The movies - too hard to understand without the books?

[Matilda]

I, like most people, have read all of the Harry Potter books. And I love them. So, being a good fan, I have always taken my whole family to the films when they come out. And although I understood them perfectly, I noticed that my family, who haven't read the books, found it a bit hard. In their words, 'Sometimes it's like a dot to dot that wasn't finished' I know people do complain because so many things have been left out of the film adaptions, and the producers say that the movies are meant to be separate, independent of the books, but does anyone else think that the movies would not do so well without the original books there to clarify with?

[Swift]

Yes i agree. Once I encouraged my little sister to watch the first and second Harry Potter movie with me but she told me she can't understand it at all. Especially Quiditch, Polyjuice potion and Hogwarts houses (she can't tell Gryffindor and Hufflepuff apart).

[Stephanie]

I was just thinking this over the weekend. I found the biggest disconnect (so far, I haven't watched them all yet) in The Order of the Phoenix. There were a lot of (important?) things left out. I am to the point that I feel that the books shoud be a pre-requisit to the movies. One can certainly watch the movies and enjoy them for what they are, but I really don't feel that the story will come together as well for someone that doesn't have the back ground of the books first. Very good question!

[Clinton]

My wife and a couple of friends who went with us to see the movie each year didn't have much trouble understanding the story. There were times when certain scenes didn't line up correctly because of missing information, but my wife and friends shrugged off the hole and moved on. I think some people enjoy the movies for what they are, an alternate retelling of the books. I try to do the same, hah, or I'd be overwhelmed by all the changes and details swept to the side to make a 1 1/2 to 2 hour movie.

Still trying to get my wife to read the books. She has not submitted yet. (sigh)

[Melanie]

For me the worst for this was the third film - they rushed through too many key ideas that come into play in later films and (even though I love film almost as much as I love reading) it was just too much style over substance. The early ones and the later ones I didn't feel suffered as much for this.

[Michael]

My father (he has never read any of the books; yeah, I don't know how we're related either) says that he also gets confused when watching the movies, but he enjoys them anyhow.

[Stepheny]

The worst interpretation was the 6th one. It was focused on the wrong aspects of the movie. It in no way shape or form prepared the viewer for the finale. It instead focused on the coming of age and love triangles. The final movie just threw everyone into the search for horcruxes when it was never clearly explained why in the movies. Also, they had Harry with the piece of broken glass in his sock through the seventh/eighth movie, with no explaination prior and a very poor explanation after. I was really disappointed in the 6th movie because it was one of the best books of the series and it really got you fired up for the finale, whereas the movie was a huge letdown and didnt set you up for anything. I think the movies are confusing even though i have read the entire series. I have never understood how people watch the movies without having read the books and can make any sense out of them.

[Matilda]

Stepheny wrote: "The worst interpretation was the 6th one. It was focused on the wrong aspects of the movie. It in no way shape or form prepared the viewer for the finale. It instead focused on the coming of age an..."

Yes! That was one of the things that everyone could not understand, the piece of broken glass.

[Matilda]

Clinton wrote: "My wife and a couple of friends who went with us to see the movie each year didn't have much trouble understanding the story. There were times when certain scenes didn't line up correctly because o..."

Mmmm, it's when you can't see the direct relevance in scenes that you get confused. I was pretty fine because of the books but the family struggled, even though they liked them. For instance, because Bill was never mentioned throughout the movies, they didn't understand who he was or why his wedding was important, and they didn't realise that his bride was Fleur from the Goblet of Fire. I think things like that you know if you've read the books, so they're overlooked, but if you haven't it makes it so hard to comprehend the storyline properly.

[Clinton]

Matilda wrote: "Clinton wrote: "My wife and a couple of friends who went with us to see the movie each year didn't have much trouble understanding the story. There were times when certain scenes didn't line up cor..."

My wife and friends did ask a lot of questions, who was who and who was doing what. So, yeah, I guess they were a little confused. Regardless, they still enjoyed the movies.

[Heidi]

No Way!

[Elene]

i took my friend with me at the last Harry Potter movie and she hasn't read the books but has seen the movies. she understood nothing

[QR]

Agree completely! So many plot-holes in the films that were well-explained in the books!

[Jeff]

One of the best scenes in the series was Dumbledore explaining to Harry what the prophecy was, why Voldemort came to his house that night, and why he is the chosen one and why he waited until now to tell him.

Watching that scene on screen was the most depressing thing I've ever witnessed and a reminder why movies suck and books succeed. Cramming all that info to a mere two minutes with just Dumbledore and Harry sitting face to face was so unemotional so boring, my brother had no idea why I was getting so upset or what was going on - or even cared.

Don't even get me started at the end of the 8th movie ending - wow. God awful.

It makes me cry just thinking about it. Unbelievable.

Thank god Emma Watson was so hot in that movie.

[Shay]

Hmm, I think it depends. I saw the first and second movie and didn't really read the books (started the first book and never finished it and didn't touch the second). I understood them perfectly and I saw them in theaters. I'm sure I was around 11 or twelve.

however, I read the others before watching the movies and if anything I was just so frustrated on what they chose to leave out. The third and fifth movie nearly killed me. I probably would have hated the sixth and the last two if I had read the books right before seeing them. However, it's been years so I basically forgot everything and the movie basically gave me a summary of what happened :D

btw, I'm reading the second book now and once again, I'm just frustrated to see how the movie left out all the good stuff! Like Arthur and Lucius fighting in a bookstore.

[Heidi]

Rike' wrote: "Hmm, I think it depends. I saw the first and second movie and didn't really read the books (started the first book and never finished it and didn't touch the second). I understood them perfectly an..."

Yeah I totally agree with you Rike!

[Ciara]

No, not really. I know there are a few questions my family often ask me, but I find that, even if I had not read all the books, I would still understand most of the movies.