Harry Potter strikes back

theefer writes "Harry Knowles from Ain't It Cool News has posted a link to the Harry Potter & Chamber of Secrets trailer. RealVideo, WindowsMedia and Quicktime versions available. Looks better than the first movie. Muggles, start your crossover plugins."

Comments

Better than the first movie?

[tcc]

I didn't like the first movie, I don't think it did justice to the book.

Maybe it was due to the fact that I saw it on DVD instead of movie theatre, but I think the movie wasn't that great compared to expectations. Of course if you are a kid, chances are you were enchanted to see the book character comming to life. So in that perspective it was probably good. But they did mention targetting the whole family, and I saw disney movies that caught me way more than this one, and most are far less violent or adult-oriented (if I can say it like that).

I thought maybe it was because I couldn't be impressed anymore with special effects and storylines and so on, but when I recall my reaction seeing LOTR, it proves to me that it's not true, that I can still be amazed. Problem is I can't point precisely what I didn't about harry potter... maybe it's the linearity of events, maybe it was the actors...

maybe someone else was stuck with that feeling afterwards and could spring in some discussion as well.

Re:Better than the first movie?

[epukinsk]

Director Chris Colubus is the reason Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone was as poor as it was. From where I was sitting, the continuity was crap and all the subtlety in the characters in the book went in one of Columbus's ears and out the other.

Take for example the scene where Madam Hooch drags Harry off for his horseplay in flying class. In the book the scene was extremely tense because you are wondering how Madam Hooch will react. The scene in the movie--because of the music choice, the way the scene is cut and the coaching of the actors--comes of completely flat.

It's sometimes hard to see because the story is so enchanting, but most of the scenes are just completely flat because of Columbus's shoddy directing. Thankfully, the third Harry Potter installment won't be directed by Columbus, but most likely Alfonso Cuaron, director of the current release "Y Tu Mama Tambien" and the 1998 remake of "Great Expectations" with Gwyneth Paltrow and Ethan Hawke.

Though Cuaron might not be the best director in the world, perhaps he will avoid Columbus's biggest mistake. There are certain things that make a good movie that simply aren't necessary to make a good book. Chris Columbus took the parts of Harry Potter that make it a great book and put them on the screen, but he didn't make the necessary changes to make it into a great movie.

Erik

Secret Chambers.

[_ganja_]

What is this? Slashdot "Secret Chamber Day" or something?

Work of the Devil

[Lord Apathy]

Since the bible thumpers seem to be asleep at the switch, I'll go a head and start the ball rolling for them.

Harry Potter is Evil, its the work of the devil. teaches the children the ways of satan and witchcraft. your all going to hell for this ungodly sin.. its EVILL i tell you EVILLLLLLL.

but of course you can help save the children, just send a love offerign.. call 1-900-sucker.. just think of the childrennnn not to mention my doghouse needs a new air conditioner... and I could use a bigger pool.....

Hows that? Kind of lame but I haven't had my coffiee yet.

moderators note: this is to be moderated as funny, not troll or flamebait. If you don't get the joke just go on and come back to it later

Curmudgeon death blow

[Demona]

I haven't read any of the Potter books, nor did I see the first movie. Yesterday I downloaded the trailer at my wife's request (obligatory direct link to the 17Mb Quicktime) and watched it with her. She has read all the books and seen the first movie. Now she shrugged this off, surprisingly enough, so I want your reaction to my statement made immediately after watching it:

"I defy anyone to tell me with a straight face that Harry Potter has not been Hollywoodicized, when you see a fricking HONG KONG SPIN IN THE TRAILER."

Yes? No? Maybe? Am I just a curmudgeon, or is there a proper time and place for everything -- and are we sick to fricking death of seeing Hollywood turn the classic Hong Kong Spin into an overused whoring technique that turns everything into everything else and the Matrix?

My wife thinks it'll be during the "Duelling" bit.

This is the SECOND trailer

[Masem]

There was a first trailer back in June (and shown with several movies, including MIB2, back then) which you can get from Apple's QT site as well as WB's site. This is a different trailer, and shows several new scenes (most which appear to be straight from the book).

(And coincidence or not, Pete Abrams has been doing a Potter parody at Sluggy Freelance for the last couple of weeks, based weakly off the first book/movie).

"Muggles, start your crossover plugins." ??

[samoht]

Tsk. That can't right. Everybody knows that muggles use Windows. It's the wizards who use Linux and thus have need of the Transversus Celeritum Tempus incantation.

When does Darth Vader...

[Wag]

announce he's Harry's father?

This is great

[JFMulder]

The Harry Potter books are the best books that I read in the last few years. I've read many good fantastic books (including, LOTR, evidently) and what striked me with the Harry Potter books is that they are so much fun to read. The Harry Potter's universe is very magical with a lot of funny touches and mystical creatures. It's a world you'd like to be part of. I can't wait to read the fourth book which I bought yesterday since I heard it covers even more the magical world of Harry.

It took me a month to go throught the first book since I wasn't so much in it, but it took me a week to go through book 2 and 3. They are that good.

People shouldn't put anyway Harry Potter books because the first books are written toward a younger audience. They are for everyone, as Bilbo the Hobbit, a book Tolkien had written for his kids.

Re:Are you CRAZY? [AC reply / nvws]

[Hast]

Well what would you know? You didn't even finish the first book. There is character development, particularly with Sam and Frodo, in the later parts of the triology. Read it, then comment.