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10-29-2003, 09:53 PM
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* Chris Columbus Slammed - Criticism of Potter Film Summary:
Brit directors criticse Americanisation of Potter Article: PARKER SLAMS POTTER
British director SIR ALAN PARKER has slammed American movie maker CHRIS COLUMBUS for making the first HARRY POTTER film "terrible".
The EVITA film-maker claims Columbus' HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE is too "Americanised", and maintains both he and fellow Brit TERRY GILLIAM would have made a better effort of author JK ROWLING's magical franchise.
He says, "It was terrible. Absolutely awful. I would have made it so much better than Chris Columbus."
Sir Alan was reportedly considered to take on the franchise before it was handed to the HOME ALONE director - but Parker is convinced he would have never been offered the challenge.
He says, "I like to have creative control and do things my way. It was Americanised. The finance was coming from BURGER KING. They wanted it a certain way.
"Terry Gilliam would have made a better film than me."
29/10/2003 14:06
thanks to Contactmusic  | |
10-30-2003, 01:35 AM
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#26 (permalink)
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Location: England Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 209
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i think the problem with making it to British is that it wouldnt appeal to most of the world as most wouldt understand the underlying humour that a british director would add to the movie that is already in the book but lost on most, i would suspect that JK doesn't even relise that some of the humour is there until she has re-read the books as it is kind of second nature to us. Take James Bond films for instance they are the best spoof films in the world but it seems that only the British relise this and is the reason why Austin Powers is a pile of junk as you cant make a spoof of a spoof. | 
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10-30-2003, 01:42 AM
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#27 (permalink)
| | Bundimun
Join Date: Aug 2003
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I agree, the man was totally out of line with the whole "americanized thing", but I do agree with for the most part. I mean, the movies weren't horrible, but that was only because they followed the basic storyline of the books, which are undescribably amazing. I expect much more from HP films than what Chris delivered. He catered to little kids, and made the films quite cheesy in some spots! | |
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10-30-2003, 02:19 AM
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#28 (permalink)
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Quote: Originally posted by Dumbledore@Oct 29 2003, 04:33 PM
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The movies were very much Americanized, and absolutely in the "Hollywood" spirit of doing things, rather than the way many of us imagined it to be in our heads from Jo's very descriptive writing.
I think the whole look and feel would have likely been very different if directed by a European director. I look greatly forward to Cuarón's contribution in Prisoner of Azkaban. Should (hopefully) be a vast improvement over the (imo) overly-sentimental methods of Chris Columbus.
The guys is a fine fellow and certainly good in his own right, but imo (in my opinion) doesn't capture the essence of Jo's magical world the way it should have been. | | I couldn't disagree with you much more. I don't think the film was that Americanized. Sure there were things here and there, but for the most part, I feel it was excelent! Maybe I'm biased because I'm from the US, but I don't think I am. Plus, I've wanted to live in the UK since I was like 5, which is before the Potter series came out. I think I have an open mind to what was said. It's that guy's opinion. Mine just doesn't agree.
It may've been different with a European director, but it may not've been too. I know for a fact, that JK Rowling had the say in every move that was made on the first movie. It's not fair to blame Chris Columbus for it, when she had just as much (if not more) say in the action and "Americanization" of the movie.
I can definately wait for Cuaron's Prisoner of Azkaban, because from what I've seen it's going to stink! I for one, imagined almost everything the way it was in Chamber of Secrets AND Philosopher's/Sorceror's Stone. Most of the people I know, feel the exact same was as I do. I might just not like Cuaron's style because of the fact that they're hardly wearing wizard clothes in the movie at all, or maybe it's the fact that he's messing everything up. I mean this is my favorite book, and it's going to be an awful movie (from what I've seen). I also know for a fact that they have to reshoot most of the movie, because he didn't do a good job. What does that say for his work?
