TVCH FORUMS HOME . JOIN . FAN CLUBS . ABOUT US . CONTACT . CHAT  
Bomis   Quick Links   TOPICS . TREE-VIEW . SEARCH . HELP! . NEWS . PROFILE
Archive through December 05, 2002

The TVClubHouse: Archives: Movies & Library 2003 -2004: Movies: May 2003 - April 2004: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: Archive through December 05, 2002 users admin

Author Message
Hermione69

Wednesday, November 20, 2002 - 8:11 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Darn it, Calamity, I waited quite awhile while the credits were scrolling, but it was late and was taking too long and I gave up on there being "one last gasp" and left. Now I am going to have to go back and watch it again just to see what you are talking about!

I heard that Order of the Phoenix is at the publishers and that it is longer than Goblet of Fire and then I heard that she is still working on it. So I have no idea anymore except that I want that book! NOW! LOL!

I loved Madeleine L'Engle's books also. I loved The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis, but was unable to get into the others. Robert Asprin has written some cute myth books, but they are geared for an older crowd than HP. I would think the reader would have to be in middle school, at least, to enjoy them.

I think I am the only one that liked Sorcerer's Stone better than Chamber. Most of the people I have talked to seem to have loved Chamber just a bit more. I may like it better when I can see an open caption version because of my hearing loss. I think the plot changes threw me off balance just enough that I had trouble piecing it together the way I remembered it from the book. When I don't have the context clues for the dialogue, I can get really lost and I did get restless a couple of times.

I do wish they had done something with Peeves. He is the best ghost ever! I also wish that they had let Snape find Ron and Harry after they flew in, as happened in the book, instead of changing it to Filch. It is a hilarious scene when Ron and Harry are peeking inside at the opening feast and they notice Snape is missing from the teachers' table. They start speculating, "Maybe he's sick!" "Maybe he got sacked!" and Snape comes up behind them and says, "Maybe he's wondering why you didn't arrive by the train." That would have been hilarious to have seen portrayed in the movie.

I still loved it, though! :)

Calamity

Wednesday, November 20, 2002 - 12:17 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Hi Hermione69: Yeah, there's been so many conflicting stories about the status of 'Order of the Phoenix'. I'm just glad that Rowling is taking her time with the story and not writing as if she were on an assembly line. And there is some good news on the horizon - with filming of 'Azkaban' starting soon we'll finally find out who's going to play Lupin and Sirius.

A couple key reasons I liked the CoS movie better than the first were Kenneth Branagh and Jason Issacs' terrific portrayals of Prof. Lockhart & Lucius Malfoy. Branagh was so funny and Issacs just radiated menace. They were a vast improvment over most of the returning adult actors - with the notable exception of Robbie Coltrane, whom I just love as Hagrid. I thought Alan Rickman was much better this time around, probably because he had Branagh as a foil. Am looking forward to his scenes with Lupin & Sirius in PoA.

Rupert Grint was the only one of the kids who impressed me in the first movie. But in CoS, I was pleasantly surprised by the pretty great jobs turned in by the actors playing Harry and Draco.

This is getting way too long, so just a couple other thoughts. I loved Fawkes and Errol and the visual effects were much better this time around. And some of the sets were just gorgeous.

Oh, and I understand what you mean about the Narnia books. A couple years ago, someone showed me a Salon article that claimed that C.S. Lewis' Narnia was unjustly overshadowed by L. Frank Baum's Oz (a favorite of mine). Something about how the possibility for real evil existed in Lewis' world while Baum never wanted anything too scary or bad to happen in his stories. This summer, I re-read 'The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe' and made it through the next three Chronicles of Narnia ('Prince Caspian', 'The Voyage of the Dawn Treader', and 'The Silver Chair') before giving up. Lewis' writing can be gorgeous and engaging and there are some truly stunning moments in the books (in TVotDT and TSC particularly) but I just never fell in love with the books. I do intend to finish the series sometime though, they did intrigue me enough for that.

I miss Peeves, too, by the way!

Crazydog

Wednesday, November 20, 2002 - 12:26 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
One of the things I really loved about the movie was the way they did those fly-over shots of the castle. It's so cool how you can see someone moving in that dome on top of a tower (which I imagined to be Prof. Trelawney's classroom). Loved the shots of the castle exterior and grounds in general - seemed to me we saw much more of it this time around.

