Harry Potter launched viewers to a world of wizards, spells, and fantastical creatures. Based mostly on a e book sequence of the identical title, the flicks minimize or altered a number of characters and scenes with a purpose to higher match the visible medium and its runtime. Sadly, as is usually the case, not each change from e book to movie was a very good one.
Whereas the sequence as a complete continues to be magical, most of the modifications under appeared pointless, poorly conceived, or outright weird. Whereas we will perceive a few of them, total, they appear like missed alternatives that we hope the upcoming sequence reboot can rectify.
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Eradicating Peeves
Within the books, Peeves was a lovable, prankstery poltergeist who may typically be discovered terrorizing Filch or singing songs. Inexplicably, Peeves was absent from the Harry Potter movies, despite the fact that different ghosts have been included. Whereas his absence did not significantly influence the plot, he was sorely missed by e book readers who had grown accustomed to his hilarious antics.
Left on the Slicing Room Flooring
Maybe the largest scene during which Peeves’ absence was observed was the Battle of Hogwarts. Within the e book, he performed an energetic function in serving to the scholars defend the college. Earlier, he additionally helped them prank the unbearable Umbridge. Unusually, a number of of those scenes have been filmed with Rik Mayall taking part in Peeves, however all have been finally minimize.
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Neville’s Chosen One Story
Neville Longbottom, performed by Matthew Lewis, was a way more fleshed-out character within the books. Within the films, some hints are given about what he is gone by, equivalent to his response to Professor Moody utilizing the Cruciatus curse, however we by no means see how this curse affected his mother and father, who have been tortured to madness. Equally, we by no means find out how the Chosen One prophecy, which is related to Harry, may have simply utilized to Neville as an alternative.
Trelawney’s Prophecy
When Professor Trelawney gave her prophecy, she stated that the Chosen One can be born on the finish of July to “those that have thrice defied him.” Voldemort took this to imply Harry, however Neville was additionally born in late July to folks who had stood as much as Voldemort 3 times. By going after Harry, Voldemort “marked him” and thus accomplished the prophecy, but when he had gone after Neville, he simply may have develop into the Boy Who Lived as an alternative.
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Marauders’ Backstory
As seen within the books, the Marauders consisted of James Potter, Sirius Black, Peter Pettigrew, and Remus Lupin. They created the Marauder’s Map with a purpose to assist them conduct their mischief. Additionally they all turned unregistered Animagi in help of Lupin, the werewolf. Going by the nicknames Padfoot, Prongs, Wormtail, and Moony, the Marauders’ backstory was an integral a part of the e book—and but, their shared historical past was lacking fully from the film model.
Complicated for Film-Solely Watchers
For many who did not learn the books, the inclusion of the Marauder’s map was doubtless a supply of confusion. Lupin seemingly knew use it however did not clarify why, and it mainly got here out of skinny air. Plus, the Marauders’ backstory added weight to the later confrontation with Peter, in addition to the lack of each Sirius and Lupin. In brief, the Marauder’s backstory would not change the plot a lot, but it surely does add dimension that e book readers sorely missed.
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Harry’s Profitable Use of The Cruciatus Curse
Twice within the books, Harry unsuccessfully tried to make use of Crucio, the torture curse. The primary time was after Bellatrix killed Sirius, and whereas he additionally tried to curse her within the films, he failed as a result of he did not actually “imply it.” Moreover, within the e book, he tried and didn’t apply it to Snape, however this scene would not occur within the film. Worse, he efficiently used it on Amycus after the previous spit on McGonagall, however no point out of this happens within the movie.
Harry’s Darkness
Though it is a small scene, Harry’s profitable use of The Cruciatus Curse confirmed simply how deeply he’d been affected by every little thing that had occurred to him. It additionally revealed that part of him truly wished to and loved inflicting hurt. If he had leaned into this a part of himself, he may simply have develop into a darkish wizard himself, or at the very least dedicated much more darkish actions, all whereas falsely proclaiming them righteous.
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Ron’s Character
Within the books, Ron Weasley is Harry’s courageous and constant greatest pal, however within the films, lots of his greatest strains have been as an alternative given to Hermione. Whereas this was typically to Hermione’s profit, the change did not all the time make sense, and it typically mirrored poorly again on Ron.
For instance, within the e book, it was Ron who defined to Harry what “Mudblood” meant, whereas within the films, Hermione as an alternative offers the reason, although she has no cause to know what one is. Equally, within the first e book, it’s Ron who has to remind a panicking Hermione that she’s a witch earlier than she will be able to forged a spell to fend off the Satan’s Snare. Within the film, she merely remembers the spell on her personal whereas Rupert Grint’s movie-Ron is the one left panicking.
