I'm A Little Dismayed...

[teddy_radiator]

...at how I'm not looking forward to DH2. Yes, I know it's just a movie, and I know the characters are fictional, but it is a little more about me (isn't everything where I'm concerned? lol).

I came to Potter late. I had never even read the books until about a month before the movie premiered in England, where I was living at the time. I fell in love with the story, with it's downward spiral from jolly white hats vs. black hats morality play to apocalyptic Armageddon.

I watched the films with increasing frustration, knowing they would be inferior, but hoping they wouldn't completely sell out to Hollywood, and slowly realised that was going to happen whether I wanted it to or not. You don't spend that much money on a film without giving the investors what they want.

And it's not just about the inconsistencies, the diversions so far away from what we call 'canon' as to almost be parody. It's the feeling that the end is going be a bang then a whimper. I can't help but feel that we're going to get three hours of wham, bam, thank you ma'am special effects, five minutes of emotions milked from us with a liberal use of John Williams' string section, then we proceed out, deciding whether or not to keep our 3-d specs as a memento, because that's about the only happy memory we're going to be left with.

Sorry to sound so cynical; I'm not one to indulge in true citric cynicism, but I think they've got me by the short and curlies on this film; I have to go and see the last film of a series of films I've doggedly defended since Philosopher's Stone, and I can't make myself believe I'm going to like it.

I came to fanfiction very late; do you realise that their has been HP fanfic for almost ten years and I've only been involved in it for less than one? I feel cheated. I feel like I've just gotten aboard the best car on the train just before it pulls into the station. I hope a few of you plan on staying on the train with me - we've surely got a few more stops to make before they decommission the bastard.

Comments

[kellychambliss.livejournal.com]

I'm cynical about the movies, too, even though I have seen each one and have liked all sorts of things about them. But overall, they short-change the complexities of canon plot and character (inevitable in a film version, I suppose), and I have no reason to believe they won't do the same in DH2.

Regardless, I think there's life in the old fandom yet. I've been active only since October of 2008, and though I know I've missed a lot and that some of the more famous "old-timer" fanficcers are moving on, there still seem to be a lot of interested people left, lots of fest activity, etc. So I like to think our little corner of the fandom will be around for a while!

[condwiramurs.livejournal.com]

Oh, I share your frustration. On the one hand I am probably going to go because 1) I have cool people who have already agreed to pay for a second round of tickets so I can see it with them in costume, 2) I have a thing about seeing *all* of something, and 3) SEVERUS, OF COURSE. But I have been disappointed more and more with each movie, and the clips and advertising for this one just make me go 'oh no....'

Also, though, I think part of my dislike of the idea of going is that now that I've read DH and critiqued it, I know what I'm in for and it's going to hurt. Because I wish I could still be in that place of just simply *enjoying* the series instead of having to scrabble and shadow-read the hell out of everything in order to find something I still like. I will follow and love and defend Severus to the death, but so much of DH was just...ow.

Sorry for the long rant. :( BUT rest assured, I will be out there with you with my Snape flag and my robes and my fanfic until the bitter end!

[stgulik.livejournal.com]

Well, count me in as being *terribly* excited to see the movie on the weekend of the 15th. (I'm too old to enjoy going to a midnight show, but old enough to be okay with that.)

I just thought of something: Harry Potter movies are a little like fan fiction, if you will, except done visually and through heavy consultation with She Who Wrote The Thing. Hmm.

[stgulik.livejournal.com]

And I am sure HP fan fiction will endure and keep going after the film comes out, much as it did after the seventh book came out. It will remain a trove of great characters and situations to explore for a long time.

[alabastard.livejournal.com]

The films are what they are, entertainment, and I can find enjoyment in each of them because I didn't expect the books replicated, that would be impossible in one film per book.

The fandom that matters shows no sign of slowing down.

[bulletimescully.livejournal.com]

I don't think we have to worry too much about fanfiction going anywhere. There are always wonderful new writers, like you, who come to the fandom later on. I didn't step into my Severus obsession until about two years ago. I still don't know what triggered it...

As for the movies... I've was pretty disappointed with HBP... mostly for the deviations from canon (no battle, no 'don't call me coward!'), but that said, I've had to reconcile with myself that in the grand scheme, the books and the movies are two totally different things. Not in a sense of story, really, because there would be no movies without the story, but in a sense of how they're presented. I love the books, but I love the movies too, just differently. If that makes sense...