I'm sorry if I sound like a complete jerk for saying that, it's just that I'm currently suffering from a pain disorder and Harry Potter is the only thing that gets my mind off the pain. I've had a headache for nearly 2 months and it hurts to read, so I have to do the next best thing. | |
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10-30-2003, 02:21 AM
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#29 (permalink)
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Quote: Originally posted by CaptainDavies18@Oct 29 2003, 07:27 PM
I expect much more from HP films than what Chris delivered. He catered to little kids, and made the films quite cheesy in some spots! | Chris Colubus didn't write the script. Blame the cheesy parts on Steve Kloves. | |
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10-30-2003, 02:25 AM
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#30 (permalink)
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Location: tampa, florida Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,341
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i know i thought the same thing i thought that cuaron was going to mess up the movie cuz the people wearing regular clothes rather than wearing wizard robes and malfoz having his hair parted and down i thought it was going to be horrible but u never know wat is gongi to happen i just hope he doesnt mess up the POA cuz it is my favorite book. | |
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10-30-2003, 02:28 AM
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#31 (permalink)
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Location: tampa, florida Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,341
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Quote: Originally posted by flipper+Oct 29 2003, 08:06 PM-->| QUOTE (flipper @ Oct 29 2003, 08:06 PM) | Chris Colubus didn't write the script. Blame the cheesy parts on Steve Kloves. [/b][/quote]
yea true Chris didnt write the script but he is was the director and he could have made it uncheesier | |
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10-30-2003, 02:29 AM
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#32 (permalink)
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Have you seen what he has been doing to them? They took away their costumes! I mean! People like to dress up! lol. He only hates Christopher Columbus because its the guy who brought englandish people away and to our country! lol. Sorry.... hadda say it... | |
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10-30-2003, 02:35 AM
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#33 (permalink)
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Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 714
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Quote: Originally posted by EmMa_WaTsOn89@Oct 29 2003, 08:13 PM
yea true Chris didnt write the script but he is was the director and he could have made it uncheesier | I disagree, i don't think the movies were cheesy, actually i think they were great.
And i love what Cuaron is doing with PoA, the new robes are great, but off course that credit goes to the costume designers.
PoA is going to be a great movie. | |
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10-30-2003, 02:38 AM
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#34 (permalink)
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Location: The Good Ole' US. Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 268
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I think it was brushed over in some parts. In the books, there is more humour in them, and a lot of the humour is the kind that only British people and people that are often exposed to British humour will get. Sometimes, I feel like the actors weren't doing very well, and then other time I find that it is just the script that doesn't do it justice, and then others I feel like the director didn't live up to the full potential. I agree that in some parts it was Americanised, but in other times, I feel like the humour is British, and you have to remember that although the series are set in Europe, and that is where JK Rowling intended it to be,but, afterall, you do have to appeal to critics and fans of other nations. In doing that, some parts are going to have to be Americanised, and others strictly British. That, I think, is where the cheesieness came out. In doing that, it became very verbatum to the script, because the actors and the director had to follow the script to incorporate all the ideas and humours and little habits of various countries. | |
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10-30-2003, 02:40 AM
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#35 (permalink)
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Location: tampa, florida Join Date: Oct 2003
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i dont think so but i just i hate wat Alfonso had done by putting Malfoys hair down its just so unmalfoy its like hes changing the book and that hermione is wearing a pink jacket with jeans and a colorful belt it just weird i think it should be the way JK wrote it ... well we all have different opinons | |
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10-30-2003, 02:56 AM
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#37 (permalink)
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Personally I think that if (at least) the ending of CoS wasn't your typical Hollywood, aimed at American audience, BS then I don't know what is... | |
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10-30-2003, 03:29 AM
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#38 (permalink)
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Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 714
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That's about the only thing i didn't like from the CoS movie, the end. Why did they have to make Hagrid so central?, what did he do?. He landed in Azkaban because of his stupidity, and he was painted like a hero, when he did nothing important. | |
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10-30-2003, 03:50 AM
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#39 (permalink)
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Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma Join Date: Oct 2003
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i agree with him..............they did make the 1rst movie pothetic. i hope the 3rd is better | |
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10-30-2003, 04:08 AM
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#40 (permalink)
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Location: tampa, florida Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,341
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Quote: Originally posted by Luz@Oct 29 2003, 09:14 PM
That's about the only thing i didn't like from the CoS movie, the end. Why did they have to make Hagrid so central?, what did he do?. He landed in Azkaban because of his stupidity, and he was painted like a hero, when he did nothing important. | i see wat ur saying i guess they were awarding him for getting out of Azkaban i dont know when u think about it hagrid is put into Azkaban cuz they think it was him killing and when harry proves them wrong hagrid is sett free and then at the award ceremony they all hug him and clap for him i guess that is kind of stupid when u think about it | |
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10-30-2003, 05:08 AM
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#41 (permalink)
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Location: Ca Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 637
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My, my, I never knew there was so much contempt for the films. I enjoyed the books and the films and will continue to do so. Someone seems a little jealous of Mr.Colombus. Though,Talk is cheap, Let's see if they can live up to their words. Quoting" I would have done a better job." end Quoate. *HA!!*  | |
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10-30-2003, 05:13 AM
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#42 (permalink)
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Location: Ca Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 637
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But no hard feelings, there will always be problems with movies that are adapted from books. If you try to please everyone you please no one.For everyone apparently has there own interests ,it's just not as easy as it seems. | |
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10-30-2003, 08:01 AM
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#43 (permalink)
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Location: Sacramento Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 378
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wow, what a pompous-- wait. Thats right. I'm not aloud to curse. | |
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10-30-2003, 08:05 AM
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#44 (permalink)
|  *stalking you... and you*
*and you*meana picassoPEE-O-NEEChimaera
Location: Hiding from you. *gasp* HOW DID YOU FIND ME?! Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 7,151
Hogwarts RPG Name:
Morbidda Lucretia Morwenna Sabine Valencia DeValdemar LeDeaux T'Humperdink.
