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1316 Supporters

Created by Suzanne C on November 26, 2005, 9:56 pm

There is a major problem with the Harry Potter movies. The Dumbledore that we read about in the books is a very kind, old and wise man. He has a grandfather charm about him that we've all grown to love. However, it seems that in recent movies something about the character got lost.

Richard Harris was the perfect Dumbledore. He truly understood the character and became him on screen. He was a Dumbledore that walked off the pages of the books. You'll find few who had a problem with him in the role. But sadly, after filming Chamber of Secrets he passed away. And with that, Dumbledore as we knew him was no more.

Sadly, life goes on and the casting crew for the movies needed to fill some very big shoes. They cast Michael Gambon in the role of Dumbledore.

All I can ask is, what happened? Prisoner of Azkaban brought us a new version of Dumbledore: old, wahsed up hippie. But what we saw in this movie is nothing compard to Goblet of Fire. For half the movie Dumbledore isn't even wearing glasses! Those spectacles are his signature! And there were major character changes in this movie that didn't show before. Never would Dumbledore yell at Harry. What was with that? He's kind and always supportive of Harry. And in the movie he comes across as a crazy, old, and senile hippie. Not at all the Dumbledore from the books.

But this interview with Gambon is what really gets on my nerves:

http://www.empireonline.co.uk/interviews_and_events/interview.asp?IID=365

Oh I hope that interview was a joke. Here's 2 questions and answers from the interview:

Are you kind of easing into the role a bit more now you have done one film as Dumbledore?
"I just play him as myself, I don’t ease myself into any role really. I stick a beard on and play me. Every part I play is just a variant of my own personality. No real character actor, of course, just me."


What makes Dumbledore the greatest wizard of all time?
"I have no idea. I learn the lines that JK Rowling or whoever writes them, and say them. There’s no subtext in Harry Potter really; it’s all magic, anything can happen. Why do I say this? Because it’s a magic spell. It’s quite nice in a way. There is a real freedom to it. Doesn’t say much for acting does it?"


That turns my stomach. WTF!!!! He plays the role as himself? DUDE! You're murdering one of the greatest characters in the series!!!! In fact, he has killed the life and spirit that was put into the character of Dumbledore by Richard Harris.

This isn't a play where you can read lines and think nothing of it. This is an intricate and extremely complex book series. That is why it's captured so many readers. Perhaps if he read the books then he would know and understand that.

They either need to have a serious talk with him or replace him because he's doing the character of Dumbledore a great injustice. These movies don't have to be exact replicas of the books and really we've accepted quite a few changes that leave huge plot holes in the story. But this is different. In fact, this is serious.

So, please, sign this petition if you have any type of problem with Gambon playing Dumbledore in the Harry Potter movies.
      


