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New Half Blood Prince Featurette is up!!! This Harry Potter looks real damn good!

Published at:  May 21, 2009 7:11:39 PM CDT

Hey folks, Harry here... As many of you know - I've no idea what is coming in the Harry Potter series. I decided from the beginning to not read the books till after the entire series had been committed to film. As a result - looking at something like this featurette - I can't really know what the scenes represent or mean, only that they make me excited!. It's nice to see characters relating and communicating with one another. Here ya go...





Click on this to be whisked to the fantastical world of the new Harry Potter!



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    Readers Talkback

  • May 21, 2009 7:14:39 PM CDT

    No first 4 u

    by thepilgrim

  • May 21, 2009 7:16:15 PM CDT

    Books = good, movies = not so much

    by beedub

    The movies are kind of laborious to get through, because (with the exception of movie #3) they brought absolutely nothing new or exciting to the table, just illustrations of what we'd already read.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 21, 2009 7:20:15 PM CDT

    backwards logic

    by zom-bot.com

    you should have not seen the movies until you read all the books...since the books are now done and all that. but you run a movie site, so i guess that makes sense....just kind of makes you look a bit illiterate or silly

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 21, 2009 7:20:37 PM CDT

    fucking harry potter

    by simondark

    makes me wheezy

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 21, 2009 7:21:57 PM CDT

    Fucking Yahoo

    by judge_dredd

    Was trying to watch this on the US version of the site but guess what there's a country restriction. fucking Nazi bastards.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 21, 2009 7:21:59 PM CDT

    SNAPE KILLS DUMBLEDORE!!!

    by filmguy125

    Welcome to 2005!!

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 21, 2009 7:22:09 PM CDT

    so back when the first book was massively popular

    by zom-bot.com

    and it hadn't been decided to be a movie yet, you had already said to yourself- i am never going to read these books until movies have been made of all possible books in this series, even if they make 20 books over the next decade or so?

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 21, 2009 7:22:49 PM CDT

    The first two books are pure magic

    by toadkillerdog

    They truly bring out the child in anyone who has a sliver of a soul. The books do become progressively darker, and less "magical" , but she also becomes a better storyteller. I am not sure if I could have the patience to follow Harrys plan, but I can see some merit in it.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 21, 2009 7:22:53 PM CDT

    the mount doom frodo and sam diorama

    by zom-bot.com

    what a ghey diorama to want.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 21, 2009 7:24:16 PM CDT

    Looks good

    by ballyhoo

    Please Harry. Protect me from the likes of McG, Bay, and Sommers.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 21, 2009 7:26:34 PM CDT

    It actually looks really quite good

    by lovecraftfan

    Excellent footage.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 21, 2009 7:27:02 PM CDT

    surprised that this is PG

    by six demon bag

    arent they getting darker?

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 21, 2009 7:27:15 PM CDT

    Emma Watson is a sweet girl

    by performingmonkey

    Snape has to kill Dumbledore to appear to stay loyal to the Dark Lord till the very end. The movies have been shit apart from Prisoner of Azkaban and some of Goblet of Fire. Order was a huge letdown. They messed up Sirius's death and the Dumbledore/Voldemort showdown could have been so much more.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 21, 2009 7:36:19 PM CDT

    what bothers me about harry...

    by cant_stop_yawning2

    he wants us to accept him as both a nerd and a discerning film buff. so he has this site, supposedly devoted to everything about movies (with some tv, comics and occasionally books thrown in) where he spends around 85% of the real estate peddling a handful of franchises (or franchises to be) and then, at the end of the year, presents us with this list of "serious" films so we are all reminded how "serious" he is "film".
    Take this Harry Potter crap - any blip on the Potter radar and Knowles is there - a new poster, some blurry photos from the film lot, rumors of possible casting decisions, anything.
    It's bullshit - the guy is an industry kiss ass and a self aggrandizing dork who writes poorly and occasionally pretends to be interested in movies he thinks will give him art house cred. Lame.
    Anyone who gives two shits about this movie is a child (which is fine - this is a movie for children) or a parent trying to find something relatively safe to take their kids to or the worst kind of nerd - the middle aged Harry Potter fan.

