The Deathly Hallows Movie Split v.2

Was it ridiculously confusing to begin Return of the Jedi in the middle of Han Solo's rescue sequence?

Basically, it's a more interesting way to begin the movie.

At least Empire Strikes Back had some closure; it ended with Lando setting off to set up Han's rescue, and Return of the Jedi begins with Luke joining him on Tatooine to begin the rescue, presumably some time later. If DH 1 cut off in the middle of the Gringotts invasion I don't think there's any way they could make that flow, since it's all one action sequence. It would be more akin to ending Empire Strikes Back when they're in Jabba's palace. :err: Ending at Shell Cottage would, in my opinion, be a more accurate comparison to what they did in Star Wars; a short pause, a breathing space before jumping into the action again. Splitting directly in the center of a tightly-knit, edge-of-your-seat action sequence would just be jarring and confusing, especially for non-readers.

*edit* Sorry, MasterOfDeath, I see we posted at the same time. :)

Though actually I just looked this up and it looks like technically its 2 days

If DH 2 started with Hermione taking the Polyjuice potion, it would span exactly twenty-four hours. She takes the potion at dawn, they go to Gringotts, escape on the dragon and apparate to Hogsmeade at dusk. They enter Hogwarts, and the Battle of Hogwarts, the Prince's Tale, the Forest Again, and Kings Cross are all encompassed in that night, culminating in the next dawn breaking just as Voldemort dies in the Great Hall. It's rather poetic and mind-blowing, actually! :)

At least Empire Strikes Back had some closure; it ended with Lando setting off to set up Han's rescue, and Return of the Jedi begins with Luke joining him on Tatooine to begin the rescue, presumably some time later. If DH 1 cut off in the middle of the Gringotts invasion I don't think there's any way they could make that flow, since it's all one action sequence. It would be more akin to ending Empire Strikes Back when they're in Jabba's palace. :err: Ending at Shell Cottage would, in my opinion, be a more accurate comparison to what they did in Star Wars; a short pause, a breathing space before jumping into the action again. Splitting directly in the center of a tightly-knit, edge-of-your-seat action sequence would just be jarring and confusing, especially for non-readers.

:agree: Exactly my point.

Sorry, but that's not what I meant. My point is that Part 1 can end with Dobby's burial/Harry's big choice/Voldemort getting the wand (that's a must for me), and then begin Part 2 with Gringotts, without any preparation. I'm not saying to begin literally in the middle of the sequence. It could be cool to begin with Bellatrix entering Gringotts, and slowly reveal that she's Hermione and all this is part of a plan to get the Horcrux.

Anyway, that's not my first choice (having Shell Cottige in part 2 is important because a lot of things will have to be re-explained): I still insist that Part 2 should begin with the flashback of James and Lilly's death, mirrorring the movie's climax, establishing the main bad guy, and establishing what happened that night (which is very important for the climax -Voldemort's soul went into Harry and Lily's sacrifice protected Harry), which obviously, has to be established in that movie.

Sorry, but that's not what I meant. My point is that Part 1 can end with Dobby's burial/Harry's big choice/Voldemort getting the wand (that's a must for me), and then begin Part 2 with Gringotts, without any preparation. I'm not saying to begin literally in the middle of the sequence. It could be cool to begin with Bellatrix entering Gringotts, and slowly reveal that she's Hermione and all this is part of a plan to get the Horcrux.

Anyway, that's not my first choice (having Shell Cottige in part 2 is important because a lot of things will have to be re-explained): I still insist that Part 2 should begin with the flashback of James and Lilly's death, mirrorring the movie's climax, establishing the main bad guy, and establishing what happened that night (which is very important for the climax -Voldemort's soul went into Harry and Lily's sacrifice protected Harry), which obviously, has to be established in that movie.

Oh, I see. Sorry for the misunderstanding. Yeah, that makes sense. I can see them having a flashback of that night in Godric's Hollow right at the beginning before the title flashes onto the screen. That would be really amazing in-fact. For the very last HP movie to start with a flashback clip of the fateful night that spawned the entire series in the first place. Brilliant! :tu:

And yes, Shell Cottage is a good place to catch the audience up to what happened in the last part. Harry's conversation with Ollivander will remind people of the Hallows and the Elder Wand and Harry's conversation with Griphook and quick planning with Ron and Hermione can remind them of the Horcruxes. Add in a scene of Voldemort stealing the wand from Dumbledore's tomb and you've got pretty much all the exposition you need so far. :tu:

Oh, I see. Sorry for the misunderstanding. Yeah, that makes sense. I can see them having a flashback of that night in Godric's Hollow right at the beginning before the title flashes onto the screen. That would be really amazing in-fact. For the very last HP movie to start with a flashback clip of the fateful night that spawned the entire series in the first place. Brilliant! :tu:

And yes, Shell Cottage is a good place to catch the audience up to what happened in the last part. Harry's conversation with Ollivander will remind people of the Hallows and the Elder Wand and Harry's conversation with Griphook and quick planning with Ron and Hermione can remind them of the Horcruxes. Add in a scene of Voldemort stealing the wand from Dumbledore's tomb and you've got pretty much all the exposition you need so far. :tu:


Yeah, i like the idea of having the flashback again in the last movie ;)

I agree with you except from the fact that Voldemort stealing the wand should be in Part 1. (or in both).

I'm hoping that they show LV stealing the wand at the end of Part 1. I think it would be better at the end of part 1.

It's just that Voldemort having the Elder Wand is more important to part two. Having it at the end of part one might prove pointless since people might not remember that one quick scene anyway. If it was in part 1, I guess they would have to have a scene where Voldemort talks about he has the Elder Wand in part 2 and not just assume the audiences know he has the Elder Wand. I doubt they would recolonize it by visual alone.

It's just that Voldemort having the Elder Wand is more important to part two. Having it at the end of part one might prove pointless since people might not remember that one quick scene anyway. If it was in part 1, I guess they would have to have a scene where Voldemort talks about he has the Elder Wand in part 2 and not just assume the audiences know he has the Elder Wand. I doubt they would recolonize it by visual alone.

Of course but Shell Cottige can be used to re-establish the Hallows and that Voldemort has the wand.

If DH 2 started with Hermione taking the Polyjuice potion, it would span exactly twenty-four hours. She takes the potion at dawn, they go to Gringotts, escape on the dragon and apparate to Hogsmeade at dusk. They enter Hogwarts, and the Battle of Hogwarts, the Prince's Tale, the Forest Again, and Kings Cross are all encompassed in that night, culminating in the next dawn breaking just as Voldemort dies in the Great Hall. It's rather poetic and mind-blowing, actually! :)
ok ok you're right :grumble: haha :p So not all the same day but within a 24-hour period, yea :agree:


And MasterofDeath.. I couldn't have said it better myself but I guess we were all confused about what oierem really meant. Yea I think we all agree that opening on the movie in the middle of an action sequence would be so confusing...


I love the idea of part two taking place in one day. It makes it all the more intensive, desperate and epic. We have this life-changing fate of the world defining event that takes place in 24 hours. Kinda like the movie Training Day. It will make it all the more operatic and dramatic, IMO. Passages of time tend to stifle dramatic urgency. To have the very last Potter film happen all in one day, from dawn to dawn of the next day will make it a true no-holds barred finally.
^------ So you guys I was just thinking... I think we've got something going on here. Someone take our new split idea and march it on down to WB and propose it to them!!! :lol: gogo!

And yes, Shell Cottage is a good place to catch the audience up to what happened in the last part. Harry's conversation with Ollivander will remind people of the Hallows and the Elder Wand and Harry's conversation with Griphook and quick planning with Ron and Hermione can remind them of the Horcruxes. Add in a scene of Voldemort stealing the wand from Dumbledore's tomb and you've got pretty much all the exposition you need so far

i love this idea. I really really really loathe movies and books that in every multiple part go back and explain every little detail so that those who haven't followed the whole series can be informed. call me selfish but I just don't want my time wasted by some radom insert for the aprx. three people who didn't see the first half :p that being said, shell cottage would be PERFECT imo. because then there is that type of summary that people seem to crave, but its still vital to the story line.

If DH 2 started with Hermione taking the Polyjuice potion, it would span exactly twenty-four hours. She takes the potion at dawn, they go to Gringotts, escape on the dragon and apparate to Hogsmeade at dusk. They enter Hogwarts, and the Battle of Hogwarts, the Prince's Tale, the Forest Again, and Kings Cross are all encompassed in that night, culminating in the next dawn breaking just as Voldemort dies in the Great Hall. It's rather poetic and mind-blowing, actually!

