Harry Potter Movie Series

Thought it would be nice to have a thread to discuss all of our thoughts about the movies, favorite scenes, what we think of the cast, etc. I don't think they could have done any better with the cast especially Dan, Rupert, and Emma. As for
my fave scene I'll have to think about that there have been so many wonderful moments over the years.

Best Casting Decision Ever ... Alan Rickman as Snape. Even if he is a tad older than Snape should be.

Shame Richard Harris died. He was a much better Dumbledore than Michael Gambon.

Oh,yes..some parts find the perfect people. I've enjoyed the trio of Dan,Rupert and Emma growing into the roles.. I thought their untrained approached to film brought a reality that was charming. In looking back there are some wince worthy moments but that can be said of any film.



Don't get me started on the genius of bringing Alan Rickman and Richard Harris to their roles. AR gave Snape's undefined (film wise anyway) character interest even if you didn't understand why this adult was so horrid to this one child.

And RH..my own and only Dumbledore. I'm afraid my alternatives to the part after he departed also died before the end of the series as well...I thought Patrick McGoohan and Pete Postlewaite could have brought the majesty and humour described in the novels.Ian McClellan turned the opportunity down and Peter O'Toole was probably unavailable.



There was a supply of acting riches brought to these films. Too bad time restraints and the overindulgence in special effects shortchanged the viewers from seeing these wonderful actor develop their characters fully.



When I reread the books,I see Maggie Smith,Emma Thompson,Julie Walters et al in "their" parts.

I agree nobody else could have done better as Prof. Snape, Alan Rickman is a brilliant actor.

I loved Richard Harris as Prof. Dumbledore and was sad to hear he had passed. However I don't think Michael Gambon is
as bad as some say (sorry to those who do). He does have a different style and I think he could have done some scenes better, while some were good.

Maggie Smith is terrific and I can't see another as Prof. McGonagall. The same goes for several of the others, and I see the acotrs when I re-read too.

Of all the films, I thought Deathly Hallows 1 and 2 were the closest to the book - I was so glad that Molly's line wasn't cut - the whole cinema applauded at that point

I love DH one and two, but I think that is because they were long enough to cover so much material. I think SS was very close to the book as well, which hooked me. I had not read the books before seeing the movie and I was so drawn that I think I saw it 4 times in the theater. Then jumped into the books. It was pure magic for me.

I think the trio casting was perfect and amazing considering how young they were when they were cast. The last 3 or so movies I thought they should have put just a bit of lifts in Dan's shoes so Emma wasn't taller than he was. But it was wonderful the way the developed and grew into their parts.

There were 2 actors (besides the Dumbledore change) that didn't quite fit what I pictured. First was Prof. Slughorn. He just didn't fit the image in my head and he wasn't as stubborn as I thought the character in the book was. The second was Scrimgeour. I had such an image of him in my head that I was confused when they finally showed him on screen. It took me a while to switch over. I just pictured him more like a lion.

I'm another one who saw the first film before reading the books. I was aware of the series but thought they were really for children but had to see the movie because of the adult cast..Like missypotter,I was instantly hooked. Got the four books available,read them in a week and was dismayed to find out there'd be years to wait for the next one.
I thought SS captured the magical world beautifully. I admit since then I've been disappointed. Love most of DH2 because as was mentioned it was long enough to allow for some character development instead of just flashy special effects.I thought Jim Broadbent too kindly and open to even be a Slytherin let alone the ambiguous character Professor Slughorn.But who cares when Maggie Smith,Robbie Coltrane and Alan Rickman are so wonderful in their parts.

I have a question about Deathly Hallows. How was Snape able to track down Harry and Hermione when they were in the Forest of Dean? Ron had the deluminator, but how did Snape have any idea in the whole country/world where they were? I don't remember it saying how in the book.

I wondered too,but thought it was one of those other worldly interventions by the spirit of Dumbledore. In reading and rereading I can't find any clue as to how Snape would have known how to find them,unless there was some sort of spell used as a tracking device placed upon the sword of Gryffindor...and even then,how would he know how to place the sword where it could be found by the right people?
Certainly a question JKR could be asked some time.

Authors have such power to manipulate!

You've got to wonder if the repeated occlumency lessons created some sort of bond between Severus and Harry. Throughout the books Harry feels as if Snape could read his mind. JKR didn't seem to follow up on that, but it could be a theory as to how Snape would know where they were.

For those interested in voting DH2 is up for several awards at Peoples Choice No registration necessary to vote.

Ah, the movies I would have loved to be able to pick actors haha, but thank goodness the directors and producers get to pick those. I'd have missed out on some wonderful performances. It's no secret I'm no fan of MG, but admitted, it's hard to fill Richard Harris' shoes. For anyone, even if they picked Peter O'Toole for the job, my personal favourite stand-in. I wasn't fond of who they picked for Slughorn either, but my best option would've been the actor who plays Vernon Dursley, rendering it impossible...
As for my favourite Dolores Umbridge, I still think Eileen Brennan (nemesis to Goldie Hawns character in "Private Benjamin") would've made a fantastic Umbridge.