    As I've mentioned - check out twitch or nukethefridge for alternatives and let me know if you know of any other good sites that haven't completely gone to shit. the only thing this site has over those two is the traffic, and i'd like to see more comment traffic on those sites because they really do have a broader and more interesting range of material.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 21, 2009 7:39:21 PM CDT

    Fuck Bruno Delbonnel has made this

    by drturing

    look fucking tremendous. It now really does resemble a fantasy of its own.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 21, 2009 7:48:44 PM CDT

    Why are you trying to undress King Kong Harry?

    by drompter

  • May 21, 2009 7:52:31 PM CDT

    Emma Watson is a sweet girl

    by timothyarcher

    When is she going to do a nude scene? Expecto Titronum!

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 21, 2009 7:55:23 PM CDT

    Sure, the 5th one looked good too

    by d.vader

    And they still managed to screw that one up. And I hear even WORSE things have befallen this 6th movie. Fuck this director. I hope he proves me wrong, but so far, he's batting 0 for 1. And what's the fucking deal with making one of the creepiest and most violent Harry Potter's PG? P-fucking-G? Are you kidding me?

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 21, 2009 8:00:26 PM CDT

    Not reading the books

    by torgothewhite

    It's kinda like refusing the read The Lord of the Rings until you've seen the movies. You miss out on so much of the story otherwise. Not to mention Peeves....who has been shamefully excluded from every single movie to date! Other non-spoiler-y things the movies omit: Dobby's character development (which pays off in Book 7), Kreacher's development (agan, which pays off in Book 7), Nevilles story (which, once again, pays off in Book 7), most of the action during the Ministry battle in Book 5 (including Ron's brain attack and Neville's heroic battle while carrying Hermione over his shoulder), the Hogwarts Rebellion in Book 5 was extremely understated in the movie, and the movies barely scratched the surface of the Harry-Sirius bond which, in my opinion, made his death in the OotP movie seem hollow. Plus, the Dumbledore/Riddle battle was far more exciting in the book than the movie. The bottom line is, anyone who puts off reading the books until all the movies come out is missing out on a really great story! You never know when you'll kick the bucket. Are you ready to die without knowing the whole story?

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 21, 2009 8:07:44 PM CDT

    That clip...

    by pinkfloyd2000

    ...looks badass. I don't care if you're a fan or not. Great effects, great look. Compare the brief glimpses of the Quidditch arena in this clip to how it appeared in the first film. Night and fucking day. I have high hopes for this one, even though I thought the last 2 were subpar (especially 4...which was my second favorite book of the lot). This one was my favorite book, so I hope it makes for the best film as well. As for that final HP movie...it's gonna have to be a strong PG-13. They ain't making an "R" HP movie, no doubt about that, but they may push that PG-13 a little bit. Depends if they puss out or not. But that last book has a helluva lot of death in it.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 21, 2009 8:13:50 PM CDT

    Okay, 1, 2, 3....

    by sal_bando

    ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 21, 2009 8:14:35 PM CDT

    Cant_stop_yawning2

    by j.b.m.a.

    Entirely apt username perhaps for your tedious posting. I'm not sure that I really care that you want more out of AICN and Harry than you're currently getting - however, I DO object to your frankly condescending notion that anyone who takes more than a passing interest in things Potter is either a child or some kind of middle-aged half-wit - I am neither.Please to be fucking off at the earliest opportunity.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 21, 2009 8:15:13 PM CDT

    They are all the same

    by wrecks

    Same fucking villain every time. Works for kids books, but in film.. come on. And how the fuck are these kid actors still doing this? They are going to have serious mental problems as adults

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 21, 2009 8:16:21 PM CDT

    While I tire from the series, this looks awesome!

    by doctorzoidberg

    I want the whole thing to draw to a close, but I am impressed with the craftsmanship here.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 21, 2009 8:27:53 PM CDT

    Why the fuck....

    by filmguy125

    ..is WB splitting the 7th book into 2 movies??

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 21, 2009 8:36:58 PM CDT

    they are the same.

    by zom-bot.com

    every book introduces two new teachers, and whatever one seems to be the kindest is the baddie, and whichever seems crazy is a good guy. yawn. i still say it sucks you won't have read the books until seeing all the movies. all the characters and places will be pre-made by hollywood in your head. the best thing about books is creating everything in your own mind- which is why movie versions are always so divisive- people have their own images in mind.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 21, 2009 8:37:27 PM CDT

    filmguy125

    by zom-bot.com

    do you really have to ask?
    fucking MONEY.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 21, 2009 8:56:43 PM CDT

    DoctorZoidberg has a good point

    by j.b.m.a.