And i adore this idea. I couldn't have put it beter myself, even if i had thought of it myself. (must i confess that i hadn't even thought of the spilt happening at a different event? once i heard that it would take place before malfoy manor i just thought "oh wll that will be a good cliff hanger" many of you had made such amazing points about this killing the dramaticness [word?] and tennsion of this scene.)
AND I get so caught up in the story line that I forgot that all of that does indeed happen in one day. this gets my vote (if it even mattered) to be where dh2 begins. it is amazing in everyway. IMO there would be no greater way to end the series then with this amazing climatic final piece. there would be so much tension so much action and raw emotion. brillant:love:

And i adore this idea. I couldn't have put it beter myself, even if i had thought of it myself. (must i confess that i hadn't even thought of the spilt happening at a different event? once i heard that you would take place before malfoy manor i just thought "oh wll that will be a good cliff hanger" many of you had made such amazing points about this killing the dramaticness [word?] and tennsion of this scene.)
AND I get so caught up in the story line that I forgot that all of that does indeed happen in one day. this gets my vote (if it even mattered) to be where dh2 begins. it is amazing in everyway. IMO there would be no greater way to end the series then with this amazing climatic final piece. there would be so much tension so much action and raw emotion. brillant:love:

:agree: I think it could work well too.... as I stated above, I'm not a fan of starting the second film at Gringotts (apparently no one was really advocating that anyway), but I can see them getting it to work by including Dobby's death and the conversations with Ollivander and Griphook at the end of the first part; the Trio has all the information they're ever going to get, they're ready, and they have this brief breathing space before jumping into the final, decisive action. Then the second film begins with them setting off to do so, a good point emotionally... and there's the added bonus of the one-day timeline. I think this is my new pet idea for DH. :lol:

and its a great idea. OK here's what were gonna do. SOMEHOW. we'll get a VW mini bus, go to a dollar store, make a bunch of signs with glitter glue, fuzzy paint, all of that. and march in front of WB studio/ David Yates home. I'm determined we could make this happen. :D

and its a great idea. OK here's what were gonna do. SOMEHOW. we'll get a VW mini bus, go to a dollar store, make a bunch of signs with glitter glue, fuzzy paint, all of that. and march in front of WB studio/ David Yates home. I'm determined we could make this happen. :D
haha! :lol: yep!! thats what I was just saying! Honestly... we've got this awesome proposal and do you think they've even realized how cool it could be to make the entire second half just span 24 hours?? I wonder if they've even thought of it :( Bah!! :argh:

I don't like that idea of making the last film just a 24 hour period of time. It is one of the main reasons i think after Dobby's death is too late in the game.

There is no other way for me to see Part 2 other than to start with a pre-title flashback of Godric's Hollow and begin at Shell Cottage. What we have proposed is how it's GOT to be! In the long run of the series and in terms of part two's credit as a film free from the hype and anticipation, starting at Malfoy Manor and Dobby's death just won't work. The films have split. There are two movies being released 8 months apart. They need to have some form of their own identity. Of-course it's all one story but each part needs to feel like another piece of the story, not literally one film chopped in half. People are going to be paying twice to see each movie, they deserve to get two movies, each with some semblance of a beginning, middle and end.

It never boded well for me artistically to start part two off at Malfoy Manor. It just doesn't make dramatic sense to me at all, to start the very last HP film with an unfinished sequence from the last part. It doesn't distinguish part two enough. Part two is THE HP film. The very end of the series. It's got to feel unique. The pre-Malfoy Manor split would be good if it was one huge movie with an intermission but not for a two-parter IMO.

And yes, I'm hoping Wb and Yates company come to this realization as well! :lol: (hopefully during the editing of DH1 which will begin after principle photography, in the summer).

It never boded well for me artistically to start part two off at Malfoy Manor. It just doesn't make dramatic sense to me at all, to start the very last HP film with an unfinished sequence from the last part. It doesn't distinguish part two enough. Part two is THE HP film. The very end of the series. It's got to feel unique. The pre-Malfoy Manor split would be good if it was one huge movie with an intermission but not for a two-parter IMO.

And yes, I'm hoping Wb and Yates company come to this realization as well! :lol: (hopefully during the editing of DH1 which will begin after principle photography, in the summer).
I agree :agree: I think it would have a much better flow... it would break up the story less (even though its already being broken up... but its the best option). Oh! And I didn't think about the fact that they could kinda still change it in editing, we still have time!! lol :lol:


Oh and Decarus if you don't mind me asking.. what don't you like about it? Is it the flow of the film? Or do you think there won't be enough content to go in the second film? Cause the former I could see as an argument maybe, though I still disagree BUT... for the latter -- I think there is plenty of content after that to make an entire second film lol.

I agree :agree: I think it would have a much better flow... it would break up the story less (even though its already being broken up... but its the best option). Oh! And I didn't think about the fact that they could kinda still change it in editing, we still have time!! lol :lol:


Oh and Decarus if you don't mind me asking.. what don't you like about it? Is it the flow of the film? Or do you think there won't be enough content to go in the second film? Cause the former I could see as an argument maybe, though I still disagree BUT... for the latter -- I think there is plenty of content after that to make an entire second film lol.

Yeah, I think there is enough material for part two at a post Dobby's burial split. It would even help dramatically if part two is a bit shorter anyway. The shorter a film is, the more effective, in this particular case, since it's basically a full film climax.


We've got Shell Cottage, Gringotts adventure (which from setting out through escaping on the dragon should be a little over a half-hour) to the dragon sequence and the final hiding place, to Hogsmeade and the conversation with Aberforth, to meeting Neville and the DA, finding out what's been happening at Hogwarts, starting the revolution, the journey to Ravenclaw tower to find the diadem, the duel with Snape and Snape's escape, readying for battle and the build-up of suspense to the war, the entire Battle of Hogwarts which reportedly will be at least 45 minutes intercut with Harry's journey inside the castle to find the horcrux, it has been stated that we will see Ron and Hermione's journey into the Chamber of secrets (and this is where the kiss is supposed to take place), the battle in the Room of Requirement which should take about about 15-20 minutes, Fred's death and that whole part of the battle as Harry battles across the grounds to get to the shrieking shack ( or wherever Snape will be in the movie version), Snape's death scene, the Prince's Tale (which I'm hoping will be long enough), Harry's walk into the forest, King's Cross, the final battle in the Flaw in the plan, aftermath of the battle and the epilogue.

This sounds like at least a 2 hour film to me if not longer..

This sounds like at least a 2 hour film to me if not longer..
Yes definitely! :agree: I was going to try to write them all out but I had to take my lunch break lol :lol: Good job!

Yea I was particularly thinking... because we have all the fighting.. if that was all it was (just the gringotts part, and then the dragon, and the fighting in the castle, getting the diadem, and then the end battle) .. that could in some ways be short, because its lots of action and not tons of dialogue and explaining things. BUT, with the added in trio talking with Aberforth and Neville etc, all Snape's memories (which I too hope will be very long and complete), and Harry's walk through the forest and then what happens after with Dumbledore... that sounds like a ton of content to me.

*SPOLIERS*


They need to have some form of their own identity. Of-course it's all one story but each part needs to feel like another piece of the story, not literally one film chopped in half. People are going to be paying twice to see each movie, they deserve to get two movies, each with some semblance of a beginning, middle and end.


wow great point. see i love these forums because they give me so much to consider and open my mind up to opinions and options i would have never even considered. :love:
but you are completely on point. if people are going to pay to see two different movies, they should be paying for two complete movies.
But i still do believe that the "24 hour cycle" is an amazing option. But that might just be that i had completely failed to recognise that from Hermione taking the potion and voldermorts downfall was all in a "days work". that is just . . mind blowing to me. I must be easily impressed :err:

(Snapesandarrows)

So, my 2 cents: in the book, after the snatchers catch the trio, there is a scene where they are being marched up to the gate of Malfoy manner (in layman's terms, the "bad guys' headquarters"). Ending it right here - perhaps finding a way to establish that the very dangerous Bellatrix is more or less in charge, with Voldemort a quick summon away - is a less complicated cliffhanger for Joe Viewer to remember. Really, all Joe Viewer has to walk away with (and remember for the time in between movies) is "the worst of the bad guys have captured the good guys".

:tu: :tu: :tu:

Well since I've been agreeing with like everybody and their mother on this post let me see if I can manage to state a (hopefully coherent) opinion of my own. (any of you that have read my past posts will know that I have a tendency to get over excited and just type to my hearts content, and fingers crossed that y'all understand what I'm trying to say)

Ok what i defiantly do not want in part two is an explanation about what happened in part one and what is going on (one of my biggest pet peeves must be sitting around people in movies who loudly whisper "wait who is that, what's he doing, why, what did he just say, want some popcorn" etc.) this is why the starting DH2 at shell cottage would get my vote. through flashbacks and memories and explanations we would be summed up on what is going on and what is going to happen, BUT without it being an intrusion on the story, rather an important part in the story.

As for DH1 ending right after the trio is snatched, I like this because those who haven't read the books, or even seen the other movies will still be intrigued to come back for more. I love Snapesandarrows way of putting it the most (above).

