That said, there's plenty to get excited about with this one. I like Yates, so I'm happy he's continuing the series. Also, this book seemed to be the most cinematically-structured when I read it, so I doubt Steve Kloves could screw up the adaptation too badly.

But the number one reason I'm looking forward to it, as has been mentioned already, is Bruno Delbonnel. Even if the script does suck horribly, this should still be the most beautiful-looking HP film at any rate.

That said, we know Roland needs to substitute Browning for King when he earns the title 'Childe', so that means not as much time is consumed. When is the most time lost? After he parlays with Walter (and yes, we're going to ignore the whole Walter = Flagg = Marten = Freakin' Everybody). Why does he catch up with Walter? Because he drops Jake. Therefore, to "win" the Tower, Roland needs to not drop Jake. Whether the Horn is the instrument (ha ha) that allows him to choose this path is up to the authors of the series.

They should do a spinoff movie about her. Who cares if Rowling didn't write a book to base it on. That kind of detail never stopped Hollywood before.

Okay not really, I just had a flashback to Idiocracy (If you don't smoke Tarryltons, fuck you).

By which I mean a priest. Black suit, high collar, skeezy haircut and it's not even subtext. We all know Rowling's an atheist. No one in the Potterverse goes to church or ever mentions religious faith, and the only holiday is Christmas which serves solely as a device for delivering presents. I'm not criticizing -- it's nearly the only aspect of the series I like.

None of the previous movies were worth watching, nor delivered a single transcendent movie moment despite the millions spent on SFX and hours of viewing time. The only good elements of the series are better experienced by reading the books. The Potter filmmakers haven't earned the benefit of the doubt. OotP was the last Potter flick I saw and will remain that way.

Also I agree about Luna Lovegood. She was the most enjoyable aspect of the last movie and far more interesting than that simpering sop Ginny. Isn't it sad how authors can straitjacket themselves by planning too far in advance?

I can't believe ANYONE is claiming Columbus and Newell are the ones that got it right. If the books were actually like that, they would be the blandest novels in existence.

IMO, Cuaron and Yates are the only two directors who ever really got the spirit/tone of these books...even if they left more events out. Now if only they would get different screenwriters.

The whole series is drenched in Christian symbolism from the phoenix to the snake.

Happens all the time. When people complain that there's no "religion" in the book, what they mean is that there's a glaring omission of the dominant religion in western culture- namely Christianity.

There's religion in the books, or, rather, some of the fundamental archetypes and stories that inspired people to create religion; for example: resurrection, spirits, incantation, ceremony and ritual for the purpose of contacting or controlling spiritual forces, good and evil, sacrifice, worship, etc... when you think about it, the threads that the books have in common with Christianity are basically what they have with most religions, and most fiction. Ironic, since Christianity is the one religion that has criticized the books for promoting 'witchcraft', which, based on some of these archetypes, isn't really that different in it's components from Christianity itself.

I don't think it's any accident that these elements show up in Rowling's books, they are in most fiction, especially stories for children. They are universally human, which is why the people writing their own stories, that eventually became religions, share them in common.

Don't look for some secret Christian agenda, that's putting the spiritual cart before the dogmatic horse.

And this time, don't fuck up the ending by removing important characters, changing details, and modifying motivations.

I'd even think making each CHAPTER of the books into an episode of a television series would be a great idea.

Why doesn't the BBC get their arse in gear? We have no damn Doctor Who for 18 months. Use the gap to start the Harry Potter process. A British-made version would be better, anyway, considering the actors they'll need to get into an 8+ season commitment.

The movies have gone awry. Characters are trimmed to their barest characteristics, some are missing entirely, and events are all rearranged.

Example: In OOTP, the DA were using "Levicorpus", but Harry learns THAT spell from The Half-Blood Prince. It's not a standard spell, and Hermione was dead-set against using it. Now, in HBP, what spell is it going to be instead of Levicorpus? Or will they just skip it entirely and gloss over the back-story flashbacks that are so important to the series?

They've fucked it all up, and I would much prefer they just start over with all the books now having been published, and focus on a weekly television serial instead of a handful of two-hour films.

Of course, you're coming at it from the point of view of a jaded adult (I assume) who can't enjoy a book of wondrous things for what it is.

Ginny was fairly well-developed, starting in the first book and going all the way through to the end, we're introduced to her, we learn she has a crush on Harry, we learn more about her in the second book (she's a central character, to some degree), and then we get regular chapters and mentions of her throughout the rest of the series. She IS a periphery character, but then the woman you end up usually isn't part of the "main gang" you hung around with. She had her own friends.

As for Hermione and Ron, that pairing has been built up since the moment they met on the train. Ever hear the phrase "opposites attract"? It's true. My wife and I have a lot in common, but there are many things that make us completely different from one another. It would be rather boring to end up with someone who is identical in hobbies, interests, intellect, talents, and motivations. It would be like dating yourself.

No, people go for someone who compliments them, not for someone who mirrors them-- Unless they're an egotistical asshole, that is.

That Ron and Hermione end up together makes perfect sense. It's how it works in the real world. Just look around. Are your friends all dating clones of themselves, or are they dating people who have traits they, themselves lack?

No, Harry Potter isn't high literature, but as fantasy goes it's good stuff, and most of the top authors in the world agree.

I agree that PoA was my favorite film and Curon my favorite director. I had my fingers crossed that either he, or Del Toro, would get the last few movies. Del Toro would truly be a genius choice and I think it's a wonderful thing that he's going to do The Hobbit but I do believe that it's a missed opportunity to do something wonderful in the HP universe. Though I have my preferences, I'm just happy to see these excellent books coming to the screen in any format and I'm very happy to see kids reading without immediately given the Scooby snack treat reward (like movie passes or game rentals for every single chapter read, pavlovian style). To read for the sheer enjoyment of reading is a good thing, no?

I dunno why being life-long friends wasn't good enough, but there you go...