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Petition Signatures


1,316 6 days ago    Quintin Beer: I support this petition. And by the way, Michael Gambon has read the books and he thinks he HAS captured the character of Dumbledore. Rubbish.
1,315 3 weeks ago    Plugcollector : I support this petition wholeheartedly. Michael Gambon almost makes me vomit and cry in pain, and the horrible outfit they have given him makes it even worse. They could have had Patrick Stewart or Jeremy Irons or just any other great british actor, but no, it had to be the worst choice.
1,314 3 weeks ago    R Fe de Leon: I support this petition.
1,313 3 weeks ago    Edit Eliason: I support this petition.
1,312 4 weeks ago    Rebeka Rye: I support this petition 100%!
1,311 4 weeks ago    Saad Salman Zia: I agree. Gambon has RUINED the whole character. His own interview says it all. He doesn't consider it important to know the character he's playing. Which shows his lack of acting diversity. Harris was much better. Dumbledore is supposed to be kind, wise, composed and powerful. This guy's a total riff raff machine, almost throbbing harry after the goblet scene. No smiles, no emotion, no encouragement, more like a dictator on the post. Gets intimidated by Cornelius Fudge....heck even gets scared of those Durmstrang boys. Rather awkward behaviour for the world's most powerful wizard if you ask me. He should have been replaced. But I guess it's too late now.
1,310 4 weeks ago    Ella Pope: I support this petition!!!!!!!!
1,309 4 weeks ago    Andry : I support this petition for sure!!!
1,308 4 weeks ago    Kevin : I absolutely support this petition. I am reluctant to even see any more of the movies, due to Dumbledore's portrayal. Richard Harris was the perfect fit and it was a real shame when he died.
1,307 4 weeks ago    Aurora Næss : I support this petition.
1,306 4 weeks ago    Rachel : I DEFINATELY support this petition. I have never even seen Gambon smile in the movies!
1,305 4 weeks ago    stacy mcqueen : I support this petition. Honestly there's not a day that goes by that i don't curse richard harris for dying before the series was complete. This Michael Hambone is a moron. NO SUBTEXT? NO SUBTEXT? WHAT ACTOR SAYS THAT?! it's his job as an actor TO FIND THE SUBTEXT. I'VE NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THINK. I'm sure Alan Rickman and Maggie Smith rolled their eyes when they read his interview. How can they director allow him bellow and chew the scenery? He plays everything dark and weird and there's no likability AT ALL! There will be no tears shed by me in the theater watching the half blood prince IF ya know what i mean.
1,304 4 weeks ago    Katey Parr : I support this petition. OMG I HATE THE NEW DUMBLEDOORE!!!! he shows way too much emotion, and reactions, dumbledorres REAL reactions are hardly a flicker of his eyelashes! he doesnt dramatically swoop around. he is calm and all knowing!!!! with some STUPIDDDD irish accent, i hope JK is ashamed by his appauling acting in the movies!
1,303 3 Aug 2008 - 6:23    Tom Ngo : I support this petition. I noticed the changes in the character that were mentioned here. It really angers me especially when he yelled at harry. It was totally out of character and I hope that they do replace him soon.
1,302 2 Aug 2008 - 20:54    Carly O'Neal : I support this petition.
1,301 2 Aug 2008 - 18:34    Holly Presland : I support this petition.
1,300 1 Aug 2008 - 12:57    shaniqua : I 100% support this petition even though i fear it is too late. He has ruined the movies so much.
1,299 1 Aug 2008 - 5:11    Michele Heibel : I completely agree. I was very disappointed to see Dumbledore changed into a hyperactive old hippie with sinister undertones. He is the only character on screen that does not match the book. I miss the original Dumbledore sorely and I know this petition is too late but I just feel better having said it.
1,298 30 Jul 2008 - 23:19    Dino LaVerghetta : I support this petition.
1,297 30 Jul 2008 - 23:18    Rose LaVerghetta : I support this petition.
1,296 30 Jul 2008 - 8:26    Elizabeth Gomez : He kills the movie.
1,295 26 Jul 2008 - 12:20    John Tyler : I support this petition.
1,294 26 Jul 2008 - 2:21    Kimberly Costa : I COMPLETELY support your petition. This man has ABSOLUTELY RUINED the Harry Potter series for me, to the point that the only solace I find is in the audio books, where I feel he is portrayed accurately by Jim Dale.
1,293 22 Jul 2008 - 14:10    Ken Cooper : I support this petition. I absolutely detest not only the manner in which he portrays Dumbledore, but the fact that the directors have allowed this to happen. Perhaps Chris Columbus should have been allowed to direct all the films...at least then we would have had some character and set continuity. Max Von Sydow, if healthy, would have been a far worthier replacement for Richard Harris than Michael Gambon. I have trouble beliving that J.K. Rowling is at all happy with this portrayal of Dumbledore.
1,292 21 Jul 2008 - 23:52    david : I support this petition.
1,291 20 Jul 2008 - 17:07    Elizabeth Wood : I support this petition.
1,290 19 Jul 2008 - 18:48    Jeff Gachihi : I support this petition WHOLE HEARTEDLY!!!
1,289 17 Jul 2008 - 3:35    Jeff Elliott : I support this petition.
1,288 13 Jul 2008 - 20:19    Abigail Nixon : I support this petition.
1,287 13 Jul 2008 - 17:45    Shelly Paul : should have been done a long time ago!
1,286 13 Jul 2008 - 4:09    Goutham : AH!!! this dumbledore really gets on my nerves!!
1,285 12 Jul 2008 - 23:17    Alison : I support this petition.
1,284 12 Jul 2008 - 23:12    Lauren Dean : I support this petition.
1,283 12 Jul 2008 - 22:18    Lauren : I support this petition. I have grown to love the HP series over the past eight or so years and I hate to see the characters altered for cinematic effect. Please fix this!
1,282 12 Jul 2008 - 21:51    Tina : I support this petition.
1,281 12 Jul 2008 - 20:42    Ashley Manley : I support this petition.
1,280 12 Jul 2008 - 20:38    Sarah : I support this petition.
1,279 12 Jul 2008 - 20:33    Laurenne : I support this petition.
1,278 12 Jul 2008 - 20:32    emelia : I support this petition.
1,277 12 Jul 2008 - 20:18    Yoonie Yang : I support this petition.
1,276 12 Jul 2008 - 20:13    Morgan : I support this petition.
1,275 12 Jul 2008 - 20:10    Rhiannon Bowen : I support this petition.
1,274 12 Jul 2008 - 20:09    Emma : The first movie was really the only one that stayed true to the story and feel of the books. Whenever I look at the "Dumbledore" of the new movies I just get depressed, hes nothing like the character, theres no magical, wise feel to him, hes just some old man.
1,273 12 Jul 2008 - 20:08    michelle : I support this petition.
1,272 12 Jul 2008 - 20:01    Winter Hylwa : I support this petition.
1,271 12 Jul 2008 - 19:04    Scott Yetter : I support this petition.
1,270 12 Jul 2008 - 5:36    Charles Hatheway : The author of the petition said it best: he took away the life and spirit of the story.
1,269 9 Jul 2008 - 7:23    Balthaazar : I can't get over what piss poor performance Gambon does as Dumbledore. He has none of the characters traits and is mocking the role with quotes that at first, I thought were a joke.. nope, he really says things like "I just put on a beard and play me" ugh, I want to smack him. You know what's sad? I look forward to Dumbledore's death, something that was heart rending in the books is now my only hope of truly enjoying the final movies..
1,268 7 Jul 2008 - 19:03    tori hammonds : I support this petition.he has no clue how dumbledore acts!!!!!
1,267 4 Jul 2008 - 15:58    Lalagig : Michael Gambon is a travesty in this role. You know who would have made a great Dumbledore...Patrick McGoohan
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