Out of the adult actors, who's the best?

[Culhwch]

I don't mind either Harris or Gambon. Two distinct Dumbledores, certainly, but both equally good. And remember Harris had a different director to Gambon - in fact, Gambon has had three now - so it can't all be blamed on the actor.

I really like David Thewlis as Lupin, but Lupin was always my favourite character anyway. And Gary Oldamn did a good job as Sirius, though he was criminally underused in Goblet. And Fiennes - a perfect Voldemort.

[Joel007]

I'll reserve judgement on Voldemort's actor until I see some more of him
And although I think Sir Ian McKellen would do an amazing job of playing Dumbledore, I'm also quite relieved that someone else was chosen, if only to get some more variety out there. I'm sure I'd be thinking "Gandalf" the whole time, and there would just be a diferrent kind of criticism going on.

[Commonmind]

Aye, it is evident that Rowling took quite a bit of reference from some of those traditional Fantasy stories when she created the character, and indeed they are very similar personalities. And I agree Cul, it can't be blamed - entirely - on the actor; a good director that is familiar with the stories would have likely made the character more believable, or more true to their novel form. Though the actor does have some power over how his character is portrayed on-screen. Honestly, I'm not that ruffled over it, as all in all Gambon has done a great job, it's just that those moments in which he seems to divert from the Dumbledore of the books are very jarring (like the times he's overly aggressive, and almost manic in his actions)

[BookStop]

Alan Rickman is a brilliant actor, but not my fav in the Harry Potter movies.
Maggie Smith is Minerva. She does it so well, I cna't imagine anyone else.

[devilsgrin]

Maggie Smith is exactly what i envisioned of Minerva McGonagall the instant i began reading about her. She instantly came to mind when Jo began describing her mannerisms and personality.
Rickman of course needs no seconding... everyone is in complete agreement on his performance.
Not sure of his name, but the man who plays Cornelius Fudge - he's nailed the Minister for Magic. Exactly how he should be... publicly charming, but privately paranoied and uncertain.
Jason Isaacs may not have had many scenes but he is a perfect Lucius. Menacing is the least to say.
its been said before, by others and myself in other threads, but i loathe Gambon's Dumbledore... too aggressive, too common, too ... tragic for further words. Harris was perfect. Dumbledore was always presented as a bit of a nutter - and the seeming senility Harris played him with was perfect... imho.
Not a Robby Coltrane fan to begin with, but can't really fault his performance... Hagrid was always relegated to lesser supporting cast in my head, even when he was front and centre stage, H.R.H. always outshone him as they should.
Warwick Davies IS Professor Flitwick. faultless, but also a given, as there are so few known littler people around that could play him.
Emma Thompson is such a great actress that she plays Professor Trelawney perfectly.
Gary Oldman is also such a great actor that his Sirius is also perfect... and like Emma Thompson, criminally underused in the films.
David Thewlis' performance is fine, but having seen him in a slew of awful films in odd rolls, i couldn't distance him from them... he's also not the look i had in my head for Lupin... i saw diamond in the rough, Thewlis is rough rock only.

[Melanie Nilles]

Originally Posted by KCMac

I agree with most of you for Alan Rickman. And I was disappointed as well about the new Dumbldore, he plays the character a little too "strong" for my taste.

I have one word--ditto. (Anyone besides me old enough to remember the old copiers before photcopiers?)

Rickman as Snape was a perfect choice and Harris as Dumbledore was better than the new actor. Harris gave Dumbledore a quality even better than the character in the books. However, I think the new Dumbledore will be better suited to the events in the sixth book as a movie. Maggie Smith as Minerva McGonagall is also a perfect choice.

[pyan]

Originally Posted by devilsgrin

Not sure of his name, but the man who plays Cornelius Fudge - he's nailed the Minister for Magic.

His name is Robert Hardy - possibly best known for the part of Siegfried Farnon in the tv series All Creatures Great And Small.

Robert Hardy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

And yes, he is Fudge - fussy yet vaguely menacing, in a bureaucratic way.

[orionsixwings]

ALAN RICKMAN ALL THE WAY!!! Ray Fiennes comes a very close second. I love Voldemort -- he's so sexy!

[Nesacat]

It was Alan Rickman as Snape and then Fiennes happened as Voldemort and he seemed to be having so much fun being evil that the vote is now pretty evenly divided between the two.