10 Things The Harry Potter Movies Added That Improved The Books

10 Things The Harry Potter Movies Added That Improved The Books

A deviation in source material isn’t always a bad thing, as proven by the Harry Potter films’ added details.

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Whether a movie adaptation is better or worse than the original source material is an ongoing debate among some fans. With the Harry Potter film series, it is not uncommon to hear people state that they prefer the books, extolling the extra information, interesting subplots, and lack of time constraints that limits a movie.

In many ways though, the Harry Potter films added details that worked in favor of the switch in medium. These changes also gave the films unique characters, expanded upon the original books, and even adjusted some events that fans found questionable. A deviation in source material isn’t always a bad thing, as proven by the Harry Potter films’ added details.

10 A Flashback Shows The Spell Voldemort Used To Kill The Potters (Philosopher’s Stone)

When Harry learns of his parents’ deaths in the first book, the nature of their deaths isn’t explained. The Killing Curse and its signature green light would not be introduced until later in the series. In The Philosopher’s Stone, a flashback is shown that Hagrid narrates. It explains Voldemort’s use of the Killing Curse on Lily.

By the time the first film was released, readers had already learned of the Killing Curse’s properties. This hints at the spell that plays a sizable role in the franchise and was even used in Deathly Hallows: Part 2 as part of Snape’s Pensieve memories to bookend the journey.

9 More Hints Foreshadow Hermione’s Situation And The Film’s Climax (Prisoner Of Azkaban)

For the third book, some viewers complained that the reveal of the Time-Turner came from nowhere and were not built up enough for the climax. Prisoner Of Azkaban remedied this by subtly using the Time-Turner before its reveal. For example, Hermione randomly appears in class while attending other classes, and a confused Ron points it out.

The film also foreshadows Harry and Hermione’s ability to change the past. Snails are thrown through Hagrid’s window, which signals the arrival of Buckbeak’s executioner. A convenient howl draws Lupin’s werewolf form away when he is about to attack Harry. With the reveal that it was them going back in time, it makes more sense for Harry to rescue himself with his Patronus like in the books.

8 Less Yelling Makes Harry More Sympathetic (Order Of The Phoenix)

Since it follows the Triwizard Tournament’s traumatic results, Harry’s fifth year at Hogwarts is one of his darkest. It doesn’t help that this is also when the Ministry of Magic enacts their smear campaign against Dumbledore and Harry and assigns Umbridge to the school. In the books, Harry expresses his stress by losing his temper at Ron, Hermione, and even Dumbledore. The dialogue is typed in an all-CAPS format.

This behavior, while understandable, still struck some fans as too dramatic for their tastes. The film omitted most of this but still retained Harry’s isolation and the trauma caused by his experiences, a change that many fans prefer.

7 Imelda Staunton’s Performance And Appearance Make Umbridge Even More Despicable (Order Of The Phoenix)

Dolores Umbridge’s description in the books states that she is squat and toadlike in her physical appearance, exacerbating her cruel and sickly-sweet persona. Her film version, played by Imelda Staunton, keeps her preference for cloying dress and decor but looks much more approachable at first glance.

This works in favor of the movie’s version of Umbridge. The character’s physicality reflects how she sees herself; she has a kind look and sadistic tendencies. This amplifies her immoral actions and makes her an even more memorable and effective villain.

6 Slughorn’s Story Deepens The Bond He Had With Lily (The Half-Blood Prince)

While the book explains that Slughorn considers Lily to be one of his best students and was heartbroken by her murder, the film further explores his connection with her. After Aragog’s funeral, Half-Blood Prince includes a monologue where Slughorn remembers a magical fish Lily gifted him that vanished when she died.

The story adds more of a personal stake for Slughorn in Voldemort’s defeat. It also makes it more convincing that Harry is able to persuade him to hand over the memory that Dumbledore wants with the help of Felix Felicis. It provides a sincere tone to Harry’s strategy, as he was more manipulative in the book.

5 Draco’s Desperation And Fear Are Seen More (The Half-Blood Prince)

Since the films broaden beyond Harry’s perspective, The Half-Blood Prince was able to detail Draco Malfoy’s struggles during their sixth year, which were only hinted at in the books. Rather than relying on Moaning Myrtle’s descriptions of his breakdowns, viewers witness Draco’s visits to the Room of Requirement where he repeatedly fails to make the Vanishing Cabinet work.

His ensuing sobbing, his seclusion from his peers, and a scene where he ruminates by himself on a snowy balcony shows how much pressure Draco is under to carry out Voldemort’s order.

4 Harry And Ginny Do Not Needlessly End Their Relationship (The Half-Blood Prince)

After Dumbledore’s death in the book, Harry breaks up with Ginny. He doesn’t break up with her because he’s unhappy, but because he’s about to search for Horcruxes and does not want to endanger her. While Ginny accepts this and acknowledges his heroic nature as part of why she likes him so much, readers disliked this development.

Harry and Ginny’s feelings for each other have not changed, and they still end up marrying in the future anyway. As a result, it felt like needless angst to many. The film leaves this out with no indication that their relationship status has changed between The Half-Blood Prince and the Deathly Hallows films.

3 Hermione’s On-Screen Actions Hammer Home The Heartbreaking Nature Of War (Deathly Hallows: Part 1)

In Deathly Hallows: Part 1, Hermione erases her parents’ memories of her and any traces that she lives there. Instead of hearing about it from Harry’s perspective after the fact, which is how it is in the books, viewers see how emotional she is while she carries out this selfless act.

Hermione examines a newspaper article that reported on a murdered Muggle family, which proves that she’s only removing herself from her parent’s life for their protection. The decision to open the first Deathly Hallows film with this scene sets the stage for the final installments’ dark tone and the sacrifices that will need to be made.

2 Certain Additions Enhance The Sadness Of Snape’s Story (Deathly Hallows Part 2)

The Prince’s Tale chapter in Deathly Hallows is iconic for its revelations about the narrative’s big picture and Snape’s perspective. The film ramped up the emotions by putting in extra scenes that were not in the books. One example is Snape’s presence at Godric’s Hollow after Voldemort’s first defeat when he cries over Lily’s body.

A second example is the depiction of Lily whispering words of love and encouragement to baby Harry shortly before her murder. This part of the story was already hard-hitting, but these inclusions cemented the scenes as some of the most heartbreaking in the series, especially since book readers would not have seen them coming.

1 Harry’s Choice With The Elder Wand Brings A More Satisfactory Solution (Deathly Hallows: Part 2)

The film’s lack of resolution for Harry’s original wand after it breaks is a point of contention for some fans, but many still prefer Harry’s treatment of the Elder Wand in the film to what he did in the books. In the books, Harry rejects the Elder Wand and its power. However, he volunteers to hold onto it without using it, hoping that its power will die after he does.

This ignores the fact that, at any point, someone could try to steal it from him. Only one successful attempt would make his efforts worthless. Deathly Hallows: Part 2 has Harry break it instead, leaving no chance it can be used again.

Link Source : https://www.cbr.com/things-harry-potter-movies-added-improved-the-books/

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