Welcome to your blog post. Use this space to connect with your readers and potential customers inhe Harry Potter films are amazing, but there are lots of things they left out from the books, simply because there wasn’t enough time, or because they thought they weren’t needed.
It makes sense that a lot had to be cut. Every Harry Potter movie is a similar length, but the books vary in size – they had the same time for the Chamber of Secrets as they did for the Order of the Pheonix, while the Deathly Hallows was made into two parts to try and fit everything in.
We’re going to look at our top 10 list for things we wish the movies never changed or took out from the books, in no particular order!
Albus Dumbledore’s Background
In the Deathly Hallows book, we learn a lot about the person Albus Dumbledore was, his background, and why he was so scared of power that he took the role of a professor at Hogwarts instead of becoming the Minister of Magic. It discusses in detail his relationship with Gellert Grindelwald, hints at the attraction he felt for him, and how he came to own the Elder Wand.
Unfortunately in the films, a lot of this is only covered in basic detail or not at all. Albus Dumbledore is such an important character in the series, and this kind of context is really missed.
In the Deathly Hallows book, we learn a lot about the person Albus Dumbledore was, his background, and why he was so scared of power that he took the role of a professor at Hogwarts instead of becoming the Minister of Magic. It discusses in detail his relationship with Gellert Grindelwald, hints at the attraction he felt for him, and how he came to own the Elder Wand.
Unfortunately in the films, a lot of this is only covered in basic detail or not at all. Albus Dumbledore is such an important character in the series, and this kind of context is really missed.
Character Age Changes
James and Lily had Harry when they were both only 20 years old, meaning that when Harry speaks to them at the end of the Deathly Hallows, they should only look a couple of years older than him.. but instead there’s a very obvious difference.
This extends to other characters as well – keep in mind all of the people who were in the same school year as James and Lily. Severus Snape should be about 31 when Harry starts Hogwarts, and the trio of Sirius Black, Peter Pettigrew and Remus Lupin should be about 34 in the Prisoner of Azkaban. However they all look way older than this in the films.
The Marauders Map Origins
When Harry receives the Marauders Map in the Prisoner of Azkaban, we know that it’s creators are Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs. In the book, after learning about James Potter and his three best friends, and how they were all animagus, it ties in that those were each of their nicknames relating to the animal they turned into, and that the Marauders Map Harry uses was actually created by his Dad and his friends.
As the whole theme of the Prisoner of Azkaban is exploring James Potter’s background, and learning more about the family Harry had, this is all a pretty big deal. Yet in the film, it’s never properly explained that those were the nicknames that his Dad and friends went by, or that they were responsible for creating the Marauders Map.
Tom Riddle’s Family Background
Just like Albus Dumbledore, as the Harry Potter series progresses, we learn more about Tom Riddle as well and his family the Gaunts, through the pensive in Dumbledore’s office in the Half Blood Prince. Dumbledore believes that learning more about Tom’s background, and who he is as a person, is the key to defeating him.
It helps to solve the questions of how Tom can speak parseltongue, how he opened the Chamber of Secrets, whether he was really a pure blood, and also what drove him to become Lord Voldemort. These are all really important plot points, that were skimmed over or didn’t make the cut in the films at all.
Dudley Dursley’s Handshake
Dudley is the character everyone hates – he’s rude, spoilt, and bullies Harry throughout the series. Yet at the end, when the Dursleys have to leave number 4 Privet Drive when Harry comes of age and their home is no longer safe, Dudley has a redeeming moment with Harry where he expresses concern for his welfare and even offers him a handshake.
This is actually one of my favourite moments from the books, and while it was filmed for the first Deathly Hallows film, it ended up only being a deleted scene. You can watch that scene below.
Yesss..these should have been included
Tom's story in detail would have been exciting.