Harry Potter Movies

[Hamatron]

My cousins who are in their teens wear their hair like that. I think the fugly Farrah Fawcett for men look is coming back. Sigh. I love to tease them that in ten years they are going to look at pics of themselves and be like, what the hell?

[kafka]

spurs said:

True, but I can't wait to see how The Order of the Phoenix portrays Professor Umbridge. I wonder if they'll be as subtle about the centars gang rape of her in the movie as they were in the book.

Your comment about rape spun my head around about 360 degrees!!!! I feel almost stupidly naive for never having considered it but the type of book and its target audience made rape something I'd *NEVER* considered.

I don't know what I thought. Probably something along the lines of her being beaten up, terrorized and threatened, something like Firenze ending up with a hoofprint on his chest. Okay, okay, I know Firenze was a male and a different case but some how I totally blocked out the thought of rape. That belonged on a show like Oz, or in an adult book... but HP?!?!?!? And mass, gang rape??? I tell you, my head is still spinning.

It's silly of me though, since the books are hardly free of violence: blood drinking, Greyback, murder, and more. But sexual violence against women just doesn't seem to have been a factor.

When people comment about how the new book is dark, I just blink because I think NOTHING is darker, gloomier, more depressing and joyless than the story in Book 5. Umbridge deserved endless misery and hell as she's the 2nd most awful character, imo, after Voldemort. But I'm still stunned by the possibility that she may have been raped. I wouldn't wish that on anyone. Let alone a GANG-rape.

I should probably ask this in the book section but there is such a close overlap that I hope Moldy Tofu will forgive me for bringing this up here:

How many people thought Umbridge was gang-raped by the centaurs?

[Hamatron]

I thought that there were uneasy sexual undertones in the Umbridge vs the Centaurs scene of OotP as well as in the DeathEater/Klan rally opening of GoF. It will be interested to see how the GoF scene is played out in the movies, because it certainly had some rape-esque undertones-- and I don't think I am the only one that noticed this-- I've seen other adult readers read those two scenes as such as well.

[e c0li]

How many people thought Umbridge was gang-raped by the centaurs?

I didn't. Please forgive me for being graphic: Since they had the torsos of men and full body of horses, I assumed that their genitalia was horse-sized, and I'd like to think that intercourse couldn't happen that way...I just figured the centaurs kicked her and stuff.

Re: Cho Chang. I lurked on the actress's Imdb board, and I'm really sad that there's so much hatred for her. Fangirls can be so cruel.

[Chenoeh]

I didn't, although I can see the book being read that way. I think the centaurs were portrayed as being rather contemptuous of humans, and also concerned with "higher things" like their astronomy. They wouldn't think of raping her from sexual desire, and would consider raping her as punishment as beneath them. Umbridge was shown as being so appalled by non-humans I imagine they could have terrified her with out doing very much at all.

[Deleted]

OK i for one never thought of the gang rape undertones, but now i may read those passages again with my gutter mind turned on. Though i am not up to date on a who's who of Brittish Actresses does anyone have any fantasy casting for Umbridge or even Tonks yet? I always have imagined Umbridge looking somewhat like the Snapple lady. and Tonks, I have no freaking idea.

[kafka]

I'm glad I wasn't the only one who didn't see the gang-rape thing. I feel a lot less stupid now. ;D

As for casting, I think Kathy Bates could pull off Umbridge but American actors aren't cast in the HP movies so no chance of that.

[indygirl]

For Umbridge, Imelda Staunton...or--and this is just my crazy casting--Tracy Ullman!

MSN has some links up, including the trailer, and interview with Daniel Radcliffe, and a Making of GoF video.

ETA I never once thought about a gang rape. I don't see it.

[dulcinea]

I assumed she was being gang raped, which really horrified me. I thought it was one of the most disturbing moments of the book, along with the possibility that Hermione knowingly led her to that. I should probably re-read that section again. I'm sure I read too much into it.

Aw, Cho is a cutie. I wonder when the backlash will begin for a certain other girl.

I don't really know of many young British actresses, but I wouldn't mind Kiera Knightley playing Tonks. I think she would do a good job.

[indygirl]

I also think Ana Friel couls make a good Tonks--if she's not too old for the part. Especially when you consider that David Thewliss, who plays Lupin, is her husband.

But Kiera is a good idea.