Harry Potter: Books or Movies?

Why choose between the two?

I’ve decided to address this issue in a post because it’s been nagging me for quite a few days now. For fans, it’s like you either loved the Half-Blood Prince movie or you hated it. I don’t think there’s anyone neutral about it. Is there?  :-S

Now don’t go thinking that I worship the movies because there are also loads of stuff that I didn’t like about them. Order of the Phoenix is actually my least favorite of the films. Not because it wasn’t like the book but because it was bad film making in my opinion. Come to think of it, it seems that fans who liked the HBP movie also liked POA but hated the rest especially OOTP. Then those who thought the OOTP movie is the best, hated the HBP film in turn. 

Maybe it’s because I’ve temporarily abandoned the books but I treat these movies as just another view of the story. I always keep in mind that this is just an adaptation and so even parts I LIKED in the book will be cut and diced and crushed and burned. And in the case of Half-Blood Prince, it was done well and had all the right scenes to convey the most important emotions in the book: Adolescent love and the loss of a beloved character.

As a fan, I would have probably wished there was a class with Snape since they mentioned anyway that he FINALLY got the Defense Against the Dark Arts post. Or more explanation on what that ring or locket was. Or that they include a bit more fighting at the end. Or emphasize the significance of the Half-Blood Prince since it’s the freaking title! But then we come back to the point that NOT ALL important things in the book’s plot HAVE to be in the movie! If you were making this film, you would have to cut a LOT from the book also just to tell a good story that will cater to non-readers too. And don’t tell me you’ll just make the film 5 hours long because that’s just stupid.

I’d be very pissed if fans criticize part one of Deathly Hallows with the same old reasons again: Oh, that’s not how it/he/she was like in the book… Where the hell is the scene blah blah blah. I’m not saying you can’t criticize them but please not the same book vs movie thing again. Yates and the rest of his crew restored my faith in the movies after seeing Half-Blood Prince. I’m sure they know what they’re doing here. And I’m especially glad about the news that JKR will be on the set of Deathly Hallows more often than before.

Yeah, yeah… We’ve already established long ago the fact that the books will always be better than the movies. But you can’t deny the fact that these movies make for some of the best cinematic experiences too. And I’ve always been glad to see the story come to life on the big screen. 

Bottom line is: Do yourself a favor and quit comparing the movies to the books so you could enjoy them for what they are… adaptations. You’d think that by the sixth movie, most fans would already have gotten the hint but some people just never learn.

/End of rant