WickedElphie wrote:If Goblet and Order (the two longest books) could each be made into one movie, I don't see why the same can't be true for Deathly Hallows,
The main difference between books like Goblet of Fire and Deathly Hallows is the the first 6 Potter books are made up of a main plot with lots of B stories, which could be considered as not integral to the plot, such as in the case of Goblet of Fire, Hermione's house elf liberation front, Ludo Bagmans money troubles, the comic antics at the Dursley's house etc. There were lots of B stores that could be cut without making much of an effect on the main story. So although books like Order of the Phoenix are longer there is more "fat and gristle" shall we say, whereas Hallows is pretty much all "meat"
The Narrative of Deathly Hallows is completely different, there are no B stories really and there is far more action than the average book. Whereas the first 6 books take course over a school year and have a lot of lessons, and lunchtimes and other school type happening, there are usually a couple of big plot points here and there usually working their way to a big climax.
Deathly Hallows is just one big climax and since like I have said there isnt much in the way of B stories aside from possibly the wedding which happens near the beginning. Whereas you could cut the Quidditch from "Order of the Phoenix", everything in Hallows is vital plot. You are stuck with the fact that there are 5 horcruxes to find and destroy not to mention everything else. I mean just to calculate what is in the book, and i'll spoilerise it for those of you who havent read the books but...
we start off with Harry leaving privet drive as the spell is about to wear off, as the group sets off on broomstick there is a chase across the sky as Voldemort attacks them, mad Eye Moody is killed then Harry and Hagrid crash, then there is the will from Dumbledore explaining the gifts, the wedding, and the attack at the wedding causing Harry, Hermione and Ron to run for it, then they are chased through London by death eaters taking refuge in Grimmauld Place, then they have to break into the ministry to steal the locket from Umbridge, The visit to Godric's Hollow, being attacked by the snake and escaping Voldemort again, being captured and locked in the Malfoys' basement, breaking into Gringotts and then escaping by dragon, destroying the horcruxes, Ron getting annoyed and leaving in order to return triumphantly and save Harry, escapaing the magic flames and they try to get the diadem from the Room of requirement, then there's Luna's father and the horcruxes, and this is not even going into Dumbeldore's whole backstory and the history of Grindelwald and the wand that Harry sees in his dreams and of course there's the whole Snapes memory stuff and the flashbacks of Harrys mother and father, Harry surrendering and being "killed" by Voldemort, having his near death moment with Dumbledore before returning from the dead. And of course this isnt even mentioning the sure to be epic battle for hogwarts between the students staff, house elves, centaurs and god knows what else, oh and i forgot about dumbledores brother and the secret passage between the Hogs head and Hogwarts.
I mean that just aint gonna get into 2 and half hours no matter how hard you shove. Then only 2 bits which could possibly be got rid of or minimised at least are Aberforth and Xenophilius, but if you cut them you'd have the problem of working out how they get into the castle and how explains the Hallows, although I suppose possible they could get away with cutting Xenophilius and having Hermione stumble across the meaning of the Hallows herself.
In all honestly you're going to need at least 4 hours and even thought I would prefer one really long film, given the fact that the main audience will be kids, 4+ hours really is too much in one sitting.
Oh well to each there own SpringHeel.
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