    It is fantastic to see the wonderful crafsmanship that has gone into the Potter world throughout the course of these films - even better for me as a British chap to realise that we've still got it to produce such great stuff...as long as Hollywood gives us the cash of course...

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 21, 2009 8:59:27 PM CDT

    J.B.M.A.

    by dennismm

    So is it middle-aged, or half-wit, then? Kidding, though I'm the first and often feel the second.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 21, 2009 9:00:15 PM CDT

    Fuck you haters, this looks good

    by pornking

    And I know good movies. In fact I just directed a young lady this afternoon to perform for me.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 21, 2009 9:09:25 PM CDT

    I've loved this series

    by sifodyasjr.

    It got off to a weak start, but since Azkaban, I think they've all been very solid--more so than any film saga except maybe Lord of the Rings. I can't wait to see what they do with 2nd part of Deathly Hallows.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 21, 2009 9:13:19 PM CDT

    Can't wait

    by i am the most horrible

    PS Filmguy125 is a twat. So is every other spoiler, no matter how old the spoilage.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 21, 2009 9:19:49 PM CDT

    I also quit reading the novels

    by paralyser-pro

    I read the first four books and when I saw the first film I was like THIS SUCKS, they left every little interesting bit of character development out, they even left out Hedwig the owl out. Of course I went with my sis who hadn't read the series and thus thought the film kicked ass. But I was smart enough to realize that my lack of enjoyment for the films was due to my preconceptions of the key plot elements, and was resentful of the filmmaker's interpretation. That apart from the fact that Columbus os a totally amateur filmmaker with no ability for visual storytelling at all. Who puts a fucking crane shot in Jonathan Larsen's RENT? - it's an intimate, gritty story about crackheads and AIDS sufferers, not fucking Indiana Jones... it should have been made by John Cameron Mitchell, but digress... I did enjoy Prisoner of Azkaban and so I decided to follow along with the films and enjoy them as films instead of having the prior knowledge and expectations of how the story should be presented based on my experience with the books. And I have to say to TorgoTheWhite that the LOTR comparison doesn't compare because as big as these Potter books are they are not in a category with a 40 year old classic that PHD's are written about and essentially invented every reference for the high fantasy genre. And we're not missing out on the story, we'll come back to the books when we get the time, and in the meantime we'll give the films a couple of hours of attention that popcorn flicks deserve. And ZOM-BOT... calling Harry illiterate cos he doesn't want to read some overrated childrens fantasy, come on man quit patting yourself on the back.. Harry has actually WRITTEN a bestselling memoir, what the fuck have you ever done? Get off your high horses people, none of these little zingers at Harry's expense are especially clever or even original, but actually laughably irrelevant, like your lives. Ridiculous.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 21, 2009 9:22:56 PM CDT

    This director sucks

    by series

    Hes already changed a very important dynamic by powering Dumbledore down in the last film. D-dore is supposed to be stronger than Voldemort. It's almost like he thought Harry was going to become some all powerful wizard in the end (the chosen one). And how do you make a PG Half Blood Prince.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 21, 2009 9:24:26 PM CDT

    can't possibly be worse than Terminator Salvation

    by mrgreentheplant

    knowles tends to go overboard in his enthusiasm/disgust but he was right on the money on the utter shite that is T4

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 21, 2009 9:25:55 PM CDT

    J.B.M.A.

    by cant_stop_yawning2

    Sorry - you are right, there are other categories; creepy idiot man-child types in their mother's basement and living vicariously through hp & co., old cat ladies, bullied teens w/ no social life (they have my pity, btw)...and then there are the totally normal guys who drink beer and go out on dates and watch football, etc. but also just happen to really be into the magical world of harry pott...oh, wait - no there aren't.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 21, 2009 9:27:14 PM CDT

    Color

    by eonz_higlo

    I don't care how many ways you swing it, making a dark film is not about putting a blue fucking filter over a lens. bring back john williams. let edgar wright direct the 7th one. haha.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 21, 2009 9:34:09 PM CDT

    Paralyser-pro

    by kateowyn

    The Lord of the Rings films were made by a man incredibly passionate about the books and a writing team and design crew who had read them backwards and forwards. They deviated from the books because film is a different medium and should be treated so, but always preserved that passion and spirit. Because that is an adaptation.