Now for where I personally think the split should take place. . . :wow:

THIS IS MY OPINION I CAN SEE ALLLLL OF THE FLAWS IN THIS OPINION AND HOW IT WOULD NOT WORK OUT IN ACTUAL FILM. I HAVEN'T GIVEN IT TONS OF THOUGHT. BUT HERE IT GOES:

From a readers stand point I would like the split at the end of the silver doe. if this movie was done for my personal enjoyment, that would be satisfactory for me. because i have read all of the books repeatedly, i am obvious very different from just an average Joe movie goer. When Ron comes back it is a high note. and could even end on a humorous note with Hermione saying "I still haven't ruled it out" in reference to the little birds. Think about it. they have destroyed a horouex, Ron has come back. they have more clues and hints then ever. and there is still obviously alot more to be done.
I guess one of the biggest flaws would be that there would be a whole lot of action an explanation left for movie 2 to cover and it could seem a bit incomplete. for my personal enjoyment that's where i would like it.
i do believe that part 2 will have a lot of action as it should. prt 1 in the book is alot of words and part 2 is action.

that being said, i have no major issues with the malfoy manor spilt. i think it would sit well commercially.


*sigh* i don't appear to have made any more sense then my manic self usually would

xx

I guess one of the biggest flaws would be that there would be a whole lot of action an explanation left for movie 2 to cover and it could seem a bit incomplete. for my personal enjoyment that's where i would like it.

You've hit the biggest argument against a Silver Doe split: Part 2 is going to be about two times longer than part 1. Yes, Silver Doe is halfway through the book, but the book up to there (like you said) is very uneventful. I can only think of 4 "big" events for part 1 (Seven Potters, The Wedding, The Ministry Heist and Godric's Hollow), but I can think of 9 in part 2 (Xenophilius Lovegood, Malfoy Manor, Gringotts, Arrival at Hogwarts, Room of Requirement, Battle, Prince's Tale, Forest Again/Kings Cross, Flaw in the Plan). That means there is about twice as much heavy material in part 2 than part 1. [Note: It is my opinion that made me decide what the 'big' scenes were].

Personally, I only see 2 plausible splits: either before or after Malfoy Manor. I have enjoyed other ideas (such as Godric's Hollow, Silver Doe, when Voldemort takes the Elder Wand and after Gringotts), but all of these options would, IMO, cause one part to be considerably longer than the other. I am certain that the filmmakers would want both parts to be at least 2 hours like all the rest of the films :)

I suggest to end part 1 with "what do you know about the Deathly Hallows?"
Kidding :p Now, for the non-readers that would be a really malicious split point :lol: I'm torn between splitting it before or after Malfoy Manor. I've for a long time leaned towards the snatchers capturing the trio and with a closure shot of Voldemort gaining the Elder wand. Actually there is some resolution in that ending too: We find out what those objects are and what Voldemort has been searching for the entire film. I understand that most of you prefer Shell Cottage, which seems to be the most traditional or "Hollywood-ish" way to end it. It will be HBP over again with the trio planning their next step and once again decide to track down the horcruxes. I am still fine with a split point around there, but that's mostly because our dear Dobby deserves a proper send-off, which only can be achieved by re-introducing and killing him off in the same film. A death in the end of a film has normally more impact than in the beginning, although the sadness of it depends on how well it's executed as well. I might have changed my mind a little because now this option tempts me more, but since I don't want another Potter film to end on a happy note I think Voldemort should be featured in the last scene. That would be perfect :D
However, one thing that bothers me with the Shell Cottage ending is whether audiences will understand why the trio work out that Hufflepuff's Cup is a horcrux. I mean, while torturing Hermione Bellatrix mentioned a valuable object hidden in her vault in addition to the seemingly stolen sword. This lead to the horcrux theory. If they place this scene in the climax of part 1 non-readers will probably not remember that 8 months later. And why would they? To them it might seem like insignificant information.
I'll be interesting to see what Yates and co go for...

Yes definitely! :agree: I was going to try to write them all out but I had to take my lunch break lol :lol: Good job!

Yea I was particularly thinking... because we have all the fighting.. if that was all it was (just the gringotts part, and then the dragon, and the fighting in the castle, getting the diadem, and then the end battle) .. that could in some ways be short, because its lots of action and not tons of dialogue and explaining things. BUT, with the added in trio talking with Aberforth and Neville etc, all Snape's memories (which I too hope will be very long and complete), and Harry's walk through the forest and then what happens after with Dumbledore... that sounds like a ton of content to me.

Thank you so much! :) There certainly will be a lot of action in part two, but it's all mired in drama and emotion, or most of it is anyway. The Gringotts episode will act almost like a pre-movie serial they used to play in the old movie theaters. Those flash Gordon serials that would play before the feature presentation. It's a light, fun, exciting action/adventure scene before the film gets all dark epic and serious. And yes, there will be the Aberforth conversation and the meeting with Neville and the DA, etc. Structurally, it'll work perfectly. The Shell Cottage split best utilizes the split. The Battle of Hogwarts would never have worked at the end of the movie. After the big battle, people would be ready to go home. But with the split, the Battle of Hogwarts can now be the middle of the movie. By the time we get to Snape's death, I think the audiences will be ready for a little break from action and battle and welcome the touching character drama of the Prince's Tale, Harry's walk through the forest and King's Cross, only to jump right back into action again with the Flaw in the Plan.

Thanks again for your kind comment, Adeline! Congratulations on your upcoming wedding, btw! I wish you and your future husband all the luck in the world and good fortune. :tu: :)

wow great point. see i love these forums because they give me so much to consider and open my mind up to opinions and options i would have never even considered.
but you are completely on point. if people are going to pay to see two different movies, they should be paying for two complete movies.
But i still do believe that the "24 hour cycle" is an amazing option. But that might just be that i had completely failed to recognise that from Hermione taking the potion and voldermorts downfall was all in a "days work". that is just . . mind blowing to me. I must be easily impressed


Thanks, sabrinestar. I love these forums for the very same reason. :) The one day element is the epitome of drama and opera. The more time passes, the less dramatic urgency. I agree about part two not containing a complete "previously on Harry Potter" catch-up montage thing. That would be AWFUL! :lol: Shell Cottage should be enough to remind audiences of part 1. :)

Noldus, I woulden't say Shell Cottage is so much a Hollywood split, as it's just good storytelling, IMO. If it's like classic Hollywood, that's great. There are worse things concerning Hollywoodizing a film like sexing it up, dumbing down plots, shortchanging drama, cutting out deaths and making the ending a complete fairy tale happy ending, etc etc. I think splitting at Shell Cottage is the least of our worries in terms of the films being too Hollywood. :p if it's gonna be a little Hollywood, I would hope it's the positive aspect. ;)

It won't be a repeat of HBP at all. Dobby's death won't be the focus and the film won't linger on it as much as HBP did with Dumbledore. It should be more about Harry's decision. Good point about the cup though. I guess the trio can just mention Bella's outrage when they are planning to break into Gringotts and perhaps remind the audience using the scene where Voldemort visits Malfoy Manor to punish them for letting Harry Potter escape once again. Before Voldemrot arrives, we could have a scene where Bellatrix comments to Narcissa about at least the item in her Gringotts vault is safe or something.

Thanks again for your kind comment, Adeline! Congratulations on your upcoming wedding, btw! I wish you and your future husband all the luck in the world and good fortune. :tu: :)

Thank you so much :D

v------ thanks thanks to Loony too :D (didn't want to make two off topic posts haha... I try I try!)

Yes, I've been meaning to say the same thing, Adeline! I'm excited for you! :D Congratulations!

Yes, congratulations Adeline!

*cough*TOPIC*cough*

Please direct further congratulations to private messages or profile messages and keep this thread on track, everyone. ^_^

Noldus, I woulden't say Shell Cottage is so much a Hollywood split, as it's just good storytelling, IMO. If it's like classic Hollywood, that's great.

I'm satisfied if it ends with Dobby's burial or Voldemort, which wouldn't be like a classic Hollywood ending. That would be a sharp contrast. Harry buries a grave in honour of Dobby (along with his obsession of Hallows) while Voldemort digs up a grave to steal something, indifferent to the fact that he is scorning a dead person. But due to the Elder Wand's importance in part 2 they may also open part 2 with that sequence.


I guess the trio can just mention Bella's outrage when they are planning to break into Gringotts and perhaps remind the audience using the scene where Voldemort visits Malfoy Manor to punish them for letting Harry Potter escape once again. Before Voldemrot arrives, we could have a scene where Bellatrix comments to Narcissa about at least the item in her Gringotts vault is safe or something.

That's a good idea. A short flashback of the torture scene might be effective as well.

Oh and Decarus if you don't mind me asking.. what don't you like about it? Is it the flow of the film? Or do you think there won't be enough content to go in the second film? Cause the former I could see as an argument maybe, though I still disagree BUT... for the latter -- I think there is plenty of content after that to make an entire second film lol.

I legitimately don't think that the split at shell cottage feels like the right beat in the film for me. I just think good stories have these moments of calm before the storm, these moments of resolve when the characters decide to do what they are going to do. I think that this moment in Shell Cottage where Harry buries Dobby and decides to go after the horcruxes is the moment of resolve for the characters. For them to split the films after this moment just seems to take away from that build up of resolve before the battle.

