#2: "Yer a wizard, Harry."

Ah, Harry Potter. The series that defines a generation. Literally.
The reason I've chosen to write about this particular subject for my second blog post is threefold (in the voice of Chandler Bing (please, if you get that reference, we will be best friends, no doubt about it).. you ready?)

1. There are books AND films to discuss.
2. I've just been to the tour and oh my word (see some pictures attached to this blog).
3. I was brought up in and around Alnwick, Northumberland and some of the first/second film was shot at the building next door to my school.  I was too young (by a YEAR) to be in the film, but friends of mine were (our school filled out Ravenclaw seats (which btw, is my house from Pottermore so it would have been perf, but I'm not bitter. Much.)) and my best friend at the times' dad provided the gas tanks for the Quidditch stuff and got to see them shoot scenes. Therefore, for sentimental reasons, there is a hell of a lot there for me.

Ollivanders

Privet Drive

The thing I find so fascinating about Harry Potter is the way it managed to capture the imagination of children from all walks of life, all over the world. My friends abroad, no matter of nationality, have read the books, seen the films and lived for a brief moment in their life in their head at Hogwarts. At it's heart, it is a simple novel with simple ideals - Love conquers all.

I mean, yes, if we seriously get down to brass tax, there is a lot more to Harry Potter than just that, but it's half 12 at night and I'm not feeling up to in-depth analysis (my apologies).

Now, if I'm honest, there are faults with both the books and the movies. That had to be the case. With so much material, there were going to be errors. The books get too long. They strip away the need for the child/adult to create the world for themselves. I realised during a recent re-read of the earliest books that important scenes (that I thought were heavily written about given how long they were in the film (for example)) were maybe a page long? Couple of pages at most. The rest I had created for myself. The feelings and environment were inventions of my imagination alone. When you get to The Order of the Phoenix, that need is lost. We become spoon-fed a greater proportion of detail. Plus, if we're talking about OOTP, I have to say Harry's teenage angst made me want to slap him upside his head. I mean, seriously, we get it sucks but lord, if you could stop whining for a second and just. Also, Sirius died and I was not okay with that.
With the movies, the faults are greater if only because as a fan, there are little details I loved that were cut or things that I felt were tampered with too much (the tent movie, for example - what a travesty) and due to that I was a bit uncomfortable with some of the choices made. I mean, I love them as a separate artform. They bring Ms Rowling's world to life in a way I couldn't imagine and to a level of detail that (now I've been to see the sets) makes you feel as if this world does exist just beyond your muggle vision. The choices of actors was always a triumph, including wee Harry himself, DanRad (I'm a fan, don't get me wrong, but in POA I want to shake him. The level of emotion in the film is almost a complete loss. Maybe it was his boy hormones messing with his head and he wasn't yet old enough to deal). As a self-pronounced Sirius fangirl, I didn't see Gary Oldman at the start but by his death (still not over, beeteedubs), I was sobbing and he became my Sirius.

All of this said, they are all part of a greater series that gave children my age and older something to read, to watch and to love. The be all and end all? Every second I spent reading and watching (and getting frustrated over the tiniest of details) was so unbelievably worth it. No matter how old I get or where I am, I still feel the magic of the story. I have friends who, even at 21, sit down with me and we discuss all the little things about these stories.

Will this last forever? Who knows. I'm not Raven (go on, make my day and tell me you know what I mean) and I cannot see into the future. Is Harry Potter a classic? Cliche as it may be, only time will tell.

For the curious, my ratings
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - Book/Film: ★★★★☆
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - Book: ★★★★★, Film: ★★★★☆
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - Book/Film: ★★★★★
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - Book/Film: ★★★★★ (The film rating is partly due to the fact I have so many inside jokes around this movie..)
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - Book/Film: ★★★☆☆ (The rating is partly given due to the fact Sirius died and I'm still not emotionally over that)
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince - Book/Film: ★★★★☆
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Book: ★★★★★, Film Part I: ★★★☆☆, Film Part II: ★★★★★ (averaged at: ★★★★☆)
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