Comments on: Thoughts on "The Order"

By: Movies to Watch in 2009

Movies to Watch in 2009 — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 22:56:03 +0000

[...] Harry Potter movie is naturally highly-anticipated. While I think the trailers look good, I was very disappointed by Order of the Phoenix, and I can tell from the previews that they’ve again deviated from [...]

By: tm5k

tm5k — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 02:40:42 +0000

I am also very, very glad I read Eragon after seeing the movie. Had I read the novel first, I would have utterly despised the movie. Eragon felt like reading Lord of the Rings for the first time. A fantastical new take on fantasy archetypes, where the world was so complete and well painted you almost thought you were there. Here’s hoping Eldest on screen does justice to the journey Eldest in print took me on.

By: Aaron

Aaron — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 20:24:17 +0000

I’d agree with you on the Eragon thing…I’m finally reading it, and it’s much better than the movie.

That said, with regard to HP, yes, #7 is the end. Yes, she had an outline when she first started. I don’t believe the films have affected her, but more that because she has always known where she was going, she was able to helpfully consult on the films to make sure they didn’t cut anything they’d need later in the process of adapting the screenplay.

And as for reading the books…just bloody do it already. You’ll be happy you did.

By: Drew

Drew — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 19:15:37 +0000

This is probably where I fit with all those who saw “Eragon” before reading the book. I really liked HP5 and I think every new film is better than the last.

What I find interesting is that this was the first film she published AFTER the first one had been made in to a film. I would think with the knowledge and assurance that the rest of her series was going to be sent to screen, she might had figured it was time to get things rolling and begin to move to a conclusion (I’m not saying she never planned out just seven books, but do we really even know #7 was her last?).

What I loved most about this one wasn’t just the last 20 minutes I got to see in Imax 3D (pure awesomeness!), but it finally feels like we’re getting somewhere after Voldemort was FINALLY revealed in Goblet of Fire. It’s hard to believe that there’s only TWO films left! Because… I’m still too lazy to read all the books.

By: Aaron

Aaron — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 17:25:30 +0000

Interesting…I liked “Order” the best out of all the books–possibly including the recent #7.

I am with you, though, on the difference between the book and the movie. For example, Jurassic Park is one of my favorite books of all time, and though the movie bears little resemblance to the book, I also enjoy it a lot. Perhaps that’s because it bears so little resemblance to the book, I can take them as separate entities.

In the instance of things like HP5, though, I think the movie is too much like the book to stand on its own–it moves so fast and packs so much in that it barely makes sense on its own. You have to be familiar with the book to enjoy the movie to its fullest. Interesting, though…

By: mrlanser

mrlanser — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 16:11:48 +0000

Amy basically agreed with what you said without having read your post. She felt the books are better than the movie just because you can’t get everything into the movie. However, she said something interesting after that, which was that she would sooner watch the movies with our kids then let them read the books.

I’ve moved to a point of distinction now. I don’t think of books and movies based on books identically anymore. It only leads to disappointment. Instead I try to take each seperately. If both stink, I’m stuck. But if both are good or great, I can get enjoyment out of both without losing any enjoyment from either. I liked “Order” the book (though the least out of all of them I’ve read), and I liked the movie.

By: Triton

Triton — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 01:44:46 +0000

Wow. That comment could have used more editing. Right now it’s pure thought vomit. Ew.

By: Triton

Triton — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 01:43:42 +0000

I enjoyed HARRYPOTTER5 (as my ticket stub named it), as well. I think I’d have to see all five movies again before declaring a favorite, but thus far it’s kind of a toss-up between “Prisoner” and “Goblet.” You know what? Now that I think about those two movies, what I really liked about them was their fantastical element of ‘mystery’ (my brain was in overdrive both movies trying to make connections and figure things out before the movie told me outright) and I think that was largely missing from “The Order…”

By: Nathanael

Nathanael — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 17:27:17 +0000

I’m looking forward to getting a chance to talk with you about the movie, since I doubt I’ll see it anytime soon. The people I’ve talked to who’ve seen it say they liked it, but only one of them read the book and, well, I trust you to be a better critic than them anyway.