    The Harry Potter movies....were made because someone at Warner Brothers realized the books had made a lot of money, so they should tap into that. Someone who simply read the book jacket of the book knows more about Harry Potter than some of the people behind the Harry Potter films. The books are magic and glory and pure imagination, some of the best books written in this century...and the movies are mediocre children's fantasy fare. Film is a different medium than literature, for sure, but these films are not well made and without the strength of the franchise behind them, no one would give two shits about them.

    So, yeah, it's an ok idea to go into the movies without having the expectations of the books behind them, but it's super unfortunate that WB can't hire someone with passion and ....uhhh....talent (other than the cast....way to cast every major British actor in this century) to make the Harry Potter films and we keep throwing money at them anyways. Read the books. It is. DEFINITELY. WORTH. YOUR TIME.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 21, 2009 9:40:32 PM CDT

    Eonz_Higlo

    by kateowyn

    Hahaha, right??
    "This is SO DARK, obviously symbolized by the INTENSE COLOR GRADING."

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 21, 2009 9:42:00 PM CDT

    no subject

    by mashman1212

    Harry hadn't seen Wolverine and managed to post a 'review' of sorts anyway, so maybe he can do the same for each of the books without having read them. Just a thought.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 21, 2009 9:43:48 PM CDT

    Cant_Stop_Yawning

    by d.vader

    Obviously an idiot. Or someone who's very jealous of all those around him.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 21, 2009 9:56:41 PM CDT

    Yes, bring back John Williams!

    by nasty in the pasty

    This will likely be the last fantasy franchise he'll have a personal stamp on, so replacing him on the last two was just not right (even though Patrick Doyle's fourth movie score was solid).

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 21, 2009 10:04:13 PM CDT

    Its telling that the music used in this was from Williams

    by d.vader

    And from the best score of the entire series, Prisoner of Azkaban. Yeah that's right. You suck, 5th movie score composer. Nicholas Hooper or whatever name I can't be bothered to remember because your poor job pissed me off so much.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 21, 2009 11:31:21 PM CDT

    Eh that looked fucking spectacular

    by a g

    and Im NOT a fan. Also, what the heck is Thor?

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 22, 2009 12:06:05 AM CDT

    D.Vader - hurts dude

    by cant_stop_yawning2

    really hurts; you're right, it is jealousy that drives my derisive comments; why can't i get invited to your mock quidditch tournaments? why doesn't anyone call me to late night fantasy book club readings? oh, only if I could share all of my fan art, debate the merits of the various models of magic brooms, spells, potions as we hate on that evil voldemort, damn him...oh the void it would fill in my otherwise vacant life.
    Well, I'll just have to carry on waiting for inglorious basterds and pray you and your friends aren't cub scout counselors...
    may the force be with you - clown.
    ;)

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 22, 2009 2:35:08 AM CDT

    Real cinemascope compostions :)

    by fortunesfool

    Take note JJ Abrams.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 22, 2009 4:38:07 AM CDT

    After the butchering of OOTP and GOF

    by disfigurehead

    I hold no hope for this.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 22, 2009 4:56:39 AM CDT

    I know people hate these films

    by mr gorilla

    But they are really wonderful.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 22, 2009 5:05:06 AM CDT

    BelgiumRules

    by belgiumrules

    Order of the Phoenix looked as it was directed by Simon West... Does anyone still care?

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 22, 2009 6:51:01 AM CDT

    cant_stop_yawning2

    by just pillow talk

    You're fucking cool dude. Almost, but not quite, as badass as our lord 2for2true.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 22, 2009 7:02:14 AM CDT

    can't_stop_yawning_2

    by rfid

    You wrote: "Anyone who gives two shits about this movie is a child (which is fine - this is a movie for children) or a parent trying to find something relatively safe to take their kids to or the worst kind of nerd - the middle aged Harry Potter fan."
    Wow...over-generalize much? That's not even REMOTELY true. You, sir, are way too full of yourself, you pompous ass.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 22, 2009 7:09:00 AM CDT

