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  1.  
    Well, the only people who are not afraid to say Voldy's name are Dumbledore (who's death), maybe some members of the Order of the Phoenix, and Harry and Co. It would be nice for the baddies to capture a few or all of them.

    Still weird though.
  2.  

    Ya, I thought the Name-Finder-Spell-Thingy was one of the only good ideas Voldy had.

    •  
      CommentAuthorRand
    • CommentTimeJun 7th 2009
     
    That was an excellent idea. I just don't understand how Taboo works at all. Why not Taboo 'Order of the Phoenix' or 'Dumbledore' or other keywords too? What if a muggle said it? What if a non-human said it? Etc. But Harry said it, not Ron.

    My favorite quote from pretty much all of the HP books = "He must've known I'd leave." "No, he must have known you'd want to come back."

    RE: Flying Voldemort:
    That was just odd.

    Well, I had a couple issues with Voldemort. Like, does he really truly believe that killing all muggles and muggle-borns is going to make the world a better place? Does he want to watch everyone interbreeding with their cousins or something? And how can someone who has come so far along the path of death want such a basic goal as wipe out other people? I feel like that's not strong-enough motivation. And no one is evil for the sake of being evil.
  3.  

    I was always surprised that the eeeevil magical creatures did so much damage to the muggle world. Only explanation I have heard is the strict gun laws in britian.

    Voldy’s motivation is kinda suspect. I don’t think he is trying to make the world a better place; he just hates specific groups of people. And killing is his answer to everything :D

  4.  
    That kind of bugged me in the book; JKR never truly speified why it was that Voldy wanted to kill everyone. She said that he wanted the word 'pure', but there never really was a good reason.
  5.  

    Well, His motivation is “Magical Hitler”, so…yeah.

    •  
      CommentAuthorRand
    • CommentTimeJun 7th 2009
     
    Voldemort was based on Hitler but even Hitler had his reasons.
  6.  

    I know, but Voldy didn’t have anything else, and comparing him to Hitler was a pretty easy way to get across that he’s eeevil.

    •  
      CommentAuthorRand
    • CommentTimeJun 7th 2009
     
    Yes. I agree with you, mate.
  7.  
    What were Hitler's motivation to wipe out Jews, cripples, etc.? Didn't he want to purify the gene pool or something? (Just wanted to clear this up)
    •  
      CommentAuthorMoldorm
    • CommentTimeJun 7th 2009
     

    He used them as scapegoats for all of Germany’s problems to unite the country behind him, and hated them for having money in a time of economic crisis.

  8.  
    Oh I see.
    •  
      CommentAuthorRand
    • CommentTimeJun 7th 2009
     
    Yes, totally. Pretty much, post-WWI Germany was all devastated, economy's bad, Hitler comes along, tries to unify the country. A good way to unify 'em is to provide a common enemy. Badabing, Jewish people.

    There's been a lot of Anti-Semitism since just about way back when, and in the Middle Ages it flared up. So it's not like it was a radical new concept.
    • CommentAuthorWiseWillow
    • CommentTimeJun 30th 2010
     

    ZOMG. I just realized something. Diagon Alley? Knockturn Alley?

    Diagonally. Nocturnally. MIND BLOWN OH MY GOD I HAVE TO READ THESE AGAIN THEY ARE AWESOME.

    We don’t talk about Harry Potter enough around here.

  9.  

    Diagonally. Nocturnally. MIND BLOWN OH MY GOD

    OMG! That’s Awesome!!

    Now I want to read these again, too….

    • CommentAuthorWiseWillow
    • CommentTimeJun 30th 2010
     

    ZOMG I NEED THE MAGIC NAO.

    Hrm..wonder if there’s somewhere I can start reading Sorceror’s Stone online for free….

    •  
      CommentAuthorPuppet
    • CommentTimeJun 30th 2010 edited
     

    Philosopher’s Stone. Get it right, fool.

  10.  

    Diagonally. Nocturnally. MIND BLOWN OH MY GOD I HAVE TO READ THESE AGAIN THEY ARE AWESOME.

    HOLY MOTHER OF PEARL THAT IS AWESOME.

    And I’d just like to say that my OTL is Neville Longbottom, and I am pissed as all hell that he didn’t get to kill Bellatrix at the end.

    • CommentAuthorWiseWillow
    • CommentTimeJun 30th 2010 edited
     

    But he stood up to Voldemort! And killed Nagini! And c’mon, how UNEXPECTED AND SPECTACULAR WAS MOLLY KILLING BELLATRIX? HELL YES!

    “Not my daughter, YOU BITCH!”

    Best. Pre-asskicking one-liner. EVER.

    Edit: I HAVE FOUND THE HOLY GRAIL!

    • CommentAuthorDanielle
    • CommentTimeJun 30th 2010
     

    I got the Diagon Alley/ Diagonally connection, but the Knockturn Alley/ Nocturnally one totally just blew my mind!