As for DH2... If I could be there at midnight I would, but I plan on buying my tickets for the opening day late show sometime this weekend. I've seen so much footage (if you can check out the B-roll footage on YouTube or here on rattlesnakeroot's page, it's full of spoilers: the boathose, Snape and McGonagall deuling... epic!). I almost feel like too much has been leaked, but then again I can't stay away. I'm desperately excited, but sad. It's the end of an era, as cliche as that sounds. I think that the books, the films, and the fanfiction will live on indefinitely.

There are two things I want to see... the boathouse... and Severus and Lily... don't screw those two scenes up and I'm a happy fangirl. Of course, this is Alan Rickman we're talking about.

[bulletimescully.livejournal.com]

I don't want to see him die either... I've seen a bit of B-roll footage of the boathouse scene, and even with no effects or music it gave me serious goosebumps. I know I'm going to cry like a baby... extra tissues please!

[droxy.livejournal.com]

I will stay as long as GS100 stays active. =)

But I always knew Snape was going to die. I didnt want him to die, but wanting and knowing are 2 different things.

I have fun with HP. The thing that will drive me out of it is no more fun. I may be led away by something else, but it is too early to tell.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Why can't I be where you are?

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

It's a scary thought...must write more angst to keep Droxy stimulated....

[mollyssister.livejournal.com]

You come and sit by me. I don't care for the movies much at all. Sure they are pretty but they dont stick to canon and they sure as hell dont stick to my fanon either.

Welcome to SSHG my friend. There are 10 years of stories to be read. How cool is that?!

[voxangelus.livejournal.com]

I view the movies as elaborate, expensive fanfic, and I am STUPID excited to be seeing the movie at midnight with fangirls. All the lead up, to me, has been awesome.

Maybe I'm shallow? Dunno. I love it all :)

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Of course you're not shallow - I'm just being a pre-menopausal mental case.

[mimimanderly.livejournal.com]

I'm certain that I'M staying on the train for a long while.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

I'll be with you, Mimi darling. That I promise you.

[sandlappershell.livejournal.com]

I have been to every opening night so far. I like the movies, because I like epics like that. I shall have my tissues with me, because I think knowing what is coming makes it worse. I know I will get wrapped up in the movie and not realize my place and then it will be all over and I will embarrass my son with my muffled sobbing. I am torn between I can't wait to see the movie to finish out the collection and not wanting to see it because it IS the end. So saying that YAY FOR FANFIC!!!
I don't plan on going anywhere anytime soon...I've been reading fanfic for a while now. I started out elsewhere, but after not agreeing with the way things went in DH (I truly don't like that book) and definitely wishing for Severus to have been dealt a better hand I headed for HP. Now, I have ventured into writing and I am seeing my faves from a different angle and it has just breathed fresh life into my obsession!
As long as the Conductor doesn't boot me off, I'll see you on the train!!!

[eoforyth.livejournal.com]

I haven't even seen the last film on DVD, and am really not that bothered by it.

I'm sure there will continue to be a Potter fandom, even if the train is whittled down to one carriage rattling along a branchline :)

There's also the resurgenge in interest should the films get remade to consider - my husband rather cynically reckons on about another five years, with Dan cast as Dumbledore (although, by his height, I'm more inclined to think Flitwick myself)

[stormymaries.livejournal.com]

Yeah pretty much exactly how I feel.

[alwaysimploding.livejournal.com]

Oh, I´m here. And I ain´t going nowhere ;)

I might be silent, but rest assure, I´M READING!

[justpinkpastel.livejournal.com]

I'm feeling the same, too. I am looking forward to see what they made, but at the same time I know that I am going to be incredibly upset at all the things that aren't in the book, or the way they change things.

[majorjune.livejournal.com]

I splurged to see DH1 on PPV, but I refused to waste my time and money seeing it in the theater...

If I see DH2 in a theater (toying with the idea), it's going to be at a small local theater (non-3D) some weeks after 7/15, and on a weekday afternoon cuz the theater has deep discounts then.

The movies to me have been a big disappointment, but it's not all the producers/directors/screenwriters fault -- Rowling should have had a stronger backbone and resisted having the books turned into movies until she was almost finished writing and publishing the whole series...or definitely not until Book 5 was coming out.

As it is, the movies had to work blind, without really knowing what was going to happen, or what was important to concentrate on.

One can hope that sometime in the future a new version will be made that will be superior, if only because the whole depth of the story will be known. I really think a well-done Japanese anime of the series would be better than with live actors.

