I blame the films ...

[blamebrampton]

SOME otherwise attractive, amusing and intelligent flistees of mine have been impugning the studliness of the lovely Arthur Weasley! And look, I get it, they're young. They have this thing in their heads that says 40+ is old and dull. I dare say that I thought that way, once. And the films do not help. Mark Williams is a fine character actor, but he is not the greatest looker in the world, and he does give the role a bit of a fuddy duddy edge.

But think about what we know of Arthur in the books: he has seven children, across ten-odd years, so clearly he goes like the clappers. His children are all attractive, with at least one, Bill, being wildly good looking. He's brave, having spent his twenties and then his forties battling the evil that is Voldemort even though he could easily have hidden behind his blood status. And he's romantic, falling in love with Molly and with Muggle tech, and with the idea of a better wizarding world.

When we meet him, he's 41, and at the close of canon, he's 48. I'm 43, and Mr Brammers is 41, George Clooney is 49. All eminently shaggable, let me tell you!

In conclusion, let me suggest that the films have given people a misleading mental image of Arthur Weasley, just as they have of thirtysomething Harry and Draco, and twentysomething James and Lily. Rather than thinking of the lovely but not so studly Mark Williams ...

think instead of 45-year-old David Wenham ...	or going-on-40-year-old Paul Bettany.

Admit it: you'd go there.

Comments

[cinnatart.livejournal.com]

I'd go there without a doubt - especially with Paul Bettany.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

That is because you have good taste! And Molly is a woman of standards, Arthur had to impress her something fierce!

[nursedarry.livejournal.com]

LOL! David is my avatar for Charlie, since I was stamped as him over on HiH.

Great minds...

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

HEE! Though Charlie is 20 years younger -- he'll grow up well!

[scabbyfish.livejournal.com]

<3 Everything you said; Arthur deserves far more love!

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Obviously no one could ever touch him because Molly would AK them, but we can all admire from a distance!

[kerryblaze.livejournal.com]

I'll admit it.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

(It was the Bettany in a towel, wasn't it ;-)

And now I realise it is a pair of shorts. It's better as a towel ...

[ant3ka.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes. I'd go there. David Wenham is now my canon!Arthur. \o/

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Hurrah! See, the minute you let book!verse over-rule film-verse, most things are prettier!

[potteresque_ire]

I think part of the trouble is that when the first film was cast called, it wasn't clear how old the prev-gen characters were yet. Snape was only in his 30s as well. I think the way they've cast that generation is to make everyone look around late 40s to 50s, which is on par with parents with teenage kids these days. While there are men who look mighty fine as they age, most men don't hold up as well when the late 40s strike.

Although, maybe they just have issues with matching age with looks. The epilogue thing is still making me *facepalm* not so much because their appearance isn't flattering but because they make them look so old...

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I think the casting for the film's older generation was just generally crazed. We knew, for example, that Lily and James were in their early 20s when they died, but the Mirror of Erised had them looking late 30s at best. Same with Snape, who should have been early 30s, but they went for the much older Alan Rickman. And look, I have friends who had a hard life, but seriously? Twenty years?

So it came as no surprise when they had everyone looking so horrid in the epilogue. Clearly the casting director is 14 and thinks everyone over 17 is gross!

[dysonrules.livejournal.com]

Paul Bettany UNF UNF UNF x ten billion.

I've always had a thing for younger guys, though. :D

But yeah, movie Arthur ruined Arthur Weasley for me, definitely. Although some artist recently drew a gorgeous porn pic of Arthur and Molly. It was lovely. Can't remember who it was now... *ponders*

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I admit that the lovely Bradley James, for example, should be admired at length. But this does not detract from the beauty that is Bettany! And Bettany has had over a decade more to practise in! Consider the lengths of experience Arthur Weasley could possess! (If you look at the Bettany pic for long enough, he will replace movie!Arthur in your mind FOREVER!)

[shocolate.livejournal.com]

Arthur Weasley is obviously sexy!!

ETA : I once had a review of a Harry/Ron that said : omg, are 40-year-old Harry and Ron going to have sex???

I rolled my eyes so hard they ached!

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

That reviewer's mind could be broken if you wrote them going at it at 80. Go on, you know you want to!

[geoviki.livejournal.com]

Mmmm. I agree! And David kinda looks like my husband, and I'd tap that...

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

So, you were keen on having a meet-up at some point, if I recall correctly. We should bring the lads ... Just to hang (ogle) ...

[marguerite-26.livejournal.com]

AHAHAH!!!