    Does anyone else entertain the possibility that Tom Riddle wasn’t born a psychopath and that Mrs. Cole messed him up in some way?

  11.  

    But he stood up to Voldemort!

    Which is awesome. Actually, I loved the last few chapters the best, because they have Neville in them and Neville is awesome. Actually, that’s one of the reasons why I like DAYD (because it’s essentially 25 chapters of Neville being awesome), even though it does tend to get gorn-y. Like, a lot.

    • CommentAuthorWiseWillow
    • CommentTimeJun 30th 2010
     

    I thought Mrs. Cole seemed quite nice- strict, but kind. And none of the other children were psychopaths… I blame the Gaunt streak of insanity, plus abandonment issues. Orphanage probably didn’t help, though.

    •  
      CommentAuthorSMARTALIENQT
    • CommentTimeJun 30th 2010 edited
     

    Tom definitely has some sort of genetic sociopathy going on there.

    • CommentAuthorWiseWillow
    • CommentTimeJun 30th 2010
     

    Yep yep. There are some kids who, for no apparent reason, like to torment their pets. Remember Sid in the first Toy Story? Normal sister, nice mom, but obsessed with torturing his toys.

  12.  

    Remember Sid in the first Toy Story? Normal sister, nice mom, but obsessed with torturing his toys.

    Exactly. And Tom wasn’t obviously violent, just a subtle bully who also happened to kill pets. If he’d been a Muggle, he’d have grown up to be a serial killer (not that he didn’t grow up to be one, but you know, the kind who lives alone and lures young women) – look at his weird fascination with taking trophies from his victims.

    I’m confused as to why Dumbledore left Harry with the Dursleys: clearly, being raised in a bad (or even just Muggle, if you’re a wizard and you don’t know why you keep doing things) environment with few sympathetic adults and no friends is not a good thing for a young, powerful wizard to have. If Dumbledore knew Tom ended up that way (genetics only mean the possibility of disease), why the hell didn’t he get Harry out of there?

    • CommentAuthorWiseWillow
    • CommentTimeJun 30th 2010
     

    Well, first, he probably thought Petunia wouldn’t treat her sister’s son so badly. Dumbledore always looks for the best in people. Second, growing up famous can REALLY screw you up- look at how almost all child stars end up trainwrecks by age 20. Dumbledore figured (correctly, imo) that growing up with Dursleys would be better than him getting an ego the size of Texas.

    •  
      CommentAuthorPuppet
    • CommentTimeJun 30th 2010
     

    Yeah, just look at Draco.

    • CommentAuthorWiseWillow
    • CommentTimeJun 30th 2010
     

    He ended up being nasty but spineless, though, not psychopathic. I have to admit, I love the Malfoys. Would I want them as friends? No, but I love how three dimensional they are, especially in the fact that they are a family, albeit a nasty one. Narcissa loves her son, as does Lucius… their behavior in Deathly Hallows made me so happy.

    • CommentAuthorDanielle
    • CommentTimeJun 30th 2010
     

    If Dumbledore knew Tom ended up that way (genetics only mean the possibility of disease), why the hell didn’t he get Harry out of there?

    Lily’s magic only protected Harry as long as he could call a place where her “blood” (aka family) lived home. So as long as he returned to the Dursley’s house each summer, Lily’s magic would protect him throughout the extremely dangerous school year until he turned 17.

    Still, I don’t get why Dumbledore couldn’t find a nice home for Tom during the summer. I mean, sure, he probably wanted him to learn how to get along with Muggles, but eleven years at the orphanage didn’t teach him….

  13.  

    WW, agreed. The Malfoy family was my favorite in the books. My least favorite would have to be Hermione’s, just because you never really got to know them at all. What say you?

    • CommentAuthorDanielle
    • CommentTimeJun 30th 2010
     

    The Malfoys were sweet, in their own nasty sort of way. You could tell that underneath all the pretentiousness, they really cared about each other and had good intentions for their son. If only they had used their Super Awesome Magic Family Powers for good instead of evil….

    I would’ve liked to meet Hermione’s family. What must her parents be like, to have such a smart, tough daughter?

    •  
      CommentAuthorTANSTAAFL
    • CommentTimeJun 30th 2010
     

    My favorite family was the Weasleys. Well, I guess that’s the way Rowling intended it?

    The Malfoys were kind of one-dimensional villains to me and then book seven came out and changed my mind.

    • CommentAuthorDanielle
    • CommentTimeJun 30th 2010
     

    I first started to like the Malfoys during the bathroom scene in book six, when Draco has a nervous breakdown. I don’t know if that’s the way Rowling intended it, but I felt sorry for the poor guy.

    I still think the books would’ve gained another dimension if Rowling had made Draco turn traitor to Voldemort, but that’s just me.

    • CommentAuthorWiseWillow
    • CommentTimeJun 30th 2010
     

    Nah, that’d have been too simple and easy- here, be nice, he’ll switch sides! No, he was confused, and too weak to risk harming his parents. But he did try to keep Crabbe from cursing Hermione in the Room of Requirement, and he hesitated to identify them at Malfoy Manor, even though WELL DUH IT’S THEM DRACO AIN’T BLIND.