It is hard because this story was not meant to be split and therefore regardless of where they split the films i am really going to want to see more and be frustrated that it has ended, but to take away from that building up of the characters resolve to action, i just don't like it.

I really think the best they can do is to end the first film after having discovered what the Hallows are and having discovered what Voldemort has been looking for. The thing is that in the book Shell Cottage felt like the moment of resolve, but it is possible that they could change that in the film and make another moment feel like that moment. I just imagine Harry looking over the water as the calm before the battle, where he has come to peace with what is ahead and will do what must be done and i don't like the films splitting the moment he has made that decision.

I don't know if that made sense at all, but it makes sense to me and so a split at Shell Cottage after the burial after Harry's decision just doesn't feel like the right beat in the story to me.

Dear me, are we still discussing the Split? Thought by now this thread would be closed.
I thought that discussion was over, seems it isn´t . That means besides the info I read about it ending after the snatchers, there has not been an official desicion yet. I am still all support for Shell Cottage , or somewhere around that point if it can´t be there.IMO, This point allows a calm moment where like Decarus pointed out a desicion is made , it offers closure to Harry´s undesicion , the Hallows have been explained and the path to be followed has been laid. From there on important plot events happen that should take enough film time to be developed. The first part ending here offers the second part a short part of the plot to unfold. But since this part has major items for comprehension of the film, better develop them nicely and slowly than rushed to fit a rather tight thick plotted film .

I legitimately don't think that the split at shell cottage feels like the right beat in the film for me. I just think good stories have these moments of calm before the storm, these moments of resolve when the characters decide to do what they are going to do. I think that this moment in Shell Cottage where Harry buries Dobby and decides to go after the horcruxes is the moment of resolve for the characters. For them to split the films after this moment just seems to take away from that build up of resolve before the battle.

It is hard because this story was not meant to be split and therefore regardless of where they split the films i am really going to want to see more and be frustrated that it has ended, but to take away from that building up of the characters resolve to action, i just don't like it.

I really think the best they can do is to end the first film after having discovered what the Hallows are and having discovered what Voldemort has been looking for. The thing is that in the book Shell Cottage felt like the moment of resolve, but it is possible that they could change that in the film and make another moment feel like that moment. I just imagine Harry looking over the water as the calm before the battle, where he has come to peace with what is ahead and will do what must be done and i don't like the films splitting the moment he has made that decision.

I don't know if that made sense at all, but it makes sense to me and so a split at Shell Cottage after the burial after Harry's decision just doesn't feel like the right beat in the story to me.

Shell Cottage would still be at the beginning of part two so we would still have what you define as the calm before the storm/Harry looking out at the waters pre-battle. Besides you also have Harry's decision to return to Hogwarts in the Final Resting Place which IMO is an even more direct build-up of suspense to the battle.

And yes, Montse, this discussion is STILL going on. :lol: I don't think it will ever be resolved. Even when the movie comes out, someone is going to be disappointed that they split at a certain point. I know, I'll be complaining like crazy if they don't split after Dobby's burial and Harry's decision. :p

I won't complain too much if it isn't before Malfoy Manor. It is possible that they could change the calm before the storm and still make it work. I just don't think at Shell Cottage after the burial feels like the right moment to me at all. I just wish that we could know, but to know the end would i think give away a lot about the how the first film is going to go.

Now if they split in the middle of Malfoy Manor, that i won't like, but what can you do.

I won't complain too much if it isn't before Malfoy Manor. It is possible that they could change the calm before the storm and still make it work. I just don't think at Shell Cottage after the burial feels like the right moment to me at all. I just wish that we could know, but to know the end would i think give away a lot about the how the first film is going to go.

Now if they split in the middle of Malfoy Manor, that i won't like, but what can you do.

I feel the same way about every other split. No other split point feels right to me at all. This is a point I'm willing to be extremely partisan on. I'm absolutely and unequivocally dedicated to a Shell Cottage/Post-Dobby's burial split, no matter what. :lol: I will accept no other split point. I will argue for it until November 19.

I legitimately don't think that the split at shell cottage feels like the right beat in the film for me. I just think good stories have these moments of calm before the storm, these moments of resolve when the characters decide to do what they are going to do. I think that this moment in Shell Cottage where Harry buries Dobby and decides to go after the horcruxes is the moment of resolve for the characters. For them to split the films after this moment just seems to take away from that build up of resolve before the battle.
I completely agree actually -- if you read my posts you would see that I say that a lot. I'm all against them starting right on a moment of a ton of action.. not only does it feel wrong but it would also be really confusing. But like MasterofDeath said, I think they could start right after Dobby's death and Harry's decision of what to do, then they would show them getting ready and planning for the Gringotts piece starting in part 2 -- which could lead to some explaining of what happened before without too much time spent on flashbacks and explaining (which could cut into good film time), cause the trio would be talking about the situation.

I feel the same way about every other split. No other split point feels right to me at all. This is a point I'm willing to be extremely partisan on. I'm absolutely and unequivocally dedicated to a Shell Cottage/Post-Dobby's burial split, no matter what. :lol: I will accept no other split point. I will argue for it until November 19.

Feel free to argue as much as you want :lol: But what if the Shell Cottage split doesn't turn out to be as good as in your head? :p What sounds good on paper doesn't necessarily work on the screen and vice versa. We don't know for certain how the scenes will be unfolded on the screen, nor anything about the pace or placing of the scenes. There are both positive and negative sides about the two suggested split points as I see it because the story was not intended to be split in the first place. But the filmmakers are not stupid. I bet they have a plan, but whether it's good remains to see.

Feel free to argue as much as you want :lol: But what if the Shell Cottage split doesn't turn out to be as good as in your head? :p What sounds good on paper doesn't necessarily work on the screen and vice versa. We don't know for certain how the scenes will be unfolded on the screen, nor anything about the pace or placing of the scenes. There are both positive and negative sides about the two suggested split points as I see it because the story was not intended to be split in the first place. But the filmmakers are not stupid. I bet they have a plan, but whether it's good remains to see.

Nothing in the HP films are ever as good as in my head so that's a given. :p

You have a good point but it basically renders all discussion here moot in a way. :lol: How can we argue for any split point when the films are going to be radically different than how we think they will be? We can only discuss on what we think, what we feel and what we know. I'm sticking with shell cottage to the bitter end. :cool:

And yes, Montse, this discussion is STILL going on. I don't think it will ever be resolved. Even when the movie comes out, someone is going to be disappointed that they split at a certain point. I know, I'll be complaining like crazy if they don't split after Dobby's burial and Harry's decision.

As always, you have a good point, I think I would join your side again if they split it else where and I feel it is totally wrong. ( splitting it elsewhere would feel totally wrong to me) But I am being open to somewhere around Shell Cottage,( Voldemort getting the wand...The birth of Teddy...dissaparating to gringotts ) not too far from there cause I want the second part to develop properly the stories that need to be told and the action parts to be epic, not rushed . I know I would totally freak out if they split it at the middle of Malfoy Mannor to leave it as a cliffhanger , but my hopes are high they will come to thier senses and split it where it feels right ( shell cottage,after the burial. )

Almost all of where the split happens centers on two things: How much story can they effectively fit into two separate (roughly) two-hour time periods? And what type of feeling do they want to convey at the end of the first part?

For me personally, I'd be fine if they allowed two-and-a-half hours per movie (or even 3 hours for part 2), but I know a lot of people won't like that.

There are a lot of areas where logical splits could happen, from a storytelling point of view:

Godric's Hollow, where Voldemort picks up the picture of Grindlewald would make a good cliffhanger, but then you'd be starting the next film with either the Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore, or (if you moved that around a bit) the Silver Doe. Both good stories, but I don't think they'd make for great opening sequences for part 2.

The scene where Voldemort acquires the Elder Wand would be a fantastic place to end part one. It's a very big moment, and a natural split - it's where Harry decides to go after the Horcruxes, and not the Hallows. It has a natural opening scene at Shell Cottage, and provides a place for dialogue to remind people of what's going on. The problem is, it's just too late in the story. Much as I would like it to work, it just won't.

Malfoy Manor would be an interesting place to split it. But they'd have to be VERY careful about doing it, because the whole scene is just so chaotic. Ending anywhere from the moment they arrive to Dobby's Funeral would tick off quite a lot of people. No matter what it would be a frantic cliffhanger (meaning it ends in chaos, not mystery)...it would be akin to ending Rocky just before the end of the fight. It could be pulled off, but it would take a very gifted director to do it, and I think in the end it would just be too risky.

The Silver Doe is the first of these suggestions I could actually see happening. It's almost the direct center of the book, in terms of pages. It's a natural, calm, feel-good ending. If they don't want too much of a cliffhanger, this would be the place to do it. But, I think it just leaves too much story to be told in the second half. Me personally, I would devote a very sizable chunk - at least half of the second movie - to the events from the return to Hogwarts to the end. That can't happen with this ending.

