[Insert character, not Neville]
Jan. 20th, 2012 01:50 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
felicitykingI said I wasn't going to make one these long posts, but I just finished rereading the book, and the changes made are pissing me off.
Now, I'm a longtime Potterhead. I know the films made changes. But there are some dumbass things they did that I just don't understand how JKR approved of.
Neville is eliminated from virtually all the scenes in which he played a huge part in the book. It's the Golden Trio + Neville. In nearly every chapter. Of course, his character isn't golden: he's forgetful, quiet, doesn't take the lead. But when it matters, he's there. He's ALWAYS lurking about in the background. He isn't close to the golden trio, but he isn't a stranger either.
For some reason, Steve Kloves completely drops him out of the scenes where he was supposed to be and inserts Ron or Draco instead. Ron isn't there for every scene! Neither is Draco. It gives the misleading idea that the original book was about The Golden Trio + Draco. When Draco is only an annoying fly in the room: there, but NOT the focus. Basically ignored by the trio except for when they can't ignore him. Neville is far, far more prominent and rather opinionated to the TGT when it comes down to it.
I can't fathom why or what JKR was thinking letting this happen. If she had approval over the scripts (and given that she allegedly had the books plotted out far into advance), why would she let Steve Kloves plow over Neville in such a disrespectful manner? Especially since everybody knew from the get-go that if the film was a hit, all the books were going to be filmed.
After rereading PS, I've seen some fairly clear hints of BAMF! Neville, but because he's in the scenes he supposed to be and his actions are explained out. In the films, he's a barely in-depth character.
I'm sure I'll have more complaints as I rewatch the films. (I do rewatch them when they come on ABCFam, but this is the first time in years I've watched as critic rather than as a fan.) I know Steve downgrades Ron, is a Harmony shipper, and leaves out entire chunks of backstory. However, I also know---despite my short review and this rant---everything else improves. From special effects to acting (kids go from being adorable to being their roles) to basic storytelling itself.
I said in my short review that the film feels very mid-1990s in both technique and framing. And it really does! It doesn't just move along like special effects films do nowadays. Everytime a special effect is shown, it insists on having our characters gasp over it (of course, they are gasping over something in the film, but we-as-audience are supposed to be in awe with them.) It boggles my mind that LOTR: TFOTR came out in the same year and pushed CGI so far ahead and was so subtle with it, while this one seems...proud of itself, for using the same-old, been-there canvas. I can understand now why critics were so dismissive of it. It reminds of Jumanji and Casper in being sooooo obvious of the special effects. It also employs the "make stupid comic remark during scene of danger" (NOT in the books) which were a big thing of 1990s actions films. (I note too that Klove took a swipe at Ron during the Devil's Snare scene. WTF does Kloves have against Ron?)
And I really hate to say this, but Alan Rickman just seems to be channeling his Sheriff of Nottingham performance in this one. Even the strut!
Now, I'm a longtime Potterhead. I know the films made changes. But there are some dumbass things they did that I just don't understand how JKR approved of.
Neville is eliminated from virtually all the scenes in which he played a huge part in the book. It's the Golden Trio + Neville. In nearly every chapter. Of course, his character isn't golden: he's forgetful, quiet, doesn't take the lead. But when it matters, he's there. He's ALWAYS lurking about in the background. He isn't close to the golden trio, but he isn't a stranger either.
For some reason, Steve Kloves completely drops him out of the scenes where he was supposed to be and inserts Ron or Draco instead. Ron isn't there for every scene! Neither is Draco. It gives the misleading idea that the original book was about The Golden Trio + Draco. When Draco is only an annoying fly in the room: there, but NOT the focus. Basically ignored by the trio except for when they can't ignore him. Neville is far, far more prominent and rather opinionated to the TGT when it comes down to it.
I can't fathom why or what JKR was thinking letting this happen. If she had approval over the scripts (and given that she allegedly had the books plotted out far into advance), why would she let Steve Kloves plow over Neville in such a disrespectful manner? Especially since everybody knew from the get-go that if the film was a hit, all the books were going to be filmed.
After rereading PS, I've seen some fairly clear hints of BAMF! Neville, but because he's in the scenes he supposed to be and his actions are explained out. In the films, he's a barely in-depth character.
I'm sure I'll have more complaints as I rewatch the films. (I do rewatch them when they come on ABCFam, but this is the first time in years I've watched as critic rather than as a fan.) I know Steve downgrades Ron, is a Harmony shipper, and leaves out entire chunks of backstory. However, I also know---despite my short review and this rant---everything else improves. From special effects to acting (kids go from being adorable to being their roles) to basic storytelling itself.
I said in my short review that the film feels very mid-1990s in both technique and framing. And it really does! It doesn't just move along like special effects films do nowadays. Everytime a special effect is shown, it insists on having our characters gasp over it (of course, they are gasping over something in the film, but we-as-audience are supposed to be in awe with them.) It boggles my mind that LOTR: TFOTR came out in the same year and pushed CGI so far ahead and was so subtle with it, while this one seems...proud of itself, for using the same-old, been-there canvas. I can understand now why critics were so dismissive of it. It reminds of Jumanji and Casper in being sooooo obvious of the special effects. It also employs the "make stupid comic remark during scene of danger" (NOT in the books) which were a big thing of 1990s actions films. (I note too that Klove took a swipe at Ron during the Devil's Snare scene. WTF does Kloves have against Ron?)
And I really hate to say this, but Alan Rickman just seems to be channeling his Sheriff of Nottingham performance in this one. Even the strut!
