Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

**AllenJ** · 11th July 07, 12:46 PM

I havent read the books either and I cant stand the films. So much of it seems random and disjointed. Whenever I question someone on it they always say, "well they explain it in the book..." The problem is that it's a film...not a book. Two totally different mediums. Its like saying, "I didn't like that picture of Michelangelo's David...the sculpture was better". Don't mean to vent, but I used to be a film critic for a newspaper and get a little irritated with the constant film to book comparison.

That and I dont feel that acting is anything worth noting either.

**tomcherv** · 11th July 07, 12:53 PM

Dang - you got here before me.

The kilt is seen briefly - about long enough to realize it's a kilt.

I also agree - Luna was very well cast.

The movie does seem a bit choppy, but when considering the size of the source material, I don't have any objections to what was eliminated.

Now - I just need to reread book 6 before book 7 comes out.

**McFarkus** · 11th July 07, 02:50 PM

I went to a noon showing today. I really enjoyed it, but I'm also an avid reader of the books (I've had the new one on order since January). It's quite a trick to condense an 896 page book to a 2 hr 20 min movie. I thought it was handled well. I don't think it will matter if you haven't read the book.

**Erisianmonkey** · 11th July 07, 03:35 PM

I'm getting the feeling that the folks they employ to cut the books down into screenplays are actually monkeys with hatchets. SS/PS was alright, they got most of it in. Same with COS. POA has a hole or two that trucks can drive through. GOF was like a sieve. I'm just hoping that the trend of kilts in Harry Potter films continues, as there isn't much reason to watch them (unless you are a fan of the potterverse like I am) for the average person.

Off the wall, but not off topic. Since the barman in the Hog's Head is thought to be Aberforth Dumbledore, who was once arrested for "practicing inappropriate charms on a goat," do you think the filmmakers are riffing on the old zipper joke?

**AtagahiKC** · 11th July 07, 04:53 PM

I just returned from seeing it. I didn't like it at all. I never like when they change characters and major plot points. I did not like Cho being the one who turned them in rather than her friend in the book. It cheapened the deeper reasons why Harry and she broke up.

I don't think that including the extra actress to play Cho's friend's role would have made it run over long or cost that much.

But after the early peaking of the first two, I'm used to the travesties of the last three. I liked the kilt inclusion, too. I've always wondered why there weren't more of them.

Thankfully, the last book is coming out next week.

**BruceK** · 11th July 07, 06:11 PM

I always liked the part in the GoF book where an old wizard named Archie refuses to put on a pair of trousers claiming that he likes a healthy breeze 'round his privates. 'Course he was wearing a nightgown and not a kilt, but I can understand his point of view...

**Zardoz** · 11th July 07, 06:51 PM

Originally Posted by AllenJ

I havent read the books either and I cant stand the films. So much of it seems random and disjointed. Whenever I question someone on it they always say, "well they explain it in the book..." The problem is that it's a film...not a book. Two totally different mediums. Its like saying, "I didn't like that picture of Michelangelo's David...the sculpture was better". Don't mean to vent, but I used to be a film critic for a newspaper and get a little irritated with the constant film to book comparison.

That and I dont feel that acting is anything worth noting either.

Glad I'm not the only one!

I'm happy to say I have not read any of the books, and only saw part of the first movie.

**jordanjm** · 11th July 07, 10:21 PM

I like Harry Potter, but I like it for what it is. The classic Hero Cycle. I like to compare it with Star Wars, Beowulf, and other Hero cycle story lines. I still like Tolkien better. I own almost every Middle Earth related writing.

**Kilted-Marine** · 11th July 07, 11:19 PM

They are excellent books and the best thing is they have a flow to them and are well put together, they are not Lord of Rings equal but they are a good read and great characters.

**Josh_E** · 12th July 07, 01:20 PM

I started reading the books as a wee lad and was really into them then but now I've moved on to other things. While I still find them enjoyable I'm kind of reading them to find out how it ends. Somebody posted on a myspace group a summary of the last book that supposedly was leaked. I had read the whole thing before I even realized what I was reading! So if what was written is true I'm not going to be a happy camper.