Deathly Hallows movie(s)?

[Re-reader]

I just read over at AICN that Deathly Hallows may be made into 2 movies?

Daily Mail article (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/showbiz/showbiznews.html?in_article_id=507920&in_page_id=1773)

News item on MuggleNet (http://www.mugglenet.com/app/news/show/1426)

[Elwen]

Whoa..... and they are trying to get Spielberg (or someone of that ilk).

Now THAT would be exciting. And a bit of a threat for the Hobbit.



As much as I admire PJ's work - the Hobbit going head to head with HP 7 (possibly a second part in the same year as the 'bridging film') by Spielberg - I am not sure who'd have to give way to whom. I would only hope that the harry Potter films would move to the summer - but HP 7/2 certainly looks like good for a winter slot.... :eek:



I just wonder: where on earth would they divide the story?

I would have thought that witha few tweaks (I played the scenario through in discussion with a friend a few weeks back) one should be able to get all of Dh into about 3 hours or a little less.... I just can't see a good place to divide it up....

[Re-reader]

I honestly thought DH dragged a bit in the middle, with all that hiding out in the woods in their tent, etc. It seems like DH would be easier to shoehorn into one movie than Phoenix, for example (which was the longest HP book). Although I'm not complaining -- I will gladly go see two HP movies and two Hobbit movies, no matter when they are released.

[Eriol]

Please God not Speilberg!

[Elwen]

Why, Eriol?

I think he could do a good job. He has shown that ha can do dark very well, and one would hope that the text would compell him to avoid endings that are too cheesy (OK, with Spielberg the epilogue is a given :eek: )



Concerning cutting DH to fit one movie.... well..... it depends what one wants to do and how.

A very short version would perhaps just get Harry from Privet Drive to the wedding, and the wedding interruption could be directly used to set up the fact that someone has managed to find Harry (i.e. the fact that the word Voldemort can be traced).



Cut the wedding preparations as well as the whole Charing Cross Road thing - although I have to say I did like those scenes in the book.


The next we have in the ministery break-in - I think we need that, but the long preparations can go, and I'd cut the whole sub-plot with Ron trying to fix some office.


Then the camping trip starts - I'd cut a good deal of that, highlighting essentially Godric's Hollow, and offering a few scenes to explain those people who go round capturing fugitives.

I'd essentially cut a lot of the Dumbledore's backstory sub-plot - I am not even sure how much time needs to be spent on the whole extra complication of the Hallows. I certainly cut the scene at Mr. Lovegood's and have Hermione discover more about her book at Bill and Fleur's (basically giving Luna her father's role as source for 'loony' theories).

This means that they are captured (same way as in the book) soon after Godric's Hollow and the essential sword scene. We can still work out whether Ron should ever leave or not - but my shortened scenario would still allow for that.

OK - once they are captured we need a good deal of that scene at the Malfoy's pretty much as written, as well as the escape to bill and Fleur's.


At that point we need to really sort out the Hallows backstory (courtesy of Luna, and perhaps some other people - e.g. Lupin). On the other hand, we can cut the long discussions of the bank robbery and just get on with it.

OK. next action scene - bank robbery, escape, and on to Hogsmeade.


The rest of the story will have to play out pretty much as in the books - but I think that the full final show-down should be doable in 1 1/2 hours at most (my only problem would be how to do Snape's backstory? Surely that can't be cut??)


I would suggest that all of the above could come in under three hours. I am sure one has to sort out plenty of problems with this - but those are the basics.

[Re-reader]

Wow, Elwen, your post demonstrates to me that I have already forgotten a lot of the details of Deathly Hallows and need to read it again. Maybe it does need 2 movies, at that.

I think the subplot with Ron leaving is very important, especially to underline how he is tormented by his jealousy, insecurity and worry that Hermione loves Harry instead of him. I thought that the scene in which Ron has to destroy the locket, and face the demon images of Harry and Hermione, is one of the most powerful and emotional scenes in the book.