The scene at the Lovegood's house would be an excellent starting point, ending in what I call a mystery cliffhanger (this is what Lost does very well). It leaves you wanting more, without leaving you too frustrated. Here, they'd end with the Trio asking Lovegood about the symbol, and he says "Are you referring to the sign of the Deathly Hallows?". It provides a cliffhanger, and a very good place to start (they could show the tale of the three brothers as the first scene in part two), AND it's in the middle. This is a very strong area to start off on. My only problem, again, is that I believe it to be slightly too early in the story.

Were I in charge, the place I would split is right after the trio hears Potterwatch, and when Harry says "Voldemort" and the snatchers come. I think I've already described how I'd do it earlier in the thread, but the short version is essentially this:
At the end of Potterwatch, you have Fred doing a voiceover. He talks about the importance of family, friends, helping one another, putting aside differences to work together - essentially the core of what the series is about - as we cut to the trio, the Weasleys, Ginny/Luna/Neville, the Order, pretty much all the main "good guys". When that ends, the trio talks about Potterwatch and their plan of action briefly, then Harry lets "Voldemort" slip. The Snatchers apparate outside the tent as Harry, Ron, and Hermione scramble to try to put their defensive spells back up, to no avail. One of the Snatchers (Greyback?) says "Come out of there with your hands up. We've got a dozen wands pointed at you, and we don't care who we curse!" as it fades to black.
This is my favorite potential spot. It ends at the beginning of a conflict (rather than in the middle of one, as Malfoy Manor would), and allows us to pick the pace up very quickly in the opening of the second film, then slow it down and allow for reflection. It's in the middle, but not too early in the middle. It's certainly not a perfect spot, but I don't think there is a perfect spot. Very good arguments can be made for about 3 or 4 places, and decent arguments can be made for another 2 or 3. In the end, it all comes down to personal preferences.

And yes, Montse, this discussion is STILL going on. :lol: I don't think it will ever be resolved. Even when the movie comes out, someone is going to be disappointed that they split at a certain point. I know, I'll be complaining like crazy if they don't split after Dobby's burial and Harry's decision. :p

:lol: I think I'll be complaining like mad if they don't split the movie after Dobby's burial too! (At least!)

I have a strange feeling however that they will mess it up. Filmmakers tend to do that with book adaptations these days!

I'm about to explode from frustration. Who saw the news article on mugglenet about the three-way split?? WHY??? I don't want to watch DH over FOUR YEARS. :grumble: That's plain EVIL. I mean, I understand that they wanna keep up the HP hype, but making us watch parts 1 and 2 six months apart was bad enough... waiting 2 years for part 3 will be... UGH. EVILNESS> :td:

On the other hand though, when I'm not feeling annoyed and frustrated at the idea, it's pretty smart, since we get to see WAY more detail, and we definitely all want that. But I still don't see what's wrong with making part 1 and 2 each around 4 hours - they did that with Star Wars, didn't they? And I can't see anyone complaining about watching Harry Potter for four hours. I'd love that... D'you think they'd put part 1 back in cinemas when part 2 come out? Or maybe not actually... it's be out on DVD by then...

Anyway... Opinions on the DH to be made into a triolgy?

This bit of news is not true. It is April fools day. You can't believe anything on those sites today.

Also, none of the Star Wars films are four hours they are all around 2 and a half or less.

Yeah, notice ho there was no link to the original story in Mugglenet's report....

If it was going to be three parts, we would have heard about it BEFORE they began filming, not on April 1 :lol: :p

Were I in charge, the place I would split is right after the trio hears Potterwatch, and when Harry says "Voldemort" and the snatchers come. I think I've already described how I'd do it earlier in the thread, but the short version is essentially this:
At the end of Potterwatch, you have Fred doing a voiceover. He talks about the importance of family, friends, helping one another, putting aside differences to work together - essentially the core of what the series is about - as we cut to the trio, the Weasleys, Ginny/Luna/Neville, the Order, pretty much all the main "good guys". When that ends, the trio talks about Potterwatch and their plan of action briefly, then Harry lets "Voldemort" slip. The Snatchers apparate outside the tent as Harry, Ron, and Hermione scramble to try to put their defensive spells back up, to no avail. One of the Snatchers (Greyback?) says "Come out of there with your hands up. We've got a dozen wands pointed at you, and we don't care who we curse!" as it fades to black.
This is my favorite potential spot. It ends at the beginning of a conflict (rather than in the middle of one, as Malfoy Manor would), and allows us to pick the pace up very quickly in the opening of the second film, then slow it down and allow for reflection. It's in the middle, but not too early in the middle. It's certainly not a perfect spot, but I don't think there is a perfect spot. Very good arguments can be made for about 3 or 4 places, and decent arguments can be made for another 2 or 3. In the end, it all comes down to personal preferences.

I love that idea. It reminds me of Sam's speech at the end of the Two Towers. I used to like the idea of splitting right before Malfoy Manor, then I didn't, but now I'm startng to like it again. I think they could end it there if they do it well. But that's the ending of part 1. Now, as for the beginning of part 2, I don't think it could work. I think opening with such an intense and violent scene (in my opinon it's one of the most if not the intense, scary, and violent scenes in the series) wouldn't work. It's too much to start out the film with, IMO.

But I love the speach idea. I hope they find a way to incorporate something like that it into the film.

I'm about to explode from frustration. Who saw the news article on mugglenet about the three-way split?? WHY??? I don't want to watch DH over FOUR YEARS. :grumble: That's plain EVIL. I mean, I understand that they wanna keep up the HP hype, but making us watch parts 1 and 2 six months apart was bad enough... waiting 2 years for part 3 will be... UGH. EVILNESS> :td:

LOL! That's not true, it's a joke. Today is April's Fool :elaugh:

I always wanted the split to be at the Lovegood's house after they ask old Xeno about the "are you referring to the sign of the Deathly Hallows?" and then the camera cuts to the trio looking anxious, zooms in on Harry's face, and then the screen cuts to black
But alas, the producers never called to ask what I wanted.

I read again DH and I think the perfect split of the movies would be after they get to Shell Cottage .... because on the previous chapter it looks like it already ends but with something awaiting when it tells us about Voldemort taking away the Elder Wand.

For the most part, I'm going to follow the crowd and agree with the idea of Shell Cottage as the place to separate the two films. However, has anyone ever thought about the part of the book where Griphook helps them to sneak into Gringotts as a place to break it up? I was actually discussing this with my boyfriend this morning, and we both agree that if it's not Shell Cottage, the Gringotts break-in scene would be an interesting place to break it up.

I think that Shell Cottage is too late in the game for a split place even though it now seems like the most likely. I certainly think anytime after that is way too late in the game for a split point.

I think that Shell Cottage is too late in the game for a split place even though it now seems like the most likely.

There's no ideal place for a split point in this story, IMO. :cool:

It would hardly have worked, publishing DH as two separate volumes, after all. :wow:

People favour Shell Cottage as a split point because of the emotional resolution it provides.

The thing is, I cannot really think of a good place in the story earlier in which to split it. I just can't. Split the story any earlier, and Part One will lack something, IMO.

But we shall see.

I think the split should remind us of both how perilous a situation the trio are in and how Hogwarts is being affected due to Voldemort's power. I think that'll make sure the audience know how different the Wizarding World is now, the place of security and comfort (Hogwarts) is vanishing- this isn't a child's fantasy anymore; this is war.

Also, I think at the end of the 1st part we need something that foreshadows the beginnings of a war. As I said in another thread, this could be an onimous Dark Mark appearing in the clouds or sky.

Also, we could emd with a chilling quote from Voldemort that could echo what he says to Harry in Order of the Phoenix: "You will lose... everything,", or words to that effect.

All of the above sounds fine to me as a possible ending to Part One, FA13. :)

What I am totally against would be any kind of cliffhanger. :yuhup:

There's no ideal place for a split point in this story, IMO. :cool:

It would hardly have worked, publishing DH as two separate volumes, after all. :wow:

People favour Shell Cottage as a split point because of the emotional resolution it provides.

The thing is, I cannot really think of a good place in the story earlier in which to split it. I just can't. Split the story any earlier, and Part One will lack something, IMO.

But we shall see.

I actually don't disagree that after Shell Cottage may be the most resolved ending. I just don't think Dobby's death is all that important for it to be the end of the film.

I think after Ron's return/the silver doe scene would also be a good ending, but it is way too early in the game for the split.

When i think about the film splitting at Shell Cottage it just seems like so much to go through to get to that end especially with the added snatcher chase scene. I also think that you may be right in that something will be lacking from Part 1 if they split any earlier, it will be lacking a resolved ending. The thing is that i think Part 2 will be lacking to end that late. So giving the choice between Part 1 lacking a good resolve and Part 2 having the proper beginning, i choose Part 2 having the proper beginning.

Because like you said there is never going to be an ideal split point.

I think Heyman said that they filmed a new and thrilling sequence which will be the finale of Part I. And he also mentioned that Part I's finale will have a feel of completion, resolution and emotional depth.