This post is made of WIN. But I'm afraid I just cannot see Arthur Weasley as hot, just as I cannot see Molly Weasley as hot and not because she is old but just... the movies and Harry's POV of them are totally, totally unsexy. I don't think I can ever get passed that.

HOWEVER, if either of those two lovely gents had been cast (and shown shirtless) in the movies, I would have possibly adopted a new OTP. :D

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Come on, Maggie, you got past the idea of Draco being pointy and appalling, because you were able to find the subtext ... it's the same here, save that Arthur is more canonically a stud!

And if they had cast Paul Bettany, I would like the movies SO much more ...

[flamewarrior.livejournal.com]

Hur hur hur *leers*

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Leering is the appropriate response!

[silvershinigami.livejournal.com]

I approve of this post. <3

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Bit too much towel for my liking, if I'm honest ;-) Oops! I note it's actually shorts! Should be a towel. A teeny tiny towel. That falls.

[phoenixacid.livejournal.com]

I don't mind older men, but Williams is, like you've mentioned ... not very pretty to look at. :P

WHY DIDN'T THEY GET WENHAM OR BETTANY (did you see his body in the angel movie?) TO PLAY ARTHUR INSTEAD???!

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Because whoever casts the HP films HATES PEOPLE OVER 20! Remember what happened to poor Lily and James Potter, let alone Severus!

Thank goodness they managed a good trio and a perfect Ron, or I could never have watched them at all.

[auntpurl.livejournal.com]

Mmmm...hot ginger men...

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

HEE! YUM! (I tried to fit Damien Lewis in, but couldn't find a nice shot, sadly.)

[shezan.livejournal.com]

... 40-year-old Richard Armitage...

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

He and Rupert Penry-Jones are who I will be mentally replacing the appalling aged Harry and Draco with when I see the epilogue scene! And I will be HAPPY!

[siria.livejournal.com]

Those are some VERY, um, fine arguments you've got there! But I still can't quite get past movie!Arthur. (I do remember finding him much more attractive before the first movie came out, but alas, those were the days.)

(Plus, I definitely agree that a lot of characters were a little underrepresented by their respective actors. Because see, I have loved Alan Rickman since I was a kid and he was the Sheriff of Nottingham, but he is so, so much older than Snape. And maybe a little bit too comfortable-looking. But then, Harry's hair is not black, his eyes aren't green and Hermione's teeth aren't exactly buck teeth. I need to read the books again to get the movie characters our of my head. And I'll keep David Wenham in mind when I do :))

[la-mariane.livejournal.com]

Of course 40 is shag worthy (who said otherwise?). In fact, Sean Connery is still shag worthy, and well...

And anyway, speaking of Arthur, don't wizards and witches live really old? Think of Dumbledore who LOOKS decrepit but who can still move fast and fight (DOM bettle, everyone!). So 40 is pretty young there.

[rickey-a.livejournal.com]

yeah, I'd tap that.

[kareina.livejournal.com]

Nope--both short haired blokes--so not my type!

[complications-g.livejournal.com]

I was so disappointed with the movie casting. As much as I like Alan Rickman, he made Snape a joke, and not in any of the right ways. In fact, a lot of the adults felt like caricatures, Molly and Arthur especially. And Dumbledore felt too frail, and then ridiculously crazy and just so wrong.

Though, as much as I think David Wenham and Paul Bettany are awesome, and I can see they're attractive, I'm just not attracted to people that much older than me. If that makes any sense? It's not that they're 'old and dull' or anything, it's just, I prefer people closer to my age. I don't know, maybe I'm over-thinking this. /o\

[alisanne.livejournal.com]

Yes. Yes I would.
YUM.

[oceaxe.livejournal.com]

Good points! I see Arthur in a new light now...

[chantefable.livejournal.com]

Re: Arthur Weasley -

OMG U R SO RIGHT!!!

BTW, I so fail at maths -- for some reason that I simply cannot fathom, I was convinced that AW was 55 in the Philosopher's Stone. Not that 55 isn't totally shaggable, I'm just pointing out the general misperception to begin with.

ANYWAY, Arthur is obviously hot. Eccentric, hot, and BAMF. *vigorous nodding* I can't believe I directed all my reader's rage at Molly and didn't even stop long enough to notice the awesomeness that is Arthur. Honestly. Arthur is a man of Arthurian might & prowess.

I need sexy!Arthur fic like I need air, right now, thank you very much. \0/

[http://users.livejournal.com/_inbetween_/]

You forgot something! I can*t see the photos of you and your mister anywhere. No, David won't distract me - I first saw him nude and only got to love him much later on for his personality, hah. Otherwise, yeah, duh.

[vaysh11.livejournal.com]

I love your for this post. ♥