  14.  

    I don’t know if that’s the way Rowling intended it, but I felt sorry for the poor guy.

    It’s the most human he seems in the whole series; I think one is meant to feel bad for him. I personally adore his character, even if he is a wimp.

    and the fact that he’s played by Tom Felton doesn’t help at all…
  15.  

    It’s the most human he seems in the whole series; I think one is meant to feel bad for him.

    I felt sorry for him for the first time ever – besides fanon!Draco, I seriously disliked his character. Then I had a reason to stick him in leather pants, if you’ll pardon the metaphor.

    And I have to say this: while Draco comes off to some people as a flat villain, I have to say that I know people who are flat villains, with few redeeming qualities and a posse of friends. Now, they were girls, but the principle is the same.

    • CommentAuthorWiseWillow
    • CommentTimeJun 30th 2010 edited
     

    He isn’t that flat, as the books progress he becomes much more deep. Especially book six, and a little in book seven. I love how the books just get better and better as they go.

    As far as leather-pantsing goes, I’ll take Snape in his billowy cloak over Draco in leather pants any day.

  16.  

    I have to say that the fifth book is the best, for me. It’s the longest, has the best villain, and the best climatic battle scene.

    Too bad that it killed off a good character and started Harry’s CAPSLOCK OF RAGE.

  17.  

    He isn’t that flat, as the books progress he becomes much more deep. Especially book six, and a little in book seven. I love how the books just get better and better as they go.

    I couldn’t have said it better.
    And Harry’s CAPSLOCK OF RAGE! is really what bothered me the most about the latter books. A friend of mine re-read the books the other day and she was rather shocked to see how badly Harry treated his friends.

    • CommentAuthorDanielle
    • CommentTimeJun 30th 2010
     

    I would’ve liked to see something besides Harry’s CAPSLOCK OF RAGE! in the seventh book. Here Rowling had a fantastic opportunity to show Hogwarts under a dictator’s thumb, how Ginny coped without Harry or any of her older siblings, and Neville’s rise from near-Squib outcast to respected student leader of the rebellion. And instead she opted for nearly four hundred pages of them camping and bickering in the woods, running for their lives and learning about Dumbledore’s sordid past through the eyes of a yellow journalist.

    • CommentAuthorWiseWillow
    • CommentTimeJun 30th 2010 edited
     

    Here Rowling had a fantastic opportunity to show Hogwarts under a dictator’s thumb, how Ginny coped without Harry or any of her older siblings, and Neville’s rise from near-Squib outcast to respected student leader of the rebellion. And instead she opted for nearly four hundred pages of them camping and bickering in the woods, running for their lives and learning about Dumbledore’s sordid past through the eyes of a yellow journalist.

    That’s impossible. The books are from Harry’s point of view. Except for the rare scenes like the prime minister and the odd Voldemort scene, it is all Harry’s POV. She couldn’t do that. And the capslocks of rage aren’t that bad, he gets over it after book 5, and in book 7 it only happens during the time he’s wearing the damn locket.

    • CommentAuthorDanielle
    • CommentTimeJun 30th 2010
     

    Well, it didn’t have to be all about Neville and the DA, just like it didn’t have to be all about Harry. If Rowling could break from Harry’s POV long enough to write a scene about the prime minister or Voldemort or Narcissa, she could break from it long enough to write about Neville. I’m just saying that four hundred pages of them camping in the woods while Voldemort is running Great Britain gets old. Not that it’s not important, but it just gets boring.

  18.  

    Here Rowling had a fantastic opportunity to show Hogwarts under a dictator’s thumb, how Ginny coped without Harry or any of her older siblings, and Neville’s rise from near-Squib outcast to respected student leader of the rebellion.

    I know. Seriously, one of my favorite HP moments is Neville’s “I’ll join you when hell freezes over! DUMBLEDORE’S ARMY!” And we had no build-up to it whatsoever. It’s just, “Yeah, the Carrows tortured us. It was OK. So, how was your year?”

    • CommentAuthorWiseWillow
    • CommentTimeJun 30th 2010
     

    Again, Harry’s POV. It’d be jarring to have random scenes from other POVs in the last book. The story is about Harry, and how he experiences the world. Except for critical plot points (the Unbreakable Vow etc.) there is no excuse to go outside Harry’s POV. Do I wish we could have seen it? Yes, but it would not have worked.

    • CommentAuthorDanielle
    • CommentTimeJun 30th 2010
     

    That was definitely Neville’s Crowning Moment of Awesome. And there could have been so many more of them, if Rowling had focused on the DA for just five minutes or so.

    • CommentAuthorDanielle
    • CommentTimeJun 30th 2010
     

    Again, Harry’s POV. It’d be jarring to have random scenes from other POVs in the last book. The story is about Harry, and how he experiences the world. Except for critical plot points (the Unbreakable Vow etc.) there is no excuse to go outside Harry’s POV. Do I wish we could have seen it? Yes, but it would not have worked.