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Sir Alan Parker is a foul, pompous git. But he is right. The movies *are* too americanized (sorry!) but at least he never put them in *muggle* clothes! Columbus wasn't really good at tranferring the book to the big screen though | |
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10-30-2003, 08:10 AM
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#45 (permalink)
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Do I sense a hint of jealousy?  How childish.
I think Chris Columbus did a decent job. Yes, it might have been smidge Americanized, but he captured most of the spirit of HP to the best of his ability.
As for Cuaron, he's made it so modern it's appalling. Look at the clothes they wear! It's supposed to be around 1993 or so, not 2003! The work he's done so far is overflowing with anachronisms.
Maybe Mike Newell will clean up Cuaron's mess and do an excellent job on number four. Ah, how we'd all like to dream. | |
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10-30-2003, 08:15 AM
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#46 (permalink)
| *stalking you... and you*
*and you*meana picassoPEE-O-NEE Chimaera
Location: Hiding from you. *gasp* HOW DID YOU FIND ME?! Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 7,151
Hogwarts RPG Name:
Morbidda Lucretia Morwenna Sabine Valencia DeValdemar LeDeaux T'Humperdink.
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Dream is right. I don't think the HP movies will *ever* be cleaned up. *sigh* Why can't Rowling just hire some actors who look the part, can act the part and can do a decent british accent? It's so prejudiced not to have people of othe rnationalities. | |
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10-30-2003, 08:20 AM
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#47 (permalink)
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Location: Europe Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 362
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I think Alan Parker's words are too harsh, the films are far from terrible. (Though I would like them to follow the books word for word. I'm sorry for every bit that has been left out, like the Deathday party and Lockhart's Valentine's Day celebration.) But it would be really interesting to see what Terry Gilliam of Monthy Python would have done if he was the director! | |
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10-30-2003, 10:32 AM
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#48 (permalink)
|  Kaplinski Rival
NOT Strange or Evil
InspirationalErumpent
Location: Cardiff, Wales, UK Join Date: Jun 2003
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Marcella Riddle
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I'd like to take the chance to wake some of you up; "americanising" isn't a racist remark. It is not aimed at anyone and does not aim to bring any prejudice against a group of people therefore it cannot be racist. It is a form of critical speech like any other, deal with it. If you want to blame someone for coming up with this adjective then blame Hollywood for being so cliche. | |
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10-30-2003, 10:34 AM
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#49 (permalink)
| Kaplinski Rival
NOT Strange or Evil
Inspirational Erumpent
Location: Cardiff, Wales, UK Join Date: Jun 2003
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Quote: Originally posted by Meandering@Oct 30 2003, 06:50 AM
Sir Alan Parker is a foul, pompous git. But he is right. The movies *are* too americanized (sorry!) but at least he never put them in *muggle* clothes! Columbus wasn't really good at tranferring the book to the big screen though | I suppose it probably is only the brits who can see it. Take Gosford Park, you can tell that's british. It simply gives off an air of britishness and it gives us a sense of pride, like it actually is a part of us. Harry Potter should do the same but when you watch it, it just does not give off that sophistaced and well thought out air that makes it a british film. After all it is backed by American money. | |
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10-30-2003, 10:39 AM
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#50 (permalink)
| Kaplinski Rival
NOT Strange or Evil
Inspirational Erumpent
Location: Cardiff, Wales, UK Join Date: Jun 2003
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Quote: Originally posted by Meandering@Oct 30 2003, 07:00 AM
Dream is right. I don't think the HP movies will *ever* be cleaned up. *sigh* Why can't Rowling just hire some actors who look the part, can act the part and can do a decent british accent? It's so prejudiced not to have people of othe rnationalities. | Then I guess our favourite author is prejudiced then.....we all idolise someone who is prejudiced...*sarcasm in case u couldn't tell* | |
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