Which Dumbledore?

Who is a better Dumbledore?

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QueenSusanofNarnia

QueenSusanofNarnia

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Who is the better Dumbledore - Richard Harris (movies 1 & 2) or Michael Gambon (movies 3-5, possibly 6)? Personally, I liked Harris. It was so unfortuante that he died.
Michael Gambon, in my opinion, is too...young. I know he's in his, like, 60s, but he moves too quickly for Dumbledore (though I suppose that Gambon would have an easier time in HP6 than Harris), he isn't as...regal and formidable in presence as Harris was.
I mean, in Goblet of Fire, he practically strangled Harry after the Goblet shot out his name; not something Harris - or even Dumbledore, for that matter - would do. Watch this.
Your opinion?
 
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How many old men have you been around? Lots can and do act fast and violent, especially when it endangers someone's life.
Micheal looks more like how I imagined Dumbledoor to be, but Harris's atmosphere just felt more like an old, wise wizard.

And I would advise you to take out the HP6 spoiler please :o I would be devastated if I hadn't read HP6 first.
 
Yeah I liked Harris better. I kind of imagined Dumbledore to look like a combination of him and Gambon though.
 
Of course people are used to Richard Harris because he was the first Dumbledore. If Michael Gambon was the first Dumbledore you prolly would like him more than you do now ;) Maybe I am the only one who really don't care. Richard Harris died and they needed another Dumbledore. So, I really don't care about who plays him ;)
 
Well, I have to say since Dumbledore is a wise old man and not a violent and fast one, then I have to say Richard Harris. To me, he looked more like Dumbledore than Gambon, I suppose.

Of course people are used to Richard Harris because he was the first Dumbledore.
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Of course not, I really do like Harris better. Sadly he passed away...
 
even the way they changed how Dumbledore looks in the film, not just facial features or whatever, but how his beard is pulled into a ponytail and have you ever noticed his nails? they're like talons! He just does not look like Dumbledore to me.

And yes, a lot of the fact of me preferring Harris over Gambon is the fact that Harris came first :D

But I love Harris all around -- in Count of Monte Cristo, he's amazing!
 
Oops...I voted both are good...well both are good but I still like Harris more. Sad that he died. He was like 72

(I've read the first book and watched a few of the movies. Lol I typed that wrong)
 
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I definately liked Richard Harris better.Michael Gambon seems so aggresive somehow...so unlike the Dumbledore I got to know from the book.Richard made Dumbledore perfectly mysterious,calm and kind,just the way he is described.He was a great actor.
 
Mrs Gil-Galad Took said:
Of course YES :D I mean....Gambon didn't play the first Dumbledore, so who played the first? Harris! Of course you are used to him. He was the first one.
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I don't really care whether Gambon would really be the first. I mean, if Gambon were the first and then they changed it to Harris, people would still like Harris better since he more of a wise old man than Gambon would ever be.

They're both great, is just that Harris is more of a Dumbledore than Gambon would ever be.
 
Explain to me in what way you think Gambon is agressive. I mean in the movies he has to keep himself to the script. But in what way? His behavior? Maybe the way he talks? No offense but just curiosity :D
 
I don't know about you, but Dumbledore doesn't really strangle harry did he? :D Not only that but He seems.. rather... Un-Dumbledore-ish. He also sounds a bit aggresive too, but he's an okay dumbledore, I suppose.
 
Somebody already brought up this point, but for instance, in Goblet of Fire when Harry is chosen as the fourth champion, Dumbledore runs down the stairs into that trophy room and nearly strangles him to death. The way he talks to Harry during their final "chat" that happens at the end of every book, Gambon seems more condescending than friendly to me. I don't know, his tone is just different than the light one that Harris used.

It isn't even that Harris came first really, he's just more like Dumbledore from the books.
 
It is always sad when someone who portraits a character so well can't continue anymore. Harris knew he was going to die. Maybe they should have searched a more suitable Dumbledore. To me Gambon is a bit too young. Maybe they should have asked Sean Connery to play a Dumbledore. He would have done great :D
 
After Harris died, I had been - like tons of HP & LotR fans - that Ian McKellen would may get the role. Alas, no...
but he's top on my list for hp7...if you've read it, then think back to the "goat"...then you'll know what character I mean. :D
 
Harris is definitely better. He was more wise, kind, more like Dumbledore. And not a clown. It was truly bizarre to me in PoA when Ron is in the infirmary with his leg broken by the dog bite, Dumbledore slaps him on his injury, completely oblivious to the pain he causes. Dumbledore would never do that. He wasn't an idiot; he wasn't a buffoon. I don't know if that is Gambon's fault or the director's, but they went too far making Dumbledore kind of a dotty, mean old man. Harris' Dumbledore was never like that.
 
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