Although I enjoy the Harry Potter series, there are some parts of the books that I believe the directors got wrong, especially in some of the characterizations. Here are some of my main problems with the films.
1. Ginny
Those who know me know I’m furious about the characterization of Ginny Weasley in the movie series. In the books, she is an incredibly fleshed-out, witty, interesting character who has a storyline outside of her relationship with Harry. She practices quidditch by stealing her brothers’ brooms when they’re not at home and goes on to become a professional quidditch player. She is extremely intelligent and often acts as a voice of reason to Harry in the later books. However, movie Ginny is flat and poorly characterized, with barely any scenes outside of the ones with Harry. Their relationship isn’t given time to develop, and their romance seems awkward and forced (see the scene where she feeds Harry a pastry).
2. Ron
In the books, Ron Weasley is an extremely funny, supportive best friend to Harry. Not only does he have some of the best one-liners in the series, but he is also constantly there for his best friend. He offers to stay with Harry over Christmas break, fights alongside him in every book, and offers emotional support after the death of Sirius. He is also extremely intelligent; after all, he’s a champion wizard chess player. However, in the movies he is played off as the idiot of the friend group; he is laughed at more than he is laughed with, and sometimes he is downright mean to Hermione. He is sullen and moody half the time, and he’s much harder to like than his book self.
3. Dumbledore
I reread the series after the movies had come out, and I realized that I had forgotten how complex Dumbledore is as a character. He’s not the always the all-knowing, wise, almost godlike person he is portrayed as in the movies. He’s zany, funny, and extremely interesting; he goes from talking about his fondness of socks to the meaning of humanity in only a few sentences.
4. Voldemort's Death
The main point of Harry killing Voldemort with Expelliarmus in the end of the books was that Voldemort was humanized in death. Although he tried to make himself into a god, he was only a person. In the movies, he is given a very fantastical death in which he breaks to pieces and dissipates into the wind. It lacks the significance, or rather the insignificance, of the book’s death.
5. The Voldemort/Draco hug
I think this one speaks for itself.