Hermione69

Wednesday, November 20, 2002 - 12:48 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I am just a big Potterhead!

Calamity, I LOVED the Oz books and I think I read all of them. For those who don't know, there are many, many books in the Wizard of Oz series and I would recommend them highly to upper elementary kids and older. They are so imaginative and creative.

I loved the cornish pixies scene and the mandrakes. I agree that Branaugh was a hoot as Lockheart and Lucius Malfoy could not have been better. Am I the only one that thought he (Lucius) was a little hot? LOL! Because I did!

Jkm

Wednesday, November 20, 2002 - 1:03 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I wish the guy who played Lucius played the part of snape instead -- He was excellent as Lucius -- but I think Snape needs to be more like that.

Crazydog

Wednesday, November 20, 2002 - 1:12 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I remember the guy who played Lucius as the bad guy from The Patriot. Thought he did a good job. Although I wish they would have lightened his eyebrows a little to match his platinum blonde hair. For some reason the eyebrows really bothered me!

Calamity

Wednesday, November 20, 2002 - 3:24 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Hermione69: oh yea - another Oz fan! It's a wonder we're able to keep all these story universes straight (Oz, Buffy/Angel, Harry Potter, etc), isn't it? :)

Jkm: I agree, movie Snape just hasn't compared to book Snape yet. But to be fair, he hasn't had much screen time either. In the books, it just kills me every time Snape is revealed to have been secretly working to protect Harry or help Dumbledore. I hate him for being so mean to the Gryffindors but his character still intrigues me because I can't tell which side he's really on.

Oh and usually I don't make note of this stuff, but what the heck was up with Percy's hair in the CoS movie? He looked like Zach from TAR. And I know they probably don't have time for it, but I wish the movies included more of Fred and George's pranks and joking.

Okay, that's it (that's enough!) for today.

Hermione69

Thursday, November 21, 2002 - 5:59 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I think Snape has been perfect in the movie. Very oily with just a dash of menace. I don't think that he is supposed to come off the way Lucius Malfoy does because we still don't know if Snape is a good guy or a bad guy so they don't want to pigeonhole him. That's may take, anyway, for what it's worth. I didn't notice Percy's hair. Gosh, darn, another reason to go again! :) I also LOVE Fred and George and their pranks and wish they had more screen time also. I still laugh my butt off every time they say (in Sorcerer's Stone) "I'm not Fred! I'm George!" "Honestly woman, and you call yourself our mother?" and then just as they head off to the barrier of Platform 9 3/4 say "I'm just kidding, I am Fred."

Jkm

Thursday, November 21, 2002 - 6:23 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
From TV Guide Online:

BIG TEASE: Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling is offering a preview of Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix, the next installment in the kid wizard saga. But there's a catch: It'll cost you a pretty penny. Rowling has placed 93 random words on a card — tantalizing clues about Phoenix — that goes up for auction next month at Sotheby's in London. Proceeds benefit Book Aid International, which provides books for developing countries. To get folks excited about the item, Sotheby's leaked a few of the 93 words. "Thirty-eight chapters ... might change ... longest volume ... Ron ... broom ... sacked ... house-elf ... new teacher ... dies ... sorry." The auction gets underway Dec. 12

Crazydog

Thursday, November 21, 2002 - 10:31 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
WTF. The book is already long-delayed, she is already one of the richest women in all of Britain (save the royals and Madonna) AND she wants people to PAY for random words? If she expects people to pay for it, at least TELL them what it's about. I know it's for charity, but there's no reason for it in my opinion. If she is so concerned about providing books for developing countries she could just donate 1% of her profits.

Rabbit

Thursday, November 21, 2002 - 11:18 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Down dawg down. Personally, I see no harm in generating money for a charitable cause from a person willing to pay for it. The masses aren’t being swindled here. One extremely rich individual, who is likely to be an HP fan, will make a charitable contribution and get a unique piece of memorabilia in the process. What is the harm in that?

If she were auctioning the list for her own profit I doubt it would yield much interest but even that would certainly be within her rights.

