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Harry Potter Poster "Busted" for Enhancing Hermione
The image of a poster for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix posted on the IMAX website has been taken down in the wake of criticism that it was retouched to make Emma Watson's 15-year-old alter ego a wee more... curvy. According to The-Leaky-Cauldron.org, Warner Bros. has since issued a statement explaining that the poster (seen here at the London Daily Mail website) was unapproved yet "unfortunately... was accidentally posted on the IMAX website." Sounds like someone in the film's publicity department is a bit hung up on Lindsay Lohan's famous (and to this day "spellbinding") Saturday Night Live take on the character.
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May 9, 2007 9:55 AM
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Phew! Based on that post title, I thought this was going to be much worse! But really, when are these Marketing Departments ever going to learn? These movies are aimed at children with cross-over appeal to adults. They make millions, if not billions, of dollars for Warner Brothers and J.K. Rowling. What genius in the publicity section thought that sexing up a 15-year on a poster would add money to the coffers of the machine that is "Harry Potter"? Have they not heard about "protecting the brand"?
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May 9, 2007 11:35 AM
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The "enhancement" is not that bad--I was expecting Pam Anderson proportions. If you notice the new photo also took the shadow from her face and gave her a more natural look by removing the dark lips and heavy eye make-up. Lighter looser hair makes her look like a teenager. Much ado about nothing.
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May 9, 2007 12:18 PM
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Compared the the editing of the Katie Couric picture last year, this isn't so much. I agree that altering the picture does send a bad message to young girls, but at least, as another poster said, they didn't "Pam Anderson"-ize Emma. Playing with the lighting, hair and makeup is small potatoes, nothing that movie folks and marketing folks do anyway.
As for Ms. Watson, I hope that this little dustup doesn't make her feel self-concious about her very natural and pretty appearance. She has a right to feel good about herself. Personally, I like the fact that the actors in the Harry Potter films do look more naturalistic than those in most American teen-oriented films.
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May 9, 2007 2:03 PM
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I agree, much ado about nothing. I hardly even noticed the bust change, it was really very slight and the makeup was a vast improvement and certainly no different than one would expect of the film industry. It doesn't mean Ms. Watson isn't attractive enough. It didn't strike me as sexualized at all, just more dramatic.
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May 9, 2007 2:47 PM
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So glad you mentioned the SNL skit at the end. I loved that skit and thought of it immediately while reading the story. 
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May 9, 2007 3:49 PM
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that SNL skit was hilarious, thanks for bringing it up
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May 9, 2007 9:35 PM
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She's hot either way.
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Jul 11, 2007 6:01 PM
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