What would you change about the films?

[MsJPotter]

What would I change about the films, hmmm.
Well I would start with the screenwriter/s, then the directors. How about the production team, yeah, they could go. Some of the actors, I'd try real hard and get young people to play the young parts, you know like Lily, James, Remus, Lupin, Snape, Julie Walters is great but I'd try and get someone in their late 30's not their late fifties. The others should be in their late 20's, in the case of Lily and James they should really be in their very early 20's. I'd keep Evanna Lynch for sure, but I think I'd do a serious overhaul on all the actors and try to get some who can both act and look the part. Then I'd get a special effects team that could read the books and try to replicate in some kind of fashion what the spells in the books should look like on screen. Speaking of on screen I'd try and get a lighting man that remembered to pay the electricity bill so the audience could see what was happening. I'd also hire a supervisor to make sure the new screenwriters read the books and not fan fiction. I'd keep the sets and props, but I'd get a costume designer that could actually design some costumes instead of stopping off at the nearest GAP shop. Yeah, I'd do a complete overhaul. I don't know if I could do better but I could hardly do worse.

[coppertop1]

Originally Posted by susimuggle

I've always wanted to say this, but not sure if many people feel the same. Richard Harris was amazing. He was exactly how I imagined Dumbledore. I would have replaced Michael Gambon (who is otherwise a brilliant actor) with somebody different. Dumbledore is pretty laid back and relaxed. Michael Gambon portrayed him in such a hyper and flustery way and he speaks way too fast and too loudly. I actually think Alan Rickman could have made a brilliant Dumbledore, cos he has this quiet calm aura about him, (and the perfect nose), even though he might have been a wee bit too young.

Oh, I definitely feel the same way. I loved Harris as Dumbledore, he suited the part so well. I love Michael Gambon as an actor. He is brilliant in the role of George V in King's Speech and as Cazran in Doctor who and other roles. As Dumbledore, I never really felt he fit the part. Too abrasive, too stern. He seemed like he yelled a lot and lacked that calm and in control aura of Dumbledore. Not just in "DIDYA PUT YOUR NAME IN THE GOBLET OF FIYER HARRY!!" but in general. I'm not sure who else I'd pick. Ian McKeller is good as Gandalf, but that would be a bit too typecast, and the jokes about Gandalbus were running wild before the second Dumbledore was cast.

[River_Slytherin]

I don't think I would change any of it really. I love all the actors, they were chosen well. But

Spoiler: show

I would want to change Snapes death... even if it may be in the book

[snapes_witch]

Originally Posted by susimuggle

I've always wanted to say this, but not sure if many people feel the same. Richard Harris was amazing. He was exactly how I imagined Dumbledore. I would have replaced Michael Gambon (who is otherwise a brilliant actor) with somebody different. Dumbledore is pretty laid back and relaxed. Michael Gambon portrayed him in such a hyper and flustery way and he speaks way too fast and too loudly. I actually think Alan Rickman could have made a brilliant Dumbledore, cos he has this quiet calm aura about him, (and the perfect nose), even though he might have been a wee bit too young.

Interesting, I'd never thought of Rickman as Dumbledore. Of course AR would never have been offered the part (instead of Snape) since he only plays bad guys . . .[sarcasm]

[HedwigOwl]

Originally Posted by susimuggle

I've always wanted to say this, but not sure if many people feel the same. Richard Harris was amazing. He was exactly how I imagined Dumbledore. I would have replaced Michael Gambon (who is otherwise a brilliant actor) with somebody different. Dumbledore is pretty laid back and relaxed. Michael Gambon portrayed him in such a hyper and flustery way and he speaks way too fast and too loudly. I actually think Alan Rickman could have made a brilliant Dumbledore, cos he has this quiet calm aura about him, (and the perfect nose), even though he might have been a wee bit too young.

And more importantly, if Alan Rickman was cast as Dumbledore, who could have possibly played Snape as well as Rickman did?

[snapes_witch]

Originally Posted by HedwigOwl

And more importantly, if Alan Rickman was cast as Dumbledore, who could have possibly played Snape as well as Rickman did?

No one IMO!

