Defense of POA movie

Ok, I'm not going to defend the movie hugely because I pretty much am of the same mind as Pauli, that they are rushing the films and could have better scene selection etc But I just wanted to point out one thing that kept the theme of the book very well. Lupin is a huge character and Snape is a big delivery device for this fact. When Snape assigns the essay on werewolves, both in the book and in the movie, he points out the etymology. "Were-" comes from the old Anglo-Saxon for "man," and of course "wolf" means wolf. In C. S. Lewis's second book of his "space trilogy," Perelandra, he refers to the possessed Dr. Weston as the "un-man." I think this is the same type of thing Rowling has in mind in her use of the were-wolf. When Lupin transforms, he is worse than "a harmless wolf," he is the type of monster that can only be made by perverting the glory that is the human person. Counter-acting and interwoven with this "man become become monster" is the character of true friendship, and his animagus is that of "man's best friend." As true friend of the man Remus Lupin, Sirius Black, in his dog form, must violently fight what Lupin becomes. This is the effect of evil (sin) in the world on two very good friends : "They were locked, jaw to jaw, claws ripping at each other" (POA 381) I thought the movie did this scene very well. It was very iconic, a very front and center shot of the "man-beast" and "man's best friend" clashing with the moon in the background. Additions As I said, I agree that the scene selection isn't great, and one might wonder why, given this, I would be in favor of the scene creation I am about to note (in other words, "they didn't include certain better scenes from the book and yet still fit in this one that wasn't in the book ... and you like it?!?!") What they added is a scene in which the Hippogryff saves Harry and Hermione from the Lupin were-wolf. Granger has noted that the Hippogryff is a standard medieval Christ symbol. I liked that, as long as they were going to add something in, it wound up being that the Christ symbol saves the them from the beast-man. Also note the addition earlier in the transformation scene. It is only the Hippogryff that can handle the were-wolf, but this is not the only attempt that was made in the movie. Hermione tried to appeal to the Lupin within (only in the movie). One thing that the movies have done is taken a bit more accelerated track for the development of gender identity. I think Rowling has a distinct mind to and concern for this but the movies are going are addressing it sooner. I think, though, that what they did in this movie, while it is not at this place in the series as Rowling writes it, is in step with Rowling's style. I believe Rowling sees a certain quality in feminine psyche that is symbolic of a certain level of grace ( this follows in the footsteps of those such as Dante in his characterization of Beatrice, a very good study of which can be found in Charles Williams The Figure of Beatrice). But in the case of some evils, and those that affect the person most deeply ... it is superfluous to hope in the grace of feminine psyche in respect to masculine, when the man has become a were-wolf. "This kind comes out only through prayer and fasting," ... and the direct touch of Christ. In the movie Hermione makes the attempt to reach Lupin in this manner, at least that is what it really looks like to me (and this is not is some "crypto-erotic" way ... simply that as she develops she naturally develops the soothing/nurturing effect of the feminine). But for this malady, the only real protection is the Hippogryff - the Christ symbol. I Don't know whether any of that was anywhere near consciously intentional and I kind of doubt it, but I think it works none-the-less. So, I guess at least there is some positive development in the movies ... still (simply because of the source stories) a lot better than some of the stuff out there. But there's still nothing quite like the book.