Watching the first Potter movie, thinking (book discussion welcome as well)

[TVC15]

So I am watching Potter here.  The movie, at least up until where I am, is reasonable true to the book, so consider this a discussion that applies to both the book and the film series.

What I am watching now:  The Sorting Hat scene

What is interesting about it:  The Sorting Hat toys with putting Harry into Slytherin, either because Harry belongs there, the scar confuses the hat, or the hat is teasing Harry, who is then whispering "not Slytherin" repeatedly.  As we know, the hat places Potter in Gryffindor, with his new friends Ron and Hermione.

My question is what would have happened if Harry never ran into Ron and Hermione at the train station, and did not learn the basics of the four houses during his encounters with them?  What if he had instead befriended Draco, made a first impression with him, and fallen into friendship with him?  After befriending Ron and Hermione, the three new friends encounter Draco, who tries to get Potter to join up with his clique.  Potter refuses, largely because he has already bonded with the friends Draco insulted.

So what would have happened if Harry met Draco on the train before Ron and Hermione?  Would the Sorting Hat have still put Potter in Grffindor?  Would Potter have been whispering "not Gryffindor" at the urging of Malfoy, and thus been swerved into Slytherin?

Is anything like this addressed in the books (I forget)? Is there later, further evidence that Harry would have ended up in Gryffindor no matter what, or was it his choice of friends before he got to Hogwarts that dictated where he ended up?  Friends don't seem to get "split up" when the go to Hogwarts.  The hat keeps them grouped together.  And how gay am I?

[Vizzys]

MAD HOMO

[Bloodwake]

It's addressed somewhat later in the novels. I think it is the second novel, but it is discussed in subtext throughout the book series, especially in the second book, and somewhat in the final book.

spoiler (click to show/hide)

He basically pulls the sword of fucking Godric Gryffindor out of the sorting hat to do battle with the monster in the Chamber of Secrets, and afterwards while recovering from injuries he asks Dumbledore if the hat made a mistake, remembering the "you would do well in Slytherin" conversation. Dumbledore basically then says... "uh, you pulled the sword out of the goddamn hat of the man your house is named after. I think it chose correctly" Basically, what that said to me was that the hat, while considering Slytherin, was basically seeing the taint of the mark that Voldemort left on Harry as a child. Plus, I think it is significant that Harry CHOSE to be in Gryffindor and didn't want to be in Slytherin, basically becoming the person he wanted to be rather than the person that might be the most popular.

[close]

[TVC15]

Ahhh, I completely forgot about that.  It's been a wile since I read te second book or watced the second movie (when I do m rereadings, I usuall skip the first two books in the series since the are kinda zzz).

[Mupepe]

this is way too potter-nerdy for me.  i didn't think nearly that much about the movie when i saw it.  i'm having a potter marathon this weekend, so i'll chime in.  (i haven't seen the first film since like a month after it came out on vhs lolol)

[TVC15]

I think Daniel Radcliffe gets WORSE at acting as he goes on.  He is doing really well in the first movie for a child actor.  I just really remember four and five, where he is so overwrought and hammy and emo.

[Phoenix Dark]

So I am watching Potter here.  The movie, at least up until where I am, is reasonable true to the book, so consider this a discussion that applies to both the book and the film series.

What I am watching now:  The Sorting Hat scene

What is interesting about it:  The Sorting Hat toys with putting Harry into Slytherin, either because Harry belongs there, the scar confuses the hat, or the hat is teasing Harry, who is then whispering "not Slytherin" repeatedly.  As we know, the hat places Potter in Gryffindor, with his new friends Ron and Hermione.

My question is what would have happened if Harry never ran into Ron and Hermione at the train station, and did not learn the basics of the four houses during his encounters with them?  What if he had instead befriended Draco, made a first impression with him, and fallen into friendship with him?  After befriending Ron and Hermione, the three new friends encounter Draco, who tries to get Potter to join up with his clique.  Potter refuses, largely because he has already bonded with the friends Draco insulted.

So what would have happened if Harry met Draco on the train before Ron and Hermione?  Would the Sorting Hat have still put Potter in Grffindor?  Would Potter have been whispering "not Gryffindor" at the urging of Malfoy, and thus been swerved into Slytherin?

Is anything like this addressed in the books (I forget)? Is there later, further evidence that Harry would have ended up in Gryffindor no matter what, or was it his choice of friends before he got to Hogwarts that dictated where he ended up?  Friends don't seem to get "split up" when the go to Hogwarts.  The hat keeps them grouped together.  And how gay am I?

Friends do get split up, with the biggest example being Lily and Snape. With respect to the Sorting Hat, I didn't see it as teasing Harry or being confused by the scar. Harry featured multiple traits that could put him in either house - power for Slytherin, and courage for Griffindor. The hat certainly made the right decision for Harry because he proves himself as a true Griffindor throughout that book, as well as the others. Hermoine definitely had the traits of Hufflepuff but I would imagine her courage and bravery put her in Griffindor; somewhere in one of the books it's mentioned that the Hufflepuff character was a total bookworm, and more apt at telling others what to do than actually helping iirc.

I would imagine that if Harry had met Draco first they would have had a falling out before the Sorting Hat. Draco knew more about Harry than the other students, and - like Snape - he was convinced that Harry could actually be a powerful dark wizard. I'm sure Draco would have continued his various mud-blood rants in Harry's presence just to suck up to him in hopes of becoming like his father Lucius, which would lead to Harry dismissing him.

On the acting, here's a different take from a positive review of OOTP

Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint have developed into fine actors. Radcliffe had an opportunity to show his range (and a few other things) in a much publicized stage performance while Grint has honed his talent in the British film Driving Lesson. Emma Watson remains the weak link in the cast; not coincidentally, the only role she has ever played is Hermione.

http://www.reelviews.net/movies/h/harry_potter5.html

[Bloodwake]

Yeah, I was sorta curious to see Radcliffe in Equus, I'm sad I don't live in England. Equus is a pretty disturbing play at times.

[Phoenix Dark]

I'd agree with the review that Radcliff and Grint have improved, although that isn't to say they're turning into "fine" actors. Radcliff is good with certain emotions; he can be mean, happy, angry, etc but can't pull off "sad" (ie his crying scene in PoA). I haven't seen OOTP yet, which will demand some emotion from Radcliff...

spoilers

spoiler (click to show/hide)

Although my brothers told me when Sirius dies, Harry acts almost indifferent and it's not treated like a big deal...

[close]

[Himu]

it's pretty obvious to me that the hat wants harry to stuff his cock in it

[Solo]

Aside from the very awesome PoA, all the movies have been stinkers for me (havent seen OotP yet though). Chris Columbus' first 2 movies are way too stringent and faithful to the books, to their downfall. Its like he just shot the movie is if the book were the screenplay. Boring. 4 was just one big pile of mediocre blah. How you make maybe the best book the worst movie is beyond me. Cuaron's Azkaban is marvelous though, in every regard. Its the only one Im gonna buy on HD DVD. Thanks WB for selling 'em as singles!