The Deathly Cutting Room Floor, What could and should be cut from the Deathly Hallows? |
 Jan 17 2010, 09:52 PM
Post
#1
|
|
Claw-Clipping Kneazles at the Magical Menegerie  Posts: 2,405 Joined: 1:37pm November 9, 2009 Location: In the little brook by milde's hall and river    |
With two Deathly Hallows films in the offing, it is very likely that much more material from the book will be included than is normal. On the whole this is a good thing, but not everything translates from book to screen. Many excellent film adaptations of books have benefited just as much from what was cut from the original book as from what was included. Film is a powerful media that can portray just as much as the written word, but inevitably will have less time and more work to do to keep the audience's attention. A screenplay needs to get to the heart of a book, take the most important messages and events and then visualise them in the most entertaining and exciting way possible.
As fans we are often upset at what is cut from the books. But let's imagine that we have the job of cutting the Deathly Hallows down to size. What things would we be happy to let go? What is too long or not visually stimulating? Can we think of a way of getting around a difficult scene to film that would still be just as exciting and meaningful as that in the original book? For example: I love the point when Harry summons up those he has loved and lost with the Resurrection Stone. But this scene could be terribly misconstrued as necromancy, or like the misuse of the Hallows that is demonstrated in the fairytale. We know it isn't because of a couple of explanations and discussions as to the Stone's nature and having the time to reflect on what was said, and most importantly Harry's understanding that "...It did not matter about bringing them back, for he was about to join them. He was not really fetching them: they were fetching him." How would it be possible to render this on film? Or should it be cut? Other issues like the number of Snape's memories that should be shown, whether the invisibility cloak and polyjuice potion should be used so often and what they can do to get across the length of time and boredom spent in the tent, complicated with cabin fever, teenage love angst, leadership problems etc. without going overboard. But the ultimate issue will probably be this: as exciting as Harry and Voldemort's final confrontation is in the book, a long debate followed by a single spell from each person is not going to look good on camera. So what should happen? Should we take away from the message in the book – that Harry's character and knowledge rather than skill with magic wins the day – by including a duel? How can we make it look more interesting? I'd love to hear people's thoughts! --------------------  "All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us." -- Gandalf, FOTR |
 |
 
 
|