If we leave out the excursion to the Lovegood house, do we still have Luna in the basement prison at the Malfoy's?

I really do need to read the book again.

[Elwen]

Well, Ron could still leave - and even if you cut that subplot, there would obviously be a lot of jealousy among the three, especially undeer ther imnfluence of the locket - and yes, the scene where Ron stabs the horcrux is essential and would be in.


Luna would still be at the malfoy's - doesn't really matter if they only find out there that she has been captured, IMHO.

Luna would then be rescued as per the book and would then take on her father's role in helping out with the 'hallows' lore and beedle's tales. :) After all, that's Mr lovegood's main plot function in the book.

[Eriol]

I just don't like the way he does things, Speilberg.

[Elwen]

Well.... I can see that. But he IS a brilliant director if he wants to be - and if he holds the cheesy endings (and he has been getting better at avoiding those).

Spielberg is a master at using small details to just make a frame look better and a scene seem more meaningful.

But it IS a matter of taste of course, and he can get a bit manipulative.

[Pearl]

Please God not Spielberg!

What he said. :D

Spielberg is a highly accomplished director but even in a film as majestic as Schindler's List, he still succumbs to sentimentality. IMO.

DH has a lot of very edgy stuff in it - the Malfoy Manor scene is really chilling - and you want a director who will not stint on that.

I am totally against the idea of splitting DH into two. There is simply not enough material to justify such a move. Potterverse ain't Middle-earth! I think the emotional impact of the story would be really spoiled if it was diluted in that way.

I mean, really: Endless Camping Trip Part One and then Endless Camping Trip Part Two!

DH should make a brilliant two-and-a-half-hour film, IMO.

Well, it's good to be back. :D

[Elwen]

It's good to HAVe you back!

I would really like to discuss this (without having to brave the HUGE muglenet boards) and here I am all on my own... <sigh>

Eventually I guess I'll have to go to mugglenet, but just reading posts in the interesting threads every day is so hard, and because most people find the same the discussions do go in circles a lot (I lurk there quite a bit)....

[Pearl]

It's good to HAVe you back!

I would really like to discuss this (without having to brave the HUGE muglenet boards) and here I am all on my own... <sigh>

:drama:

Well, you can talk about it to me, hon. :glomp:

Eventually I guess I'll have to go to mugglenet, but just reading posts in the interesting threads every day is so hard, and because most people find the same the discussions do go in circles a lot (I lurk there quite a bit)....

Have you spotted me there? On the Chamber of Secrets forums? :) I'm pretty easy to spot. :raspberry

I've been active there since November. It's not that intimidating, in fact I think the boards are very nicely run (the mods run a tight ship, I'm telling ya!)

I'm pretty much talked out on the literary side - apart from defending Snape now and then, and trying my damndest not to bash Ginny :biggrin: - and the movie threads are a little repetitive at the moment, I agree.

[Elwen]

hmmmmm.... I'll almost have to follow you over there now....

Wouldn't be the first time, eh? :D

I'll see whether I can come up with a comfortable user name that isn't taken yet...

[Pearl]

That would be funny. :D

:fquid:

You could always go for a Tolkien user name, of course. :) I didn't have to fight anyone for Pearl. ;)

And there's a small handful of Tolkien fans over there. :) Wimsey (who posted as The Wagner at TORC) ... he's a great poster. Really shows the HP kids their paces when it comes to the subject of film adaptation. :D

And there's a Steelsheen. Not OUR Steelsheen though. ;)

We try not to mention LotR too much. :D Many don't seem to object, since they've either read the books or seen the films and know the material, but it winds some of the younger ones up because (astonishingly) some have never never seen it (how old does THAT make me feel) and can't understand why we reference it so much on a HP board. The reason being is that PJ set the Gold Standard for how to make a brilliant, beautiful, gorgeous fantasy film that is true to the spirit of the original. Not that I always approved of everything PJ did, but yes, it was a Gold Standard, in terms of cinematic impact.