    can't_stop_yawning_2

    by rfid

    You also wrote: "Sorry - you are right, there are other categories; creepy idiot man-child types in their mother's basement and living vicariously through hp & co., old cat ladies, bullied teens w/ no social life (they have my pity, btw)...and then there are the totally normal guys who drink beer and go out on dates and watch football, etc. but also just happen to really be into the magical world of harry pott...oh, wait - no there aren't."
    Okay, that pretty much cemented what kind of idiot we're dealing with here. Anyone who goes out of his way to condemn an entire fan-base for no reason whatsoever is someone who is incredibly insecure about his own self. Clearly, this is a sad, pathetic individual without a social life, who is so frustrated at his own inability to get a date and be the macho, beer-drinking, football-watching manly-man he clearly idolizes, that he feels compelled to insult strangers to make himself feel better about his own geeky inadequacies. He's obvious and pathetic. Most likely, his parents have been ragging him about his nerdiness since he was a child, and now he can't help but do the same to others, as a release for the lack of sex he gets from anything but his sister's socks. I, for one, pity him, because he's the worst kind of nerd--the self-hating kind.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 22, 2009 7:48:30 AM CDT

    NO MARVOLO GAUNT? THEN FUCK OFF!!!

    by thekylegassproject

  • May 22, 2009 8:03:58 AM CDT

    Harry Potter and the Gay Wizard

    by underoos hero

    I've never read the books and do not intend too, but I have enjoyed these movies and this one looks fun. **DUMBLEDORE....You Work It Girl!!

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 22, 2009 8:57:23 AM CDT

    Why add all these fucking scenes?

    by shigeru

    Both the Death Eater attack on the bridge and the attack on the Weasely house is not in the book.... why waste valuable movie time on this stuff? what. the. fuck.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 22, 2009 9:19:37 AM CDT

    Stop whining about them 'butchering' the books!

    by mr gorilla

    That's what happens in screen adaptations you total dumbfucks. When has there EVER been an adaptation of a Dickens book or an Austen book that puts in EVERY chapter. (I wouldn't expect to hear you complaining about those because they are written for ages 16+.) If you don't like screen adaptations, fine - don't watch them. Just don't keep complaining like a broken record YEAR AFTER FUCKING YEAR that they left out some 'vitally important' scene with Dobby the lame house-elf. And those who are going especially after David Yates, you should know that J K Rowling said on the TV that she thought it was the best one yet. So, quite literally, fuck off.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 22, 2009 9:59:13 AM CDT

    rfid - all apologies

    by cant_stop_yawning2

    dude, i'm sorry, i just don't know any regular guys (including bona fide film buffs - not just football watching manly men) who are all excited about the 19th installment of harry potter. i'm an unapologetic film nerd myself to a certain extent, and have no qualms or issues with it. i am being candid with you when i say that the only people i know who are are excited about the latest hp are the children of couples my wife and i hang out with and sad freaks like yourself (though i don't really know guys like you - i just read your emotional responses to my posts - clearly i've touched a nerve; i'll try to be more sensitive in the future). i'm sorry, if you are over the age of, i don't know - say 15, and you are excited about this movie, i think you need to get out more, meet a girl, try reading some serious fiction...something.

    All credit to Rowling, btw, for getting a generation of kids to read enormous and well written books. She deserves every penny and all respect - especially given that she started out unemployed with kids of her own.

    If you read my first post, slowly, w/o getting too upset or taking it too personally, you'll see that my primary point was that this site spends almost all of its time fixating on franchise crap, while some other good sites that I mention (twitch in particular) go out of their way to report on a broader range of independent and foreign movies (as this site once did). I'd like to see more traffic on those sites - partly because the comments sections tend to be more mature.

    Hope that clears everything up, now you can get back to polishing your wand or whatever it is you guys do while you wait for the next darkon strategy meeting.