I think they did a wonderful job all over. Mind, most of the characters they picked, still fitted remarkably well, for 8 movies! Most of the characters being pre-teens, that's an admirable feat!
I think AR for Snape is the best cast character yet, even if he's about 20 years older than his character is supposed to be, same goes for Lupin and Sirius. Poor directing choices aside: I'm still very happy with the movies, with the possible exception of the ghastly performance in HP3 PoA where Harry cries "He was their friend!!". That still makes me blush with shame

As for how Snape knows Harry & Hermione are in the Forest of Dean: it's because Hermione is talking into the beaded handbag, stuffing something away, when they apparate there.
In the beaded handbag is the portrait of Phinneas Nigellus, the former Hogwarts Headmaster, and uncle to Sirius Black. The portrait of whom hung in the bedroom Harry used to inhabit in the Black residence, and Hermione cleverly, took with them in her bag.
The other portrait hangs in the headmasters' office, and thus when he hears Hermione tell Harry they're in the Forest of Dean, he's able to slide into his other portrait, and tell Snape.

Does this help?

I actually stopped explaining things to the people I know who haven't read the books. I got so irritated over having to explain how things were supposed to be when they didn't get it that I just started telling them all to read the books.*sigh* Atleast I was able to enjoy the movies knowing the real story and viewed them as a summary of events so to speak.

Poca wrote:I think AR for Snape is the best cast character yet, even if he's about 20 years older than his character is supposed to be, same goes for Lupin and Sirius. Poor directing choices aside: I'm still very happy with the movies, with the possible exception of the ghastly performance in HP3 PoA where Harry cries "He was their friend!!". That still makes me blush with shame.

Can't agree more with this statement. PoA is my least favorite along with HBP. Chris Columbus was the best. I just watched SS last night and thought it is almost better than the book. The only movie I can say that about.

Chris Columbus had a real sense of the wonder and whimsy of the wizarding world...very appropriate for the young kids' story...and then everything had to get darker in order to clue the audience in on the thickening of the subsequent plots....literally...I swear it's still a strain to watch the later movies because of the lack of light ( and lightness) Even in the worst of situations,JKR still had humorous characters and situations at the ready to keep things balanced.

I have a real fondness for CC because I saw the movie before reading the book and the movie hooked me right away.Since the son of one of my employees had been urging me to read Harry,I checked out the film to get a feel for the story and feel in love with it all.

If I need a Harry fix,I'm more inclined to grab a book than dvd but if I'm working around the house and want something familiar in the background it's either Harry Potter or Bette Davis..odd couple indeed.

Just saw that Richard Griffiths, who played Uncle Vernon, has passed away.

""'Harry Potter' actor Richard Griffiths dies at 65

Published - Mar 29 2013 01:29PM EST

JILL LAWLESS, Associated Press

LONDON (AP) — Richard Griffiths was one of the great British stage actors of his generation, a heavy man with a light touch, whether in Shakespeare or Neil Simon. But for millions of movie fans, he will always be grumpy Uncle Vernon, the least magical of characters in the fantastical "Harry Potter" movies.

Griffiths died Thursday at University Hospital in Coventry, central England, from complications following heart surgery, his agent, Simon Beresford, said. He was 65.
""
"Harry Potter" star Daniel Radcliffe paid tribute to the actor Friday, saying that "any room he walked into was made twice as funny and twice as clever just by his presence."

"I am proud to say I knew him," Radcliffe said.

Griffiths won a Tony Award for "The History Boys" and appeared in dozens of movies and TV shows. But he will be most widely remembered as a pair of contrasting uncles — Harry Potter's Uncle Vernon Dursley and Uncle Monty in cult film "Withnail and I."

Thank you Greatheart for this information. I had heard he passed away, but didn't know the details. He holds a part of all our hearts and will lives forever in the Harry Potter movies.

He left a wonderful legacy of quirky,well developed characters..of course he was perfect as Uncle Vernon. Like most established actors, he might not have wanted to have his signature role be a small one in a large franchise...but he was brilliant as the ultimate muggle.

Here's to Richard Griffiths...thank you.

Just finding this out. He'll greatly be missed by his peers and all of us fans.

I don't remember it in the dvds but I believe it's Hermione's home after her parents have left for Australia.

I wish there had been some resolution with Dudley and Harry and more with Aunt Petunia. I thought Dudley's little bit of redemption so sweet and bumbling and after listening to Snape's story at the end,it made Petunia so much more understandable.

oh,I admit it...I wouldn't have minded 3 films if they would have included everything.

Yes, it was Hermione's house. On the regular dvd, it's one of the deleted scenes. ABC Family has always extended all of the HP films by putting deleted scenes back into the films where they RIGHTLY belong! It's too bad the deleted scene with Harry and Dudley saying goodby wasn't complete (there was still green screen in the background) so it could have been added, too. It would have made DH1 more complete.

I've noticed that about the ABC Family versions as well. Wish they would have just included everything to begin with, but would happily purchase the set as a whole if they released uncut versions.

I'd be happy if somebody would do 'director's cuts' or extended versions of all the movies. The problem is that films are cut for theatrical release and a lot of good stuff gets left out so they can turn seats over.

Wouldn't it be great if WB decided to mark a special anniversary or an opening of the latest theme park to release a full set of the movies with all the scenes returned to their places in the films I for one would find some way of buying them, there is soo much more you see in the extended versions of 1 and 2. I can't help but think it would increase their sales 10 fold with all of us wanting to get the uncut versions!

AR is the perfect Snape, Harry and the gang couldn't have been better if they really were Harry and the gang, Harris was the Ultimate DD but Gambion grew into it, he was a bit too brusk at first but got better with time. Hagrid and McGonagal were superb as were Poppy, Md Sprout and Trelwany, out of all of them I believe my all time favorite was Neville it never ceases to amaze me how he matured and grew into the part, he truly was Neville as JKR portrayed him!