Few film franchises can rival the powerhouse cast of theHarry Potterseries. Virtually every character with a significant role—wizards, Muggles, and the rest of the lot—was brought to life by an accomplished performer. Some cast members set the bar so high in their performances that it’s now impossible to imagine anyone stepping into their role. Can anyone suggest a better Severus Snape than the late, greatAlan Rickman?RELATED:Harry Potter Villains Ranked, From Snakes To Women In PinkHowever, not every cast member hasan “Always” momentà la Mr. Rickman. As a matter of fact, some performers left Potter fans scratching their heads with their acting decisions. In some cases, these folks were outperformed by the peers whom they shared scenes with. In other instances, they just didn’t do justice to the source material. It’s one thing to be innovative in terms of embodying a character; it’s another thing to veer off course like a frantic Ford Anglia.
The Dumbledore Standard
To be fair toSir Michael Gambon, the odds were stacked against him. The Shakespearean actor had the unenviable task of replacing the lateRichard Harrisas Professor Albus Dumbledore. Harris was literally the first face that fans saw inHarry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, so the sentimental factor was palpable. Plus, there were simply no flaws in his portrayal of Dumbledore’s Merlin-like presence in the first two films. It was a very,verytough act to follow.
With that being said, there was something that felt off in Gambon’s Dumbledore depiction. Maybe it was that scene where he violently shook Harry by the shoulders after the Goblet of Fire fiasco. Maybe it was that time when he shouted “Don’t you all have studying to do?” at the students in the courtyard. As revered as Gambon is, he simply could not outdo (or even live up to) the calm and collected Dumbledore that was Richard Harris.
A Red-headed Somebody
It can be argued that Ginny Weasley and Neville Longbottom—those Yule Ball partners—had the most extensive character growth than anyone else in the series. On the one hand, Neville went from being a Remembrall-reliant dunce to a Horcrux-destroying army leader. This transformation was reflected beautifully in the films, thanks toMatthew Lewisand his spot-on facial expressions. (No Mr. Lewis,you didnotkill Harry Potter.)
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On the other hand, Ginny was a shy nobody who blossomed into a feisty, captivating woman. This, however, was lost in translation as far as the movies go. WhenBonnie Wrightfinally locks lipswithDaniel RadcliffeinHarry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the moment felt so…unearned. Though Wright could have been given more material to work with in the previous five films, she didn’t exactly maximize her screen time, either. There was hardly anything remarkable in Wright’s portrayal of Ginny prior to that kiss; as such, Ginny’s ascension in the last two films turned out to be rather superficial.
Why So Serious?
What started as a plot twist morphed into the closest thing that Harry had to a father figure. At the start ofHarry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,Sirius Black was supposedly a murderer on the loose who managed to infiltrate the safe grounds of Hogwarts School. By the end of that novel, Sirius had started to grow into the role of a cool uncle, giving Harry permission to enter the village of Hogsmeade. For two glorious installments, Harry leaned on Sirius for advice and strength, not to mention a good laugh every now and then.
In the movies,Gary Oldmangot the “loose cannon” part right, but his Padfoot might have beentoocool. Some of his counseling sessions with his godson are rather dragging, with his voice barely rising above a whisper. The veteran actor clearly opted for a more mellow approach to Black’s character, but this may have been a misjudgment considering that Sirius was a maverick spirit ever since his schoolboy days with James Potter. Perhaps Oldman could have toned it down with the serious (pun fully intended).
School Wasn’t Cool With Remus
Every teenager has vivid memories ofa schoolteacher that touched their livesthrough awesome encounters in the classroom. In Harry Potter’s case, that distinction belongs to Remus Lupin. In the pages ofPrisoner of Azkaban, you could tell that Harry and his friends looked forward to Lupin’s Defense Against the Dark Arts class. The reason was not so much the subject matter, as it was the down-to-earth personality and the patient approach of Lupin when it came to teaching.
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It’s a shame thatDavid Thewlisdidn’t quite project this in the third film. Try as he might, he could not come across as a John Keating-like figure that fostered the joy of learning in students. It didn’t help as well that screenplays called for Thewlis to interrupt other characters while they were talking. InPrisoner of Azkaban, he cuts off both Hermione and Neville as they recited answers; three films later, he impatiently talks over Tonks and Harry. Slow down, Professor.
A Tame Tonks?
Speaking of bubbly young Aurors, Harry had the pleasure of meeting one inHarry Potter and the Order of Phoenix.Nymphadora Tonks already had the awesome factor going with her ability to shift her physical appearance without the use of wands or Polyjuice potion. On top of this, she was a Dark wizard catcher with a magnetic, fun-loving personality Just one wink coupled with a “Wotcher, Harry” was enough to brighten up the day.
There was no such Tonks in the last three films of the Potter franchise.Natalia Tenamight as well have been playing a different character who preferred to be sullen rather than sunny. Interestingly, she did nail the melancholic Tonks who was dealing with her cousin’s death inHalf-Blood Prince. But wasn’t this supposed to be a character pivot for the shape-shifter after being such a cheerful spirit in the previous installment?
What’s So Funny, Tom?
ToJ.K. Rowling’scredit, she pulled off one of the biggest challenges faced by every storyteller: to createa compelling nemesisthat anchors the hero’s arc. Lord Voldemort—he whose name could not even be uttered by fully grown adults—fit the bill perfectly. He was the sinister supremacist who commanded ruthless armies and cunning lieutenants that Harry had to overcome. Devoid of any loving relationship since his childhood, Voldemort was as cold-hearted as an antagonist could be.
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WhileRalph Fienneswas certainly menacing, his Voldemort was over the top far too frequently. If there was ever a quota for evil smiles and laughter, Fiennes exceeded it at the expense of compromising his Dark Lord’s soulless figure. Here’s a multi-franchise analogy: Fiennes' Voldemort should have resembledIan McDiarmid’sDarth Sidious more thanJesse Eisenberg’sLex Luthor. ‘Nuff said.
A Hot Harry Potter Take
Let’s talk about Harry himself for a second. This much is clear:Daniel Radcliffewas a fantastic choice to play the Boy Who Lived, and nothing could ever take that away from him. Of course, such a prized role comes with tremendous pressure to deliver excellent performances without fail, from movie one to movies seven and eight. After all, Radcliffe was literally the poster boy of the franchise.
By the tail end of the series, Radcliffe’s comfort level with the role was evidently at an all-time high. He managed to finish strong with memorable showdowns against Fiennes’ Voldemort and Rickman’s Snape. The problem is, his performance in the first five films of the series was overshadowed by his two running mates. For the most part,Emma WatsonandRupert Grintboth did a better job of giving their characters a genuine feel and unique charm. Radcliffe eventually caught up with them, but his slow start cannot be ignored.
