I came across this today. It's one of several pics from MTV.com. Veritaserum linked to them, but it was buried. Here's the hpana article on it.

So yeah. "I must not tell lies" has changed to "I will not break rules." Can you believe it? Does no one understand the elegance of the written word anymore? "I will not break rules" is not nearly as good as "I must not tell lies." Not by a long shot. It is just wrong. "I must not tell lies" is so elegant, so sinister in its breath and vaugeness that it is almost beautiful. It gave me chills when I first read it. I must not break rules? Man, that's just wrong.

-Fish

I am so glad that someone else realizes that certain things just sound better! Every movie I complain about changing certain quotes and such, and everyone thinks Im crazy. For instance, it was like nails on a chalk board hearing "Minister for Magic" in GoF, rather than "Minister of Magic" not a big change... but it sounded so wierd. Somethings I do like, like Dumbledore's new line in OotP: "The Evidence of the Dark Lords return in incontravertible." That is a very nice line in my opinion. incontravertible... very nice word.

Anyway, I am not happy that "I must not tell lies" was removed. The original phrase was very...er.. wet and slithery. It conjures images of hissing snakes.. "I must not tell lies"... goes very well with the suspicions we are supposed to have about Umbridge and her loyalties. Its ashame its going to be left out.

~Albus

Yeah I saw this the other day, and my first reaction was: WHY? Okay, there is no purpose in changing something so minimal as the words of something. I agree it does sound better with the "I will not tell lies". And writing that instead will not make the movie any longer. It makes no sense whatsoever!

Yeah, I also noticed that. And I was really quite annoyed by it. There is absolutely no sense in changing it what so ever. And yeah, you guys are right, "I must not tell lies" sounds so...irritating. It gets under your skin, and gives you the true nature of Umbridge.

Also, if he's writing "I will not break rules" what is he supposed to have done? The reason why he had to write "I must not tell lies" is because he was expressing the fact that Voldemort had returned. I hardly think it'd be classified as "breaking rules".

Oh, I don't know. It makes no sense. Little things like that are important and really, really needn't be changed.

<3

Oho! not cool. Talking about Voldie is NOT breaking rules (or telling lies now that i think about it). Anyway, I must not tell lies sounds better anyway. Not 'I will not break rules.' I get really uptight about these things if you hadn't already noticed.

they should have kept it as "i will not tell lies". saying "i will not break rules" is stupid becuase:
1. he didnt break any rules.
2. it doesnt sound right. at all.

but then again, there must have been some sort of reason to why it says that... they wouldnt change that just to make all of us harry potter freaks go cukoo. or would they?

Oh no. A thought came to me. What if they change the reason harry is punished? What if he is being published because he is breaking some rule, rather than telling about voldemort returning? Or what if they make it a rule that you can't say that voldemort is returning? And so they had to change it, to fit the plot change? Oh no... I have a sinking feeling...

Maybe this is another detention. They might have two scenes the first: I will not tell lies and the second detention I will not break rules. How about that?

I don't think so. They'd write on top of each other, wouldn't they? you wouldn't be able to read anything.

Fish

I also noticed it, but i didn't think, that it would be important. Okay, it isn't VERY important!

I think, they should take "I must not tell lies"...

1) It is the same like the book.... And the books are better...

2) Harry didn't break rules... (okay, he broke thousands of rules in the past, but not in this case...)


Okay, i agree with you, when you say it sounds better...

But not all, what shinnes is gold!

no where near as good. It does not flow and is not realed to what harry is saying. This is an abonination.

PS i do not like the new umbrige casting, but i like how her room was made

Ok with the new punishment for Harry in Detention with Dolores being "I will not break any rules" as opposed to the book version of "I must not tell lies" this makes no sense to me at all. What rules was Harry to have broken? By talking about Voldy? I don't recall there being any rule stated that you cannot discuss him. This new thing just does not make sense. Oh well they must have had a reason for switching this around, maybe for a bigger thrill factor.

Maybe there are new rules put in place about Umbirdge, or maybe Harry starting throwing stuff about. Or saying bad language and really getting on Umbridges's Nerves, she probably has REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY (need to breatth) REALLY REALLY STRICT rules. Thoughts?

Yeah, perhaps. but the other one sounds better. Because he lied according to what she thinks. Maybe she had put a rule about not talking about the LV or something like that. i dont know why else that would be "I will not break rules" instead of "I must not tell lies" ?