This new sequence cannot be the Snatchers chase because everyone knows about it. They even released that sneak peek 'Forest Run'. So I think it'll end somewhere after Malfoy Manor but it'll be something different and interesting.

Part I will only have a good climax if Malfoy Manor is included.

-Xenophilius information about the Deathly Hallows
-The Lovegoods Tower Battle.
-Talk about the Deathly Hallows
-The Snatchers Chase
-Voldemort in Numengard
-Malfoy Manor Battle
-Dobby's Burial
-Voldemort punishing the Death Eaters
-Harry's talk with Ollivanders
-Moments of recollection at Shell Cottage.Harry's final decision
-Voldemort steals the Elder Wand.

That's a cliffhanger, yet an emotional and satisfying ending for Part I.
Part II can be structured this way:

-Godric's Hollow The Potters Death
-Harry, Ron and Hermione talk with Griphook
-Preparations for the Gringotts infiltration
-The Gringotts Sequence
-Flight with the Dragon
-Voldemort kills Goblins and Death Eaters
-Harry, Ron and Hermione travelling & Decision to invade Hogwarts Grounds
-Voldemort finds out that the Horcruxes have been destroyed
-The Hogsmeade Battle with Death Eaters & Dementors
-Aberforth Dumbledore talk
-Neville and Trio in the tunnel
-Meeting Dumbledore's Army and Journey to the Ravenclaw Tower
-Snape and McGonagall's duel, Snape's flight
-Preparations for the Battle of Hogwarts. People gather and form armies at the Castle and the Grounds. More protection etc. Voldemort and Death Eaters approach Hogwarts.
-Ron and Hermione in Chamber of Secrets. The destruction of the Cup Horcrux & The Kiss.
-Final preparations for the War. Voldemort's speech.
-Harry, Ron and Hermione in the Room of Requirement. Battle with Draco, Goyle and Sabini.
-The First Battle of Hogwarts.
-Snape's death and Fire Ceased.
-Harry walking in the ruins of the castle.
-Snape's Memories.
-Walking on the Grounds.
-The Forest Again.
-The Afterlife Talk with Dumbledore
-Voldemort's victory and Death Eaters' march to the Castle.
-The Second Battle of Hogwarts.
-Harry and Voldemort's final duel.
-Aftermath.
-Epilogue.

I would kind of like the split at right where the snatchers come. I think it would be good because it both has and ending (Ron coming back and the locket destroyed) and it will end it a cliffhanger maybe right when the snatchers start yelling.

I believe it was stated somewhere that the split would be right after the snatchers, but a chase scene or something would be added to provide a decent cliffhanger ending.

I think Heyman said that they filmed a new and thrilling sequence which will be the finale of Part I. And he also mentioned that Part I's finale will have a feel of completion, resolution and emotional depth.

This new sequence cannot be the Snatchers chase because everyone knows about it. They even released that sneak peek 'Forest Run'. So I think it'll end somewhere after Malfoy Manor but it'll be something different and interesting.

Part I will only have a good climax if Malfoy Manor is included.

I think it is the Snatcher Chase scene that Heyman is talking about. Adding on to the Malfoy Manor scene, which they may also do, does not seem like a new scene to me. The Snatcher Chase is a new scene that is not in the book. It is not new to us crazies who know everything about the film, but it is new as in a change from book to film.

I think we have to wait and see what the plot of Part 1 is going to be before we can say where the only good climax is after the Malfoy Manor scene.

I think the plots are going to be:

A) Harry trying to figure out what the deathly hallows are or what the symbol means. However you want to say that.

B) Voldemort searching for the elder wand and finding it.

C) The trio being close and then sort of falling apart and then coming back together again.

D) This one has much to do with the last one, but Ron being jealous of Harry and Hermione and that will be somewhat resolved by the end of Part 1.

The thing is i can see the resolution there at the split after Malfoy Manor. I just think having the split so late in the game will only make all that has to happen in Part 1 feel very rushed and i don't want Part 1 to feel rushed because personally that would leave all the parts of the book i like the most in Part 1. Godric's hollow, the Silver doe, and Malfoy manor.

The thing is they may decide to end with Harry's resolve to go after the horcruxes instead of the hallows. This happens at Shell Cottage. I want that resolve to happen in Part 2 and not in Part 1.

The thing is they may decide to end with Harry's resolve to go after the horcruxes instead of the hallows. This happens at Shell Cottage. I want that resolve to happen in Part 2 and not in Part 1.

I actually feel that this would be a near perfect place to end Part 1- I think this gives the audience a clear sense about what Harry's main goals and priorities are but it also gives them a satisfying cliffhanger: they simply don't know how Harry is going to finish this momentous task and they're still worrying about how much more corruption and evil Voldemort is poisoning the Wizarding World (and, perhaps even more so, Hogwarts).

I agree with you in saying I don't want Part 1 to feel too rushed- yet it should still feel quite...well paced for lack of a better word, to give that feeling that the Trio are quite literally on the run; Snatchers, many Death Eaters, Voldemort and all other Dark Creatures are hunting them down furiously; there is almost no time to think and analyse things properly, basically they have to run.

Well i don't think that after Malfoy Manor is a cliffhanger ending. I don't consider the end of HBP a cliffhanger and they would be similar endings if the split was after Malfoy Manor. Someone has just died and the trio are discussing finding the horcruxes.

I do think that Part 1 will be very much the trio on the run from the death eaters which could also be another plot that they finally get caught after all that. I do want the resolve to be in Part 2. If everything else is in Part 1 but the resolve, even though i really worry about Part 1 being rushed, then i think it could still work well enough even though it isn't what i want.

I would rather after then during Malfoy Manor, so if that was the choice, which i sort of think might have been the two endings they chose from, then i would rather after Malfoy Manor.

I think it is the Snatcher Chase scene that Heyman is talking about. Adding on to the Malfoy Manor scene, which they may also do, does not seem like a new scene to me. The Snatcher Chase is a new scene that is not in the book. It is not new to us crazies who know everything about the film, but it is new as in a change from book to film.

I think your right as I understand it (joining up all the dots) the extra scene Steve Kloves wrote involves the trio being seen at Xeno's as in book, but instead of apparating away they run for it and are later captured (thus we have are chase scene) and this was to be where the split was going to take place.

As David Heyman said in his interview on Mugglecast they had recently changed the location of the split to place with more resolution rather than a cliffhanger. The best fit for this scenario is the "Shell Cottage Split" which certainly fits this description, the only thing that worries me about splitting in this area of the book is that a lot of information is gainied in this period (a lot of it important) and of it may get lost in the 8 months between the two parts.

Well if they are going to split at Shell Cottage i think it has to be almost right after they apparate to the beach and Dobby dies. I think they should leave all of the scenes where they speak to Ollivander and Griphook to get information in Part 2. This would then leave the resolve in Part 2.

This would also give them a chance to recap what the deathly hallows are for Part 2 and leave the discussions of breaking into Gringotts in the film in which the break in actually happens.

I rink if the split was during malfoy manor it wouldn't be a real cliffhanger because people would know they survived when they see a trailer for part 2

Well if they are going to split at Shell Cottage i think it has to be almost right after they apparate to the beach and Dobby dies. I think they should leave all of the scenes where they speak to Ollivander and Griphook to get information in Part 2. This would then leave the resolve in Part 2.

This would also give them a chance to recap what the deathly hallows are for Part 2 and leave the discussions of breaking into Gringotts in the film in which the break in actually happens.

I agree

Well if they are going to split at Shell Cottage i think it has to be almost right after they apparate to the beach and Dobby dies. I think they should leave all of the scenes where they speak to Ollivander and Griphook to get information in Part 2. This would then leave the resolve in Part 2.

This would also give them a chance to recap what the deathly hallows are for Part 2 and leave the discussions of breaking into Gringotts in the film in which the break in actually happens.

:agree: Yes, in my opinion, having this during the end of Part 1 would be too much of an "information dump"- especially for non readers. They would most likely completely forget the vital plot points if this was the split, as you mentioned and be utterly confused with the start of Part 2, in my opinion.

:agree: Yes, in my opinion, having this during the end of Part 1 would be too much of an "information dump"- especially for non readers. They would most likely completely forget the vital plot points if this was the split, as you mentioned and be utterly confused with the start of Part 2, in my opinion.

I totally agree. I would like to see part one end with Lupin telling everyone at shell cottage about the baby. I think that would end the movie on a happy note (the dobby burial scene I hope will be very emotional like it was in the book). That way it ends with a resolved conflict and a victory. Then the next movie can start with a recap on the deathly hallows and the remaining horcruxes. And it will start with a bang that is the Gringotts break in. That I think would be EPIC!

i personally want part 1 to end before Malfoy Manor.

In my opinion, the first movie should end with a big cliff hanger. The two points I think would work the best are:

1. The Malfoy Manor, when Ron and Harry are locked in the basement, all of a sudden you hear Hermiones blood curdeling screams then it goes black... end of movie. Part two would begin with Ron pounding on the walls and yelling Hermone's name.