    Reply to Talkback

  • May 22, 2009 10:42:55 AM CDT

    Can't Stop Yawning, Obviously an Idiot

    by d.vader

    He can't quite grasp that my ironic over-generalizations about him use the exact same flawed logic as his comments about people that enjoy the Potter books. Ah well. One day he'll grow.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 22, 2009 10:45:33 AM CDT

    Mr. Gorilla, I'm fine with adaptations

    by d.vader

    As a matter of fact, I'm completely fine with the numerous changes PJ made to The Two Towers. I agree with his reasons for why they made the omissions and additions that were in the final product. As a filmmaker, I get that. But here comes Harry Potter. The problem with the changes made to the latest Potter films is that I don't buy the producers' logic and reasoning one bit. To me, it just reeks of laziness rather than "we did it for the sake of the story". Its bullshit, and I ain't buying it.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 22, 2009 11:31:33 AM CDT

    Jesus Christ Harry just read the books

    by fastcars

    The books are better than the movies. You lose.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 22, 2009 11:55:48 AM CDT

    'reeks of laziness'

    by mr gorilla

    Dude, the editing and changes in the Order of the Phoenix film was because they felt, rightly or wrongly, that the internal and external problems facing Harry should be the spine of the film, and everything else was secondary. Various viewers responded to this, and said it felt a lot more urgent & fast-moving than, say, Chamber of Secrets. And Rowling, I say again, commented that it was the best one yet. To say that it reeks of laziness is totally idiotic: the lazy thing would be to just follow the book beat-by-beat.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 22, 2009 12:03:08 PM CDT

    PJ's changes were ABYSMAL!

    by mr gorilla

    The changes to TTT and ROTK are almost inarguably bad. how dramatic it would have been to leave TTT with Frodo seemingly dead from Shelob, as in the book. But no, PJ messed all that up, with an arrogance that far surpasses any HP adaptation so far. In ROTK, the time-scale of Frodo's ascent up the stairs compared to the other storylines simply doesn't tally. It's a mess. FOTR is by far the best film (ask Viggo Mortensen, who is now admitting in interviews that it's the only one that cares about characters and story rather than special effects), but even that keeps messing with the source text - and BADLY. (I wouldn't mind so much if PJ's changes were filmic.) Check out Paul Gulino's book 'SCREENWRITING: THE SEQUENCE APPROACH' where he picks out a number of such changes in a chapter dedicated to the film. Stop pretending that PJ is the second coming. Heavenly Creatures was pretty good, FOTR was wonderful, but the other two LOTR films were dull and his King Kong totally stank and we all know it.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 22, 2009 12:05:42 PM CDT

    And furthermore...

    by mr gorilla

    I'm not saying that these films are Tarkovsky or Dreyer or anything. But I suspect that Del Toro's film of the Hobbit will be a really wonderful film that far surpasses the PJ trilogy in charm and intelligence. And Alfonso Cuaron is a proper director - Y Tu Mama Tembien and Children of Men are GREAT films and his Potter entry one of the best kids' films of the decade.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 22, 2009 12:08:55 PM CDT

    Mr. Gorilla

    by d.vader

    For one thing, I don't buy that quote by Rowling, and just because she says it was her favorite does not mean we're supposed to fall in line or take that as some sort of proof that its a good movie. To say it reeks of laziness is *not* totally idiotic. To really go in depth, we need to talk about specifics, as your comments on the editing of "phoenix" is too vague to really debate (also because I agree with what you say). What I'm saying is lazy is leaving out certain events because the filmmakers say they "can't find a way to work them in" (I don't know if they say that, I'm just assuming that would be the excuse), and the way they don't bother to set up future films or reference previous ones. Its like they're afraid newcomers to the series (really, at this point are we still worried about what they'll think?) won't understand the references, or its that the producers want every film to feel stand-alone (which they should, but to a point). They make the Potter universe feel smaller and smaller with the extreme lack of *details*, details that enrich the story and the characters. But, going back up above, speaking about specifics, I'll throw out an example: Cutting out the final battle from the upcoming "Prince". The excuse? They don't want to repeat themselves when they do the final battle two films later in "Hallows pt II". Laziness? You betcha. Any good filmmaker and storyteller knows that the battles are completely different and can be approached as such so that neither feels similar. Its just a copout, in my opinion, and the resulting story changes (like most in the Potter films) end up suffering from logic problems when you take a step back and look at the changes clearly. They're rewriting themselves into a corner in some cases (Dobby, being the best example to comes to mind).

