Harry, Hal: Wizards and Weight

Regarding Kenneth Turan’s review of “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” (“Magic by the Book,” Nov. 16):

“Risk-taking”? Why in the world should a director and production crew “take risks” with a film adaptation of a book that tens of millions of kids have already read and know by heart and love? But when Turan criticizes the casting of a pretty girl as the rather homely Hermione, he complains that it’s not true to the book!

JOHN BURKHOLDER

Long Beach

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Patrick Goldstein’s comments about Chris Columbus (“In Box-Office Game, It’s All About the Franchise Players,” Nov. 20) are infuriating. [Columbus] fought for the job [of directing “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”] because he loved the books. He loved the magic that J.K. Rowling had brilliantly brought to kids around the world. His intention was not to create Chris Columbus’ Harry Potter but to re-create on film Rowling’s Harry Potter.

Imagine the disappointment of kids around the world if [Columbus] had decided to change the story and create some “surprises” to satisfy his directorial personality.

MICHAEL BARNATHAN

Studio City

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Bravo to Mary McNamara’s commentary about “Harry Potter” (“Naysayers Are Under a Bad Spell,” Nov. 21). I enjoyed every minute of this laudably faithful and remarkably rich children’s movie. On the whole, the movie exceeded all my expectations, accustomed as I am to seeing beloved literary works mangled.

MARYSCOTT O’CONNOR

Sherman Oaks

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Regarding the flap over the image of overweight women in the movie “Shallow Hal” (“Does ‘Hal’ Send Mixed Signals?” by Lynn Smith, Nov. 17): Although Hollywood’s obsession with female thinness undoubtedly leads to an unrealistic self-image among many young women, it would be equally dangerous if Hollywood began promoting obesity as “normal.”

“Fat acceptance” advocates liken obese people to other once-persecuted minorities, but obesity is not analogous to skin color, religion or ethnicity. Obesity can be a dangerous medical condition, one that, just like cigarette smoking, puts people at great risk of heart disease (the No. 1 killer of women) and other serious ailments. Hollywood would not be doing women any favors by promoting obesity as a perfectly normal, healthy thing.

ALMA SANDRA RODRIGUEZ

Los Angeles

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I was raised to obey (or at least consider) the Golden Rule. Laughing at someone who some may conclude doesn’t measure up to society’s standards actually makes me hurt. I think it hurts all of us; it’s just whether we choose to listen to that inner voice of right and wrong. Those who laugh at this movie choose not to listen. A better name might be “Shallow Audience.”

MELISSA SWAZEY

Beverly Hills

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Look, fat has been funny for 2,000 years and it will continue to be funny because it is not normal and it is self-inflicted. A tiny percentage of fat people cannot help it, but the rest are just overeaters.

As far as Carnie Wilson’s comment goes (singer Wilson, who lost 155 pounds, said the movie brought back painful memories and was “hurtful in my heart”), it is wrongheaded. If a movie made fun of a cultural minority group, of course we would not stand for it. Why? Because they can’t help the color of their skin or their sexual preference or whatever. Fat people are fat because they overeat and have done so for years.

DAVE PETITTO

Palm Springs

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The Farrelly brothers, making a film that purportedly attacks the notion that only women who look like stick figures can possibly be attractive to the American male, proceed to hire the prototypical stick-figure herself, Gwyneth Paltrow, to play the love interest.

If the Farrelly brothers lack the courage to actually hire a heavy actress for a movie telling us that heavy people are beautiful too, what does this say about their conviction on the issue?

RANDALL SMITH

San Diego

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If anyone has reason to protest “Shallow Hal,” it would be the thin and beautiful. The film portrayed them as being ugly inside, and what is worse than that?

KAY ROSEN

Granada Hills