HP3

[drcpunk]

Almost done with an Ilyria rant for the last Angel ep. Meanwhile, mnemex and I caught the third HP movie last night. I enjoyed it a lot, more so than the book. Naturally, we did have .

1. They didn't fire their Chekhov's Gun. While totally minor, this offends me the most. It is established carefully that

a) Harry can't go on trips to the village because he hasn't got the right form signed.

b) Only a parent or guardian can sign it, and his muggle relatives who are his guardians won't.

c) Sirius is his godfather and thus also a guardian.

It would take all of 30 seconds to fire the danged gun. I don't care if it's dealt with in the next movie. This movie ought to be able to stand alone, thank you very much. Heck, just have the form be in the package Sirius sends at the end, and have Hermione mention that she suggested it to him.

2. Sirius Black was accused of, and Peter Pettigrew actually committed, not just the betrayal of Harry's parents, but also the murder of 20 wizards. I'd forgotten this. It bugged mnemex more than me, but it changes the whole feel of things. Yes, I'm of the opinion that Pettigrew ought to have died rather than betray Harry's folks, but one can understand why he didn't. Killing 20 people to fake his own death is on a completely different level. This may be deliberate.

3. The explanation of how Sirius escaped, along with that lovely bit about how the knowledge of his innocence couldn't be taken from him because it bought him no joy, was dropped. Not essential, but I wish it'd been there.

4. The explanation of the creators of the Cool Map was dropped. I wish it hadn't, as it explains the glowy stag.

Comments

[avram]

Um, doesn’t the movie (and book) end with Sirius still a hunted escaped convict? How is Harry going to explain that he got an escaped, on-the-run convict to sign his permission slip? Wouldn’t the aurors come around asking Harry some pointed questions?

[stormsweeper.livejournal.com]

Well, Dumbledore (and to a lesser extent Prof. McGonagal) are the only ones who would need to see the form, and they don't seem to be terribly friendly with most of the Aurors. In the book, Harry gets the note (not an actual permission form, just a note) and remarks that it will be good enough for Dumbledore, and given that he doesn't have to sneak out to Hogsmeade in the next two books, I presume that it was.

[drcpunk.livejournal.com]

And, after all, this is a bureaucracy thing. The form must be signed by someone fitting X definition, even if that makes no sense. Therefore, if the form is signed, all is well, even if that makes no sense. This is consistent with many bureaucratic experiences I've had and have heard about.

Re:

[avram]

Missing my point: If it’s a bureaucracy thing, then the form has to get filed somewhere, and someone who isn’t Dumbledore might see it. Like the school’s board, who have in the past allowed themselves to be shoved around by Mr Malfoy. Who might then learn that Harry’s had contact with Sirius.

[drcpunk.livejournal.com]

I think it would get filed with, well, the school. Probably what's-his-name -- Finch? Filch? And he'd either leave it on file because that's what he does, or leave it there because that's what Dumbledore says to do. And either no one would look for at it again, because, well, in the books where this has happened already, no one has, or someone would, and we'd get a Plot Point.

[drcpunk.livejournal.com]

Oh, and everyone -knows- Harry had contact with Sirius. Snape was a witness. Continuing contact? Don't be absurd! Why, the man's a sick mass murderer, who betrayed the lad's parents. And clearly insane, as he left this note, but the rules do say it's good enough...