[Guest]

Have you looked at JKR's website?  She has answers to lots of questions there.  In one of her web chats after OOTP came out, she revealed that Lupin's middle name is John.  If you click on the paperclips, then click on the envelope "About the books," she answers the questions whether Remus and James switched bodies.

Right...I'm back again now..

Yes...  Another interesting thought occurred from something I read on JKR's site.  If Sirius was 22 when he was sent to Azkaban, what did he do between then and the end of school when presumably he would have been 18?  Same for James, Remus, Peter etc.    There are so many potential 'spin-offs' from HP!!!

I'm looking forward to finding out how Hagrid ends up with his motorbike.

I thought I might end up with some answers but I seem just to be getting more and more questions - H E L P ! ! !

Have you looked at JKR's website?  She has answers to lots of questions there.  In one of her web chats after OOTP came out, she revealed that Lupin's middle name is John.

No - I hadn't seen this - thanks for pointing it out.  Time to go and take another look.

Still no closer to knowing anything about James though....

Jo's kept so quiet about him perhaps its a REALLY relevant question?  We know more about Lily because of Petunia.

Come to think of it though, we don't know a whole lot about Remus Lupin either?  He got bitten by the werewolf as a boy.  What were the circumstances?  Hermione read out his name off his case on the train as R J Lupin - what does the J stand for?  Could it tie him to James? (Long shot!!!!)

How many times have I read and re-read these books?  Don't ask??!!

Well, for those of you like me who just missed the chance to say hello to Matthew Lewis and Devon Murray at the collector's fair at Milton Keynes at the beginning of October - GOOD NEWS!!!

There is to be another event - Collectormania7 (original!) - April 29th to May 2nd 2005 at the same place ( Middleton Hall, Milton Keynes).

This is an enormous fair for collector's of memorabilia and autographs and always has lots of guest stars.  According to the flyer already published (and I quote)..."many more guests are still to be announced...major stars from blockbuster movies and cult TV including Harry Potter, Stargate, Lord of the Rings etc."

Word of warning... save your pennies.  Autographed pix costs an average of £25 each!

Ginny Weasley?

I have been coming round to the idea recently - after much re-reading that Ginny will become Harry's soul mate.

I know it sounds pretty unlikely to start with but if you go back and examine Ginny's behaviour and speech with this theory in mind it starts to look not quite so unlikely.  She begins with having a crush on Harry which seems to fade but does it.............?

Also, she's pretty laidback and sensible and owes her life to Harry which probably carries strong magic (like Lily's laying her life down for Harry?).

Just a idea for discussion.....  Anyway, I like her better than most of the other candidates so far!

[What are we all going to do when the series ends? It doesn't bear thinking about]

Late in the day, I know but..........

Isn't it true that JKR says the story-line of Book 6 is linked to CoS - not that the character of the HBP appears there?

Perhaps we're barking up the wrong tree and its an entirely new character?  One of Harry's ancestors - grandfathers, perhaps?
Or a blood link between Harry and Voldemort?

I wonder if she reads this speculation! What are we all going to do when the series ends? It doesn't bear thinking about!

Its happened to me and I don't know why either.  It didn't seem to make any difference to anything.
I still don't get that thing with the cauldron and ingredients on the notice-board.  Do you?  I know I must be really stupid but the only puzzle I've managed to solve is the mobile phone and that's only because its so obvious!
I don't mind cheating if somebody wants to tell me!!!!

Have you also seen the two new Lucius Malfoy items from Japan? His wand with the sterling silver serpent's head and the silver coiled-serpent cloak pin?  Both Japanese limited edition items.

They are currently selling on eBay at around £120 for the first and £60 for the second.  I don't know the listing numbers off the top of my head but there are several in any case.  

They are very expensive but really beautiful if you can afford it.

Too right... but Sirius and James (your namesakes ) weren't so nice in the last book either  

Yes...........but they were pretty cute!

Just about everything that is to be said about Prisoner of Azkaban the Movie has now been said so this is by way of a PS.....

I'm not usually much into foreign language movies but last night Y Tu Mama Tambien, Alfonso Cuaron's masterpiece, just happened to be on satellite TV so, out of curiosity and Harry Potter fanaticism, I watched it!

Well, all I can say is, whoever had the idea to ask him to direct a Harry Potter film must have been pretty heavily into lateral thinking or partial to magic mushrooms.  

