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30 Day HP Meme, Day 27
Aug. 17th, 2010 10:23 pm27. What aspect of the books has been most poorly translated to film?
You know, I think this question is best answered by speaking to someone who's seen the films but not read the books. I can't be bothered to go out and grill my brother, though, so I'll say that I think what will always be missing in a film series adapted from books is the complexity of the story. I think the complexity is especially lacking in HP, because adapted fantasy tends to be more about the wow that's big and shiny and visually stunning, than hey, this story is fascinating and mostly in-tact.
One specific thing I think fails to translate onto film is the word 'Mudblood'. Maybe it's just me, but when I read the books it was very easy to believe that that word was deeply offensive, but when an actor says it it just sounds kind of dumb? Somehow, made up racial slurs just don't have the impact when said aloud that they have on paper, within the context of a complex story? Perhaps its also that I hadn't read the first two books when I saw CoS, and the 'no one asked you, you filthy little Mudblood' scene and the explanation that followed sort of popped out of nowhere. So yeah. I don't think that translates particularly well.
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You know, I think this question is best answered by speaking to someone who's seen the films but not read the books. I can't be bothered to go out and grill my brother, though, so I'll say that I think what will always be missing in a film series adapted from books is the complexity of the story. I think the complexity is especially lacking in HP, because adapted fantasy tends to be more about the wow that's big and shiny and visually stunning, than hey, this story is fascinating and mostly in-tact.
One specific thing I think fails to translate onto film is the word 'Mudblood'. Maybe it's just me, but when I read the books it was very easy to believe that that word was deeply offensive, but when an actor says it it just sounds kind of dumb? Somehow, made up racial slurs just don't have the impact when said aloud that they have on paper, within the context of a complex story? Perhaps its also that I hadn't read the first two books when I saw CoS, and the 'no one asked you, you filthy little Mudblood' scene and the explanation that followed sort of popped out of nowhere. So yeah. I don't think that translates particularly well.
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