Harry Potter 7: Get Excited
Emily Esfahani Smith, Ed. ·
November 12, 2010 at 4:24pm
Now, I'm not the kind of Harry Potter fan that ever lined up outside the bookstore when a new volume of the series was released--and I certainly won't be sporting a robe and wand to the premiere of HP7: The Deathly Hallows, Part 1--but I will now begin my official countdown to the film's U.S. premiere, which happens a week from today. Is anyone else as excited as I am?
T-7 days until good (!) defeats evil.
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Oct '10
Re: Harry Potter 7: Get Excited
I'll take the humiliation bait. I'm re-reading "The Deathly Hallows" in preparation for the movie. It has temporarily replaced "Witness" on my bedside table. Don't get me wrong - Chambers's book is great; but it would be more of a page-turner if He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named had been controlling Alger Hiss with the Imperius curse.
May '10
Re: Harry Potter 7: Get Excited
I enjoy the movies, but haven't read the books yet.
Someone who has read them told me he thinks the last book was split into two films only so the filmmakers could milk it for more money. What do you think? Should The Deathly Hallows be one film? Or is it epic enough to merit two?
Speaking of fantasy films, all that's holding up Peter Jackson's filming of The Hobbit is the actors union in New Zealand. I watched an interview with Jackson. It was funny to hear him rant about why unions stink and then remember that he belongs to four.
Re: Harry Potter 7: Get Excited
Aaron Miller: I enjoy the movies, but haven't read the books yet.
Someone who has read them told me he thinks the last book was split into two films only so the filmmakers could milk it for more money. What do you think? Should The Deathly Hallows be one film? Or is it epic enough to merit two?
Speaking of fantasy films, all that's holding up Peter Jackson's filming of The Hobbit is the actors union in New Zealand. I watched an interview with Jackson. It was funny to hear him rant about why unions stink and then remember that he belongs to four. · Nov 12 at 8:02am
I think your friend is definitely right--splitting the films is a money making ploy.
However: my approach to Harry Potter books/films is like my approach to Bob Dylan songs: I love them so much that the longer they are, and the more there are of them, the better.
Re: Harry Potter 7: Get Excited
I have my ticket already to see the film on the 19th!! So excited.
But Emily, good will not triumph over evil in this one. As Aaron said, they've split the book up into two movies. I'm not sure where they'll leave off, but I imagine in a really dark, scary place.
And Aaron, I do think the book merits being split in two. It's such a huge book that it needs two films to really do it justice.
Re: Harry Potter 7: Get Excited
I think Chambers would understand. As Chambers was, Harry is engaged in a fight against evil that will determine the fate of the world. Am I being too dramatic?
Re: Harry Potter 7: Get Excited
Diane Ellis, Ed.: I have my ticket already to see the film on the 19th!! So excited.
But Emily, good will not triumph over evil in this one. As Aaron said, they've split the book up into two movies. I'm not sure where they'll leave off, but I imagine in a really dark, scary place.· Nov 12 at 8:14am
Good point Diane. Allow me to revise: T-7 days until darkness shrouds the world.
Jul '10
Re: Harry Potter 7: Get Excited
Re-read all of the books over the past over the past few months in preparation, and already have my midnight IMAX tickets for next week. I will not be dressing up, but intend to fully enjoy all of the people who do.
Oct '10
Re: Harry Potter 7: Get Excited
I know I'm anxiously awaiting the movie too, though we won't be there the first week. We tend to avoid movie crowds if we can.
While I do believe splitting the book into two movies is a marketing ploy, I also believe it's warranted in this case.
They *really* sucked the life out of books 5 & 6 with their pared down movies. I understand why they had to (you can't make 14 movies out of 7 books), but I think the finale deserves to be kept as close to the book (within the realm of movie continuity, as it has diverged slightly) as it can be.
And thankfully, the last movie's coming out in July, not next November.
Jun '10
Re: Harry Potter 7: Get Excited
I'm a fan, but have members of my family who will be there at midnight (as they have been for the movies and the books).
The books are very good--Rowling is better writer than she gets credit for. The movies have been terrific (and the fact that they've kept the cast together is a near miracle).
In a world of cynicism and relativism, it's nice to have something like the Harry Potter books and movies. They actually take a position on good versus evil.
Nov '10
Re: Harry Potter 7: Get Excited
I was so disappointed with movies 5 and 6 I have a hard time being excited for 7a. Maybe everything will be done well. Call me cautiously curious rather than excited. I'm not convinced that they'll use the extra time to increase the film's loyalty to the book.