Lets just say that the two teenage boys and one teenage girl didn't exactly behave like Harry, Ron and Herminone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A lot has happened since June!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ralph Fiennes to play Voldemort - no comic element there!  Hope they keep the red eyes with the slit pupils!
Miranda Richardson - Rita Skeeta (she will be SUPERB!)
Frances de la Tour - Madame Maxime (I don't know if US people will know her - she's a very well known UK character actress and very funny - famously in a TV show called "Rising Damp" )
Roger Lloyd-Pack - Barty Crouch (ditto but a bloke - famously in "Only Fools and Horses" and "The Vicar of Dibley" on UK TV)
Robert Pattinson - Cedric Diggory
Clemence Poesy - Fleur Delacour

I haven't seen the guy who's been cast as Victor Krum, have you?  If so, where's the site with the photos?

The cast of the Harry Potter films is just 'gob-smacking' and totally unique.  Its a wonder there's anyone left to cast!  Its probably more impressive to UK audiences who also recognize, not only international film stars but TV actors and actresses who have been held in very great affection for decades.

Has anyone noticed how very little we know about James Potter?  Apart from him being Lily's husband, Harry's dad and Sirius and Remus's friend, that's about it.  

It is assumed he is pure-blood but does it actually say so anywhere?  If so, where?  If he is, is he related to any other characters in the story (see Sirius's family tree in OoP) and, if so, which and how?  This begs the question, is he merely Sirius's friend or is he cousin, perhaps?  (SPOILER COMING UP!!)

We know nothing at all about Harry's grandparents on either side although I understand there is to be something about this in Book 6.

I know the bit about James being a Quiddich seeker was an invention for the PS movie because elsewhere in the books he is mentioned as the Griffindor chaser.

Apart from the scenes with Snape and the Patronus sequence (Godricks Hollow and the Mirror of Erised give no information) are there any other scenes involving James which give clues about who he is?  Are there clues which come from other characters?

Oh come on now!........... Umbridge has to be the most evil character since books was invented.  

I almost didn't finish OoP because of her.  Even when I reread the books there are bits of her I skip.

Can you imagine doing lines which are carved into your flesh? Or being taught by a toad with a giant fly on her head who gives you a life Quiddich ban when you are the youngest ever Seeker?

Snape looks a positive saint by comparison - after all, you can at least find a reason for his behaviour.

Even Dumbledore, who tries to understand everyone's motivation - even Voldemort's, can't find anything good to say about her.

Yep! I think I'd rather see Voldemort in charge of Hogwarts than Umbridge!!!!!

Possible suggestions for Oscar consideration:

Costumes
Cinematography (breathtaking)
Music (John Williams is the best there is)
Special Effects (Quiddich, Hagrid etc)
Set design (Diagnon Alley, the Great Hall at Hogwarts etc.)


There are more catagories than acting.

Oh, I don't know - I reckon Disney won a few.

The seems to be THE taboo question of the milleneum.  No-one EVER mentions it.
Despite the fact that no films in the history of cinema ever had a cast list like them - or a production team their equal etc. they do not even warrant a mention and no one - INCLUDING THEIR MOST AVID FANS - says a single word.
What are we all afraid of - the withdrawal of funding?  Worth considering.  Anything else?  Please tell me and I'll shut up.

- there is no twinkle in his eye like described in the book.

Yes, a combination would be good.  A bit more of the silver hair and a more sympathetic manner - he has to an approachable headmaster which is not usual whilst being as believably powerful as Voldemort.  
At the same time he has to have the authority and enormous kindness to take on the oddest assortment of staff - Snape, Lupin, Moody, Hagrid etc. and still juggle the Ministry of Magic.
In other words, he has to be the complete opposite of Voldemort.  Michael Gambon needs to soften up his portrayal or Dumbledore a good bit when it comes to dealing with those who rely on his protection.

Also - the inside of the Knight Bus looked as if it had been smoked in since the Goblin Rebellions and you could scrape the tar off with a knife and not the nicely panelled, cosy bus described in the book.

The most disappointing was the no quidditch final :'(
They also needed to explain the names on the Maraudrs mao... I kept htinking Lupin would do it as he was leaving, like in the book. Would have taken a minute and made everything so much clearer for those who had not read the books

That said, if you had not read the books or pretended not to have read them like me (in order to distrract me from cringing at all the book omissions and changes etc), it was a pretty enjoyable movie

Yes - you could make a pretty decent second film out of what was left out!  Ummm interesting thought.....!

What did you think of Remus's werewolf?  There was a real problem as a wolf (werewolf) and dog (virtually the same animal) had to fight against a night sky so had to have very different sillhouettes so you could tell what was happening.  Major problem.
But it didn't look real and didn't measure up to Buckbeak which was superb.

I have been really REALLY negative........

But weren't the actors just great?  And what films in the hisory of the world can boast a cast list like the HP films?  And who cares if they're too good for Oscars?  On this last point - anyone got any information - is it worth opening another topic?