Seeing it tonight. Thanks for avoiding spoilers!
Slick,
No worries. I hate spoilers. If I were to do so, I would have white texed 'em.
I just read the 6th book, "Half-blood Prince", while off on my trip this week, and I'm once again struck by what a wonderful writer she is. She really knows how kids that age act and interact with eachother.
3rd movie was better, but it was good. A good hour spent on a prom?
I felt the third movie was lacking in a lot of ways. I liked it, but less than the others. This one is by far my favorite of the bunch.
And I think the dance/prom was only like 20 minutes, tops.
Bingley ... I am not terribly fond of her writing. That is, I appreciate the vivid world she has created, and it's very enjoyable, but I prefer the movies to the books. She conveys the mood and attitudes of these age groups well. And does it to that audience well. But she's no Terry Pratchet.
Since I don't mind being spoiled (in fact I PREFER it) I read some spoilers and the part(s) left out? With the major character? Is the worst part of the books, IMO, so no biggie to me there, if that's all there is. I know the Quidditch World Cup has been reeeeally cut down, but there was no choice there, I think.
I didn't miss the missing person, and overall they made excellent choices on what to film. (A few of the subplots are confusing.) There were a couple of small things they could have done to help the puzzled viewer who hasn't read the book, and poor Michael Gambon just isn't Dumbledore. Anyone will suffer next to Richard Harris, I know, but there are better alternatives available, especially for Order of the Phoenix.
I loved the movie, but I must admit I liked the look of the third one more. Alfonso Cuarón has a certain vision that I really appreciate and he made Prisoner of Azkaban his own while staying true to the feel of the franchise. That being said, Mike Newell did a pretty amazing job! The next one is being directed by David Yates and I will admit I know NOTHING about him.
Aw man! I was really hoping Newell was coming back for the next one. I really appreciated his vision of the film.
I admit that I was really fond of PoA when I first saw it, but I don't think it holds up to rewatching (critical DVD watching) as well as the others. I'll have to wait and see how GoF does, but I have a feeling it'll do quite well.
Daughter is taking me to GoF this weekend; she wants to see it again.
I've never read any of Pratchett's books, so I can't compare them. I really like her humor, both the laugh-out-loud stuff and the piglatin she uses in her magic.
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