    I’m not so sure about that. The previous six were also from Harry’s POV, but they were all about his adventures at Hogwarts. The last book broke that formula, taking Harry and Co out into the Muggle world and Wizarding Britain under a dictator’s thumb. Since she already deviated from the formula, would it have been so jarring to go a step or two farther and show different POVs?

  19.  

    Well you guys, that’s what fanfic is for, I guess. :]

    • CommentAuthorWiseWillow
    • CommentTimeJun 30th 2010
     

    Ooh, if anyone wants to see the most spectacular fanfic I have ever seen, look at this.

    Hermione Granger and the Half-Blood Prince, or Phoenix Song

    It’s the sixth and seventh book from Hermione’s POV. Plot holes are filled in, there’s one original character (who fits in perfectly) and, er… well, it is a bit Snape-centric too. But… I kinda love Snape as a character, despite and/or because of his pride and poor judgment. I think it’s PG-13, this fanfic.

    •  
      CommentAuthorApep
    • CommentTimeJun 30th 2010
     

    Honestly, I’d have preferred it if book seven had spent a little more time in the Muggle world. So much of the series takes place at Hogwarts or areas populated by wizards that it might as well take place in some fantasy land. But it’s supposed to be in Britain, and yet theres next to no mention or concern about the non-magical population of on of the more powerful countries in the world.

    • CommentAuthorWiseWillow
    • CommentTimeJun 30th 2010
     

    Again, Apep, Harry’s POV. Hopefully the Encyclopedia will have something like that, details about what was going on elsewhere (like the appendices to LOTR which talk about the wars in Mirkwood and Erebor, etc)

    •  
      CommentAuthorApep
    • CommentTimeJun 30th 2010
     

    I understand that the books are mostly from Harry’s POV, I just wish that Harry & Co. had spent a little more time in the Muggle world. I was really excited when they found out that they were basically on the run from the Ministry. I figured they’d have to go off the magical grid – pretending to be perfectly normal muggles while figuring out what to do. That would also take Ron out of his comfort zone, so his constant complaining would be a little less grating.

    Instead, I got one quick scene in a coffee shop and an extended period of time hiding in Sirius’ place.

    I guess what I wanted was book seven to do the opposite of book one – bring the story set in magical fantasy land crashing headlong into the real world.

    •  
      CommentAuthorMoldorm
    • CommentTimeJun 30th 2010
     

    I found that book 7’s glorified camping trip became very dull after a while, particularly when contrasted with the reports of life at Hogwarts and the DA’s antics.

  20.  

    Maybe we can hope for a POV sequel (that does not go the way of Midnight Sun), because that, at least, has legitimate cause for one, considering that a whole story went on and we missed it.

    • CommentAuthorWiseWillow
    • CommentTimeJun 30th 2010
     

    Nah- it’ll be 7 books, done. But she could possibly have the Encyclopedia include short stories. That’d be awesome.

  21.  

    Like a really long Neville entry? ‘Cause that’d be awesome.

  22.  

    I found that book 7’s glorified camping trip became very dull after a while, particularly when contrasted with the reports of life at Hogwarts and the DA’s antics.

    Me too! The seventh book was probably one of my least favourites for that reason.

    •  
      CommentAuthorPuppet
    • CommentTimeJul 1st 2010
     

    I found that book 7’s glorified camping trip became very dull after a while, particularly when contrasted with the reports of life at Hogwarts and the DA’s antics.

    Ditto.

  23.  

    I found that book 7’s glorified camping trip became very dull after a while, particularly when contrasted with the reports of life at Hogwarts and the DA’s antics.

    I didn’t/don’t mind it so much. She has to focus on the trio, and sometimes it isn’t all “glory” (aka mortal peril, which they do have plenty of). It’s trudging, crappy, boring work. Oddly enough, the Frodo/Sam/Gollum sections of LOTR annoy the hell out of me, but the camping doesn’t.

  24.  

    @Moldorm

    I found that book 7’s glorified camping trip became very dull after a while, particularly when contrasted with the reports of life at Hogwarts and the DA’s antics.

    I always wondered why they were doing two movies of The Deathly Hallows. The first one’s just going to be Harry & co. running around in the woods; it makes no sense to devote a whole movie to that. Given that they REMOVED the Quidditch World Cup from The Goblet of Fire, this is just inexcusable.

  25.  

    Given that they REMOVED the Quidditch World Cup from The Goblet of Fire, this is just inexcusable.

    What? No, they didn’t. Granted, it was about ten seconds long, but it was definitely there. What they removed was Winky and Dobby, the scoundrels!

  26.  

    What? No, they didn’t. Granted, it was about ten seconds long, but it was definitely there.

    Which version of the movie did you see? When I saw it, they cut from the opening ceremony to the Dark Mark.

