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Posts: 23 · Joined: May 13, 2008 Location: Trenton, MI Posts: 23

I was just wondering (for a long long time) if anyone else was as unhappy with Richard Harris (most amazing Dumbledore ever) being replaced by Micheal Gambon Rather than Ian McKellen (L.O.T.R) taking his place?
After reading The Deathly Hallows, I've been wondering if anyone else thought that Micheal Gambon would have made a better Aberforth Dumbledore than an Albus. He was too loud, outspoken and all around not anywhere near as wisdomy as Richard Harris. You read the books and expect Richard Harris's play as Albus.
He was exactly what I wanted Dumbledore to look and act like and he was an amazing actor. It seems like Gambon didn't even read the books or try to follow in Harris's footsteps. Gambon (not saying a bad actor just not made for the part) has more of a Aberforth mist. (such as how he is yelling at the trio in his Hogsmeade pub) And to end, I also believe that Ian McKellen would have mad the perfect replacement Dumbledore as he has the same air about him as Harris (especially after L.O.T.R.)
Tell me what you think.
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Posts: 17940 · Posted: May 13, 2008 12:39 pm Post subject:

i would've definitely been happier with Ian McKellen Sad

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Posts: 16481 · Posted: May 13, 2008 1:24 pm Post subject:

I dont know if Ian could have done a good dumbledore either...he's not reallyt hte silently strong type. but for all I know he could do it. I just want Harris back Crying or Very sad

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Posts: 24312 · Posted: May 13, 2008 1:27 pm Post subject:

Absolutely not. Just beacuse he played a wizard once, doesn't mean he should play it again.
He didn't even want to play the part, you should read this article, here...
http://www.potterforums.com/about12755.html
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Posts: 17940 · Posted: May 13, 2008 3:22 pm Post subject:

i like his acting though, i think he would've done a great dumbledore

he probably didnt wanna do it because then he was always going to be seen as a great wise wizard kind of actor...
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Posts: 23 · Joined: May 13, 2008 Location: Trenton, MI Posts: 23

I wasn't saying it just because he's played a wizard before. He has an all around better mystique than Gambon. I know he didn't want to play the role butGambon isn't near the Dumbledore type and portrayed him all wrong and completely different from how Harris did. I still say Gambon belongs as a Aberforth.
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Posts: 102 · Joined: May 12, 2008 Location: New Jersey Posts: 102

Harris was truly, in my opinion, the perfect Dumbledore. He was exactly as I envisioned him. I believe Gambon is horrible, and McKellen would've been equally as bad. They've both got booming voices, and I always thought of Dumbledore with a soft voice(barring exceptional situations). Not to mention they both, for the most part, have cold faces. Whomever plays Dumbledore should have a kind and welcoming face; again, in my opinion. Off the top of my head, I can't think of a candidate to fit that description, but Harris was definitely it.

Posts: 16481 · Posted: May 13, 2008 7:11 pm Post subject:

^ya I feel the same way.
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Posts: 23 · Joined: May 13, 2008 Location: Trenton, MI Posts: 23

Well of course I loved Harris to death but between the two (that are in more direct public light) I would have to choose McKellen. He does look more the part as Gambon seemed quite a but shorter and thicker than Harris but McKellen has a similar face and has proven to be able to act extremely similar to Harris. I also believe Harris will always be the "only" Dumbledore.*le sigh*
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Posts: 738 · Joined: May 3, 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 738

Miachel is doing a great job filling in shoes. It would be tough to fill in right in the middle of the series.
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Posts: 24312 · Posted: May 13, 2008 11:55 pm Post subject:

If Gambon was doing that off of a job, I would think someone would step in and tell him to tone it down. We have no idea if the script or the director told him to do... it seems odd to me that as he grabbed Harry in GoF, no one on the set told him to tone it down. Or if they did, they still went with that take. I can't fully blame Gambon, since there is only so much he can do about how he plays his part.
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Posts: 17940 · Posted: May 14, 2008 8:35 am Post subject:

^ i agree with that, i absolutely hate the idea that the film makers tried to play him like an aggresive headmaster, thats so not dumbledore at all! Mad

and so of course, gambon had to play just that, which is awful imo

also, im sorry to say this but i dont think richard harris wasnt the perfect dumble at all, he lacked the energy for it, he took ages to say one damn phrase and he really bored me, very unlike dumbledore

yeah, i know, he was very old, but see this is the reason why someone like ian mckellen would've been the perfect dumble, someone with energy but that looked old enough

and of course, that plays dumble well and NOT aggresive!!!
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Posts: 287 · Joined: Mar 6, 2008 Location: unknown Posts: 287

I always thought Ian McKellen had too much of a rough-not-friendly kind of look about him, and Dumbledore was meant to be a kind-faced person, right?

So yeah, I say Micheal Gambon FTW in this case, but my favourite all time Dumbledore would of have to have been Richard Harris. Smile

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Posts: 100 · Posted: May 14, 2008 4:22 pm Post subject:

This always makes me laugh:

I don't think Michael Gambon is a bad actor, but I don't think he portrays Dumbledore very well.
I think he was pretty good in POA. Of course, it would probably be pretty hard to live up to what Richard Harris brought to the table.. but I think he had that nice, sort of strange thing I get from Dumbledore.
Then in GOF and OOTP, he just came off really angry and cold. And the one scene (from the picture above), I swear I thought he was going to rip Dan's head off.
I know he hasn't read any of the books or anything, but I think maybe if he gave it a shot.. he would understand the character more.

Not too sure about Ian McKellen though. I havn't seen him in too much. But he doesn't have that kind, warmth to his voice..
Harris was the perfect Dumbledore though. Even the way he used his voice was kind and warm.

Posts: 153 · Joined: May 7, 2008 Location: So Cal Posts: 153

I didn't really care about the switch. I think he's doing a fine job. No complaints here.
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Posts: 17940 · Posted: May 15, 2008 12:17 pm Post subject:

Posts: 16481 · Posted: May 15, 2008 2:00 pm Post subject:

I have mixed feelings about the bell in the new dd's beard. its hilarious....but ridiculous. I guess you can tell he's coming from the dingling noise.
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Posts: 287 · Joined: Mar 6, 2008 Location: unknown Posts: 287

Posts: 7 · Joined: May 30, 2008 Posts: 7

the new dumbledor is just too uptight and aggressive. the book, he's so laid back and doesn't show much anger. they need a new dumbledore.

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