2. Dobby's death. It should be right when Harry realizes Dobby has been stabbed, he yells for help and the movie ends their. Part two wougraveld begin with Harry digging the

in my opinion the first part sould end after they bury dobby are walking back to the shell cottage and it fades to black (kinda like the first LOTR).

Then the second part could start with the Title a few feet above the sea and as we zoom-in into the title, we see the shell cottage.

I'm exstatic that it's going to be 2 parts - it means I can cling on a little bit longer before Harry Potter comes to an end.
I always thought they should split it when Ron leaves but after reading the book a few more times I realised that there's probably not enough to make an entire film about before this point. Maybe when Ron comes back?

I've always thought Part 1 would end up with the trio getting chased by the Snatchers after we hear PotterWatch. Before that, the revelation about the Hallows is discussed. Harry realizes Voldemort is going after the Elder Wand. The Snatcher Chase ends in a huge duel before they finally get captured.

Then there is a unexpected cut to Voldemort. He is roaming through the Hogwarts grounds, and he finds Dumbledore's White Tomb. He then opens Dumbledore's grave, with a monstorous crack, splitting the tomb open We see Dumbledore's corpse and the Elder wand. Voldemort takes the Elder Wand, and he points it up into the sky, testing it out, and...

Fade to Black, end of Part 1.

I'm exstatic that it's going to be 2 parts - it means I can cling on a little bit longer before Harry Potter comes to an end.
I always thought they should split it when Ron leaves but after reading the book a few more times I realised that there's probably not enough to make an entire film about before this point. Maybe when Ron comes back?

When Ron leaves is ridiculously early, but so is when Ron comes back :lol: You see, this is what everyone first thinks because it's half way (in terms of page numbers) but it's NOT the half way point in terms of the story. That comes much later, around Malfoy Manor or Shell Cottage.

Though the only real natural divide in terms of the story is after Dobby has been killed and Harry makes the horcruxes over hallows decision

I'm delighted with the 2 parts, non readers will have more time to think it through, the horcruxes etc, i think that just after godrics hollow would be the best cliffhanger.
malfoy manor isn't the right time, it would be a good start scene but not an end.
If the battle is going to be long then the half way point will be pushed back rather then forward. Personally i think the scene with them at the lovegoods house would be the best ending.

I still don't quite understand why it can't be one movie. There are a ton of long, long epics which have done very well (Gone with the Wind, Ben Hur, Dr. Zhivago, Lawrence of Arabia, The Ten Commandments etc.) Why not release it as one movie with an intermission halfway through?

That being said, the split has to be on a cliff hanger. The Malfoy Mansion when Hermione is being tortured would be ideal.

I still don't quite understand why it can't be one movie. There are a ton of long, long epics which have done very well (Gone with the Wind, Ben Hur, Dr. Zhivago, Lawrence of Arabia, The Ten Commandments etc.) Why not release it as one movie with an intermission halfway through?

That being said, the split has to be on a cliff hanger. The Malfoy Mansion when Hermione is being tortured would be ideal.

Yeah. In today's day and age, however, people don't sit through longer movies. Plus, the movie theaters will have less time to show other movies and make more profit.

Yeah. In today's day and age, however, people don't sit through longer movies. Plus, the movie theaters will have less time to show other movies and make more profit.

I seem to remember tons of people sitting through "Titanic" (as God awful as it was) and that wasn't all that long ago.

I think if it's good enough, people will stay for it. As for making a profit, most theaters these days have multiple screens, so they would be able to show multiple movies, besides the theaters make most of their money off of concessions, not ticket sales.

I still don't quite understand why it can't be one movie. There are a ton of long, long epics which have done very well (Gone with the Wind, Ben Hur, Dr. Zhivago, Lawrence of Arabia, The Ten Commandments etc.) Why not release it as one movie with an intermission halfway through?

That being said, the split has to be on a cliff hanger. The Malfoy Mansion when Hermione is being tortured would be ideal.

Well, there are 3 main reasons I see.

1. The story has too much substance to fit into 1 reasonable length film. As the stated by the filmmakers they want to do the finale justice
2. Warner Bros. would never have approved a 4 to 4.5 hr film (as Heyman and others stated in interviews) and neither would the cinemas. Intermissions aren't really used at the cinema anymore far as I'm aware and the longer the film the less showings you can fit into the day.
3. Money, which is basically what number 2 involves as well :lol: but obviously by splitting the film it'll essentially be as if they were selling two separate movies to the public. They'll get twice the profit this way...and we get twice the movie. :D It's a win-win situation for all! :tu:

I still don't quite understand why it can't be one movie. There are a ton of long, long epics which have done very well (Gone with the Wind, Ben Hur, Dr. Zhivago, Lawrence of Arabia, The Ten Commandments etc.) Why not release it as one movie with an intermission halfway through?

That being said, the split has to be on a cliff hanger. The Malfoy Mansion when Hermione is being tortured would be ideal.

Well, there are 3 main reasons I see.

1. The story has too much substance to fit into 1 reasonable length film. As the stated by the filmmakers they want to do the finale justice
2. Warner Bros. would never have approved a 4 to 4.5 hr film (as Heyman and others stated in interviews) and neither would the studios. Intermissions aren't really used at the cinema anymore far as I'm aware and the longer the film the less showings you can fit into the day.
3. Money, which is basically what number 2 involves as well :lol: but obviously by splitting the film it'll essentially be as if they were selling two separate movies to the public. They'll get twice the profit this way...and we get twice the movie. :D It's a win-win situation for all! :tu:

I don't think the length would be that much of a problem from the audience's point of view, the content of DH being as it is, would be enough to hold an audiences attention (a part from the youngest members may be) I think the time would fly by. That being said the logistics of showing a 4-5 hour film in a cinema would mean they could only show it 3 times a day (possibly only twice) in any one screen. That with the financial incentive, would have made it a fairly easy decision to make.

I Hope I still get the oppotunity to see both parts back to back on the big screen :drool:

I'm not sure how a super long movie with intermission would fly with people that are just casual fans of the film series.

People complain(me included) about the length of a movie when it's 3 hours long. so having a movie that could go 4.5 or 5 hours is going to have a lot of complaints.

I'm not sure how a super long movie with intermission would fly with people that are just casual fans of the film series.

I don't know, if they'd done it with just the one movie they would have tried to scam it all in, it would be very fast paced, so as long as they got into it would be fine. Thats if the length of the film didn't put them off in the first place.

I think they made the right choice. The only part about the bothers me slightly is the significance of the number 7 to the series, the magical number 7, 7 Potters, LV's soul split into 7, 7 years, 7 books, 8 films :hmm: thus I tend to consider both parts of DH as being of 1 film :tu:

Please no Harry and Ron in the cellar with Hermione screaming through the floor. I am hoping that is where they moved away from when they changed the ending.

You know if this is what they do i don't think i could like the film.

My first preference is after dobby is Burried
I wouldn't mind it if they are going to malfoy manor and we see voldemort get the elder wand and then it ends

I just don't want it to go black in the middle of the action. For a tv show it works but I think for a big
Movie it's, I dot know if I'd say cheesy, but I don't wanna be watching and in thr middle of
Suspense and then it just goes
Black. I guess that would make
It even harder to wait for the 2nd part lol

I just don't want it to go black in the middle of the action. For a tv show it works but I think for a big
Movie it's, I dot know if I'd say cheesy, but I don't wanna be watching and in thr middle of
Suspense and then it just goes
Black. I guess that would make
It even harder to wait for the 2nd part lol

Hah, yeah...except at least we'll know what happens next. Just think how the film only audience would feel? :elaugh: Could be good or bad.

Hah, yeah...except at least we'll know what happens next. Just think how the film only audience would feel? :elaugh: Could be good or bad.

Lol very true!

My first preference is after dobby is Burried
I wouldn't mind it if they are going to malfoy manor and we see voldemort get the elder wand and then it ends

I just don't want it to go black in the middle of the action. For a tv show it works but I think for a big
Movie it's, I dot know if I'd say cheesy, but I don't wanna be watching and in thr middle of
Suspense and then it just goes
Black. I guess that would make
It even harder to wait for the 2nd part lol


Since it's going to be almost a year until the second part is released, it wouldn't be so bad. But, if they end at Malfoy Manor with Hermoine screaming and the boys locked in the cellar...that would be a bit too much. I too would think right after Dobby is buried would be a good place. That is where Harry realizes that he has to concentrate on the Horcruxes instead of the Hallows, so, it is a turning point in the movie.

will there be any difinitive Resolution to part 1 or will it just end abruptly?

will there be any difinitive Resolution to part 1 or will it just end abruptly?

We don't know that yet

I think its ridiculous that some people think the split will make or break the film. Honestly, its just the stopping point, its two parts of the same film so I don't think it matters if there is a cliffhanger or resolution. the substance will still be there, and you should judge the film based on that, not where the split is. Its rather insignificant.

And I don't think we will ever get an announcement from WB about where the split is. Why would we? Its not very professional and it would spoil the movie.