I also noticed that too.
Your right in saying that' imust not tell lies.'
Is better, i think.
I know it's not a huge crisis but why do the movie people change so small but good things into not as good things?

i´m very sad about this change!
first of all "i must not tell lies" sounds so much better than "i will not break rules". it really gives me goose-bumps as i think about it. i will not break rules sounds uneven and clumsy to me, even if it makes sense for the sory in the movie.

it kind of reminds me on the start of each simpson episode, when bart has his detention ( i will not...).

i went crazy when i saw this it is going to ruin it. also it will ruin it in the 6th movie at the weasley house during christmas when harry show the minister his hand and says "i must not tell lies"

"I will not break rules" sounds so childish. It does not suit rebel Harry Potter.
In GOF Dobby was replaced by Neville. I'm afraid "I will not break rules".... is not the ONLY change we'll see.

Well I didnt see what rule harry broke. But when he writes that he will not break rules it will make him have to write i will not Write lies right right?Maybe just maybe Umbridge is evil.

I came across it when i was searching for some OoTP pics and i thought it was'nt very smart of them to do that cause " i will not break rules" doesn't describe Umbridge the way "I must not tell lies" does some way it gives Umbridge a more sinister image. I dont get why they would do it. the original phrase was alot better

I must admit it's small changes like this that make me wonder why? It doesn't sound any better, give any more significance all it does is gives die hard fans another thing to be unhappy about? Those little changes annoy me, why can't they just leave it the way it was written? I'd prefer to stick with the original line, it has more strength behind it.

I agree that "I must not tell lies" sounded better and eviler than "I must not break rules". I mean, Harry breaks rules in all of the movies and books, but telling lies is different! Especially since what he said about Voldermort wasn't even a lie in the first place.

Absolutely disgusting! I nearly choked when I saw that!

I agree with Fish and Tom that the emotional value of the two sentences are so completely different that it just doesn't make sense. I mean, 'tell lies' and 'break rules' - there's nothing sinister about breaking rules. So what?! It depends what rules you are breaking! Rules aren't nearly as powerful as the truth. Or lies, then, which is a challenge to the truth.

Harry wants to break rules, especially Dolores Umbridge's rules. But he is not telling lies, and that's what the whole book is about! Why change the sentence that symbolises his entire struggle with the Ministry? It just doesn't make sense...

why change it thats stupid. it will not make the movie any shorter if they say "i will not break rules" except worse.i know its a small thing but then why change it? i think its the will not. must not sounds much better.and break rules what rules is he breaking. the book say "i must not tell lies" because every one thinks hes lying about voldemort coming back so it make sense.its so dumb to change it because yes, it small but everyone will notice(those who read the books). i guess we'll all have to wait until 7/13/07 to see why they changed it

It's times like these I wish that they'd let us fans write the screenplay and scripts, or JK. We understand the significance of the little things, cause the little things keep it Harry Potter, and you never know, the little things might actually turn out to be big things, like when Harry shows his hand to Mr. Scrimgeour It's little things like this that get under my skin! I mean "I will not break rules" sounds so childish, so...not Umbridge, I mean, she's out to protect the Ministry no matter what, rule breaking isn't anywhere near as important as someone revealing the truth about everything!

Grrr! Now I'm all angry (in a crazy sorta way)

We should sue! And then take over the films and direct them properly! Mhm!

just one question WHY???? why would they change it??? i guess its so the movies shorter or something coz it is the biggest book and they might not have time for a detention for saying voldemorts back but wanted to keep the blood pen thingy for a different punishment

While I generally trust the site the picture came from, it looks like a very fuzzy, and possibly badly photoshopped image to me. Is it possible that it's not actually a capture from the upcoming movie, but just a semi-official fan-manipulation? While it would certainly disappoint me to have them change the words in the movie, as I agree that "I must not tell lies" is a much more powerful and telling statement, I don't see any point to getting too worked up about it until you actually see it on the big screen. You'd be surprised what can change between the post-production stage and the release stage of a film. Of course, if you want to make a stink, take it directly to the producers, etc. Sometimes they really do listen to fans reasonable complaints! Just look at the differences in the Star Wars Ep. III trailer (with Darth Vader on the operating table looking stupid) and the actual release. All the fans laughed their heads off at that scene in the trailer, but in the actual movie, the production crew had changed it to look much better. So, you never know. You might be able to convince them of the importance of the original phrasing.