I don't begrudge her a dime of her money. I am a consumer of her products, all the books on tape, the dvd and so on. I am quite pleased with the value I received and frankly would have still been happy had I paid twice as much for the tape collection.

Webkitty

Friday, November 22, 2002 - 7:12 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I went to see this today. I have never read the books so I'm a little in the dark about a few things.

The evil sorcerer, I can't remember his name, the one that killed Harry's parents.
I saw the first movie last year, and I thought he was destroyed when Harry touched him? Now he's back? Does he come back for every book?

Snape, I have always liked the actor that plays him. He usually plays villian types, but I don't get the sense that he will turn out to be bad. Love this character.

Professor Dumledor, what will happen now that Richard Harris has died?

I didn't like that blonde jerk, the father of the little blonde jerk, grrrr.

Anyway, enjoyed the movie, and I loved all the shots of the castle, just loved it.

Oh, and I didn't think the spiders were scary

Ericka1012

Sunday, November 24, 2002 - 11:05 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I've never read the books either and I really like the first movie and thought they explained the charcters and what they had to do with the other charcters...The second movie was even better because they didn't have to set up all the charcters...

But I have a question that might have been answered in the the books but seems to confuse me in the at least the second movie...Harry's aunt and uncle..in the first movie they didn't want him to go to wizard school...but now that he's gone and they don't want him around nor does he want to be there...Why are the still fighting him going back to school? Did I miss something in that relationship...

One other question how many books have been writen I heard the kids being interviewed and they said they had contracts to do 3 movies...but I was under the impression that Richard Harris said on Rosie after the first movie that he had to commit to 7 movie (I thought that's how many book had or would be writen).

Also does anyone know how they will handle Richard Harris's death...like who will replace him in the next movie...lots of good well known english actor out there that could step in. Like the actor that played the wizard in Lord of the Rings.

Wargod

Sunday, November 24, 2002 - 11:09 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Just a quick answer, they don't approve...and are afraid of what others will think about Harry being a wizard.

So far there are four books....the fifth is either written or almost finished? And the last I heard there was supposed to be 7.

Hermione69

Monday, November 25, 2002 - 8:13 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Webkitty, Voldemort is the dark wizard and he keeps coming back because he has not been killed. He doesn't have a body, but he is not dead. That is why he comes in other forms, like sharing Quirrel's body in the first movie and manifesting as Tom Riddle in the second movie.

I don't know how they will handle Richard's death. Ian McKellan is the one who played the wizard, Gandalf, in LOTR. I also think he would be smashing as Dumbledore, but I have trouble seeing him accept the role. I don't know why, I just do. They need to cast someone soon, though because filming starts in a few months.

Wargod, you are right. The fifth book is either finished or almost. I've heard it both ways. And there are supposed to be seven books in all-- one for each of Harry's years at Hogwarts. I think the kids are doing three movies. I think they start filming book three in late winter and it will be released in summer of 2004. I don't think anyone has been asked to commit to all seven. I think there are too many variables to consider to ask that of anyone. It will take years to get to book seven, especially considering it has not been written yet. The kids will grow up, people die, directors change. There is too much in flux.

Wargod

Monday, November 25, 2002 - 9:52 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I still think Patrick Stewart would be a terrific Dumbledore, lol.

I'll be really disappointed if they don't do all seven films. They did a good job with the first one, and from what I've heard, they've done a good job with the second...and the movies are making a bundle of money, so they just have to make another one.

Jkm

Monday, November 25, 2002 - 11:48 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
If you put him on stilts -- the guy from Jurassic Park -- would be perfect -- I think he would be more like the Dumbledore in the book - wise and a little funny and eccentric all at the same time.

Webkitty

Monday, November 25, 2002 - 12:22 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Thanks Hermione, Voldemort, it skipped my mind, don't know why.

About Dumbledore, like I said, I haven't read the books, so maybe I'm missing something. I think Richard Harris is a good actor, but he came across as wooden, and his way of talking was strange. Very slow, and no inflection at all in his voice, like he already had one foot in the afterlife. Like he was in a fog, and it was hard for him to talk or something.

It made this character unapealing to me. I didn't get the sense that he was wise, or why he was so loved. There was no animation to him at all.
I understand as the Grand Wizard (right?) he is supposed to be rather regal and majestic, but he came across as just detached to me. Yes, that's it, detached.

