Actually, i believe those names were chosen for that purpose exactly.

There is one good side to the Harry Potter movies. They're better than the books.

Besides, I didn't think the movies were that bad. They were tollorable.

The movies are definitely not better than the books! I don't think that I have ever seen a movie based on a book that was better than the book itself. The movies are told from someone else's ideas and imagery. Books are completely in your head and based on your imagination alone; tons more visuals and feeling than any movie can convey.

*Looks around to see if Gromit is in the vicinity - steps out. clears throat*

I agree with Topher.

*ducks back around corner*

Yes, topher, the trouble is that books 4, 5 and 6 were a bit rubbish.

You shouldn't be appreciating films for the same reason you appreciate books anyway. The film is one person's interpretation of the story and the quality of the film should reflect how well that person realises what can and can't be 'ported' (for wont of a better term) and uses his own imagination to fill in the gaps or make it work on the big screen. I don't hear anyone complaining that the Lord of the Rings films were bad and yet by your standards they were awful.

Don't forget the directors and scriptwriters have it pretty tough because everyone knows what's going to happen and the film will only ever be rated on strength and originality of interpretation, not on quality of plot, writing etc.

Yes, it could have been better, but it could also have been a damn sight worse. The director did an excellent job with his materials; moulding and shaping the story into a workable film. More power to him. (I still stand by my statement that Grint and Radcliffe are naff)

Hairy Pothead.

oh wait: sorry I meant Harry Potter, what a mistake to make.

I must agree that mainstream movies do seem to be lacking in ideas, But really that's only the major ones that are all just CGI and schtuff. Hairy Pothead, King Kong, Doom, Halo, film-makers have been recycling stories for ages. I'm just glad that the comic book movie fad is somewhat over (except for the V for Vendetta trailer I saw) and really the only succesful movie-from-comic-book films were X-Men and Constantine. (Based on HellBlazer for those who didn't know)

However, Last night, I did venture to the movie house to see a rather well made film after watching the original a couple of days beforehand at a mate's place:

Saw and Saw II

There is a small part here that is hometown pride (James Wan and Leigh Whannell are both from melbourne) but really is way more interesting than any of the recent movies to be released and is a brilliant psychological thriller which isn't really gory, but the imagination is used to fill in the blanks. Okay, if you're old enough to watch saw and saw ii, then do so.

But enough of my praise of Saw.

The truth is that in nearly every industry, the truly remarkable, original films, albums, books and art are usually really badly promoted, or just not released everywhere. But there is a market for it, a niche market for all the cool original stuff that the major companies won't touch because it could lose them money. A shame that the games industry doesnt have that niche development companies.

-:-
Kill The Revolution

its not bad but i'd prefer star wars

"Do or do not, there is no try"

I have to admit, I finally read the first book. Okay, what I really have to admit is that I finally read the first book... and it only took three days.
Not long I assume for many of you, but considering these days I don't read that often (the only time I get time is when I am in bed, which is about 20 mins - or when I am on the bus for 2 hours... in which case I spend most of it feeling travel sick!), then I put in ALOT of time to read it.

Needless to say, the perfect way to sum it up is... I am now halfway through the second book, with a firm intent to read them all.

Really, really, really enjoying them so far! Okay, they are not the best written pieces of work by any stretch, but by crikey, they manage to keep me glued to the pages like, well, like not many other books have managed in some time!

Same with me. When I was reading the second book I got so rapped up, I read 200 pages in like 5/6 hours.

bah, i couldb e a marathon reader i read so fast! just reading at school in spare time i can finish the first one in about 2-3 days or less, depends.As for the books, they are pretty good, movies are terrible they screwed up the ending on either sorcerers stone or chamber of secrets, think it was CoS, not sure though. anyway harry potter is no comparison for my all time favorite, the wheel of time series. owns almost every other fantasy series out therem except maybe be tolkein or C.S lewis.