Posts tagged 30 days of harry potter

5 PARTS OF THE DEATHLY HALLOWS MOVIES (1&2) THAT YOU’RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE MOST?

• Harry Potter doppelgangers scene
• Harry, Hermoine and Ron infiltrating the Ministry of Magic
• Escaping Gringotts with the dragon
• Ron and Hermoine’s first kiss
• ‘The Prince’s Tale’ chapter

WHAT WOULD BE THE FIRST THING YOU’D BUY AT THE TWINS’ JOKE SHOP?

It’d be impossible to go past Weasleys’ Wildfire Whiz-bangs. They’re huge and spectacular and oh so pretty. Not to mention the fact they always reminds me of the twins’ spectacular exit from Hogwarts, chasing Malfoy and harassing Umbridge - fantastic!!

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO THE WWOHP? IF NOT, DO YOU PLAN ON IT?

(Not so) funny story. When I went to the States at the end of last year, a small part of the reason was so I could check out the Wonderful Word of Harry Potter. But they delayed opening the park until mid-2010 so I couldn’t. So, no. And, yes.

WHAT MOVIE HAVE YOU WATCHED THE MOST?

Order of the Phoenix. I’d never really thought about it until now but it just happens to be the one I’ve seen the most often. It was the first one I watched in it’s entirety, the first DVD that came out after I started reading the series, and it’s one I’ve always enjoyed. Which is bizarre, considering I thought the twins exiting Hogwarts and the death of Sirius could have been handled so much better. But I guess I already raved about it on Day.

DOES IT BOTHER YOU THAT THE MOVIES DIFFER FROM THE BOOKS?

At first it did - especially with the ones that I put on a pedestal (Prisoner of Azkaban). There’s just no way the films can compete with the depth and intricacy of the books and how their stories unfold - this is true of most adaptations, not just the Harry Potter series. But now that I’ve come to that realisation, I can enjoy the films on face value rather than drawing a constant comparison. While there are lots of little secrets and clues which are left out of the film, enough is included so that the crucial storylines are told. And I can’t help but wonder (and shudder at) what we’d be left with if J.K. Rowling didn’t have script approval/collaboration.

WHICH CHARACTER DO YOU THINK THEY DID THE BEST JOB CASTING FOR THE MOVIES?

This is an incredibly difficult question. All the actors selected to take part in this series are just exemplary. Even if they didn’t look the part, they embodied everything their character emanated in the books; Kenneth Brannagh (Gilderoy Lockhart), Helena Bonham Carter (Bellatrix Lestrange), Maggie Smith (Minerva McGonagall), Gary Oldman (Sirius Black), Ralph Fiennes (Voldemort), Imelda Staunton (Dolores Umbridge), Jim Broadbent (Horace Slughorn), Emma Thompson (Sybill Trelawney), John Cleese (Nearly Headless Nick), Miranda Richardson (Rita Skeeter), David Tennant (Barty Crouch Jnr.). There are quite a few who were as perfect on the screen as they were pictured in my mind when reading the series, but none moreso than Severus Snape (Alan Rickman). From the black greasy hair to the dark humour to the clipped tones to the to the (apparent) abbhorence for Harry and his friends, he is perfect.

WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE PROFESSOR AT HOGWARTS?

I like Professor McGonagall’s integrity and her strict but fair policy. I liked that Professor Moody (aka Barty Crouch Jnr.) did such a great job of introducing the students to the darker arts. But my favourite professor (and I’m sure I sound like a broken down record) was Professor Lupin. Not only did he teach valuable lessons about the dark arts, he made it fun. He was approachable, knowledgeable, protective and imparted any additional wisdom his students may have been seeking.

FAVOURITE DURSLEY

Dudley. Yes, I know he’s absolutely ghastly to Harry. But how else can he behave, considering the way Vernon and Petunia raised/spoilt him? In my eyes, he redeemed himself when he seemed genuinely concerned about Harry’s future and thanked him for saving his life in Deathly Hallows. It was one of my favourite moments in the whole series.

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO A MIDNIGHT SHOWING OF A MOVIE?

Alas, I’ve only seen the last two films in the cinema (the first of which I was dragged to) so, no. I seem to have a preference for the 9pm session - Order of the Phoenix, Half-Blood Prince and (soon to be) Deathly Hallows have all been booked in for 9pm sessions at Imax. Just nine days to go…

FAVOURITE MAGICAL CREATURE

I thought this was going to be an easy question…until I realised just how many possibilities there were. I love how much power the house-elves have, despite their social standing (or lack thereof). I love the regal hippogriffs; the incredibly graceful thestrals; the amazing and varied dragons…

But how can you go past the phoenix? Loyal, strong, tears with healing powers, and, of course, an immortal life - rising from the ashes.