The results are in!
Aug. 13th, 2007 11:48 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
trinityvixenWell, it's Monday. Time to revisit the Friday poll from last week. If you still want to vote, click on the link and do so.
Demographic limitations of my LJ being what they are, the fact that most of my friendslist got into Harry Potter in their twenties doesn't surprise me. I did have to laugh at how 20% of folks got nagged into the fandom. I technically belong in that category, as I hissed and booed at the hype for forever, before the movies ever came out, but the movies were still my entry point. It's amazing I ever liked the series, isn't it?
The favorite-book question got trickier, but I'm surprised and delighted that nearly half (40%) of folks thought that Prisoner of Azkaban was the best. I think that's right. Not just from a "I like this best," stand point, but also from a "this was actually well done" point. Prisoner of Azkaban is the first look at the wider consequences of evil and the general unfairness of life. The fact that it introduced Lupin, one of the better characters with the most realistic, grounded outlook in a world of magic, helps. But there's also the refusal to lionize dead folks with Snape's treatment at the hands of Sirius and James. There's the ugly truth of friendship not conquering all. That justice can't always be done. As a primer for the later, perhaps more tragic books, Prisoner of Azkaban, more so than the first really shockingly violent book--Goblet of Fire--set the stage for the hero's eventual maturity.
The fact that said maturity was recognized and declared to be the next most popular favorite--Deathly Hallows got 24% of your votes--is telling. I'm not surprised there was hardly any love for the emo-wangst fest and flashback-ridden Half-Blood Prince, but nobody liked Chamber of Secrets? Hell, Sorceror's Stone got at least one vote. In terms of favorites, I'd say it's 3, 7, then 2, with 1 being better than 4 for introducing the series so well, then 4, 5, and lastly 6. Of course, the Chamber of Secrets love is probably due to the tragic hotness of the movie Tom Riddle. That, and, at least for a time, the fact that I really, really thought she was going to show--for once--a Slytherin of any measure. I spent most of Chamber of Secrets going, "Well, isn't it nice that there's at least one Slytherin who's not evil--oh." Whoops.
I'm glad people agreee that the movies are hard to pick as favorites. The Prisoner of Azkaban movie was decent, but for what it left out, for what the young actors in it still had to learn about acting, I can't like it best. That it was the heavily favored makes sense--best basic story, clearest vision and first to break away from the literal stranglehold of the first two--but I dunno that it was the best done. I'm glad to see almost as many people agreed as preferred Prisoner of Azkaban.
And, people? I UNDERSTAND YOUR ALAN RICKMAN LOVE. I do. But "most inspired" casting? Have any of you all seen the Order of the Phoenix movie? If you tell me that Imelda Staunton isn't the most frightening thing to have to face down as Delores Umbridge, you're LYING. Umbridge in the books was just an irritation, something awful but ultimately, obviously doomed to falter under the weight of her own repressive attitude and repressed emotions. There was almost a sense that she might have won in the movie. Imelda Staunton was terrifying. I'd take Aragog over her, and my fear of spiders make Ron's arachniphobia look like an exaggerated dislike.
No surprises about which Slytherin y'all like best, nor that Neville and the Weasley twins came out so far ahead in the Gryffindor student poll. McGonagall though--is this just because of Deathly Hallows or what? And wooOt! Luna is totally the best "other houses" student ever. Well done.
Demographic limitations of my LJ being what they are, the fact that most of my friendslist got into Harry Potter in their twenties doesn't surprise me. I did have to laugh at how 20% of folks got nagged into the fandom. I technically belong in that category, as I hissed and booed at the hype for forever, before the movies ever came out, but the movies were still my entry point. It's amazing I ever liked the series, isn't it?
The favorite-book question got trickier, but I'm surprised and delighted that nearly half (40%) of folks thought that Prisoner of Azkaban was the best. I think that's right. Not just from a "I like this best," stand point, but also from a "this was actually well done" point. Prisoner of Azkaban is the first look at the wider consequences of evil and the general unfairness of life. The fact that it introduced Lupin, one of the better characters with the most realistic, grounded outlook in a world of magic, helps. But there's also the refusal to lionize dead folks with Snape's treatment at the hands of Sirius and James. There's the ugly truth of friendship not conquering all. That justice can't always be done. As a primer for the later, perhaps more tragic books, Prisoner of Azkaban, more so than the first really shockingly violent book--Goblet of Fire--set the stage for the hero's eventual maturity.
The fact that said maturity was recognized and declared to be the next most popular favorite--Deathly Hallows got 24% of your votes--is telling. I'm not surprised there was hardly any love for the emo-wangst fest and flashback-ridden Half-Blood Prince, but nobody liked Chamber of Secrets? Hell, Sorceror's Stone got at least one vote. In terms of favorites, I'd say it's 3, 7, then 2, with 1 being better than 4 for introducing the series so well, then 4, 5, and lastly 6. Of course, the Chamber of Secrets love is probably due to the tragic hotness of the movie Tom Riddle. That, and, at least for a time, the fact that I really, really thought she was going to show--for once--a Slytherin of any measure. I spent most of Chamber of Secrets going, "Well, isn't it nice that there's at least one Slytherin who's not evil--oh." Whoops.
I'm glad people agreee that the movies are hard to pick as favorites. The Prisoner of Azkaban movie was decent, but for what it left out, for what the young actors in it still had to learn about acting, I can't like it best. That it was the heavily favored makes sense--best basic story, clearest vision and first to break away from the literal stranglehold of the first two--but I dunno that it was the best done. I'm glad to see almost as many people agreed as preferred Prisoner of Azkaban.
And, people? I UNDERSTAND YOUR ALAN RICKMAN LOVE. I do. But "most inspired" casting? Have any of you all seen the Order of the Phoenix movie? If you tell me that Imelda Staunton isn't the most frightening thing to have to face down as Delores Umbridge, you're LYING. Umbridge in the books was just an irritation, something awful but ultimately, obviously doomed to falter under the weight of her own repressive attitude and repressed emotions. There was almost a sense that she might have won in the movie. Imelda Staunton was terrifying. I'd take Aragog over her, and my fear of spiders make Ron's arachniphobia look like an exaggerated dislike.
No surprises about which Slytherin y'all like best, nor that Neville and the Weasley twins came out so far ahead in the Gryffindor student poll. McGonagall though--is this just because of Deathly Hallows or what? And wooOt! Luna is totally the best "other houses" student ever. Well done.
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no subject
Date: 2007-08-13 05:44 pm (UTC)As you say, demographic limitations. It's no one's first choice, but for all you know, it could be everyone's second. Trying to get complete rankings in a useful format is nigh impossible.
Anyway, damn straight McGonagall. Especially for those of us who don't want to get poked by any of the Gryffindor men. She might not be as badass as some, but she was probably the most calm, cool, and collected - moreso even than Dumbledore as we find out in DH.
no subject
Date: 2007-08-13 08:08 pm (UTC)McGonagall is awesome, don't get me wrong. I'm just blown away by her receiving far and away the most votes over even Dumbledore. Still, Neville bested all of the trio, so maybe being the star isn't worth that much.