Where in the World…?

Aug 03, 2008

Posted by: John Admin

Uncategorized

Spot the difference:

Okay, this is not what I planned for my second (first real) blog post, but it’s something I feel I should comment on ’ as a Leaky blogger, I finally have a venue through which I can express my opinions!

You might have seen the front page of the Half-Blood Prince calendar which was released earlier today, and I’m SURE you’ve seen the teaser trailer by now¦ and you’ve probably all noticed a common theme: there is no Hermione. Sure she’s in promo pictures, but, isn’t this strange? Personally I’m not complaining too much, I’ve always liked Ginny and I’m very excited that they’re giving her the attention (I was always worried she’d end up another Cho in the movies), but this just seems very out of character for the movie makers. In the comment section of the article here on Leaky, snady made a really good point: that usually it is Ron who is pushed to the background in favour of promoting the “main hero and heroine” – quotation marks intentional, because of course Ron is also a main hero, but the movie makers don’t tend to really portray him as such. Ron is usually the comic relief, all his good lines (as well as a few of Dumbledore’s) are usually given to Hermione. Well except in the fifth movie that is, where Ron was actually given some decent material. I always thought that was because of the change in script writer (Michael Goldenberg did an amazing job with OotP, in my opinion, though feel free to disagree), but now I’m beginning to have my doubts. Could they actually be realising that Ron is as pivotal to the story as Hermione, and are they making up for having shunted him to the background before?

Well that’s all great, but the calendar cover page still bothers me. Because as much as I want Ron and Ginny to have recognition (they also had a shot each in the teaser), they can’t just¦ leave out Hermione! I mean where IS she? Why is she not on the cover? I don’t want to make a bigger deal about this than it is, because of course she’ll be in the movie plenty, but I just feel weird having two trio members and Ginny on there without Hermione. I keep thinking that the producers or marketers of whomever puts this stuff together finally cottoned on to the fact that Harry and Hermione were NOT going to be the main romantic pairing (the movies have always kind of suggested this, very misleading for the non-readers but nice for the Harmonians and their music videos) and sort of just¦ dropped her from the promotional material? This isn’t what I actually think, but it sure seems like it! Why couldn’t they have had all four kids on the calendar or in the trailer? They know how to promote more than one female at a time, look at Ootp, they managed to promote both Hermione, Cho and Luna all at once! Is Hermione not in any pivotal scenes? If the fact that they are not using her to promote the movie as much is any indication of her role in the book, it makes me slightly worried that they’ll focus a lot on Harry and Ginny’s relationship (again, great, but still) and Ron and Lavender’s¦ whatever you want to call it, and sort of leave Hermione a bit in the background. I mean they’ve got a lot to cover in this film what with all the Dumbledore (Dumbledore!!! Omg¦) and Snape (Snape!!! He wasn’t in the trailer either!) bits. I suppose Hermione really is the least important character in this film, in terms of moving the plot along. Am I wrong? I haven’t read the book for a while. Well she’s pretty key in DH so no worries, but I was really looking forward to seeing her show some jealousy about Ron (cause I’m sappy like that :P).

You know, it’s funny how you don’t realise you need something until it’s gone! Hermy is not my favourite character; I love her and Ron together but she kind of got on my nerves in some of the books, but she needs to be there, you know? What happened to promoting the trio? Sigh.

Ahh that felt good! Of course, this calendar page could very well be a fake (it looks pretty weird doesn’t it??), but there’s still the trailer to consider. Sorry for rambling about this, my next post will be a little more on-topic (of… whatever topic it will be on). XD

In other news, did you see little Voldie in that trailer?? Creee-py! I am so excited to see Hero Fiennes-Tiffin more in the movie, everything about him is so RIGHT for young Tom Riddle! I loved how the trailer emphasised one theme in the movie, and I loved that the theme wasn’t romance. We’re sure to get that, this is so much more intense, and really emphasises the parallel between young Harry and young Tom and how it is our choices etc., something which I was worried they’d leave out of the films all together.

I am SO flippin excited for this movie. With or without Hermione in the promotional material. I suppose she just wandered out of the frame of that picture. 🙂





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