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 22, 2009 12:15:19 PM CDT

    Gorilla, I don't know if we're going to find a middle ground

    by d.vader

    I too think The Two Towers would end better with everyone thinking Frodo is dead (but then you're left with the tough prospect of selling the 3rd film without showing Frodo, which would be almost impossible), but PJ was right- Shelob takes place at the same time as the Battle of the Pelennor. I think PJ would end up making up far more shit for Frodo and Sam for the 3rd film. LOTR obviously isn't perfect, but that's a monumental task trying to adapt those 3 stories at the same time and give each character an arc for each film and having payoffs and plot progressions that work and keeping the timeline together; its tough. I think they did a great job. Some missteps sure, but with Shelob, I think it makes sense.

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  • May 22, 2009 12:16:44 PM CDT

    "Stop pretending PJ is the 2nd coming"?

    by d.vader

    Stop making generalizations about me and stick to the topic. I'm doing this without resorting to insults. I thought you could do the same.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 22, 2009 12:17:12 PM CDT

    Vader

    by mr gorilla

    Dude, I love the details too and I loved the amount Cuaron squeezed into POA. And in a perfect world for Potter, Cuaron would have made all the rest of the series. But I still can't see that the scriptwriters are being lazy, or calculated, or that they mean to write themselves into a corner. The decision they've taken, it seems, is that the films are about Harry, Ron and Hermione, and by and large they have succeeded in making the public fall in love with those kids. (Compare that to how unsuccessful the Narnia guys in THEIR sequel.) This means that, like it or not, the films are about the kids' experiences growing up, more than they are about magic or the wider world. Great talking to you Vader, got to go now, have a great weekend. Mr G

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 22, 2009 12:26:18 PM CDT

    " the films are about the kids' experiences growing up..."

    by d.vader

    ".... more than they are about magic or the wider world." A good idea in theory, but in the end, executed terribly. I don't mean to shit on the series, I really do enjoy them. But the 5th movie pissed me off to such a high degree, it seemed like a willful ignorance of the details, or a chosen path to just make a mediocre film instead of trying to do something epic. Cuaron's film IS the best of the series for many reasons: acting, effects, pacing, details (though there is one large detail that was omitted, and that omission boggles the mind). I just don't get the sense that Yates has a real love for these stories. He hadn't read any of the books when he was hired. So, following that logic, I can see why things are omitted because he has no ties to them. Which can be beneficial in some cases, detrimental in others. Detrimental in this case because the films are not living up to what many others believe they can be. I see these films and from a filmmaking and storytelling standpoint say "This could have been better". And that's why I get upset.

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  • May 22, 2009 12:27:18 PM CDT

    But good talking to you too, Mr G.

    by d.vader

  • May 22, 2009 12:31:36 PM CDT

    Yawning

    by j.b.m.a.

    Lemme get this straight...You decide write a post decrying the lack of breadth and maturity of this website and its community, and then proceed to clog up a talkback ragging everyone happy to discuss a fairly uncontroversial series of movies as "creepy idiot man-child types in their mother's basement..." ?!?I think it would be fair to assume that the concept of irony just confuses you...

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  • May 22, 2009 2:31:53 PM CDT

    "Mr Gorilla" is right.....

    by livingwater

    ......actually, (May 22nd, 2009
    12:03:08 PM)......so is "D.Vader" with the comment about Cuaron : (May 22nd, 2009 12:26:18 PM).

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 22, 2009 3:07:21 PM CDT

    If you see the films without reading the books..

    by malificus

    ..what would then be your incentive to go back and read them? I understand the logic on a basic level, but the great thing about the Potter books is their pure readability, the way your brain literally drinks the words in, it's really quite extraordinary to experience books that are that much fun to read, and I read a ton. I could take or leave the movies I suppose you could count me in the camp that considers them inferior. The books re-instilled a love of reading that was near extinct in this younger generation, the movies shit on that so I therefore ignore them.

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  • May 22, 2009 3:11:05 PM CDT

    J.B.M.A. & Vader

    by cant_stop_yawning2

    love it that you guys can't let this go - I take it all back; you are right - perfectly normal to remain fixated on harry potter well into adulthood. Another movie you might want to check out - "The 40 Year Old Virgin". anyway, sorry I hurt your feelings.
    ;)

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 22, 2009 3:17:49 PM CDT

    Its ok, its obvious you don't get out much

    by d.vader

    Maybe you live in a small town. Maybe you never leave your mom's basement. Who knows the reasons for why you don't seem to know anyone outside a tiny circle of "friends"? I don't need to know any of that to continue calling you an idiot. But when you insult others on a topic you obviously know nothing about? Well... yep, you're an idiot all right.