Whaaaaaat? They can't change it! Not only is it a pointless change (It doesn't make the movie any more interesting-if anything, it makes it worse by changing it in the first place) but it's not right!

I'm not sure i want to see this movie!

Plus "I must not tell Lies" is totaly different to "I will not break rules" it has a totaly different meaning!

Breaking rules could refer to anything! I must not tell lies refers to Harry "Lieing about Voldemort being back!

Grrrrrr, i'm really mad now *Runs off to write a formal complaint to David Yates*

Auror Edit: Remember about capital letters!!

Wait, WHAT?!?!?! " i must not tell lies" is way better than "i will not break rules". For one Harry will definatly follow i will not break rules because this Harry he ALWAYS breaks rules even tough i must not tell lies is pretty hard to follow as well... and two it just stupid to make such a signiffcant change! its upsetting!

I can't believe they changed it. What's the point?

Harry wasn't breaking any rules when he said, "Voldemort's back' he was 'allegedly' lying. It's just pointless.

[spoil ][ /spoil] hi people what's up [spoil ][ /spoil]

[spoil ]fijggf[ /spoil]

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changing 'i must not tell lies' to 'i will not break rules' is stupid, doesnt make the film any better (makes it worse in my opinion) and completely undermines the whole message of book 5: that harry is not lying.

makes me wonder what else they'll change in the movie now...

ps the release date is my mum's birthday!! hee hee

At this stage in the game, I accept relatively wholeheartedly that the movies will differ BIG TIME from the books. It is what it is - different medium and all. But this change makes no sense - it won't save time by gathering together plot points and it's certainly NOT a stronger line...why anyone dabbled with "I will not tell lies" I will never know...

You're not alone. The pointlessness is what gets me. I can understand that movies can't possibly be like books, which is why PoA is one of my favourite movies, and why went to see GoF twice in the cinemas - they were good movies, even if they left out some things. That's ok.

The reason the pointlessness bugs me is that I'm not so sure it's that pointless. One of the central threads through OotP is Harry's struggle with the Ministry because he believes in telling the truth above all. That is all captured in 'I must not tell lies'.

But what if the lies thing isn't there at all. What if they did change the line for a reason, with the reason being that the movie makes much more sense because they've changed the role of the Ministry. What if 'I must not tell lies' doesn't fit? What does that mean happened to the rest of the movie? Maybe Umbridge is simply a silly teacher and not representative of a more sinister movement that is out to conceal the truth. I'd be severely disappointed.

You have summed up many of my thoughts, Capricorn. Does this "silly" change portend larger, more offensive changes? We won't know until we know, but Umbridge's representative role as a character whose denial of evil assists evil's progression is central to OOTP, as well as the larger body of work.

I mean this is a woman who went from the more-than-nasty and inappropriate "I will not tell lies" blood quill (at novel's beginning) to a woman more than willing to use an unforgiveable curse on a student (at novel's end)....she's not just a loopy MoM pawn...she's more sinister than that. I hope this is shown in the movie.

It's completely stupid changing that! It's just not right. I mean I can understand them changing some things for good reason but this is just pointless. It does nothing for the movie except ruin parts of it.



hermione's sister I completely agree with you it does undermine the message. It also make you wonder what else will be changed and if it will be worse.

I do agree with you guys, but don't get me wrong when I say that in my opinion its not a huge deal (or one that'll put me off from seeing). While it makes no sense, unless they've fiddled with the plot a little, I won't be cursing when I leave the theatre or what have you. I guess I'll know what is really supposed to be there. In the end, at least they're not cutting the scene out so you'll get some effect of Umbridge's horrible nature.

maybe they'll cut out umbridge considering using the cruciatus (sp?) curse on harry ... try not to make her look too evil on screen...

I can't see why though. I mean, its not like the film has to be adapted for a younger audience - GOF was a 12 film, after all - so this doesn't make sense ...

argh, I'm confused. call myself hermione's sister? hee hee

There is a possibility that they've changed it to "I will not break rules" because he gets detention for a different reason than standing up to Umbridge about Voldemort. Maybe they've fit that in elsewhere but not for the detention.

