Total Film Opinion Article on 12 Things They Should Have Kept in the Harry Potter Films
Movies
Posted by: sue
June 20, 2009, 09:13 AM
UK magazine Total Film has an interesting opinion piece/feature online where they lament twelve things that should have been kept in the Harry Potter films. Echoing many sentiments we fans have expressed written and discussed over the years, the list includes some of the following:
*PEEVES: The omission of the pesky poltergeist of Hogwarts has long been a source of the discussion in the fandom. Total Film adds to the chorus as it notes Peeves should have been included for OotP, noting: Pesky prankster Peeves is an anarchic poltergeist whose only goal is
to create chaos. His sworn enemy is Argus Filch, the school caretaker,
who has to clear up after him. Rumours that he could be the ghost of Jeremy Beadle remain unfounded. Rik Mayall did film a scene as Peeves for Philosopher’s Stone, but it got chopped.
*The Origins of the Marauders Map in Prisoner of Azkaban: If you’ve never read the book, the magic map given to Harry in
Prisoner Of Azkaban seems to have ‘lazy plot device’ written all over
it.In fact, what it actually had written all over it is ‘Messrs Mooney,
Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs’, which is a clue as to its origins and a
whole subplot about Harry’s dad, Sirius Black and the other map
creators being animagii – those with the ability to turn into animals.
*Percy Weasley, Traitor: The magazine discusses the cutting of this subplot to Order of the Phoenix, as they describe the role played by Chris Rankin in the films as follows: In the film, elder Weasley sprog Percy – now working for the
Ministry of Magic – comes across as a slimy yes-man. In the books he’s
an all-out traitor, disowning his family and sending Christmas presents
back unopened. The film could have run with the idea of Percy going really evil –
fiddling his expenses and claiming on a second Gnome or something.
You can read the entire list, which also includes SPEW, Professor Binns, hoarding by Kreacher, the Headless Hunt and more here via this link. Thanks Kiwi!
94 Comments
i agree with most of it, prof. binns, ludo bagman, the headless hunt, those things dont need to be in the movie, percy-well he isnt in the movie much and when he is he is shown as a slimball so its kinda hinted about him. borgin and burkes should be in the movie. peeves for comic relief. quidditch it has action but the story was fine without it and since its back in HBP, it will be more exciting. spew isnt really a big plot line, i mean ron and hermiones kiss will probably be something else like he saves her or something. kreacher and the marauders map were the only big things cut. one major thing they forgot was the weasley family: bill, charlie, and fleur, much more of a big plot line
192 Points
I agree with about half of these. Some of them really shouldn’t have been cut, but others I don’t really care. The ones I agree on is the Marauder’s Map origin, Spew, Quidditch(definitely), Percy’s betraying, and kreacher betraying. Those needed to be there in my opinion. The rest I could care less. Like Peeves and Bagman and those. Interesting list though.
1930 Points
I think it’s okay to eliminate peeves, even though he was semi-important for the 5th book (Give her hell from us, peeves!), but the other ones definitely should have stayed. The nonexistant explanation of the founders left people who watched the movie but who didn’t read the books EXTREMELY confused, and Percy being a traitor is a main part of the slow collaps and turn of the ministry!
159 Points
JOHN NETTLES should have played Professor Binns in CoS and OotP (:
631 Points
Some of those are pointless, like ghosts etc. But agree about the map, that and not enough Ginny. Didn’t know about Rick Mayall as Peeves, that may have worked, shame!
56 Points
I don’t think most of those pieces are important (aside from maybe the authors of the Maurader’s Map), I can’t even remember most of those details from the books. I do believe that a lot of vital things were left out of Order of the Phoenix, but the film makers seem to have learned their lesson seeing as HBP seems like it will be more on target, and from what’s been said about the two parts of DH, those films will probably contain more book details as well.
4452 Points
tbh most of those are really not needed. yeah it would be nice 4 sum of them but gosh!!
78 Points
Couldn’t agree more about SPEW – would have been geat to see winky in GOF. Also the Marauders Map should have been explained properly. Don’t agree with Peeves (especially if Rik Mayall woas going to play him)
460 Points
also, as AubNoelle stated, they should have included Neville seeing his parents in St. Mungo’s, and more information on St. Mungo’s. it would have added more to Neville and created a stronger character, thus creating a stronger battle when the Death Eater Bellatrix Lestrange faces him.
266 Points
an interesting idea for an article, but it was badly written..
aside from the inaccuracies (there was only ever 1 quidditch match in GoF, no semi-finals or anything like that.. and SNEAK is written across the face, not across the forehead) the details they give seem to be fragmented, and then they have some comments that come out of nowhere. it sort of feels like only someone who is vaguely familiar with the series wrote this from some scraps that they read online.. there are far more important things that they cut (like a proper explanation of the prophecy).
2169 Points
I agree that the quidditch should have been kept a long with Percy,Kreacher abd the origin of the marauders as well.
2169 Points
Percy,quidditch,Marauders,Marietta,Kreacher. They were barking important.
170 Points
yeah I also wish they kept charlie and bill in… even just a little bit?
209 Points
How does the Marauder’s Map come off as a lazy plot device just because the movie doesn’t tell us who made it? It still does the same thing! If it’s lazy at all (which I very much disagree with) it’s lazy in both the book and film. >_>
That is all. Now. . . on to read the rest! <_<
872 Points
I have to admit, I would love to see Peeves!
i agree with most of it, prof. binns, ludo bagman, the headless hunt, those things dont need to be in the movie, percy-well he isnt in the movie much and when he is he is shown as a slimball so its kinda hinted about him. borgin and burkes should be in the movie. peeves for comic relief. quidditch it has action but the story was fine without it and since its back in HBP, it will be more exciting. spew isnt really a big plot line, i mean ron and hermiones kiss will probably be something else like he saves her or something. kreacher and the marauders map were the only big things cut. one major thing they forgot was the weasley family: bill, charlie, and fleur, much more of a big plot line