I do really like the HP films though. The HP guys and gals are lucky to have a franchise which is faithful to their beloved books. It's interesting and enlightening to hear their criticisms though. :)

Anyway, not DH related, but new piccies from the HBP set:

http://www.oclumencia.com.br/galeria/thumbnails.php?album=140&page=1

It really is awfully funny to see Snape glaring at some Muggle security guy! :LOL:

[Elwen]

LOL.... funny how Rickman immediately seems to channel Snape once he has that costume on - he almost smiles in some of those shots where he isn't in costume, but once dressed as Snape he just glowers at the world around him. Priceless. :D

The last one almost looks as if Snape had actually been arrested by the muggle police ;)



Another thing that just occurred to me about HP - it makes lots of young people interested in cathedrals. Even if they just visit Gloucester or Durham to see the movie sets - I think someone has to be pretty oblivious to pure atmosphere if they can enter such a building and not be ALSO moved by the amazing 'feel' of such buildings.... :) Perhaps we'll see another generation of cathedral hunters after all.... :D



Well, Pearl - my usual username WAS taken, and I went for my movie-messageboard self, since the TORC user name is so obviously Tolkien..... but I still haven't had the confirmation e-mail (in spite of checking twice that my address is OK). I'll show up eventually....

[Pearl]

Well, I hope they get a move on and confirm your registration soon! I forgot how long it took when I did it ... it wasn't particularly speedy!

And I shall keep an eye out for Melilot. ;)

I can't believe Elwen was taken!

I won't be around on any boards tonight though: I'm out! :)

LOL.... funny how Rickman immediately seems to channel Snape once he has that costume on - he almost smiles in some of those shots where he isn't in costume, but once dressed as Snape he just glowers at the world around him. Priceless. :D

Isn't he wonderful? :D Both the actor and the character. :girlp:

I mean, how could you not glare at people when dressed in Snape's billowing black robes and maintaining that determinedly non-smiling expression? :LOL:

I quite fancied having a Snape avatar, just on this forum, but I do so like my old Frodo one, which was made for me by ... well, I think it might have been YOU, actually! :)

The last one almost looks as if Snape had actually been arrested by the muggle police ;)

Bwah! :D

And yes, I love it that they're filming in Gloucester Cathedral. :)

[Elwen]

Wow... did I? I had forgotten all about it. But it is a gorgeous avatar (and I am not praising the photoshopping job here)

And I shall keep an eye out for Melilot. ;)


Don't. I wasn't making myself clear. I thought that Melilot was too hobbitish and went for my nice and short, but Greek, Oscar Watch name.

You'll see... :D

[Haldomere Banks]

Pardon me, but you guys are stepping on all of the baby tumbleweeds. Please be considerate of the nothing.

BTW, it's good to see you, Cousin Pearl.

Hjal

[Elwen]

LOL..... yes, I think that that was just our intention... tumbleweeds must be disturbed! :D


EDIT..... Pearl - I signed up and when I came back to finally log in after the 'cooling off' period I got this message:
You have been banned.
reasons: not stated
when will you be reinstated? Never

erm. Not exactly friendly. I hadn't even had the chance to LOG IN? How on earth can they ban me??
I sent them an e-mail but no reply in two days - so we'll see, I suppose.... :D

[Pearl]

Wow. :(

Well, surely that must be a weird technical slip of some kind ... that is just downright PECULIAR.

I am really surprised you've not had a reply yet ... I do hope they sort you out soon.

Hjal, :D

[Re-reader]

Just wanted you guys to know that I am "Legalese" over on the MuggleNet boards. (Re-reader was taken). I lurk over there every once in a while but usually find the discussions over-prolific, immature and not very friendly. But I don't mind trying again and will keep an eye out for you guys (assuming that Elwen's lifelong ban gets revoked! LOL - what's up with THAT!?!)

[Re-reader]

The last one almost looks as if Snape had actually been arrested by the muggle police ;)

Hee hee. Reminds me of The Holy Grail, when the police have Sir Lancelot up against the police car, patting him down for weapons...

[Elwen]

LOL... Legalese.....

