Episode #8: Rating the Books
We’re back after a week’s vacation (I was in Vegas, baby). Instead of discussing the minor characters, which would have taken a tiny bit of preperation, we chose instead to rate the books in order from best to…least best. As Penny and I rarely agree on anything, it’s not surprising we come up with different lists, tune in to hear our reasons.
Here’s the news:
- J.K. Rowling Wins Legal Battle Against Cyber Squatters
- OoTP Trailer online (not bootleged version). Just ignore the penguins.
- Harry kisses Cho (for those of you who read the book, this will come as no surprise).
- Alfonso Cuaron talks Harry Potter - English is not his native language.
We’d also like to thank The Parselmouths for allowing us to use their song It’s Not Half Bad to add a little pizzaz to the podcast. Check the link above for their MySpace page and the rest of their music. Also don’t forget to check out the Harry Potter Podcast Coalition.
You can listen using the player below, or download the podcast directly as an mp3.
December 14th, 2006 at 1:27 pm
Great podcast guys!
My personal list, and it’s tough as well, because after #1 it’s tough to sort the middle set, my least favorite is easy.
Here’s the order…
3, 6, 4, 1, 2, 5
I’m completely opposite of you, and many others, when it comes to the films. I loved 1 & 2, and have been completely disappointed with the last two films. I think it’s because Dumbledore has been turned into a SUPER WEAK character by Michael Gambon’s portrayal, especially in GOF. He came across as lost, frustrated, and angry; not Dumbledore at all.
Anywho, keep up the good work!
December 14th, 2006 at 2:28 pm
Rob- I do agree with you on Micahel Gambon. I especially didn’t like the scent in GoF when he pulled Harry’s name out of the goblet and he screamed “harry potter? HARRY POTTER!!!!!” and then he basically shakes Harry in the trophy room. He seemed out of control which is a trait that Dumbledore never exhibited. I shudder to think how he’ll ruin the scene on the lightening struck tower in HBP.
December 14th, 2006 at 4:44 pm
That scene in GoF is one of three in the film I didn’t like. The others were Dumbledore sitting next to the pensive when Harry came up from the jury scene and Dumbledore in his office with McGonagall, and I believe Moody. He just doesn’t do the character justice. I loved Richard Harris in the role, he nailed it.
December 30th, 2006 at 2:34 am
Is that that guy’s name? Michael Gambon? I tell you what, I personally wasn’t crazy about the movies to start with, Emma was still finding her legs in the first couple, Arthur Weasley is tall, thin and balding, and Lucius, well alright, he looked great but he really didn’t get the casual snottiness quite right. but at least The first two were recognizable and Dumbledore, McGonigal and Snape were played by such phenomenal actors that they almost made up for the lack in the rest of the cast. But I totally wrote off the movies after that Michael guy showed up trying miserably to pretend that he even vaguely qualified for the role of Dumbledore. I mean where, in what book is Dumbledore described as fat, dumpy and rather pathetic?
This rant brought to you by the makers of “More like based on a book that sat on a shelf somewhere on the other side of the same room as a book by J. K. Rowling….”
Sorry I usually try not to behave like that in public.
Anyway my order goes 6,5,4,3,1,2
I loved Order of the Phoenix although admittedly the first couple of times I read it Harry’s whining did make me feel a bit uneasy. But the D. A. was just about the coolest thing the trio ever got up to at school. Chamber of secrets though? eh… I mean it was good of course but compared to the others it’s it’s just… eh.. you know?
December 30th, 2006 at 9:47 pm
Wow Bev- 6-5? I am impressed with the OoTP being so high on your list. Here is a question to throw out (and maybe I will do it in a podcast since you and I are probably the only ones still reading this thread of comments). Who do you think is THE BEST actor to portray a character in the HP books? Meaning who do you COMPLETELY believe is that character? I think I have to toss that up between Maggie Smith/McGonagal and Julie Walters/Molly Weasley. Just my thoughts.
And yes, Jason Isaacs does look good as Lucious!
December 31st, 2006 at 5:29 pm
I’m gonna chime back in here.
Bev, nice rant, Michale Gambon is horrible, period. I’d have gone for Max von Sydow personally. (http://www.imdb.com/find?q=Max+Von+Sydow&sourceid=mozilla-search)
Richard Harris embodied Dumbledore IMHO, and Maggie Smith is an excellent McGonagal! I also really like Robbie Coltrane as Hagrid (it’s a difficult thing to play someone so large!)
There’s my two cents,
Rob
January 2nd, 2007 at 6:42 am
I’m glad you guys enjoyed the rant, I’ve needed to get that off of my chest for a while now…
Richard Harris was great, but I think Maggie Smith or Alan Rickman, I could never choose. I mean Maggie was Professor McGonagal in my head before there was a movie. Alan Rickman just happens to be among my favorite actors and he’s great in everything he’s ever done. I just LOVE that guy. Maybe Maggie wins though cuz alan brings an element of sexy that I’m not sure Snape was supposed to have.
January 2nd, 2007 at 7:29 am
While I think that Alan Rickman embodies Snape (and I do imagine Snape as Rickman now when I read the books) , my only issue with him is that he is older than Snape is supposed to be. According to the HP Lexicon- Snape was born in 58 or 59 which means that when the HP books started, he was only in his early 30s. Alan Rickman is (and looks) a great deal older than that.
oh well. At least he has the pure slime and evilness that Snape needs.
August 15th, 2007 at 3:07 am
I couldn’t understand some parts of this article Episode #8: Rating the Books, but I guess I just need to check some more resources regarding this, because it sounds interesting.
May 3rd, 2008 at 5:39 am
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