    • CommentAuthorWiseWillow
    • CommentTimeJul 1st 2010 edited
     

    Maybe they’ll make up for prior EGREGIOUS cutting. Keep in mind, here are major DH events.

    1) The Seven Potters
    2) The receipt of the Dumbledore gifts
    3) The wedding/escape to Grimmauld
    4)Lupin tries to join them/ The Ministry
    5) Initial camping crap
    6) Ron ditches them
    7) Christmas with creepy snake ladies
    8) Ron returns/destroying the locket
    9) Visiting Mr. Lovegood/escaping death eaters
    10) The Snatchers/Malfoy Manor
    11) Shell Cottage/Gringotts
    12) Final realization/Aberforth explains
    13) The DA, pre-battle hunt for Horcrux
    14) The battle
    15) The Shrieking Shack
    16) The pensieve (THEY BETTER NOT F THIS UP!)
    17) Harry dies
    18) Neville kills Nagini
    19) The second battle/ FINAL SHOWDOWN
    20) Epilogue

    Seems like plenty of material for two movies to me.

    •  
      CommentAuthorPuppet
    • CommentTimeJul 1st 2010
     

    From the looks of the trailer, the first “part” will probably be 1-8 or 9.

    •  
      CommentAuthorSMARTALIENQT
    • CommentTimeJul 1st 2010 edited
     

    There’s definitely creepy snake ladies! What the heck was that last bit with Voldy gabbing Harry’s face, though?

    •  
      CommentAuthorRand
    • CommentTimeJul 1st 2010
     

    I’m okay with the idea of two movies. That way they don’t have to have 20-second flashes of everything. The question is where they’re going to cut it off.
    I’m guessing it’ll be when Ron returns and they destroy the locket, but that might just be because it’s my favorite HP scene of all time.

    By the way, I watched A Very Potter Musical. Oh Voldemort. Can you say steamy?

  27.  

    Can you say steamy?

    I KNOW, RIGHT?! 8D :D

  28.  

    3) The wedding

    Well, the burrow burned down in the sixth movie (WTF?), so I don’t think they’ll be including it, but yes, there’s plenty to fill two movies.

    Can you say steamy?

    “I’m happy as a squirrel, long as I’m with Mr. Quirrell.”

  29.  

    Well, the burrow burned down in the sixth movie (WTF?), so I don’t think they’ll be including it, but yes, there’s plenty to fill two movies.

    Magic.

    Also, I’m so disappointed it took so many of you so long to get the Alley puns.

    I also disagree totally with all of you who say she should’ve broken away from Harry’s PoV for 7, since it would’ve crushed the formula. The only time we ever got any PoV other than his was the opening chapter in each book(and IIRC a jarring transition in Book 1 during the Quidditch game). If you thought 7 was boring, a better solution would have been to make it more interesting instead of disregarding the format.

    •  
      CommentAuthorMoldorm
    • CommentTimeJul 1st 2010
     

    I agree with sansa about the necessity for maintaining the PoV style. I’m just annoyed that there was so much potential for more exciting things that the main trio could have done. I also think that the Hallows and wand-ownership system should have been at least alluded to in earlier books (if we’d been told that most invisibility cloaks had limits on the enchantment in one of her regular throwaway-lines-that-turns-out-to-be-significant, for example) rather than just appearing when necessary.

    Wasn’t Rufus Scrimgoeur cut from Half-Blood Prince? I haven’t seen it recently. I found him an interesting character, and a more sympathetic face for the ministry than Fudge.

  30.  

    Wasn’t Rufus Scrimgoeur cut from Half-Blood Prince?

    Well, they cut The Other Minister, so… I think so?

    •  
      CommentAuthorApep
    • CommentTimeNov 13th 2010
     

    Saw this the other day, so I thought I’d perform a little thread necromancy. If you don’t want to click, the guy’s basically pointing out how messed up the education system in the Harry Potter books is.

  31.  

    I’ve actually wondered about that. They don’t learn math or English (or any language). All they learn is magic. Although, I did think that they might go to regular school until they got their Hogwarts letters, but probably not if they are born into a wizarding family. So maybe Hermione is of average intelligence but just actually went to school.

    It’s kind of an oversight on Rowling’s part, but maybe they have those classes, but they’re just never mentioned. Ever. Though that seems odd.

  32.  

    I saw a very similar article on Overthinking It.
    I’ll see if I can get my grubby little paws on it.

  33.  

    For some reason, I always assumed that Wizard Children were either homeschooled or sent off to Muggle schools until reaching age for Hogwarts. I could totally imagine witches and wizards in one area setting up a mini-school for all their children together. I don’t know that that’s anywhere in the books, though.

    • CommentAuthorDanielle
    • CommentTimeNov 13th 2010
     

    For some reason, I always assumed that Wizard Children were either homeschooled or sent off to Muggle schools until reaching age for Hogwarts. I could totally imagine witches and wizards in one area setting up a mini-school for all their children together. I don’t know that that’s anywhere in the books, though.

