Post by arturobrigstocke on Oct 31, 2008 19:41:49 GMT 1
So I wrote this about a year ago for an English lesson, but after watching HBP trailers [blame Julie XD], I had a craving to rant ad David Yates, so here we go =3
Despite being the fourth director to work on the Harry Potter films, David Yeats entirely failed to make this film any better than the rest. Like his predecessors, Yeats seems to be a fan of cutting all important, explanatory scenes in favour of sticking in needless and relentless action, which whilst being cinematographically pleasing, leaves viewers lost and confused.
As well as appearing physically incapable of explaining the plot to innocent cinema-goers, Yeats would seem to think of him self as an appendage of J.K.’s brain. Just to clear it up, Neville didn’t find the room of requirements, Cho didn’t betray the DA and Luna’s mum wasn’t killed in a backfiring experiment, as anyone who has read the book would know, and I can assure you, I have, although weather Mr Yeats has is doubtful.
One slight note in Yeats’ favour, he did do a passable job in terms of the design of the set. Well, in the Ministry of Magic at least. For once, Yeats stuck to the text and the Hall of Prophecies was brought splendidly onto the big screen. Shame all the other rooms were cut out to make space for an explosive fight scene involving exciting bursts of smoke that I’m sure never came within 20 miles of Ms Rowling’s mind.
Another problem I had with the film was the casting. I’m not sure how far this had anything to do with Yeats, so I won’t berate him about it, although I will say that the films version of Tonks, Belatrix and Luna were nothing like how they were described in the book, so it wouldn’t surprise me if David had a hand in it. I can’t say too much about Tonks, as her character was all but axed from the film [we did get that lovely scene of them all flying over London, though], but Luna did not have dirty blonde hair [like it says in the book] and was inexplicably Irish, whilst Belatrix looked more like she belonged in a mental asylum than “The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black”. In addition to this - and I’m afraid I cannot blame this on Yeats, unless he spends his spare time being worse a hairdresser than he is a director - Harry’s hair. I do not think I need to illustrate that point further.
Then there were some things that were just badly done. Like Sirius’ falling into the veil. Even without knowing what happens in the book it seems awfully cliché, and with that knowledge it’s just wildly inaccurate [as well as awfully cliché]. Although that may come under changing the script for no apparent reason, which I have already covered. Now, I understand it’s difficult to fit a whole book into a 2.5 hour film, but having someone step through a veil takes a lot less time film wise and production wise than having them float off like a fairy.
Finally there’s Voldemort’s possession of Harry. The less said about that the better. And for all you saying “What? Voldemort possessed Harry? Must have missed that.”, Yes, it did happen, and yes, David Yeats probably forgot to mention it. I would attempt to explain, but I’m sure if I were to I would be chased around my house by an empty suit of armour with a battle axe [beautifully brought to life by our CGI team] to prevent me from doing any such thing.
Despite being the fourth director to work on the Harry Potter films, David Yeats entirely failed to make this film any better than the rest. Like his predecessors, Yeats seems to be a fan of cutting all important, explanatory scenes in favour of sticking in needless and relentless action, which whilst being cinematographically pleasing, leaves viewers lost and confused.
As well as appearing physically incapable of explaining the plot to innocent cinema-goers, Yeats would seem to think of him self as an appendage of J.K.’s brain. Just to clear it up, Neville didn’t find the room of requirements, Cho didn’t betray the DA and Luna’s mum wasn’t killed in a backfiring experiment, as anyone who has read the book would know, and I can assure you, I have, although weather Mr Yeats has is doubtful.
One slight note in Yeats’ favour, he did do a passable job in terms of the design of the set. Well, in the Ministry of Magic at least. For once, Yeats stuck to the text and the Hall of Prophecies was brought splendidly onto the big screen. Shame all the other rooms were cut out to make space for an explosive fight scene involving exciting bursts of smoke that I’m sure never came within 20 miles of Ms Rowling’s mind.
Another problem I had with the film was the casting. I’m not sure how far this had anything to do with Yeats, so I won’t berate him about it, although I will say that the films version of Tonks, Belatrix and Luna were nothing like how they were described in the book, so it wouldn’t surprise me if David had a hand in it. I can’t say too much about Tonks, as her character was all but axed from the film [we did get that lovely scene of them all flying over London, though], but Luna did not have dirty blonde hair [like it says in the book] and was inexplicably Irish, whilst Belatrix looked more like she belonged in a mental asylum than “The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black”. In addition to this - and I’m afraid I cannot blame this on Yeats, unless he spends his spare time being worse a hairdresser than he is a director - Harry’s hair. I do not think I need to illustrate that point further.
Then there were some things that were just badly done. Like Sirius’ falling into the veil. Even without knowing what happens in the book it seems awfully cliché, and with that knowledge it’s just wildly inaccurate [as well as awfully cliché]. Although that may come under changing the script for no apparent reason, which I have already covered. Now, I understand it’s difficult to fit a whole book into a 2.5 hour film, but having someone step through a veil takes a lot less time film wise and production wise than having them float off like a fairy.
Finally there’s Voldemort’s possession of Harry. The less said about that the better. And for all you saying “What? Voldemort possessed Harry? Must have missed that.”, Yes, it did happen, and yes, David Yeats probably forgot to mention it. I would attempt to explain, but I’m sure if I were to I would be chased around my house by an empty suit of armour with a battle axe [beautifully brought to life by our CGI team] to prevent me from doing any such thing.
