Unintentional - But Fitting
ES1 is currently re-reading the Harry Potter sextilogy (stop giggling). As such, tonight, as we were both feeling less than up to going out, we are watching the Sorceror's/Philosopher's/Deranged Gym Teacher's Stone. As I looked at the 4 HP DVDs on the shelf, trying to decide which one to pick, I started thinking about the general development of the series.
The first book could be considered much more of a children's tale. As Harry is first introduced to the world of magic, the entire novel is written with a sense of child-like wonder. The movie captures this wonder perfectly. Even the low-quality CGI, making many of the special effects (especially the troll) seem cartoonish, serves to underscore the point. John Williams' score is whimsy at its best.
As the tales progress, Harry and his friends mature. So too does J.K. Rowling's writing. The dangers increase, and the tale becomes darker. The movies themselves mature. The special effects have become first rate. John Williams' score in "Prisoner of Azkaban" was a thing to behold, but pales in comparison to Patrick Doyle's work in "Goblet of Fire."
There are many who dismiss the first books, or the Chris Columbus directed movies as being for children, and not yet mature. That was, however, in many ways, the point. Although plot points from the first chapter of Book 1 become important later, the beginning stories were fundamentally simpler tales. In the later tales, the characters become formidable.
I close with 2 thoughts:
1. Dumbledore said to Snape: "Severus, please." Is Dumbledore really the sort who would plead for his life? If not, what did he mean?
2. If Hermione's so bright, why did she never think to go up to the room of requirement and pace back and forth three times thinking about how she really needed a fleet of Star Destoyers crewed entirely be female Jedi with PMS?
(oh, because they wouldn't fit out the door. Never mind)
The first book could be considered much more of a children's tale. As Harry is first introduced to the world of magic, the entire novel is written with a sense of child-like wonder. The movie captures this wonder perfectly. Even the low-quality CGI, making many of the special effects (especially the troll) seem cartoonish, serves to underscore the point. John Williams' score is whimsy at its best.
As the tales progress, Harry and his friends mature. So too does J.K. Rowling's writing. The dangers increase, and the tale becomes darker. The movies themselves mature. The special effects have become first rate. John Williams' score in "Prisoner of Azkaban" was a thing to behold, but pales in comparison to Patrick Doyle's work in "Goblet of Fire."
There are many who dismiss the first books, or the Chris Columbus directed movies as being for children, and not yet mature. That was, however, in many ways, the point. Although plot points from the first chapter of Book 1 become important later, the beginning stories were fundamentally simpler tales. In the later tales, the characters become formidable.
I close with 2 thoughts:
1. Dumbledore said to Snape: "Severus, please." Is Dumbledore really the sort who would plead for his life? If not, what did he mean?
2. If Hermione's so bright, why did she never think to go up to the room of requirement and pace back and forth three times thinking about how she really needed a fleet of Star Destoyers crewed entirely be female Jedi with PMS?
(oh, because they wouldn't fit out the door. Never mind)
posted by Obi-Wandreas, The Funky Viking | 9:29 PM
2 Comments:
I like to think that Dumbledore is pleading for Snape to kill him. This would accomplish three things.
1) For all of his faults and obnoxiousness, Draco is not a killer. There's something inside him that's making him hesitate about killing Dumbly. Whether it's grudging respect for the man or something else, it's telling him that killing = wrong. Dumbly doesn't want Draco to cross that line.
2) Forgive me if this one is a little sketchy; I haven't read HBP in a really long time. If Draco doesn't kill Dumbly, then Snape dies because he made that unbreakable vow to take care of Draco or make sure he carries through on his plan. So then you have TWO dead main characters, and I'm pretty sure that Snape is going to be important in the seventh book.
3) Dumbly was on his last legs anyway. The hand thing from the ring, drinking that green goop... I think he was asking Snape to kill him, not to save him.
Also, I'm pretty sure Snape is good. I'm not completely sure, but I think he's good. He's in deep with the Death Eaters. If he backs out or shows weakness, he's dead, no questions asked. I think JKR wants us to think that he's bad, but he'll be discovered as good with some amazing, self-sacrificing deed that saves Harry/Hermione/Ron/someone else important in the seventh book. I think he and Dumbledore had planned that, if it came down to it, he would have to kill him, but when it did get to that point, he was having second thoughts. I mean, this is the man who took him in, gave him a job, protected him, defended him, gave him a second chance even though he'd been a Death Eater. That's a lot to try to forget, despite outward appearances of animosity.
I'm with you on that one. Your comment's a pretty good summary of my thoughts with regard to the Snape situation.
Post a Comment
<< Home