# Little Things That Irk or Please You in the Harry Potter Films **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 24, 2008, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-that-irk-or-please-you-in-the-harry-potter-films/469448 "2008-10-24T23:18:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Trepa\_Mayfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@Trepa\_Mayfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trepa_Mayfield)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-that-irk-or-please-you-in-the-harry-potter-films/469448/41 "2008-10-27T02:24:20Z")
The hedge maze scene. WTF? We were supposed to get giant monsters! All I saw was moving plants. Boooring! ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-that-irk-or-please-you-in-the-harry-potter-films/469448/42 "2008-10-27T03:59:49Z")
Why have Harry hand the prophecy to Lucius? It’s quite out of character. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-that-irk-or-please-you-in-the-harry-potter-films/469448/43 "2008-10-27T08:46:32Z")
[New Teaser Trailer released today](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=druqDxEOX7Y). Mainly Dumbledore and Harry again. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-that-irk-or-please-you-in-the-harry-potter-films/469448/44 "2008-10-27T13:28:56Z")
Intriguing. ---
**Author:** ![hotflungwok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/edb3f5/32.png) [@hotflungwok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hotflungwok)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-that-irk-or-please-you-in-the-harry-potter-films/469448/45 "2008-10-27T15:06:17Z")
Disclaimer: I have not read any of the books The whole dance scene in GoF bugged me. I expected them to be awkward, but Ron & Harry looked like such complete _losers_. ‘Are you going to ask me to dance?’ ‘No.’ WTF? I don’t get that. What was the point of going so far out there to make the two them look like such social misfits? ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-that-irk-or-please-you-in-the-harry-potter-films/469448/46 "2008-10-27T15:25:31Z")
> [@hotflungwok](#): > > Disclaimer: I have not read any of the books > > The whole dance scene in GoF bugged me. I expected them to be awkward, but Ron & Harry looked like such complete _losers_. ‘Are you going to ask me to dance?’ ‘No.’ WTF? I don’t get that. What was the point of going so far out there to make the two them look like such social misfits? That is true to the books, though. Ron spends his time glowering at Hermione and “Vicky”, when he’s not wandering the grounds with Harry. In the Deleted Scenes portions of that DVD, there’s a great bit with Snape and Karkaroff going round to carriages, ousting necking couples. That’s not true to the book, but it fits the spirit of it (in the book, the kids making out are either in the bushes or a grotto, IMS). No animagus in film 4. Ridiculous. And if they can now make 2 films out of the last book, why not 2 films out of GoF? ---
**Author:** ![Tequila\_Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/41988e/32.png) [@Tequila\_Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tequila_Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-that-irk-or-please-you-in-the-harry-potter-films/469448/47 "2008-10-27T16:16:07Z")
I hated hated HATed in POA, the shrieking shack when they took one of Ron’s few heroic lines, one that again proves why he’s a Gryffindor and GAVE IT TO HERMIONE! It makes me want to hurt Kloves for doing something so small but infuriating to me. Ron is more than only comic relief, you stupid git! Maggie Smith, Robbie Coltrane and Alan Rickman do almost make up for better casting I picture in my mind, Peter o’Toole as Dumbledore, Billy Connolly as Mad Eye Moody and Alison Doody as Narcissa Malfoy. And it’s weird. After the first film, which managed to capture the wonder and magic of Harry’s entrance into the wizarding world very well, OOTP is my next favorite film even though that book was my least favorite of the series. Maybe I was more willing to see a lot cut from it because of my own bias. ---
**Author:** ![Skara\_Brae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Skara\_Brae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skara_Brae)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-that-irk-or-please-you-in-the-harry-potter-films/469448/48 "2008-10-27T16:45:48Z")
Was the “Nice one, James!” line from OOtP cannon to the books? I can’t remember, but that was one of the better moments of the film, I think… > [@Tequila\_Mockingbird](#): > > I hated hated HATed in POA, the shrieking shack when they took one of Ron’s few heroic lines, one that again proves why he’s a Gryffindor and GAVE IT TO HERMIONE! It makes me want to hurt Kloves for doing something so small but infuriating to me. Ron is more than only comic relief, you stupid git! +1. That was a great scene in the books. Ron with a broken leg, clinging to Harry to stay upright, saying"You’ll have to kill all of us." Oh Ron… ---
**Author:** ![mudkicker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@mudkicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mudkicker)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-that-irk-or-please-you-in-the-harry-potter-films/469448/49 "2008-10-27T17:11:06Z")
Emma Watson as Hermione. My favourite character in the books turned into a snotty, overacting, RADA accented little brat in the films. She was insufferable in the first film and barely improved over the next four. I don’t think the films are that good anyway - I had some nitpicks with the LOTR trilogy but overall loved them - I didn’t get that with the Potter films. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-that-irk-or-please-you-in-the-harry-potter-films/469448/50 "2008-10-27T18:01:47Z")
**Irk** Lucius Malfoy starting to use the killing curse after Harry tricks him into freeing Dobby. Utterly unbelievable that such a cunning, savvy Dark Wizard would do be willing in a moment of mere spite to use an Unforgivable Curse at Hogwarts twenty yards from Dumbledore’s office. Blew the scene completely for me. The casting of Luna Lovegood. **Please** Luna Lovegood. Hermione Granger. Ginny Weasley. I’ll be in my bunk. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-that-irk-or-please-you-in-the-harry-potter-films/469448/51 "2008-10-27T18:07:53Z")
I don’t mind Gambon’s interpretation of Dumbledore - it’s different from Harris’s, but it’s not _wrong_, IMHO. I do agree he was much too angry and upset when Harry’s name emerged from the Goblet of Fire. And I wish they hadn’t cut that great scene where Harry is under the invisibility cloak on the stairs and whispering to Moody. In “Chamber of Secrets,” everyone goes on and on about how important it is that Dumblestore stay to protect the students. But he’s already there, and really bad things are still happening! Doesn’t look like his presence is making any difference at all. Wizarding government makes no sense. How is the Minister (s)elected? Is there no parliament or its equivalent? Why would a “good” political system employ dementors? Why are people packed off to Azkaban for every kind of offense? (I know, this isn’t just a problem limited to the movies). They shouldn’t have cut Hermione’s establishment of SPEW, or Filch actually being a squib, or Harry and the others taking their OWLs. And Grawp was some fugly, unconvincing CGI. ---