Much less of a Gryffindor, Much less of a Buddy
Sadly, the modifications to Ron’s character made him a worse Gryffindor and pal total. He was typically the butt of the joke, as an alternative of the one making stated joke, and he not often stood up for Hermione or Harry. As an illustration, throughout a Potions class, Snape known as Hermione a know-it-all. Within the film, Ron responds, “He is obtained some extent, you realize?” Within the e book, he stands up for her, asking why Snape requested a query if he did not need a solution. The latter is extra according to Gryffindor bravery and loyalty, and it is what we have been hoping to see from his film counterpart.
5
Ginny and Harry’s Relationship
Similar to her brother, Ginny acquired an enormous character change within the films, for the more serious. Within the books, she’s daring, assured, and humorous, however within the films, she’s awkward and passive. This made it troublesome to root for her and Harry to get collectively, particularly because the actors shared only a few scenes, and even much less chemistry.
Unhealthy Character, Unhealthy Romance
Bonnie Wright wasn’t given a lot to work with when it got here to portraying Ginny. She appeared extra like a love curiosity archetype than an precise character. Worse, her roles in Quidditch and Dumbledore’s Military have been significantly decreased, and her makes an attempt to flirt with Harry, equivalent to by tying his shoelaces, weren’t solely out of character (book-Ginny would have tied them collectively) but in addition added nothing to the plot, exterior of discomfort.
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SPEW and Winky
The dealing with of home elves has all the time been a sore spot in Harry Potter’s legacy. The creatures seemingly need to be enslaved, which is already problematic sufficient, however to make issues worse, many of the different characters appear utterly wonderful with it. Hermione, however, noticed the mistreatment for what it was, so she began the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare (SPEW) with a purpose to fight the established order and achieve them rights. Sadly, most of the home elves, such because the book-only Winky, wished nothing to do together with her or her society.
One among Hermione’s Greatest Traits
It is unusual that movie-Hermione was given so lots of Ron’s greatest scenes and features when her actions in SPEW have been already so heroic. She noticed an issue that nobody else (aside from Dobby) was actually taking critically. Whereas we will perceive why this uncomfortable plot line was faraway from the flicks, it was a terrific injustice to Hermione, who was so dedicated to combating injustice.
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Minimize Challenges in Sorcerer’s Stone
Whereas attempting to retrieve the Sorcerer’s Stone, the golden trio have been compelled to endure a number of challenges. The primary 4 of those are in each the e book and film, and so they concerned subduing Fluffy, combating the Satan’s Snare, catching a flying key, and taking part in a sport of Wizard’s chess. Nonetheless, the final two challenges, battling a troll and fixing a potion riddle, have been book-only inclusions.
Extra Hermione Slander
The challenges in Sorcerer’s Stone have been meant to check every of the characters on a person degree. Chess was Ron’s sport, the flying keys have been Harry’s, and the potions have been purported to be Hermione’s. As an alternative, she stayed again with an injured Ron and left Harry to go on with out her. Whereas eradicating the troll will be forgiven, because it principally served to indicate Quirrell’s connection to the creatures, not together with the potions problem robbed Hermione of her in-character time to shine.
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Voldemort’s Backstory
Like Neville, Ginny, and Ron, Voldemort was a extra intriguing and totally realized character within the books. Within the films, little or no is proven of his backstory. Though viewers do study that he was an orphan who hated his father and muggles, that is nearly all that they reveal. There’s virtually no point out of his time earlier than or at Hogwarts, nor how his mom’s depraved deeds have been largely liable for what he turned. In flip, the film character is two-dimensional, more durable to sympathize with, and total much less compelling.
What Makes a Villain?
Understanding Voldemort’s previous on no account excusing his actions. Nonetheless, it does humanize a personality who primarily did not need to be human. Voldemort’s quest for immortality and absolute energy makes extra sense given his tragic backstory. Plus, understanding how Voldemort got here to be supplies an fascinating foil for what Harry may have develop into.
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Voldemort’s Demise Scene
It wasn’t sufficient for the flicks to chop enormous features of Voldemort’s backstory—additionally they did audiences a disservice surrounding his dying. Within the books, Voldemort died merely and considerably anticlimactically within the Nice Corridor after the Elder Wand refused to kill Harry, and as an alternative, hit Voldemort with its rebounded killing curse. Within the films, the 2 battled exterior, and after being disarmed, Voldemort seemingly disappeared in a cloud of ash. Though this dying was extra cinematic, it was by far much less thematically sound—not only for Voldemort, however the sequence as a complete.
Magic and Mortality
A number of different scenes main as much as Voldemort’s dying have been additionally altered, such because the leap from the astronomy tower and the awkward hugging scene with Draco. Nonetheless, his precise dying stays essentially the most egregious of those modifications.
Voldemort’s total journey was marked by his claims of superiority and quest to defeat Demise. His film dying appeared to counsel he was one thing apart from human when the entire level of his e book dying was to indicate simply how fragile and human he really was.