Well, after five days they STILL haven't got back to me, so I really don't know!

If I ever make it there I'll be Klio. The Muse of History, gettit? ;) :D

I have been lurking there quite a bit, Re-reader and I have generally found what you describe. I remember when these boards were a bit more alive, and we simply had the better discussions. But one does need a critical mass of a few dozen people who drop by regularly to get this sort of thing going, and quite obviously we don't.

Ah well.

I'll certainly stick around here - I have this habit of just dropping in through the COE link whenever I am there, so ....

[Pearl]

Elwen, I saw you lurking there last night. Klio is still banned. :rolleyes:

Would it help if I Owled one of their admin staff and explained that you are a highly mature, responsible person? :) I am out tonight so likely I would not be able to do this until tomorrow ...

Re-reader, I confess I haven't seen you over there but I will keep an eye out. :)

I quite like it over there. No, it's not as cosy as Tolkien fandom ... but I do think we were really very spoiled for the warm fuzzies at Imladris and then CoE. Other forums in other fandoms are much, much bigger than our fandom was, and that immediately changes the dynamics: for one thing, the mods have a larger number of potential idiots to deal with, so the rules can be strict.

Tolkien fandom was never as big as HP fandom, but it more than made up for that in quality. :) And Tolkien fans made plenty of noise. :girlp:

-edit-

UPDATE: Elwen is in!!!!!!! :):):):) Thanks to Morgoth. ;)

[Re-reader]

It does not surprise me that you have not "seen" me over there, Pearl, because I really don't go over there much. But I might try to start a daily check-in habit at Mugglenet along with my COE and MI habits.

[Elwen]

Well, I'll get there eventually..... I'll watch out for you... have to find an avatar and so forth.... as someone who never changes her avatar this is some work! But I guess I'll be able to come up with something....

[Lanen]

I've never tried Mugglenet - lazy, I guess. It would be nice to see a bit more life about the place, true enough! I feel a bit guilty, having been away so long. Still, nice to see Pearl and Elwen and Hjal visit every now and again. And hi, Re-reader! Nice to meetcha. :)

Cheers,

Lanen

[Elwen]

Well, I have now settled in over at Mugglenet - but I tend to look in here almost every time before I log off from the COE, and I have never stopped doing so, even if no-one posts for weeks. So if someone does post here they'll see me reply here. :)

[Lanen]

I'll remember mugglenet for when I've got more time/ am awake at 3am and wanting company. At the moment, I'm just enjoying see a few familiar faces :wave: :D and revisiting this lovely place. Shame about the tumbleweeds - maybe there will be a bit more life just before the next film, yes?

[Elwen]

Looks like you have just managed to attract a few people back, Lanen..... I am realising there are THREE registered users online right now. I haven't seen this for AGES. :)


I am not sure whether there will be much more traffic when the film comes out. Perhaps. Even the publication of DH didn't manage to get a proper conversation going for more than a few days, so I am not hopeful. I'll be coming back here as long as the board is around - but I am not sure whether it hasn't been dormant for too long already. I was even starting to worry about the COE - there is a point of no return if the traffic gets too low.... but with the Hobbit announcement a few weeks ago the whole thing is slowly starting to speed up again. I think that was close, actually....


So, do you have a user account at mugglenet?

[Lanen]

Elwen -

Whee, I'm setting a trend! Hah! ...hmmm... well, or not...

No, I haven't signed up at mugglenet, mainly because I have no self-control and would almost certainly spend lots of time there and I can't right now. I have just gotten to the last bit of the plot that I thought through before, and now I have to come up with the second half of the book! (or possibly books) Arggh - I thought it would almost plot itself, but no. I'm going to have to write out a chart to keep track of all the, as it were, threads. Wibble. I am so rubbish at this.

The good news is, the actual chapter is getting better! :D I'm not supposed to be writing the actual chapter, but it's fun!