**Author:** ![AmericanMaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@AmericanMaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AmericanMaid)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-that-irk-or-please-you-in-the-harry-potter-films/469448/52 "2008-10-27T19:15:58Z")
Irks: - the acting of the main 3 kids. In the first 3 movies all Rupert Grint does is make faces. Daniel Radcliffe is wooden and Emma Watson is shrill. - Helena Bonham Carter’s Bellatrix. Way too campy. - Too little of Snape. Please: - Dumbledore’s Army training - the Ministry of Magic - Grimmauld Place - Fred and George’s grand exit. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-that-irk-or-please-you-in-the-harry-potter-films/469448/53 "2008-10-27T19:27:01Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > **Irk** > Lucius Malfoy starting to use the killing curse after Harry tricks him into freeing Dobby. Utterly unbelievable that such a cunning, savvy Dark Wizard would do be willing in a moment of mere spite to use an Unforgivable Curse at Hogwarts twenty yards from Dumbledore’s office. Blew the scene completely for me. No kidding! I get that he was pissed off at being one upped (well, two upped by that point!) but get real. That ticked me off as well, like Lucius is going to risk a lifetime prison term over the loss of a house elf. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-that-irk-or-please-you-in-the-harry-potter-films/469448/54 "2008-10-27T19:39:45Z")
Did it say Lucius was going to use a killing curse? I thought it was just a general “bitch slap” curse of some kind. I didn’t like that they didn’t show Lucius’s arrest after the fight at the Ministry, because it’s important for the next two books. They also cut one of my favorite lines. It’s from the end of Goblet of Fire; Mad Eye Moody (the real one) tells the Dursleys something to the effect of “be good to Harry or you’ll be sorry”. When Dursley asks “Are you _threatening_ me?” Moody calmly replies “Yes”. I’m still irked at moving the release date of Potter/Prince from Christmas to Summer. I also think it will backfire as some of the kids who are huge Potter nuts will have moved on. ---
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-that-irk-or-please-you-in-the-harry-potter-films/469448/55 "2008-10-27T19:51:09Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > I’m still irked at moving the release date of Potter/Prince from Christmas to Summer. I also think it will backfire as some of the kids who are huge Potter nuts will have moved on. I think there are enough of us big kids to ensure it will still be a massive financial success. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-that-irk-or-please-you-in-the-harry-potter-films/469448/56 "2008-10-27T19:52:58Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Did it say Lucius was going to use a killing curse? I thought it was just a general “bitch slap” curse of some kind. I’d have to check the book, but in the movie he clearly says 'Avad.." when Dobby bitchslaps him with his own brand of magic. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-that-irk-or-please-you-in-the-harry-potter-films/469448/57 "2008-10-27T20:43:16Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Did it say Lucius was going to use a killing curse? I thought it was just a general “bitch slap” curse of some kind. > [@Antinor01](#): > > I’d have to check the book, but in the movie he clearly says 'Avad.." when Dobby bitchslaps him with his own brand of magic. **Antinor** is correct. Malfoy draws his wand and very clearly begins the say the _Avada Kedavra_ curse. No, it is not in the book, because we don’t learn the words of the killing curse until _Goblet of Fire_. It’s irksome not only because of the internal-logic reasons I mentioned before, but also because it’s so wholly unnecessary. ---
**Author:** ![RachelChristine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7ab992/32.png) [@RachelChristine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RachelChristine)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-that-irk-or-please-you-in-the-harry-potter-films/469448/58 "2008-10-27T21:36:39Z")
> [@susan](#): > > Why have Harry hand the prophecy to Lucius? It’s quite out of character. Which is my number 1 complaint with the whole series! (well, that and not enough Ron. You can never have too much Ron!) It was so unlike Harry and unlike the books. I dread that part whenever I rewatch OotP. ---
**Author:** ![freekalette](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/50afbb/32.png) [@freekalette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freekalette)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-that-irk-or-please-you-in-the-harry-potter-films/469448/59 "2008-10-27T21:42:00Z")
> [@AmericanMaid](#): > > Irks: > > - Too little of Snape. Agreed wholeheartedly. The most fascinating character in the entire series in terms of depth and complexity, and we hardly see him at all. > [@](#): > > Please: > > - Fred and George’s grand exit. Really? I thought it was pretty lame compared to the book’s description. In the text it was a grand “fuck you” to the school, whereas the movie toned it down to just another prank. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-that-irk-or-please-you-in-the-harry-potter-films/469448/60 "2008-10-27T22:35:34Z")
> [@freekalette](#): > > Really? I thought it was pretty lame compared to the book’s description. In the text it was a grand “fuck you” to the school, whereas the movie toned it down to just another prank. Flitwick’s “Yes!” gesture was pretty good though. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-that-irk-or-please-you-in-the-harry-potter-films/469448.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-that-irk-or-please-you-in-the-harry-potter-films/469448.md?page=4)