Feature
- Do You Hate Your Partner, Too?
- California Teen Avoids Heavy Sentencing by Passing the Buck
- Wanna Buy Your Teenager a Padded Push-Up Bra?
- Vampires in Texas!
- These Guys Are As Bad As Westboro Baptist Church
- Funny Letters Sent to Women's Magazines
- Women's Ski Jumping: Still Not a 'Real' Sport
- Will the World Be Pro-Choice Soon?
- Are We Getting Too Lazy to Even Divorce?
- Forever 21's Maternity Line: Glamorizing Teen Pregnancy?
All right, true confession time—I love Harry Potter. I resisted reading the books for years despite constant and frequent recommendations from my students because I saw nothing interesting about a boy wizard having boy adventures in a boy’s world.
Boy, was I wrong!
I finally broke down after The Goblet of Fire came out and read the first four books in one feverish, magical weekend (my students aptly pointed out that, if I expected them to read books that I suggested, it was only fair that I give their recommendations a try). For the final three books of the series, I was one of the freaks in costume at Barnes and Noble waiting for the clock to strike midnight.
I went through a similar moral struggle when the movies came out—I have a tendency to dislike movie adaptations of books as …
… a general rule, and I couldn’t imagine J.K. Rowling’s magical world being anything other than disappointing on the big screen. I couldn’t drag my feet as much with the movies—my daughter wanted desperately to see them—and I was, once again, pleasantly surprised.
Somehow, this destitute single mother created a story that transcended gender roles, countries, socioeconomics, and ages.
She did it by giving us a great triumvirate—Harry, the flawed, emotionally scarred, courageous hero; Ron, the steadfast, solid, sometimes bumbling sidekick; and Hermione, the brilliant, beautiful, never-at-a-loss-for-words heroine.
Actors Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson not only looked their parts (to a frightening degree, if you stop and think about it) but fully embraced every nuance of the characters as written by Rowling. While I suspect that none of the three will ever quite shed their Potter persona, their accomplishments in bringing to life such beloved and complex characters is an achievement that might well make it worthwhile.
And in a matter of days (November 19th, if you’re interested), the first film from the seventh and final book will be hitting the big screen.
And the hype is, as usual, ramping up all over again … with a great deal of focus on just why these movies continue to be so successful and their characters so beloved.
So what is he secret to the franchise’s staying power? It might be in the way the filmmakers take strides to keep the movies from repeating each other. Yes, they’re all based on J.K. Rowling’s books, they have the same core cast, and most of the big sets are the same. And the stories tend to follow a pattern: Harry gets to Hogwarts, there’s a mysterious threat, and it ends with a big confrontation between Harry and Voldemort’s forces.
But outside of that, each movie — especially starting with “Prisoner of Azkaban” — differs from the previous one in style, tone and focus. “Goblet of Fire” had both big action pieces and burgeoning romance. “Order of the Phoenix” focused more on teen angst and rebellion. And “Half-Blood Prince” was the darkest and most emotional installment to date.
Yahoo Films actually takes the time to delineate three ways that The Deathly Hallows (Part I) is both a departure from the norm yet somehow still true to the world and the characters Rowling created in a Scotland coffee shop.
1. It’s Bigger.
All of the other “Harry Potter” movies had to be fairly ruthless about editing down the story from the books in order to fit it all into one movie. By splitting “Deathly Hallows” into two parts, more of the details will make it to the screen. It also means the movie will have the biggest cast of the series. Nearly every major character from the past returns, including Emma Thompson, Miranda Richardson, and John Hurt (who hasn’t appeared since the first film). Even Dobby the elf is back.
Some people are kind of annoyed at the division of the seventh book into two feature films, bristling that it’s just a money-making scam, but as both a Potter nut and an English teacher, I am thrilled that the details aren’t going to be scrimped on.
2. It’s Out of School.
Unlike the other installments, where the bulk of the story happens within the confines of Hogwarts, “Deathly Hallows” finds Harry, Ron and Hermione out on their own. As the three of them go searching for the Horcruxes, the magical items that are the key to Lord Voldemort’s immortality, they spend more time outside the world of magic. Director David Yates tells Entertainment Weekly that in this movie, “You put these characters in the big, wide world and have them pursued by people who want to kill them. Suddenly, they seem very fragile.”
An entire generation of kids literally grew up with Harry Potter. The group of kids that guilt-tripped me into reading the books are in their final years of college now, getting ready to enter the real world. How amazing is it to see their literary alter egos away from the safety net of school as well?
3. It’s the End.
Naturally, with the series headed towards a final confrontation between Harry and Voldemort, the stakes are higher for the characters than ever before. And audiences — especially those who haven’t read the book — should be prepared for that. While previous films have seen the passing of beloved characters Sirius Black and Professor Dumbledore, the final two movies have the highest death toll of any of them. And it’s not just nameless extras; some key figures who have been with the series since the beginning will make the ultimate sacrifice in the final battle.
