctly in the film... I'm really looking forward to that.
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I think DH will win for most epic scenes. There's so many to choose from; the whole book is epic! I'm excited for the walk to the forest... I sob through that chapter every time I read it, and I will be disappointed if the movie doesn't make me cry too LOL.
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I think DH will win for most epic scenes. There's so many to choose from; the whole book is epic! I'm excited for the walk to the forest... I sob through that chapter every time I read it, and I will be disappointed if the movie doesn't make me cry too LOL.
Ohmigawd yes. When James, Lilly, Sirius etc walk with him? OMG. I bawl. It's awful. I'm really looking forward to how they portray that entire scene, as well as seeing Dumbledore at King's Cross. I hope they don't ruin it trying to be cinematic or avoid a "heaven" scene for some reason...
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This is really random, but I just thought of it and it made me laugh. It would've been great if Kevin was still in the group and for his movie preview that the Boys do during the TIU show if he did a spoof of HBP or one of the other HP movies as Snape. Can't you see it? Ohmigawd it's got me rolling so bad imagining it, I had to share the mental image. :D
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^ that would have been priceless and I could totally see him playing Snape LOL I wish Nick had done a HP skit. He would have made a pretty good draco!
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LMAO any kind of HP sketch would have been awesome! They should do a video like that sometime. Or, you know, ANY video that's not just random scenes of them hanging out or standing around in front of pretty scenery...
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LMAO any kind of HP sketch would have been awesome! They should do a video like that sometime. Or, you know, ANY video that's not just random scenes of them hanging out or standing around in front of pretty scenery...
:D But .. but .. they NEVER do those type videos!
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I'm randomly resurrecting this Harry Potter thread to post a great discussion question I saw posted by Mugglenet on Facebook:
What single character who died or appeared dead in the Harry Potter series would you save if you could, AND why do you think their death was necessary to the story and what we learn through the story?
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I would save Sirius. It's hard to pick a favorite character in a series that has so many great ones, but he's probably mine. It killed me that he had to die and that Harry was partially to blame for it, although I see why it was important to the story to kill off all of Harry's mentors so that he would be left with the quest to destroy the Horcruxes and defeat Voldemort without their help in the end. I think the fact that Harry had seen so many people die to protect him throughout the series and was desperate not to let it happen again is what motivated him to go into the forest to face Voldemort, thinking he was walking to his death, in the last book. And having his parents, Sirius, and Lupin there when he used the Resurrection Stone was the perfect touch. I just hate that he never thought to use that mirror Sirius gave him until Sirius was already gone!
All that said, the death that got to me the most when I first read the books... was Hedwig. Poor Hedwig... I can't tell you how much I cried over her death. I'm not sure saving her would make any difference in the books, but it gets me every time.