connielane | Are you reading, WB?

Probably not. :P But there's been a lot of hubbub about Deathly Hallows being split into two movies, and a lot of freaking out about them possibly splitting the movie where Ron runs off, causing the non-reader audience to think Ron is a complete jerk for several months, or however long it is between movies. Personally, I feel like that particular moment is too early in the story to make the split, and what's more, I think the filmmakers are well aware of it.

I brought this up a few months ago, adding that the other big OMG moment would be where the Trio is kidnapped and taken to Malfoy Manor, which I feel is too late for the split. Then the lovely and brilliant

divinemum had the wonderful idea that they might split the movie when the Trio has to flee from the Lovegood house. The more I think about it, the more I'm in love with the idea, and here are a few reasons why.

1. If Deathly Hallows is going to be two movies, it needs to, you know, BE two movies. There has to be a beginning, a middle, and an end to both of them, even if the end of part 1 is not the end of the story. Cutting the film, not right when Ron runs away but shortly after he returns gives a satisfactory "ending." Not only do we have the Trio friendship (well, at least the Harry-Ron friendship :P) restored, we also get a big climax-y moment when the Locketcrux is destroyed, we see the last really meaningful obstacle removed from the R/Hr romance, and there are some important clues dropped about events in the second half. This should give the movie sufficient juice to sustain the wait and make people want to see the second half.

But of course, you can't cut it at Ron's return either, because it's anti-climactic. So...

2. Cutting it when the Trio flees from the Lovegood house gives a proper cliffhanger The Trio is about to be caught, Hermione does her thing, and they disappear. To Be Continued. Where did they go? Were they tailed? What happens next? That's an appropriate cliffhanger for this kind of story - not an emotional cliffhanger (will Ron return?) but an ACTION cliffhanger. It could be really awesome.

And it still leaves us on the right emotional note. You've just had this incredibly moving reaffirmation of the Trio friendship, which is amplified so beautifully by them seeing the mural in Luna's room (reminding us, too, just before the end, of Luna, Ginny, and Neville). And Xeno's betrayal of the Trio to try and get Luna back is a great piece of the "families torn apart" theme. Perfect.

But the most important reason of all...

3. The scene with Xenophilius is the first time we hear about the titular Deathly Hallows. It ends part 1 like most of the other movies have ended, with an important bit of exposition. And it's the perfect way to set up the Hallows and their importance in part 2. And, you know, if you're going to call it part 1 of a movie called "Deathly Hallows," introducing the Hallows at a key moment in the film is probably a good idea. :P

I'm fairly confident that Steve Kloves and whoever is directing DH can figure all this out without my help. But I thought I'd put this out there for the benefit of fans who might be skittish about where the split might happen - since it's seeming more and more like yes, there's going to BE a split.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I still can't fathom where they would stop the first part. People keep thinking it'll be when Ron comes back, but it's all the scenes AFTER that that are important! Fuck, the first half is fucking dull compared to the second, ugh!

Think about it: the first half will have all the camping rubbish, and the three of them being pissy little shits the entire time because of the locket, and I reckon they're cutting out the wedding/DE attack because the former was never introduced and the latter's already in HBP, so no need to be repetitive. Are we really going to have another tedious run in the Ministry again? What about Kreacher - how much are we getting from him? I mean, the Godric's Hollow scene will be fantastic, but fucking hell, more dreams for Harry where he's not sure what's going on??

Then you've got the second part (if it's after Ron's return), where the three of them are happier and eager to find Horcruxes; we THEN find out about the sodding Deathly Hallows, which is hilarious because the first volume won't have shit about them, lmao; then all the action scenes at Malfoy Manor, Gringotts, and of course, the entire battle at Hogwarts.

Why even watch the first half? Let me know when the second volume's out and I'll go watch that.

Also, it's pretty much generally assumed that Yates is doing the seventh. If you saw his interview at the Empires last weekend, you can tell how coy he was about that particular question, and the slight smile on his face when he tried to evade. He probably signed the contract ages ago.