    That’s what I’ve always thought. I’ve always sort of assumed that parents teach their children reading and writing and basic skills like that, and then when they get to Hogwarts those skills are improved upon through the other classes they take. For example, using a DADA essay to point out problem areas with grammar and mechanics, or a Potions exam to test their basic math skills. Potions would also be a great place to test their chemistry mettle, since it’s basically chemistry with magical ingredients. Care of Magical Creatures would be ideal for teaching biology, as would Transfiguration, and classes like DADA, Ancient Runes or any other class were you might be required to give oral reports would be fantastic places to learn rhetoric.

  34.  

    In fact, it’s entirely unclear to me how the children of the wizarding world learn to read and write. There is a reason Hermione seems much more intelligent than Ron Weasley. It’s because Ron is very likely completely uneducated.

    OHMYGOD, THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I WAS THINKING ABOUT LAST NIGHT.
    And no, I’m not kidding.
    Interesting article, by the way. I totally agree with the author.
    Thanks, Apep. :D

    •  
      CommentAuthorTakuGifian
    • CommentTimeNov 13th 2010
     

    For some reason most of the fanficers assume that there are hidden wizarding primary schools, or that everyone is homeschooled. Might explain why all the purebloods seem to know each other, if only distantly?

  35.  
    One that bugged me was how the house elves were always so. . . slavish and willingly so.

    Or am I missing something?
  36.  

    Well, the purebloods know each other(or of each other) presumably because the British wizarding community is both small and pretty close-knit, considering all their folks have gone through Hogwarts and such. I just assumed they were all home-schooled(or rather, left to their own devices) before being old enough for school.

    •  
      CommentAuthorApep
    • CommentTimeNov 14th 2010
     

    You know what bothers me more than the kids’ pre-Hogwarts education? They’re post-Hogwarts education, or potentially lack thereof. I mean, I can understand that the last few years of school are pretty much preparing them for they’re chosen carrier (ex: Harry needing to take a lot of advanced classes if he wants to be an Auror), and I can imagine that some jobs (again, like Aurors) might have a partner/apprentice system for new members. Then there are other jobs that don’t require any particular special training (I’m thinking entry-level government jobs).

    But what about jobs that, in the real world, usually require special certification, like being a teacher (I don’t remember any mention of grad-student or student assistants)? Did any of the profs. at Hogwarts get special training to get their jobs? Or did they just go from being a student to being a teacher? I don’t think I’d want my child getting lessons from someone they used to go to school with.

    And this just raises further questions, because, for all we know, there are only three magic schools in the entire continent of Europe.

    ...but maybe I’m just over-thinking this.

  37.  

    there are only three magic schools in the entire continent of Europe.

    Well, three really good ones, I guess.

    • CommentAuthorWiseWillow
    • CommentTimeNov 14th 2010
     

    there are only three magic schools in the entire continent of Europe.

    I think that Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang are supposed to be the largest, not the only ones. So there might be more of them, just smaller, less famous, etc.

  38.  

    ^^ That’s what I thought as well.

    •  
      CommentAuthorhappycrab91
    • CommentTimeNov 18th 2010 edited
     

    I’m surprised this thread and/or the movie thread isnt going crazy about movie 7 part 1. Or isnt it out in the US and wherever yet? I think not only did Australia get it first because we’re ahead of you in timezones, but we also got it on an earlier date. Still I thought there’d at least be some anticipation or something.

    Well I thought it was pretty good but I was getting a bit bored at times. I only hate the movies when they make stupid changes, ommisions and additions, and this movie didnt have much stupidness. There were a few scenes where everyone laughed when I’m pretty sure we werent meant to. Awkward weird moments like movie 6’s shoelace tying scene. Things that make you think “Ok no human being would really do that.” Or just something else that was unintentionally funny like evil/emo Ron.

    The biggest problem with the movies that isnt that big of a deal in the 7th is how they glance over everything with such a fast pace with no detail so that I am not convinced someone who hasnt read the books will understand completely. Like they talked about snatchers a bit but didnt really explain what they were, but maybe they hoped the audience would be smart enough to put two and two together with some other info they included.
    WIthout the details people who havent read the books dont get to see the serious mind-blowing brilliance, but again the films shouldnt be expected to have that much detail (unless its something stupid like how 3 didnt say who the marauders were). So people should just read the damn books. I’m really aiming this specifically to a friend of mine who annoys me cos he thinks books arent that great when he doesnt actually know shit and bases all his facts on the films.