I think its ridiculous that some people think the split will make or break the film. Honestly, its just the stopping point, its two parts of the same film so I don't think it matters if there is a cliffhanger or resolution. the substance will still be there, and you should judge the film based on that, not where the split is. Its rather insignificant.

And I don't think we will ever get an announcement from WB about where the split is. Why would we? Its not very professional and it would spoil the movie.

I agree, pretty much. The split point itself doesn't matter much to me. I don't think it will make it or break it because it is part 1 of 2, however I don't think it should be abrupt or anything like that. I do think it should be satisfying in some way. As long as it has that then I think it will be fine. I think it can be satisfying as a type of cliffhanger or not. Ultimately, it will depend on its execution for me.

^ I agree. I think the split is going to be like...a long intermission, a mere stopping point and regardless of where it is, if the movie itself was already going good it's going to stay so. It's not going to suck all of a sudden because of where the producers hit pause.

I just hope they stick a little closer to the book and original material is REALLY thought out rather than flung into the movie like so many scenes from HBP. *crosses fingers*

Yeah, I'm not gonna not like the movie because
Where the split point is or isn't.

i think that when test screenings happen we will find out the split point at least i hope we do

I think the best part to split it at is Shell Cottage. it's a nice calm moment after all the action of the past 2 or 3 hours of the movie.

i think that when test screenings happen we will find out the split point at least i hope we do

I think we might find out something about it, but I think I would still be open to the idea that it might not stay the way it is shown in the test screening. They could change stuff based on the comments by the audience. The film could also be screened in an unfinished state and who knows what state the ending might be in at that point.

I think we might find out something about it, but I think I would still be open to the idea that it might not stay the way it is shown in the test screening. They could change stuff based on the comments by the audience. The film could also be screened in an unfinished state and who knows what state the ending might be in at that point.

I would think that by now 3 months before the film is to premiere that all the special effects and CGI would be complete

I would think that by now 3 months before the film is to premiere that all the special effects and CGI would be complete

Not necessarily. I think it's rather likely that it isn't done at the moment. This is a rather large production. I know HBP was delayed, but as an example that one wasn't finished when it was screened. It isn't uncommon for test screenings to show films that are unfinished. I'm not saying that it will be in a severely unfinished state, but it's possible that any of these might not be done: the score may not be finished, the final color correction may not be done, the finer points of the editing may not be finalized, the audio mix may not be final, and the visual effects may not be done completely. For all we know they could ask the audience about the ending that they've chosen and may or may not make changes because of the audience reaction.

So what they see may not be exactly what we see. That's all I'm saying.

Yes. It's all in their hands -- and that's scary, considering what they've done to couple of the movies. I just wonder what will be completely changed just for a whim, like the adding of the burning of the Burrow in HBP. DH is an excellent book, and I'd hate to see it really messed with.

Since I've just finished another re-read of DH, I'm thinking that the break should be right after Harry burys Dobby...I think the line Griphook says to him about being an uncommon wizard who respects non-humans would be a good closing line.

I hope they do it when Ron leaves. Everyone will want to see the second movie, to see if ron comes back.. but we all know he does!!! :)http://http://www.cosforums.com/picture.php?albumid=861&pictureid=6987

And I'll have to re-read DH again... forgetting a lot of things YIKES!!!!

I hope they do it when Ron leaves. Everyone will want to see the second movie, to see if ron comes back.[/IMG]


Sure, but do you realize that would make part one like only 90 minutes?

I hope they do it when Ron leaves. Everyone will want to see the second movie, to see if ron comes back.. but we all know he does!!! :)http://http://www.cosforums.com/picture.php?albumid=861&pictureid=6987

And I'll have to re-read DH again... forgetting a lot of things YIKES!!!!

Theres no way they will split it there.

Yeah I know. Just thinking I guess. How many hrs do you think Part 1 and Part 2 will be?

Oh, and Part 1 comes out the DAY before my b-day!!! So excited!!!

Oh, and Part 1 comes out the DAY before my b-day!!! So excited!!!:rotfl:

I still don't quite understand why it can't be one movie. There are a ton of long, long epics which have done very well (Gone with the Wind, Ben Hur, Dr. Zhivago, Lawrence of Arabia, The Ten Commandments etc.) Why not release it as one movie with an intermission halfway through?I generally agree with you. However, WB will never allow intermissions: they get all of the $$$ from ticket sales for the first month or so, and an intermission will cut the number of showings per day. This came up a few years back for Return of the King: theaters literally begged New Line (a subsidiary of WB) to allow intermissions and were emphatically reminded that this would be a violation of the distribution agreement. (Theaters make almost all of their $$$ on concession sales and the thought was that they'd sell more concessions if there was an intermission; however, it also was suggested that theaters would still sell more total concessions with an extra audience even if each audience bought a bit less.)

However, there is no reason why this could not be a 3 hour film. They reduced each of the book pairs of Lord of the Rings to 3 hours, after all (with a bit extra for Return of the King: they were playing with the house's money at that point!), and those had about the same information content. (Obviously, comparing an epic to a novel always is a bit risky: but it's the best comparison that we have here.)


As for the "make or break" aspect of where the ending is, it obviously will have zero effect on the box office of DH1. People will see that based entirely because they liked Prince (and, to a lesser extent, Order, etc.) When the prior film was popular, then it does not matter how bad the reviews or word-of-mouth is: people will trust their opinion of/feelings towards the franchise over other people's views.

What will be made or broken is the box office for DH2. As we saw with Pirates 2 and Matrix 2, if people do not think that there was sufficient "meat" in part 1, then they will lose interest and not bother to see part 2. However, if the ending does tie up an "act" (the way that the close of Fellowship and Towers did), then it might leave audiences walking out on a more positive note and perhaps a little more forgiving of any flab in the cinematic narrative.

I generally agree with you. However, WB will never allow intermissions: they get all of the $$$ from ticket sales for the first month or so, and an intermission will cut the number of showings per day. This came up a few years back for Return of the King: theaters literally begged New Line (a subsidiary of WB) to allow intermissions and were emphatically reminded that this would be a violation of the distribution agreement. (Theaters make almost all of their $$$ on concession sales and the thought was that they'd sell more concessions if there was an intermission; however, it also was suggested that theaters would still sell more total concessions with an extra audience even if each audience bought a bit less.)

However, there is no reason why this could not be a 3 hour film. They reduced each of the book pairs of Lord of the Rings to 3 hours, after all (with a bit extra for Return of the King: they were playing with the house's money at that point!), and those had about the same information content. (Obviously, comparing an epic to a novel always is a bit risky: but it's the best comparison that we have here.)


As for the "make or break" aspect of where the ending is, it obviously will have zero effect on the box office of DH1. People will see that based entirely because they liked Prince (and, to a lesser extent, Order, etc.) When the prior film was popular, then it does not matter how bad the reviews or word-of-mouth is: people will trust their opinion of/feelings towards the franchise over other people's views.

What will be made or broken is the box office for DH2. As we saw with Pirates 2 and Matrix 2, if people do not think that there was sufficient "meat" in part 1, then they will lose interest and not bother to see part 2. However, if the ending does tie up an "act" (the way that the close of Fellowship and Towers did), then it might leave audiences walking out on a more positive note and perhaps a little more forgiving of any flab in the cinematic narrative.

There are a few errors in this post-

1. New Line was not a subsidiary back when RotK was released. WB only acquired New Line a few years ago
2. Pirates 2 and Matrix 2 actually had HUGE jumps in revenue (like at least $200M worldwide) because nearly everyone loved the first movie for those franchises. Perhaps you just typo'd, I dunno...but it was the "Part 2's" that sucked and thus lead to B.O. drops for the 3rd movies.
3. There was never any intent to split those stories anyways...they just made sequels to capitalize on the success of the first. As such you can't really compare HP to Matrix and Pirates. The only one you could perhaps compare to is Kill Bill, the only precedented story split into 2


And now for my opinion response, the only thing I agree with is the first part of your post. WB and the cinemas would never allow a film as long as DH requires (which would've actually been 4+ hr one shot btw, as Heyman and others stated) to be released. As for the rest of the post, clearly I don't agree that DH could be done justice in just 3 hrs...and also I agree with the others (thus I don't agree with you) that the split point shouldn't really affect the overall reception of the film and/or whether they return to see the 2nd part of what will surely be an epic film (and yes, this is an epic...HP fits the Hero's Journey model quite well, so comparing to LotR is not as "risky" as you might think)

I'm not really sure where they'll split it, but wherever they do, I'm sure it'll be a big cliffhanger. It'll leave me wanting the second part real soon! :D

This has been announced and posted in the Official Deathly Hallows thread, but the split is at Chapter 24 of Deathly Hallows "The Wandmaker".

It was announced in the EW issue that had a HP article. Images in the link below:

http://s972.photobucket.com/albums/ae201/RupertGrintNet/Entertainment%20Weekly%20Fall%202010%20Preview

Thanks Fury.

I think we can close this thread now. Seeing as most of the split discussion is/will be in the DH movie thread.