In tangential news, my wife showed me some red carpet pics of Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy) sporting dark hair and a tan. He's thrilled to not be Malfoy anymore.
Jun '10
Re: Harry Potter 7: Get Excited
Ready to go, and finished a re-reread of Book 7 last week. Definitely plan to skip opening weekend, though, as I'm not big on crowd noise drowning out dialog (though such enjoyment has its place).
Instead, myself and possibly others may plan an, uh, "offsite meeting" to catch a before-school-lets-out-for-the-day matinee during the week after opening weekend.
I far prefer the books to the movies, but I do enjoy the movies. I'm a purist, though, so I hope there isn't too much deviation (though understandably, there has to be some).
May '10
Re: Harry Potter 7: Get Excited
I will not here link to all of the theatrical trailers for all of the movies (abuse of privelege), but will note that if you do so on youtube in order, it's better than a certain three-letter word.
Aaron, the movies get so abridged, and the Deathly Hallows was the longest book, so there's a good argument for splitting it. Problem is, I couldn't really find a place in the middle of it to end a movie wth the traditional slam-bang orchestral thump and shocking plot twist of the others. The scene at Xenophilius Lovegood's place might work, but not quite.
Dressed as Gilderoy Lockhart for Halloween (or Valmont, or Lestat; nobody's quite sure). But did get the opportunity to sneer down at a kid in a Gryffindor cloak.
Was thinking of hosting a trivia tournament in the Member Feed, but thought maybe it was too off-topic.
Nov '10
Re: Harry Potter 7: Get Excited
It surely is off-topic, but it sounds like a lot of fun. I endorse the idea!
Re: Harry Potter 7: Get Excited
The book definitely deserves two 3 hour films. The last six movies have all left many important plot points out, and many fans were disappointed. I think that the crew wanted to do the finale justice and get it as accurate to the books as possible.
Good call in my opinion.
May '10
Re: Harry Potter 7: Get Excited
Joshua Riddle, Intern
The book definitely deserves two 3 hour films. The last six movies have all left many important plot points out, and many fans were disappointed. I think that the crew wanted to do the finale justice and get it as accurate to the books as possible.
Good call in my opinion. · Nov 12 at 11:35am
Everybody run for your lives (or disapparate, if of age)! It's the heir of the heir of Slytherin!
Re: Harry Potter 7: Get Excited
I agree with those who were disappointed with movies 5 and 6. I actually had never read the books themselves until a year ago--I was just a huge fan of the movies--but then, after seeing the 6th movie, I was so astonishingly disappointed, and confused by what was going on, that I decided 'surely the books must be better.' So I worked my way through them and have never looked back!
May '10
Re: Harry Potter 7: Get Excited
Blakes7th
It surely is off-topic, but it sounds like a lot of fun. I endorse the idea! · Nov 12 at 11:25am
Well, since Nymphadora up there top posted about it, I guess it's fine.
Wands down, quills out. The Triwizard Trivia Tournament is up on the Member Feed.
Aug '10
Re: Harry Potter 7: Get Excited
I had a chance to talk briefly with Elmore Leonard at a book signing some time ago, and asked him if he was disappointed in the movie versions of his books.
He held up the novel he was just about to sign, and said that it had about 300 pages. A movie script has about 50. Something has to be lost.
<weak spoiler alert>
I was very moved by the epilogue of the 7th book, and felt that it brought the story to a satisfying close. I hope that the film next summer can bring it off as well.
May '10
Re: Harry Potter 7: Get Excited
I told my baby daughter (well, she's 30-ish) that I will read one of the books on my next international flight. Since I just saw my first Indiana Jones and Star Wars fillums in the last year, and have yet to see any LOTR fillums or read any books, I'm a bit behind on the fantasy genre. I guess that means I'll survive the wait till next week fairly well, given that I don't know what I am missing. But, since bright people like Kennedy and my daughter are so sure that I should partake, I will eventually.
Now, if PG Wodehouse came back from Beyond and released a new book.....
May '10
Re: Harry Potter 7: Get Excited
I have been a HUGE HP fan for years. In fact, I have all seven books on my iPod and listen to them a lot. Daughter gets home from boarding school Saturday the 20th, so we are going that day. Well, she is going with her BFF and I am allowed to come along. If I weren't an early-to-bed type I would join a group of young friends at the midnight show.