Hello my name is Helen and I am addicted to Harry Potter. It started when I was 11 and I had a book voucher. I went into my local independent bookstore and was browsing when something caught my eye. Facing outward on the shelf was a boy with a lightening scar on his head. He was standing in front of a bit red train that said Hogwarts on it. There were stars and smoke surrounding the scene. By the way that thing about never judging a book by it's cover? Guess what? Not always true. I fell in love with the cover and I fell in love with the book.
The reason I am telling you this is because my friend Chris is doing a Master's degree in adaptation and is using Harry Potter for his final paper. As one of his Harry Potter friends I had some conversations with him to get some ideas flowing and giving him some insight into the fan world. Doing this reminded me how much I love the book series. Thus the blog of love today.
By the way before you read on please take 5-10 minutes to fill in his survey. It will be a big help and, if you are anywhere near as nerdy as me, you should never pass up a survey. They're fun! Click here for the survey. If for some reason the link doesn't work please tweet @chrisgreen87.
So thinking about the adaptations - I am in the lucky position to be able to separate the films from the book in my mind. By this I mean I can watch the films and enjoy them without it having any effect on my feelings toward the book series. I understand that the films are just one person's interpretation (or a group of people) and as long as the themes stay true, such as love, friendship and above all choice, then I am ok with Warner Brothers letting loose. Of course this isn't to say I come out and completely rip apart the film stating every single bit they missed out that I think they shouldn't have *cough*flippingexplainthemaraudersmap*cough* but then that is part of the fun.
For most of the fans I know the films are welcomed. With the book series over the films continue and extend the Harry Potter phenomenon so as it doesn't fade from pop culture. Even after the films are over there will still be the theme park to visit, the encyclopedia to read, merchandise to buy etc. In the words of the Parselmouths "this is never gonna end".
Harry Potter isn't just a book series. It is a culture, a community, an ideology. Starting the series when I was 11 means that I grew up with Harry Potter. It sounds cheesy but the lessons Harry learns, the hardships that are faced and overcome by the trio; these things had an impact on how I view the world. That people have a choice to be who they want to be and that the people that you share your life with are more important than you ever know.
I could rant more about Harry Potter but 1) I don't want to make you all sick and 2) I have a wedding to get ready for (tell you more tomorrow). Don't forget to answer the question below and to fill in Chris' survey.
Helen
QUESTION OF THE DAY: WHAT HARRY POTTER FILM CHARACTER DO YOU THINK IS CLOSEST TO THE BOOK? OR IF YOU HAVEN'T READ HARRY POTTER WHAT IS THE BEST BOOK CHARACTER YOU'VE SEEN PORTRAYED ON FILM?
My answer: I think Hagrid is closest to the character in the book. This is unsurprising since Robbie Coltrane was Jo's inspiration. I also think Evanna Lynch as Luna Lovegood is spot on.
6 comments:
I think the Weasley twins are spot on, and I agree with your assesment, on Hagrid. Well done!
Loving your blog, Helen! As for your question, I have to agree that Hagrid is spot on. If I wasn't going to pick him, though, I would probably say Ron is pretty much just as I pictured him in the books.
@JooJoo Really? I would say they are nothing like in the book not due to the actors but down to their script. Weird.
@Asda Yay spam
@Beth Aw glad you are enjoying it. Ron is definatly the best of the trio I think.
This post totally gave me goosebumps!
Answer: OKay.. so i really agree with Hagrid... and the most recent movie... Draco really impressed me... Tom Felton wasn't acting like Malfoy but BEING the actual character that i read in the book. finally! i really loved how felton portrayed him in movie 6. hopefully he keeps with it. I also think Alan Rickman does a brilliant and fun job with Snape. Snape is my all time favorite character (almost tied with sirius) and the fact that i feel Rickman does a brilliant job with that roll makes me uber happy.
Hard to answer as I always read the books after the film so I automatically have the actor in my head. But I think that Snape in his manorisms and the characteristics that are detailed in the book are great in the films.
@MK - Yes, good choices with Draco and Snape. I love how Felton has developed.
@ Julie - Yeah Alan Rickman was a spot on choice for Snape!
Post a Comment