Tim Roth did say he would have portrayed Snape entirely differently. I'm not sure I would have liked that Snape nearly as well as AR's!!

[ShadowSonic]

Tim Roth might've portrayed Snape closer to the book version, much more unpleasant than Alan Rickman's version.

Hmmm...what about Patrick Stewart as Dumbledore?

[snapes_witch]

Originally Posted by ShadowSonic

Tim Roth might've portrayed Snape closer to the book version, much more unpleasant than Alan Rickman's version.

Hmmm...what about Patrick Stewart as Dumbledore?

Possibly, though that was entirely dependent on Steve Kloves. We definitely wouldn't have had the buttoned up Snape as AR's taken credit for the costume.

I'm having difficulty imagining Patrick Stewart with hair!!

[HedwigOwl]

Originally Posted by snapes_witch

Possibly, though that was entirely dependent on Steve Kloves. We definitely wouldn't have had the buttoned up Snape as AR's taken credit for the costume.

I'm having difficulty imagining Patrick Stewart with hair!!

That is difficult to picture.....does anyone have photo software? We need to get Richard Harris's Dumbledore hair/beard on Patrick Stewart's face.

[ShadowSonic]

Just go watch "I, Claudius" to get some basic ideas.

[snapes_witch]

Originally Posted by ShadowSonic

Just go watch "I, Claudius" to get some basic ideas.

Oh you beat me to it! IIRC blond, short, and curly. No beard.

[ShadowSonic]

Okay, watch "I, Claudius" and the recent "Hamlet" he did with David Tennant and combine both Patricks.

[HedwigOwl]

Originally Posted by ShadowSonic

Okay, watch "I, Claudius" and the recent "Hamlet" he did with David Tennant and combine both Patricks.

Need a much longer, fuller beard, and longer hair....

[ShadowSonic]

Come on, use some imagination!

[HedwigOwl]

Originally Posted by ShadowSonic

Come on, use some imagination!

Since Patrick Stewart started losing his hair at 19, I think that even he has a difficult time imagining himself with long white hair & beard!

[ShadowSonic]

Hey, Sean Connery was the first choice for Gandalf so we already have a close enough approximation for turning a (semi) bald guy into a long-haired bearded wizard.

[GemmaBlack]

It's hard to say, because I've always seperated the films from the books in a way. I've always been sympathetic that it's so hard to fit everything in. I would have liked the Marauders back story though, in reference to the map and Sirius and Snapes relationship too.
The one thing I was most disappointed about was in The Order of the Pheonix. I really wanted to see Harry in Dumbledores office, shouting and throwing things. That scene was so emotional, it would have been great to see.

[ajna]

Originally Posted by GemmaBlack

It's hard to say, because I've always seperated the films from the books in a way. I've always been sympathetic that it's so hard to fit everything in. I would have liked the Marauders back story though, in reference to the map and Sirius and Snapes relationship too.
The one thing I was most disappointed about was in The Order of the Pheonix. I really wanted to see Harry in Dumbledores office, shouting and throwing things. That scene was so emotional, it would have been great to see.

Visually, I really liked OotP, but palpitation wise, I think it was weakest. Even GoF which was just too huge to adapt well, did better. And a shame, because I think OotP was my favorite book.

Originally Posted by GemmaBlack

It's hard to say, because I've always seperated the films from the books in a way. I've always been sympathetic that it's so hard to fit everything in. I would have liked the Marauders back story though, in reference to the map and Sirius and Snapes relationship too.
The one thing I was most disappointed about was in The Order of the Pheonix. I really wanted to see Harry in Dumbledores office, shouting and throwing things. That scene was so emotional, it would have been great to see.

Visually, I really liked OotP, but adapatation wise, I think it was weakest. Even GoF which was just too huge to adapt well, did better. And a shame, because I think OotP was my favorite book.

[MicheleLovegood]

1) Shorten the basilisk scene in COS
2) Put the scene with Dumbledore and Fudge arguing at the end into GOF
3) Shorten the dragon scene in GOF

[Apheka]

Put in the Sphinx in the maze in GOF as long as it didn't cut any of the Voldemorte returning scenes later in the film.