Maybe it is because Richard Harris was sick and not up to the job, I don't know.
I would like to see whoever replaces him have a pluse of some sort.
Jmk suggested the actor (Richard Attenbourgh?) who played in the first Jurrasic Park. I could see it. Also Patrick Stuwart is an excellent actor. Someone who can bring some LIFE to this character!!

Jkm

Monday, November 25, 2002 - 1:09 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Jim Dale does all the reading/voices on the tapes and cd's of the potter books -- he give dumbledore a bit of wimsy at times

If you ever find yourself on a long drive -- check out the tapes or cd's from the library -- he does an excellent job of bringing the unabridged story to life.

Calamity

Monday, November 25, 2002 - 1:17 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Anyone who has enjoyed the movies should definately read the books. They're much more fun and intricate. The films have crammed in as much of the main plot as possible but have skimped on the characterization. (And the characters really are the books' greatest strength.)

Webkitty: While I don't mean to be disrespecful to Richard Harris' memory, I never much cared for his portrayal of Dumbledore either. His poor health and general frailty probably just made it too difficult for him.

"Detached" is a good description of how Dumbledore appears in the movies. In the books, he's a much more lively (even though he's about 150 yrs old), commanding, and at times even whimsical figure. As Percy describes him to Harry, "He's a genius! Best wizard in the world! But he is a bit mad, yes." I don't think he has a title other than headmaster at Hogwarts though, but I might be wrong.

Hermione69: I agree with you that Snape isn't and shouldn't be compared to Lucius Malfoy. It's just that I deeply hate (albeit am intrigued by) Snape in the books and movie Snape just hasn't riled me at all. Kind of a letdown.

Moondance

Wednesday, November 27, 2002 - 6:04 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
FYI!!!

The Harry Potter show on Oprah will re-air tomorrow:)

Tashakinz

Monday, December 02, 2002 - 12:32 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Saw it Friday. Loved it. They did such a GREAT job with Dobby. Anyone who didn't sit through the credits for the end bit missed out on a great chuckle. = )

Neko

Monday, December 02, 2002 - 1:46 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Now I want to go see it again just for the credits!!!

Hermione69

Monday, December 02, 2002 - 7:10 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I am SO EXCITED because I will be seeing it again this weekend in "open caption" so I can follow it better (and wait and watch the scene after the credits! :))

I saw the Oprah reairing and it was so nice to see the kids. The young man who plays Harry, Daniel Radcliffe, particularly impressed me. I also saw a short special on HBO on the making of CoS and Daniel made a comment about how lucky he is because there are thousands of kids out there who would pay to be in his shoes, and I thought that was such a nice attitude. I hope he keeps that as time goes by. It's very refreshing.

Hermione69

Thursday, December 05, 2002 - 3:58 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
From tvguide.com today about Dumbledore's part in HP3:

"Shortly after Harris's death on Oct. 25, there was rampant speculation that Christopher Lee would take over the role; these rumors originated in UK tabloid The Sun, and Lee has denied them. Lee posted this statement on his website (ChristopherLeeWeb.com): "In view of the ever increasing speculation about the possibility of me playing Dumbledore in the next Harry Potter film, I wish to make it totally clear that at no time have I ever been approached to play this part. The quote in some newspapers 'that I was approached three years ago and turned it down' is completely untrue. The situation has never arisen and in view of the fact that Richard Harris has only been dead for a few days, it would be inappropriate and distasteful for me to make any further comment." Other sources have reported that Ian McKellen was under consideration; McKellen has also denied having been approached. A number of other names have been floated as possible Dumbledores, but their participation is sheer speculation; they include Peter O'Toole, Michael Gambon, Patrick Stewart, Michael Caine and Terence Stamp. The rest of the casting for the film is being kept tightly under wraps."

A number of good ones have been mentioned. Since I can't see Ian McKellan accepting the part even if it is offered (I don't think he will want to typecast himself after playing Gandalf), I've been thinking a lot about Patrick Stewart and I think he would be fabulous. I don't know some of the other names; I'll have to look them up. Just thought this was interesting.

http://www.tvguide.com/movies/flickchick/