Um, did you read my whole post? :P I think the scene where they have to escape the Lovegood house is the perfect place to split, mainly because that's where the Hallows are introduced, and it's a good action climax. The Trio would just disappear and everyone would wonder what happened and (more importantly) what would happen next.

I'm fairly confident that Steve Kloves and whoever is directing DH can figure all this out without my help.

Ulp. Dear God, I'm not confident about anything connected with Steve Kloves.

Well, whether or not he "gets" the HP series and its characters (which is a whole other discussion), he's a successful (and Oscar-nominated) professional screenwriter for a reason. At the very least, he has a good grasp of storytelling technique and the structural demands of a film script. Which is all one would need, I'd think, to see what would make a good place and a bad place to split a big film into two.

*blushes*

*is flattered*

I think you're absolutely dead on as to why that would be a great place to break up the two movies.

That all sounds pretty good to me!

And is it terribly sad of me to hope that they might even add some stuff if it's two movies. Like, you know, the counter-trio at Hogwarts. :P

And is it terribly sad of me to hope that they might even add some stuff if it's two movies. Like, you know, the counter-trio at Hogwarts. :P

No way! It's one of the positive things I can think about the split! Seeing the counter-trio restarting the DA, trying to steal the sword, Neville and the DA living in the RoR for the last few weeks and Snape as Headmaster?? YES PLZ.

This is all things shiny.

*nods*

The Silver Doe chapter is right smack in the middle of the book, so I always assumed it'd be cut right after Ron returns. However, I do think the second half of the book is much more action packed, and they'll probably want to get as much out of the way as they can in part one so they can focus a huge amount of time on the final battle.

I would say I'd like to subscribe to your newsletter, but I think I already do. :)

several months, or however long it is between movies

Six months, apparently!

They're also confirming Yates for both films.

It makes sense to me that they split the book into two movies at a point after the half-way point in the book. Isn't the climax of the movies generally proportionately longer than the same sequence in the books? It seems like the moviemakers usually like to keep all or most of the dramatic ending, while cutting lots of other things, so the ending takes up more of the movie.

The whole battle of Hogwarts sequence is going to be long. Add to that the Malfoy Manor and Gringotts episodes and you have plenty for a movie, I think. The first half then is the escape from the Dursleys, the wedding, the Ministry, camping and Godric's Hollow, and the Lovegoods. I kind of hope they manage to keep the wedding in. With maybe 5 total hours for the book, they can afford to reinsert plot points that have been left out like Bill and Fleur!

Anyway I like all of your points and I'm excited this is really happening....

Just thinking more. The difference between ending it when they leave the Lovegoods' and when they are captured and go to Malfoy Manor is only one chapter, and that chapter consists of 1. The Trio talking about the Hallows, and 2. Listening to the radio broadcast. I think I might be more inclined to leave that chapter in the first film, so they can get a little time on-screen processing what they've learned about the Hallows, you know, discussing what Xeno told them and what it all means. A coda to the action sequence. The radio broadcast is also a nice, hopeful, positive moment to have near the end. Then their capture before they are brought to the Malfoys could be the cliffhanger.

The second movie would then start with the Malfoy Manor action sequence, like a Bond film always starts with some action, and then the Shell Cottage sequence would let us breathe a little. I'm a little concerned about Dobby's death being so near the beginning of the film, but I think it's better in the second one so that can tie in with the mention of Dobby that prompts the R/Hr kiss. So I think I still like the break right before Malfoy Manor best.

I may keep changing my mind every few minutes. :) Of course, everything we say assumes that won't mix up the order of events, which they might find a clever way of doing!

*edits my next post, because the thought of ending it on the high note of Potterwatch, followed immediately by the "oh, crap" moment is too delicious*

Exactly!!

I just posted over at your other post, too....

I heard about this yesterday and was thinking where it would start and end and I think that is a great idea. Although they could have three movies and one of them could just be Harry and Hermione camping out cause that felt like it took up about a 1/3 of the book ;)

Are you reading, WB?

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject