10 Worst Changes the Harry Potter Movies Made From the Books

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In Harry Potter, viewers were introduced to an enchanting realm filled with wizards, spells, and magical beings. Derived from a popular series of books by the same name, the movies made adjustments or modifications to certain characters and scenes to suit the demands of visual storytelling and time constraints. Regrettably, not all these adaptations from book to screen were beneficial.

Although the overall enchantment of the series remains, several alterations appear uncalled-for, ill-thought-out, or downright peculiar. Grasping a few might be possible, but collectively, they come across as squandered chances we hope the forthcoming reboot can address and improve.

10
Removing Peeves

In the books, Peeves is a charming and mischievous poltergeist, frequently causing trouble for Filch or breaking into song. Surprisingly, Peeves did not appear in the Harry Potter movies, despite other ghosts being present. Although his absence didn’t significantly affect the storyline, readers who had enjoyed his amusing escapades in the books were disappointed by his absence.

Left on the Cutting Room Floor

In the novel, it was during the Battle of Hogwarts that Peeves’ non-appearance was most conspicuous. He had been instrumental in aiding students in defending the school and even in pranking the irritable Umbridge earlier. Interestingly, scenes featuring Rik Mayall as Peeves were filmed initially, but ultimately omitted from the final cut.

9
Neville’s Chosen One Story

In the books, Neville Longbottom, portrayed by Matthew Lewis, was a more fully developed character compared to his movie counterpart. While the films do provide subtle hints regarding his past struggles like his emotional response to Professor Moody’s use of the Cruciatus Curse, they fail to delve deeper into the impact this curse had on Neville’s parents, who were driven mad by it. Additionally, the film series does not explore the possibility that the Chosen One prophecy, connected with Harry Potter, could have just as easily been about Neville.

Trelawney’s Prophecy

In her prediction, Professor Trelawney stated that the Chosen One would be born at the end of July to individuals who had challenged him three times. Voldemort interpreted this as referring to Harry, but it was also true for Neville since he too was born in late July and his parents had resisted Voldemort on three occasions. By targeting Harry, Voldemort identified him, thus fulfilling the prophecy. However, if Voldemort had targeted Neville instead, he could have been the Boy Who Lived instead.

8
Marauders’ Backstory

According to the books, the group known as the Marauders included James Potter, Sirius Black, Peter Pettigrew, and Remus Lupin. They constructed the Marauder’s Map for fun and mischief purposes. Additionally, all four of them turned into unregistered Animagi, supporting Lupin who was a werewolf. Their nicknames were Padfoot, Prongs, Wormtail, and Moony. The books provide an in-depth look at the Marauders’ past, but surprisingly, this significant part of their storyline was absent from the movie adaptation.

Confusing for Movie-Only Watchers

If you haven’t read the books, the appearance of the Marauder’s Map might have left you puzzled since Lupin seemed to know how to use it without explaining its purpose, and it just appeared unexpectedly. Moreover, the history of the Marauders played a significant role in the later conflicts with Peter and the tragic loss of both Sirius and Lupin. In summary, while the Marauder’s backstory didn’t significantly alter the plot, it added depth that those who had read the books were already familiar with.

7
Harry’s Successful Use of The Cruciatus Curse

In the Harry Potter series, Harry twice made unsuccessful attempts to cast the Crucio curse, a form of torture. The initial try was following Bellatrix’s murder of Sirius, and despite his efforts to use it against her in the movies, he failed because his intentions were not genuine. Furthermore, in the books but not the films, Harry attempted and failed to use Crucio on Snape. To make matters worse, in the books, Harry successfully used Crucio on Amycus after the latter spat on McGonagall, a scene that does not appear in the movies.

Harry’s Darkness

Despite the brief encounter, Harry’s proficient application of the Cruciatus Curse underscored the profound impact events had on him. It further hinted at an unsettling aspect within him that derived pleasure from inflicting pain. Had he allowed this side to flourish, he might have transformed into a dark wizard or engaged in increasingly sinister acts, all under the pretense of righteousness.

6
Ron’s Character

In the books, Ron Weasley stands as Harry Potter’s fearless and devoted friend, but in the films, a significant number of his most memorable lines were assigned to Hermione instead. This shift often worked in Hermione’s favor, but it didn’t always align with logic, and it sometimes portrayed Ron unfavorably.

In the book version, Ron clarifies the term “Mudblood” to Harry, whereas in the films, Hermione provides the explanation, even though she shouldn’t know what it means. Similarly, in the first book, Ron is the one who reassures a frightened Hermione that she’s a witch so she can cast a spell against Devil’s Snare. In the movie adaptation, Hermione recalls the spell by herself, while Rupert Grint’s film character, Ron, is the one who gets scared instead.

Less of a Gryffindor, Less of a Friend

Regrettably, the modifications to Ron’s character seemed to make him less heroic as a Gryffindor and a friend overall. He frequently found himself as the target of jokes rather than the one telling them, and he seldom defended Hermione or Harry when they needed it most. For example, in a Potions class, Snape called Hermione a know-it-all. In the book, Ron supported her by questioning Snape’s motive for asking a question if he didn’t want an answer. This action aligns more with Gryffindor courage and camaraderie, which is what we had anticipated from his on-screen version.

5
Ginny and Harry’s Relationship

Similar to her brother, Ginny underwent a significant transformation in the films, unfortunately leaning towards negative traits. In the books, she’s bold, self-assured, and humorous; however, in the movies, she appears shy and submissive. This change made it challenging for viewers to support her relationship with Harry, particularly since they shared minimal screen time and seemed to lack a genuine connection.

Bad Character, Bad Romance

In the portrayal of Ginny Weasley by Bonnie Wright, it appeared that she was largely limited in depth and complexity, often functioning more as a romantic stereotype than a fully-fledged character. To make matters worse, her involvement in Quidditch matches and Dumbledore’s Army diminished significantly, and the instances where she tried to flirt with Harry (like tying his shoelaces) were not only inconsistent with book-Ginny’s personality but also seemed unnecessary and uncomfortable, serving little purpose in advancing the storyline.

4
SPEW and Winky

In the world of Harry Potter, my perspective has always been that the treatment of house elves has been a contentious issue in its lore. It’s troubling enough that they appear to willingly submit to enslavement, but what makes it even more disconcerting is the casual acceptance of this by most characters within the story.

However, Hermione Granger recognized the mistreatment for what it truly was and took action. She founded the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare (SPEW) to challenge the existing system and fight for their rights. Regrettably, many house elves, like the character Winky who only appears in the books, showed little interest in Hermione or her society.

One of Hermione’s Best Traits

It’s odd how movie-Hermione ended up with many of Ron’s significant scenes and lines, considering her actions in SPEW were already quite heroic. She recognized a problem that most others (apart from Dobby) seemed unaware or unconcerned about. Although we can appreciate why the uncomfortable plot line was cut from the movies, it felt unfair to Hermione, who was so passionate about combating injustice.

3
Cut Challenges in Sorcerer’s Stone

In their pursuit to obtain the Sorcerer’s Stone, the golden trio encountered numerous hurdles. The first four obstacles, present in both the book and movie, required them to subdue Fluffy, battle Devil’s Snare, catch a flying key, and play a game of Wizard’s chess. Yet, the last two challenges, fighting a troll and solving a potion riddle, were exclusive additions from the book.

More Hermione Slander

In the story of “Sorcerer’s Stone,” each character faced personal trials designed specifically for them. Chess symbolized Ron, flying keys represented Harry, and potions were meant for Hermione. However, instead of participating in her own challenge, Hermione tended to an injured Ron, allowing Harry to continue alone. While dealing with the troll could be excused as it highlighted Quirrell’s relationship with these creatures, leaving out the potions challenge denied Hermione a chance to demonstrate her strengths and character.

2
Voldemort’s Backstory

As a devoted cinephile, I can’t help but feel that Voldemort, much like Neville, Ginny, and Ron, was richer and more complex in the books. In the films, his backstory remains largely untold, leaving only glimpses of his past as an orphan who detested his father and non-magical folk. Regrettably, the movies barely touch upon his time at Hogwarts or how his mother’s dark actions played a significant role in shaping him into the villain we know. Consequently, the cinematic Voldemort appears one-dimensional, making it challenging to empathize with him and, ultimately, diminishing the captivating essence of this iconic character.

What Makes a Villain?

Exploring Voldemort’s past doesn’t condone his terrible deeds. Instead, it adds depth to a character who rejected humanity. The reasons behind Voldemort’s pursuit of eternal life and dominance become clearer with his sad history. Furthermore, learning about how Voldemort transformed sheds light on the path Harry might have taken if he had followed a similar route.

1
Voldemort’s Death Scene

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but express my disappointment with how the films chose to portray Voldemort’s demise. The movies significantly abridged crucial aspects of his backstory, and they didn’t do justice to his final moments either. In the books, Voldemort’s death was straightforward yet somewhat anticlimactic, happening in the Great Hall when the Elder Wand refused to harm Harry, instead striking Voldemort with the rebounded killing curse. However, in the movies, they opted for a more dramatic scene, having them battle outside, only for Voldemort to seemingly disintegrate into a cloud of ash after being disarmed. While this death may have been more cinematic, it fell far short thematically—not just for Voldemort but also for the series as a whole.

Magic and Mortality

In addition to various events preceding Voldemort’s demise being modified, including the leap from the astronomy tower and an unusual encounter between him and Draco involving embraces, it is his death scene that underwent the most significant transformation.

Voldemort’s odyssey was characterized by his assertions of supremacy and determination to vanquish Death. However, his cinematic demise hinted at something beyond humanity, whereas the crux of his literary death was to underscore his inherent vulnerability and humanness.

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2025-01-05 20:02