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  • May 22, 2009 5:21:10 PM CDT

    Mr Yawning! Letting it go...?

    by j.b.m.a.

    Oho! I do believe the pot is most definitely calling the kettle black!I'm not quite sure at which point I was suddenly converted from mildy interested to 'fixated' with Potter, but thanks for letting me know - I honestly wouldn't get through the day without the good ol' homespun advice of the friendly folks at Random Internet Central; you guys know me better than I do myself!.How's the campaign to reform AIC going by the way? Spreading much of that glorious maturity of yours around? Attaboy!

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  • May 22, 2009 7:58:19 PM CDT

    FOTR is easily the best of the three

    by continentalop

    And for completely nerd reasons. How many times have we seen massive battles in movies such as we saw in TT and ROTK? Many (Hell, five of the six Star Wars movies had such battles).
    How many times have we seen a party of adventurers enter and explore a dark, forgotten dungeon like it was something out of a D&D adventure? Not very often.
    FOTR made me want to pull out my old Player's Handbook, the one with the party of adventures disposing of the lizard man bodies and stealing the gems out of the eye-holes of the statue.

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  • May 22, 2009 8:14:05 PM CDT

    FOTR definitely the best in my book too

    by d.vader

    Best acting, best pacing. I love just how optimistic it is, the beauty of the Shire, the promise of the story to come. I like the more intimate climactic battle. Love the Balrog. Prefer Gandalf the Grey to Gandalf the White. Its the best of the 3 by far.

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  • May 22, 2009 8:40:28 PM CDT

    DOES THAT CHICK THAT ALL THE PEDOS LOVE...

    by titbag

    ...FINALLY HAVE BOOBIES IN THIS ONE?

    WILL THERE BE ANY SCENES OF H. POTTER MASTURBATING BITTERLY?

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 22, 2009 9:35:03 PM CDT

    J.B.M.A.

    by cant_stop_yawning2

    I appreciate the Mr. Yawning, by the way - finally some respect...
    Have a nice day.
    ;)

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 22, 2009 11:39:35 PM CDT

    Movies=good, Books=not so much

    by feralangel

    I look forward to the day when the majority of people take their heads out of their butts and their thumbs out of their mouths and realize two things: Obama is a lousy president and Rowling is a lousy writer. And then realize that in this crazy unbalanced and media-run world, Lousy and Success are all too often =.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 23, 2009 2:59:27 AM CDT

    And Bush was a good President?

    by crankyoldguy

    I got fucked during the Bush year, multiple times and things are already looking better this year. So watch out Feral, before I hunt you down by hand and hang you over my fireplace as an moron-as-trophy

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  • May 23, 2009 3:04:08 AM CDT

    Isn't it a little early to judge Obama?

    by continentalop

    I mean, can't we at least wait until the first year is up?
    And if after the first year he has done lousy, I will say he is a lousy president. But first you have to admit Bush was God-fucking-awful.
    By the way, anyone see Mancow get waterboarded?

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 23, 2009 4:22:44 AM CDT

    Yeah, I saw the Mancow video.

    by dingbatty

    It's nice to see an opinion based upon experience, for once. This blind adherence to a party line, whatever party or ideology it may be, is nigh-insane.We are supposed to be the good guys, the ones who set the example. We don't torture.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 23, 2009 7:43:30 AM CDT

    MAN IN SOFA-SUIT !!!!........MAN IN SOFA-SUIT !!!!

    by livingwater

    MAN IN SOFA-SUIT !!!!..........MAN IN SOFA-SUIT !!!!.......MAN IN SOFA-SUIT !!!!

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 23, 2009 11:22:15 AM CDT

    Just watched the Mancow waterboard video

    by d.vader

    More conservative pricks need to try it.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 23, 2009 11:47:21 AM CDT

    not a good director

    by livingwater

  • May 24, 2009 4:54:32 AM CDT

    Snape is Tony Almeida

    by henrydalton

    Ha. Two spoilers in once sentence :)

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 24, 2009 12:48:00 PM CDT

    Hedwig

    by pennyb

    I've hated this series since the senseless death of Hedwig!!

    And a really stupid ending for the last book.

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