And oh, what an end it is.
Beginning with the third film, my older daughter and I have gone to the midnight showing. In costume. We’re sitting it out this year (she’s got a rehearsal until ten and A.P. English is giving her a run for her money, so she’s wisely decided to attend over the weekend instead), which makes me kind of sad. While I won’t be able to boast a Harry Potter hangover this year, I nonetheless cannot wait for the first part of the Harry Potter conclusion.
Based on my experience and observation, people either love Harry Potter or haven’t read the books (or, to a slightly lesser degree, seen the movies). Unlike Twilight, where the books are mediocre and the films little more than eye candy, I think Harry Potter is a legitimate phenomenon.
Will you be checking out the latest Potter installation?
You Might Also Like ...
-
-
14
I’m with you! I resisted reading Harry Potter for a long time as well (being the literary snob that I am), but once I did read them, I loved them! Well, I didn’t like the first one so much (how contrived were those “tests” at the end?), and the second one lost some of its appeal for me because my brother used to watch the movie EVERY day and I got sick of it. But I LOVE books three through seven. And I love the movies – I tend to love movies adapted from books even if they are poorly adapted, but I think that the Harry Potter franchise (with a few glaring exceptions) did a pretty good job of keeping the story intact while cutting it down to fit a certain run time. I am SO excited that the last book is split in two, because I feel like they can finally explore all the wonderful facets of the book. However, I’m not enough of a Harry Potter nerd to go on opening day (which is what my husband wants to do). Screw that!
I won’t be watching, and didn’t know it was coming out. How long ago was this filmed? They look really young in that photo – not even the seventeen they are supposed to be, and I thought the actors had grown up much faster than their characters.
.
I am not a big fantasy fan, and don’t really enjoy these books. I think they are excellent, with great plots, and very good writing (again, as opposed to the Twilight series which makes money for a good idea despite the atrocious writing). So I understand why people like them, including adults. I read most of them because my little sister was a big fan, and they were around. But they’re just not really my thing, and I barely see any movies, so have seen none of these.
My husband and I have been out without our son exactly 3 times in the past 18 months. November 25th (Thanksgiving), he has a date with his grandparents and WE have a date with Harry…arranged six months ago :-)
This was filmed fairly recently. The photo has been retouched, making the guys look younger.
I can’t wait! I didn’t read the books until after the first movie came out. I devoured the books.
I also read the first four books in one weekend. And I’ll definitely be at the midnight showing with my mom who, at 64, loves Harry Potter. :)
I was the same way: boycotting them up until the fourth came out and now I am addicted! The movies rock and the books rock more. My dad and I go dressed up every year ( this year, were going as wizards attempting to disguise themselves as muggles a la the quidditch world cup) I am so excited, yet sad for it to end.
I’m so excited. The first book came out when I was 11, so I grew up with Harry Potter. The films have been good, but the books were spectacular (especially the last one). And I’m just noting this now – if “NOT MY DAUGHTER, YOU BITCH!” isn’t in the last film I will throw a hissy fit to end all hissy fits.
I will be going, oh yes. I will also be dressing up. My husband says that he refuses to go with me if I dress up (which I have every intention), so I’ve told him that it wasn’t necessary for him to go to begin with. ;)
Aw, that a little sad, but I understand his position. I could probably do harry potter, but if a girl said she was gonna dress up for twilight I would have to pass.
I love Harry Potter. I devoured the 6th and 7th books the night they came out, and I agree, the movie adaptations of the books are very well done. They keep to the books very well (although I detested the 3rd movie because it was so poorly made).
Oooomg I can’t wait!
The only thing I’m kind of apprehensive about is the fact that the book is rather violent, it doesn’t shy away from the torture and murder, and I just feel that a lot of that wont be shown in the movies just because of the high number of young children that seem to go and see them. For example the scene in Malfoys mansion with Voldemort and the Death Eaters all around the table…
In reply to squeeziee. Yeah me too, seriously one of the best bits in the book.
I will be there at midnight in my “Wizarding World of Harry Potter” t-shirt. (Yes, I went to the theme park. It was everything I could have wished for and more! Butterbeer is better than I imagined!) Have been a Potter-head since the beginning and am sad, yet excited for the last book to be made into its corresponding movies.
Thanks for writing this! I’m rereading the last book now, because I love going to the movie and picking up on all of the changes or nuances you can easily overlook.
I made butterbeer at home once, a few years ago. Needless to say, it was amazing … a bit of cream soda, butter, and butterscotch syrup – heated – divine.