    Some of the changes they made that wouldve created plot holes are nicely covered up with something else. But some things never got an explanation like the mirror shard. Oh and the visual representation of the tale of the 3 brothers was awesome. Emma Watson looked hotter than she’s ever looked in this film. But now in real life she’s cut her hair super short and while some people apparently like it I really don’t…

    I regard this stuff as a bit more spoilery than everything else:

    I’ve already typed way too much so I think I’m done. Enjoy the movie when you see it :)

    •  
      CommentAuthorPearl
    • CommentTimeNov 18th 2010
     

    Sigh

    I wanted to comment about this being “Harry Potter Day” and all. The movie starts in theaters in three hours here (Midnight).
    School was pretty cool today because a bunch of people were dressed up… Lupin, Dumbledore, Luna, Pansy Parkinson, Bellatrix…
    All the Harry Potter fun was pretty cool, I just wish the movies were better so that I would like them. I would like to be a fan of the movies, but I just find them too disappointing.
    Life would be so much easier if the Harry Potter movies were awesome.

    But anyway, I approve of all the Harry Potter festivities that have been going on, I just wish the movies were better so I could be part of it.

    •  
      CommentAuthorDiamonte
    • CommentTimeNov 19th 2010
     

    All the movies from GoF on should have been split…

    anyways, brief thoughts:

    Decent (probably the best in comparison to others), and they did a decent job of writing themselves out of the plot holes they had jammed themselves into. But some of them seemed like quick fixes.

    And it lacked the attention to detail that I would have liked to see. Like how they give Kreacher the locket and he’s all sweet. The little stuff, you know.

    But still. Compared to some of the other HP movies, definitely stands out.

    •  
      CommentAuthorSpanman
    • CommentTimeNov 19th 2010
     

    I’d definitely say it’s one of the best of the movies. It seemed like the acting had much improved, especially with Hermione, and I noticed lots of yummy pregnant pauses. Anyway. First impressions. I’m half asleep as it is. Bedtiiime.

    • CommentAuthorWiseWillow
    • CommentTimeNov 20th 2010 edited
     

    Warning: Rant.

    1) WTF? You’re starting with a closeup of Scrimgeour’s EYES? Also, casting fail, speech fail, and WHAT?
    2) WTF with Hermione’s clothes? STOP MAKING HER CHIC. HERMIONE GRANGER IS NOT CHIC.
    3) Um… “Severus, we were friends!” Oh shut up! Overkill! Also, why is Snape’s hair feathery ? Hair & makeup fail. Fail.
    4) Er… so the Burrow’s back? With no explanation? Ok…
    5) No Dudley character development? At all? Thanks, movie.
    6) Um… no introduction to Fleur, or proper intro to Bill? Way to throw it in.
    7) WTF? WHY ARE THEY ON A MUGGLE STREET, WREAKING HAVOC? WTF? WHAT? NO, MOVIE, NO!
    8) Um… Kingsley’s african getup still bothers me.
    9) Movie, how lazy are you? Why is Harry himself at the wedding? Is it really so hard? Sigh.
    10) Kingsley’s patronus is a lynx, not a ball of light. Grr.
    11) Um… why the HELL are there BAT SKELETONS IN SIRIUS’ ROOM? HE HAD BIKINI BABES, NOT BAT SKELETONS!
    12) What? We’re skipping Regulus’ story? A good, heartbreaking insight into Kreacher and house elves, and a “good” Slytherin, and we skip it? YOU HAVE TWO MOVIES, GO INTO DETAIL, BITCHES.
    13) Why is Mundungus a pimp? WHY IS MUNDUNGUS A PIMP?
    14) I miss the frying pan. I don’t object to Dobby here, though the explanation is weak. Also, you never explained that Harry owns Kreacher. Bad movie, bad!
    15) So, we’re just going to the Ministry? No montage of planning, just GOING THERE ON A WHIM?
    16) Um… invisibility cloak? It seems to have vanished. Why is Harry skulking around WITHOUT HIS CLOAK?
    17) Gah. Just, the un-polyjuiced Harry RUNNING THROUGH THE MINISTRY THROUGH A CROWD? WHAT, MOVIE? WHAT?
    18) All the blasting of the horcrux. Sigh. Is it so hard to USE THE BOOK EXPLANATION? Also, the locket looks very wrong.
    19) What? Hermione DOES NOT WEAR PERFUME. EVER. NO, MOVIE, NO.
    20) Gahhhh. Way to skip the whole Ginny/Luna/Neville awesome sword stealing.
    21) Ok, WHY are you having the running radio thing, if you AREN’T GOING TO HAVE THE PROPER RADIO SHOW?
    22) Greyback leads the Snatchers, not random scarf guy!
    23) You skipped Luna’s room, and her friends mural!
    24) Um, HOW DID THEY FIND THEM? One minute, at Lovegood’s, and fine, next minute, being chased! WHY? They never mentioned the Taboo, and NO ONE HAD SAID VOLDEMORT!
    25) The Deathly Hallows sequence. They left out one of the funniest lines “Death gets tired of running up at people, waving his arms and shrieking… sorry, Hermione” and even had a “midnight- it says twilight- oh, twilight is good, even better…” STFU. Also, weird animation- did Tim Burton kidnap the movie or something? I was hoping for live action with Hermione reading it :(
    26) Um… Wormtail isn’t dead? WHAT? WHAT, MOVIE?
    27) WHY IS DOBBY GIVING A SPEECH? HE SAYSHARRY POTTER” AND DIES. THAT IS ALL. NO SPEECH.
    28) Dumbledore’s tomb sucks. It looks like some dumbass modern architecture.
    29) The flashbacks/memories all suck. You can barely hear, the motion is blurry, and they last about five seconds.
    30) WHAT? GRINDELWALD DIDN’T TELL VOLDEMORT ABOUT DUMBLEDORE! WHY SO OBVIOUSLY EVIL AND SUCKY?
    31) YOU SKIPPED THE GODRIC’S HOLLOW FLASHBACK. AND WHY DIDN’T VOLDEMORT TURN UP THERE, OR AT MALFOY MANOR?
    32) Shaky camera, oh god, STOP IT, MOVIE. KEEP YOUR CAMERA LEVEL, WHEN I RUN, MY VISION ISN’T THAT SHAKY!
    33) You haven’t explained any wand-lore, or the whole HARRY HAS THE CLOAK AND STONE bit! WHAT HAPPENED TO HIS CLOAK?
    34) “I’m not returning as someone else” WHAT? How stupid ARE YOU? HIRE THE ACTORS, DON’T HAVE HARRY AND HERMIONE BE DUMB.
    35) The dancing scene was narmy. Sigh.
    36) In the cellar, Ron screamed for Hermione, and it was heartbreaking. WHY DID YOU SKIP THIS, MOVIE?
    37) Just… in general, the movie fails. The mirror is unexplained, the snitch is poorly explained, the sword isn’t paced well, the silver doe looked dumb, and etc. I am sad. They also overdid the chase scenes.

