h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

**plans future career as casting director**

B

Too old. I see Umbridge as a up-and-comer toady. Which is why I was thinking of Toni Collette, or at least Toni Collette as she was in Muriel's Wedding...that whole suck-up attitude.

Judy Dench as Mrs. Fig.

I finished the book whilst the modem was down. I think I shall read the whole series over again, but this one was definitely my favourite.

Jo Brand would make a good Umbridge, I love the play on words in the books .

The fireworks scene will look excellent on film.

I thought the book was fantastic. Finished it in eight hours, and bored the pants off my poor boyfriend the entire evening.

I also felt like the Harry/Cho relationship was trite. Cho seemed a bit too spastic, in my humble opinion. I'd like to see who they get to play her, though.

Rowling's also set up the possibility for Harry to do well on his Potions OWL, since he did better in that class once Snape started ignoring him.

I'd have to say that the next movies just won't be the same without Richard Harris as Dumbledore. He was perfect. I cried when I heard he'd died...

Oh, and I completely agree that the actress playing Hermione is WAAAAAAY too cute. They should've tried to make her a little bit more homely for the first few books...

More comments from me should be in the offing. I am going to read the book again starting tonight.

I can't believe there are people around who actually thought this book was best!

Quantity definitely does not always equal quality - my comments on the book in general are in F19585?thread=287947&post=3662662#p3662662

B

I didn't think Umbridge was young! All her kittenish qualities seemed very middle-aged, all the more grotesque for being age-inappropriate. Judi Dench could simper and be gimlet-eyed at the same time, sugar-coated evil.

No, not young, just not as old as say, Fudge. Late 30's, early 40's, and definitely the type that only gets the position because she's whined long enough, and loud enough, to get it, not because she's any good. Someone who's never had power and it goes to her head.

In other words, Fudge's sycophant.

hehehehehehehe....

http://www.chick.com/bc/2001/harrypotter.asp

that would be a nervous laugh on my part, since I know how scary those people can be....

It reminds me of "The Handmaid's Tale"... very scary and halfway plausible.

Miriam Margolyes for Umbridge! Though it seems that she has alreay played Professor Sprout, which is a shame, because it kinda knocks her out of the running.

B

I agree, Ben, Miraim Margolyes would have been excellent, Jo Brand was the closest I could think of and nearer the age too.

Yes, I always pictured Umbridge as very Margolyes-esque.

B

Finally finished the book, taking it slowly, not reading for more than 1-2 hours each day... *notices people edging away from her*

Right, what did I want to comment on?

Thestrals - yes - Lil, I'd really love to see your thestrals, since they really created a very vivid picture in my mind the moment I first came across them in the book

Oddly enough, I didn't cry (being easily moved) when Sirius 'died' (odd way to go, really) but I did cry when Harry got so furious with Dumbledore once they were back in his office

I haven't seen the film/s yet, but when I think of Umbridge my imagination comes up with one of the 'Fat Ladies' (it was a British series about food, but I can't remember the names of the two ladies, or who was who)

Found a picture of the 'Two fat ladies' - it's the one to the left I'm thinking of as suitable for Umbridge - I heard one of them died, but I don't know which one...

http://members.tripod.com/Caroline_Bowen/images/2fl.gif

It was the other one that died. Clarissa Dickson Wright is the blond and Jennifer Paterson was the brunette.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/twofatladies/

I loved that show...