With a book as popular as Harry Potter, one would think it nearly impossible to create a movie that could ever capture the same essence and spirit as is found in the literature and that person would be quite correct. Creating a movie that accurately touches on major themes in the book is difficult, creating a movie that touches on major themes at all, should be relatively easy. Not so for Christopher Columbus (Home Alone I and II, Mrs. Doubtfire) director of the recently released Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, a movie that does a fair job at portraying characters but manages to leave out one of the most important elements in the book.
The movie is based around J.K. Rowling's memorable character Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe), the Boy Who Lived, and his amazing adventures through Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. In his second year a frightening monster has been unleashed on the school and it is up to Harry and his friends, Ron and Hermione (Rupert Grint and Emma Watson), to find the monster, save the day and do it all without the teachers finding out.
Throughout this paltry screenplay written by Steven Kloves (Flesh and Bone), fans of the books keep waiting for the major plot line to enter into the movie. Not only does it not appear, Columbus and Kloves seem to throw it in at the end, as if realizing their mistake only too late. This is referring to Ginny Weasley's (Ron's sister) crush on Harry Potter, a bit of fluff tossed into the mix by Rowling for entertainment, or a major part of the story and a major feature piece in later books? It is the opinion of almost all readers (obviously excluding Messrs. Columbus and Kloves) that it is the latter.
Columbus corrected his earlier mistake of creating this movie purely for children when it is more likely that audiences will be comprised of adults, who simply do not have time to read the book. He has not (emphatically not) corrected his earlier mistake of simply ignoring the fact that this movie has reached countries all over the world, it has become something of an epic among younger generations and holds followings in the billions.
Columbus and Kloves have trounced the audience in their blatant disregard of themes, they have not only shown bad form in their handling of the books, they have also glitzed, yes ladies and gents, they have liberally sprinkled Hollywood glitz onto this famous book. Movie posters, Lego sets, pre-made robes sold at Target for $10.50, t-shirts, backpacks, card games, food…all to advertise for a movie that needs no push. The simple magic of Harry Potter is slowly crumbling, like a Christmas tree in January.
Thank heavens that Columbus was removed from directing the third movie, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Alfonso Cuarón (Y tu mamá también, A Little Princess) will be directing the third installment, unfortunately Kloves will remain as writer. It may sound melodramatic but, it is the hopes of all true fans that Rowling's epic will not be passed over with such shoddy work this time around, as it has been for the last two.
Copyright Ayleeandra Rowan, nothing presented here may be used without the author's express permission.