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Dumbledore is dead... again

by David Haber

Almost exactly 4 years ago, as we all read the end of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince together for the first time, we experienced the death of Dumbledore, and this site became into being, as it was originally known as dumbledoreisnotdead.com. And now, with the release of the movie, we're reliving it, all over again.

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Reader Comments: (Page 6)

Bonnie Wright is acting the part of Ginny the way the movie's director (and, presumably J.K. Rowling) want her to portray it. Bonnie Wright is doing the job given to her by the movie's powers-that-be. She did not write the script either. In the books Ginny was rather matter-of-fact in her demeanor except when important events were occurring when her "blazing" side would emerge. When something in the movie doesn't seem quite right, it was due to the decisions and vision (right or wrong) of the director.

Posted by Alice from Newark on August 9, 2009 09:26 AM

I have to agree with Alice from Newark about the way the role of Ginny is being portrayed. I don't think it's Bonnie Wrights fault. I thought she was great in OOTP but the script she was given for HBP was not up to par for what the role of Ginny should've been. There was no opportunity to see the "blazing" side of Ginny because the kiss scene was changed and there was no battle at the end. I do however wonder if we may see more of her in DH than we did in the book. In the book Harry breaks up with her so she wont be in danger and says he doesn't want Voldemort to know how much she means to him or she'll be used against him. In the HBP movie, Ginny chasing Harry into the field at the burrow, and Harry rushing to protect her as Bellatrix looks on totally tells the eaters Harry and Ginny have something going on. That was something that didn't fit for me in the movie because it was such a deviation from the book, unless they're going to do things differently in DH and have Ginny more involved. And I think we did get to see a bit of the Ginny we know from the books at quidditch tryouts when she told everyone to shut up because Harry couldn't get them quiet. As my son said...."well, Ginny wears the pants in that relationship."

Posted by sm from usa on August 9, 2009 10:24 AM

I just don't think Ginny was developed well enough in the movies. My cousin said that one second she was smitten-with-Harry, silly little girl and then she started making out with all the guys she knew.

Posted by Ellimac from The Computer under the Stairs on August 10, 2009 11:57 AM

I heard that Goyles going to in the next film instead of Crabbe because the actor who plays Crabbe cant be in it because of the whole drug trial.

Posted by Jack from London on August 11, 2009 01:36 AM

Re: Dave's original comments, Amen, Amen!

Posted by slurpy from Littleton, CO on August 12, 2009 10:41 AM

Well, I don't know - it might actually be the director's/script writer's fault that Ms Wright's part is so poorly developed - after all, subtlety is not their strongest point. Just take "After the Burial". While I have to admit the scene with Slughorn and Hagrid isn't the most important for the plot (apart from the fact that the Horcrux memory is finally extracted of course) it is one of the funniest in the book and it once more shows Rowlings amazingly subtle writing style: Slughorn plays his part of being sympathetic with Aragog and respecting Hagrid's feelings extremely well. Never ever would he have uttered: "And how did you manage to it?" to Hagrid, as the movie Slughorn does. It seems a tiny thing and you might say it is not worth mentioning - but I do believe it is because it shows that Steve Kloves just can't live up to Rowling in many aspects. Just think about the way Slughorn manages to extract the spider's venom without letting Hagrid know in the book with the way he just flatly asks Hagrid in the movie! Never would Rowling let Slughorn be so tactless - her characters are so much more than that. Especially Slughorn - he is so witty and cunning - he does not need to resolve to bold measures such as stealing from the green house. Subtle distinctions Kloves seems unable to translate into his script.

But getting back to the original topic of this blog - Dumbledore's . As you said, David, his words live on in all of us who respected him - in fact I have read that Evanna Lynch has put up some of his quotes in her room, I think I take inspirations from this and do likewise - and, after all, he said: "To the well-organized mind is but the next great adventure." I am sure he lives up to this standard very well!

Posted by Siena from Nottingham, UK on August 13, 2009 06:34 AM

The whole "raising the wands to wash away the dark mark" was STUPID. They could have totally just done the buriel, met the new Minister of Magic, instead of just raising their wands. And in the Book, dumbledore doesn't fall to the ground, he just flies back a little and he is carried to the ground. They got his all wrong.

Posted by bLi on August 13, 2009 07:29 AM

Personally, I thought the raising of the lit wands was AWESOME. It showed love and respect for Dumbledore in a silent way that was very emotional. I don't believe they did it "to wash away the dark mark". I believe they did it to show their feelings for Dumbledore, and it was this out-pouring of feelings that washed away the dark mark, replacing it with light. Beautiful.

Posted by Dave Haber from Los Angeles, CA on August 13, 2009 07:51 AM

I totally agree with you Dave about the lit wands and how it was the outpouring of love from that act that washed away the dark mark replacing it with light. Technically, as JK always meant it to be that was the power of love conquering the evil and I think it was supposed to be meant that way. And I have to say it was the music playing during that part that brought me to tears.

Posted by sm from usa on August 14, 2009 01:22 AM

I agree with Dave - the scene with the lit wand showed not only respect for a fallen man who was the light and soul for so many people but also the strength of those remaining to put up a fight with a silent and most powerful weapon, love, against the dark forces symbolized by the Dark Mark. The fight of love against hatred continue by those who stand up for Dumbledore. Desperation turns into hope, not despair. Dumbledore would have wanted it that way.

Posted by Siena from Nottingham, UK on August 14, 2009 05:30 AM

Well, with all your comments in mind I went to see the movie again and noticed a few things that had escaped me the first time: When Snape is just about to step forward to cry the curse, he very briefly looks down at Harry, then the camera switches to Dumbledore who gives the tiniest, briefest nod - as if Snape was considering Harry and then sought Dumbledore's approval. It is a tiny thing but very carefully carried out. It kind of underlines the connection of the three most important characters in the books - it's excellent. Furthermore, and this is a lot more obvious so I don't know why it escaped me - when Harry enters Dumbledore's deserted office (I liked the way the camera swept over his half emptied glas of tea and the bowl with lemon slices and the letters) he picks up the Elder Wand briefly from Dumbledore's desk. This is a nice way of foreshadowing events in DH, where this wand becomes really important.

When I first saw the last scene of the movie where Harry, Ron and Hermione are standing on the Astronomy Tower overlooking the scenery I thought there wasn't enough comfort for Harry, but this time I actually noticed that Hermione, after Harry said "And I did nothing," moves slightly towards him as if she is not sure whether he wants to be comforted or not - and Harry quickly restrains her by handing her the fake Horcrux. Again this is subtle but extremely well acted by Emma Watson.

Posted by Siena from Nottingham, UK on August 17, 2009 10:08 AM

yup as someone else stated i also assume that kreature be ed instead of dobby.

but i love the books soo much that i hate when the films cut scenes or invent them thats why i hate all the films after 1 and so much.

th new dumbledore is awful...in soo many ways.

i also love how jk plants so many hints throughout her books, how could they out dumbledores which ws so moving...

Posted by alexx from london on August 19, 2009 01:07 AM

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