  39.  

    especially with Hermione

    I agree. I thought Emma Watson did a really great job in this one. She seemed a lot better than in past movies.

  40.  

    Holey **** WiseWillow thats long. Longer than all my rants, or maybe it just seems that way because its numbered. I will probably read it soon.

    On a completely random note, I just realised that interviewers would often ask Grint and Watson about their big kiss in Part 2, but since the movies removed all the S.P.E.W stuff, what exactly is going to spark their big kiss?

  41.  

    Yeah, that was kind of overdoing it. And most of your points seem more like nitpicks akin to “Spock’s eyebrows shouldn’t be that thin!” or “the TARDIS windows are too small!” than anything constructive.

    That said, they could’ve done better.

  42.  

    Oh, and Willow, I responded to some of that in the movie thread. I didn’t know you posted both places, or I would have just responded here. I agree with some of it, but then some other stuff didn’t really bother me, but I haven’t read the book since it first came out, so…

    • CommentAuthorWiseWillow
    • CommentTimeNov 20th 2010
     

    Um… when we got back from the movie I had a minor meltdown. I was hopeful for once, because the trailer was awesome. I bolded my major problems with the movie since it is quite tl;dr. Apologies.

  43.  

    Still think your “major problems” seem kind of nitpicky to me. I mean, is it that much of an issue that Sirius has bat skeletons?

  44.  

    Still think your “major problems” seem kind of nitpicky to me.

    Yeah, I agree mostly.

    However, I can see what you mean, Willow. Once you notice one major thing (like leaving out the Kreacher/Regulus story), then you (or I do anyway) start noticing every little thing. And even if they aren’t all major offenders, they seem like it because the filmmakers have already pissed you off. The fact that they already did something wrong that majorly offended you makes it seem like they have no right to change anything at all. That’s what happens to me a lot anyway. When I notice one thing that really bugs me, then every little thing that’s just a little wrong/nitpicky bothers me immensely more than it should.

    • CommentAuthorWiseWillow
    • CommentTimeNov 20th 2010 edited
     

    But, just… bat skeletons! Sirius wasn’t the dark, sinister bat skeleton type, so it bothered me. He had a photo of the Marauders, some motorcyle pictures, and a bunch of Muggle bikini babes. It just… I don’t know, it felt wrong. Like making Peter Pettigrew hot (thank god they didn’t) , or giving Narcissa a random brown streak of hair (oh god, they did).

  45.  

    ^^Yes, I imagine they were just trying to make his house seem darker and creepier, which was unnecessary. Unnecessary changes bug me, and that probably would have if I had remembered the bikini posters.

    • CommentAuthorWiseWillow
    • CommentTimeNov 20th 2010
     

    I remember lots of details from the books… I think if my memory were poorer, I’d have liked it better. No such luck :(

  46.  

    I remember lots of details from the books

    The parts I remembered were mostly the backstories, the parts that interested me most. Unfortunately, Regulus was cut out (which disappointed me) and Dumbledore (which was less essential, and therefore less disappointing). Snape I’m praying turns up in Part II.

  47.  

    Snape I’m praying turns up in Part II.

    I think they’ll do his, at least some of it, if only because Snape is such a popular character. Plus, his backstory is fairly important to understanding why he acted the way he did in past books, in my opinion anyway.