I know... I think that we will never understand this unexplainable (?) changes. It was so much better the "I must not tell lies" and what is teh purpose in changing it?! Like in the Eragon movie when Eragon has 17 instead of 15!! It's unbelievable. I don't know, perhaps they thought it looked cooler or something the like "I must not brake rules" but it really isn't.

WHY did they have to change it ?! It makes no sense, unless of course it's an other detention.. Seems unlikely though..

'I must not tell lies' sounds so much better. It really shows the Ministry's opinion on Harry telling the wizarding world that Voldemort is back. 'I must not break rules' ? That gives it a totally different meaning!

I really hope they'll change it.. If it's still possible

Well to be honest I don't see the point in changing it! I mean it's not likes it's that hard to use 'I must not tell lies'. To me it's just plain stupid to bother changing it there's no point unless they change other things in the book. All well I'll just have to wait and see.

This is so stupid, what's the actual point in changing it? The reason 'I must not tell lies' is so effective is because it proves the actual reason she's making him carve these words into his own hand is because he is speaking out about Voldemort and suffering for it, but still sticking to his word. 'I will not break rules' is much less effective.
Nevermind, these fools will never listen to what the fans have to say will they?

I was wondering how they are going tho bring weasleys wizzard weazes into it because at the end of Gof they never showed Harry giving the twins the 1000 Galleons, but then they never said it was part of te Triwizzard prize either!
They better show the shop in films to come because it sounds amazing!

I completely agree that such a seemingly small thing can actually be rather significant. The main basis of the film concerns lies and how appalling Harry is treated because of his "lies" - which has considerable aftereffects

Furthermore, I loved the irony that coving up his "I must not tell lies" scar was pretty much the only thing he had to lie about whereas the underlying basis for Umbridge making Harry writing these particular words is fascinating, especially given the almost-continuous web of lies she weaved to maintain her position, Fudges' position and,Harrys' outcast status

Also, the "will not" implies a choice and contains a strength behind it ("I will not wash another dish today" ), whereas "must not" is much more sinister and posses a threat within - "I must not...." is the sort of thing you could expect to hear a house elf say, for fear of the consequential punishment. Indeed, "You must not do that" is often followed by "or...(enter appropriate bad consequence here "


I mean come on, "I will not break rules" could be a new years resolution or the title of Hermiones autobiography



That is worrying, and admittedly I can't remember seeing anything relating to Harry being an outcast for his supposed lies in the trailer

Whilst, I agree with you that such pointless changes are annoying I do hope that they are pointer now - your other suggestion is worse

I stop now before I start another monologue about film vs book (and in the red/read corner... - sorry bad joke couldn't help myself)

Okay this has to be one of the stupidest changes! And in the picture it looked like it was written with an ink pen,more like he just wrote it down on his hand like you would a friends phone number, not a scar like it should be. And I thought it was supposed to be Lee Jordan who wrote I will not break rules... I can't really remember but I thought it was him...
Why in the world would he change that?? I mean come on "I must not tell lies" is just as easy to do as "I will not break rules"... Wy can't we get a good director?? J.K. don't you have a say in this stuff??

LOL Another small thing that everyone is freaking out about. they still have time to change it and believe me, just because you see something doesnt mean it will be in the movie. I think some people are flipping out about Harrys hair, this, Umbridge being pink, and other small things when there are many more important things such as the plot being messed up.
Im not trying to flame or be rude at all, i just want you to know what you see is NOT final.

-----SITH-----

I agree that it is not final...the CAN'T change it to "I will not break rules" that would be tossing aside a big part of the plot. Noone believes him, he takes a lot of licks for it...but it could have been a picture of a fellow student's hand that harry notices...we just don't know...yet. I really hope they don't change it..it is a really big thing.

These little things really annoy me about the films. Because we've read the books and we've been drawn in by what the books say and then in the film its changed! However the people who havent read the books think the films are amazing. I have them all on dvd and I have been to the cinema to see them all at least twice but they just don't live up to the books. JK Rowling wanted to be a part of the directing so she could make sure the films stay true to the books.. But there not true to the books really at all.

All books are this way. The book is ALWAYS better than the movie. I cant name a movie that was better than the book. Ok so, i dont really mind the small little changes. I really look for the big picture. If they have to change like how the MoM fight plays out i will be mad, but i dont really mind the writing on his hand. AND to refresh everyones mind, what you see in any picture may not be in the movie. Even if it is confirmed by the cast, it may not be in the final cut. They may film it and leave it out.

-----SITH-----