A similar thing has happened with the manga Full Metal Alchemist, which has many similar themes as the Potter stories.

An Full Metal Alchemist anime series was done a few years ago, I saw it without having read the original manga. I really enjoyed the series, and also the feature film that was made after the original anime series ended.

Recently Adult Swim on The Cartoon Network has been running a new anime series called Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood...I wondered what was up, as it started out almost exactly like the original anime, only with additional focus on supporting characters.

But then the storyline went off in a totally different direction, albeit with the same overlying plot. When I did research on the series I found out that the second anime is considered more in line with the original manga than the first anime series was.

So one can hope that something similar will be done with the Potter saga, that either another movie series, or perhaps television series, will be done (either live action or anime) sometime in the future that will be more adherent to canon.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Hey babe, if we don't have readers we might as well stop writing - and I love reading too!

[andyissadangel.livejournal.com]

Well, you put my feelings into words.

I now go and watch the movies because of sake of continuity, and not because I'd particularly want to see them. And of course, Severus.
Why? Well, I'm the kind of person that likes things by the books and rules. So, if they are filming Harry Potter, then they should film it by the book, and not delete scenes and parts of the book. But on the other hand, I do realise that it is almost impossible to do that. Sometimes I hate that I can see things from different sides.

Here, the movie is coming to cinema in a week. I never go to premieres (way too many people), but I usually take a day for myself, and go in the early afternoon, when the cinema is almost empty. But that's just me, trying to avoid the crowds. And I usually go alone, because I don't like talking to people during the movie.

So, this year, I'll probably do the same. I know it will be hard for me, because I could barely stand to see the first part (not because of the emotions, but because of the 'perpetual camping trip), and I could hardly wait to get out. I dunno... Well see how it will be.

As for the fandom... I've been here since it began (well, maybe half a year later), and I've enjoyed so far. I know that we have great authors here, that make my days. And that many more will come. Just like you did, Teddy. Our fandom isn't going to die so soon, I believe. I'm not a writer, because I don't have the talent to putting my toughts to words like you do. But I do read most of the stores (well, very angsty fics, with Voldy winning are just not my cup of tea), and I enjoy each and every one of them, no matter if the are short or of epic proportions.

So, you have 10 years worth of fanfics to read, to get new ideas and to write, write, write. It has been a great decade. Now let's make the next one the same =)

[tally1302.livejournal.com]

I have felt very much the same about the movies. I refused to see the third one (still haven't seen it) because I just liked the book too darn much. That said, I enjoyed DH1. It came close to what I had imagined and trimmed the story in the right places.

Having just come out of DH2 I think it's worth seeing. It wasn't nearly as dissapointing as I thought it would be and in some places it was stunningly beautiful.

I have been into Harry Potter since I was Harry's age at the start of philosopher's stone. Now I've overtaken him somewhat, but I still feel like I have that relationship with the characters and the movie isn't going to change that. When I was at the height of my obsession back at 14 years old they announced they were going to be making movies... and I promptly burst into tears. I didn't want to see the thing I loved bastardised by big Hollywood names and special effects, I didn't want to see some actor I wouldn't have cast playing the part that was so special to me...

But now it's over. I survived Hollywood's attack on my fandom and can go back to seeing the characters how I want to. That's why the fandom is far from over. It's going to hang around for quite some time because the real characters we love are not stiff cardboard cutouts, they're like good friends who we don't want to say goodbye to, ever.

Now Hollywood is done with us, the fans can get back to making the world as magical as it was originally :)

But still, go see the movie. Take tissues. Enjoy it for what it is. Then come home and write some of your amazing fanfic :)

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Goodness you are a baby! I'm postively ancient next to you!

Thank you, sweetie. We are all set to go tomorrow at midnight (got our 3D glasses and everything),and I'll take loads of tissues and I'll cry my eyes out, because everyone will be shocked that Severus is a good guy and I will know the truth - he may not be nice, but he is good.

I did hear that the Epilogue still sux, though...

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Lovely, inspiring words, Blue. I disliked the first part of DH immensely. I was ready for the Snatchers to get them by the end of the film!

Yes, I feel renewed that there's life in the old fandom yet!

[tally1302.livejournal.com]

Haha yes it does! It absolutely so appropriately does! In different ways but still. Everyone laughed. I think they must have made it bad on purpose.

I'm keen to know what you think. I will look out for an LJ post on Friday :)