So no mugglenet for me, at least not right now. :)

[Elwen]

Mhhh... nice.... I wish I could write stories like you can! I am rubbish at plotting, dialogue, characterisation... ack - absolutely everything., Except, perhaps, the basic "world inventing" thing. I guess I am OK at that, and that's not only fantasy but also real worlds in various times and places. But what's the point if you can't actually people that world with interesting charactyers and then involve those characters in stories? :) It'll be academic books for me, as far as I can see....

It's a very nice gift to have, telling stories... :)

[Lanen]

Elwen -

Thanks for your kind words. I am always grateful for my gift, and always doubtful that I have enough of it to make reading my books enjoyable. Ah, self-doubt, it's a wonderful thing (or not...)! At least, it's a very common thing among writers. And I couldn't write an academic text if my life depended on it! I'd keep making up stories, or speculating without the facts to support it.

I'm a lousy academic. At University I got what a kind lecturer described as "a solid 2.2" :redface: which translates into "ok, you've got your degree, but you can stop thinking you're an academic now!" So mutual admiration society here - I *so* admire the ability to keep everything straight and present it in an interesting way, the ability to pass on learning - that's the lifeblood of civilization, after all!

So :notworthy: mutual admiration society here! :D And I'll keep my fingers crossed for your job hunt.

[Xazinon]

I don't really think there is enough there for two movies either, but good luck to them I guess! I didn't think it was the best book of the series, so it will be interesting to see what the can make of it. Boy, the kids are going to be getting on a bit by the time they get through all that, huh? ;)

Saw a trailer for HBP the other day, looks interesting, I will be curious to see how much of the Voldemort back story they include, because it obviously doesn't really focus much on our main protagonist kiddies and I would think they might prefer to include them as much as possible in the scope of the movie. But, we shall see, eh? :)

[Lanen]

Hiya Xaz! :hug:

Ok, gotta go watch the trailer, didn't know there was one - ok - spiffy - looks like it's going to be atmospheric at any rate, and I like the way they have chosen to show the whatsis, the memory holder. (hmm, losing some details... guess I'm just getting older! ;) )

Ya know, Xaz, I reckon they will show a lot of the backstory, as they have TWO movies that will be based on that - the movies are so full of amazingly talented actors, I personally wouldn't mind seeing more of David Thewlis and Gary Oldman! The younger actors - as you say, not so very young anymore - are ok, and getting better, but it's the character actors who make the movie as much as the stars.

[Reba]

'cept Serius is dead now, so no more Gary Oldman.

[Lanen]

Quite right, Reba, darn it. :(

Will be interesting to see how they deal with the Severus backstory, and how much of it they go into - is it gonna be some unknown young actor? Alan Rickman with lots of CGI or makeup assistance? Might be fun to see, e.g., Ben Barnes as the young Severus! Or is he just too impossibly handsome? BTW, I only realised the other day, Ben Barnes was in Stardust before he was in Prince Caspian. He plays the young Dunstan Thorne at the very beginning of the movie.

[Xazinon]

Hi Lanen! :hug:

Yeah, I guess you're right, they will have to show a fair bit of the back story, it will really be almost three movies I guess if they have HBP and then two DH movies!

Hmm, methinks with Snape they won't go with the CGI/makeup and they will get someone a bit younger to do it, much as I'd be entertained by the makeup and all, hehe :D I guess whatever they do they would have to do the same thing for Lily/James, it would be a bit inconsistent to do it for one and not the rest of them! It will be interesting to see James or Lily somewhere else other than just waving in Harry's picture, heh :)

Did you see Dumbledore in the trailer? What a young go-getter, hehehe, such spiffy robes! :D

[Lanen]

Didn't see/ notice Dumbledore, there again my player is pretty rubbish. Though you worry me strangely with the 'spiffy robes' comment... ;)

[Elwen]

'cept Serius is dead now, so no more Gary Oldman.

Apparently Dan Radcliffe said in an interview recently (one he did before starting Equus in NY) that he's looking forward to working with Oldman again in DH, because at the moment at least he IS in the script. it's presumably just a short part, but still! :)