Isn’t it amazing as you grow older how much stays from your childhood with you; unlike trading in that favorite toy for a cell phone or tablet. However in my case one thing from my childhood has been a part of me for a very long time, and has not gone away: Harry Potter. In honor of the eight movies making their debut on the USA and SyFy network I will be explaining my love for the magical franchise, give a quick recap of the films plot and finally what I thought about the film itself; I will give more details in full reviews of the films at a later time, but I wanted to do a little bit of an appetizer in honor of the premieres tonight. If you have not read any of the books or seen the films, here is a massive spoiler alert. I DO NOT OWN THE PICTURE.
Let me start off by saying I actually did not get into Harry Potter for the longest time. My mom had read the first I believe four books and for years kept pushing for me to read them; like many young kids I thought “If my mom likes this how cool can it be?” However in 2001 the trailer for the first film, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s/Philosopher’s Stone dropped. The very second I expressed an interest in the film my mother shoved the first book into my hands. Giving in I sat down and read; it took me a couple of years before I finished the first four books by the inspiring and amazing J.K Rowling. From then on I was completely into Harry Potter. My parents would get the latest book and I would watch the films as soon as I (and whomever I could find) possibly could if not immediately. My friends still loved the books and films even as new franchises began to become obsessions in high school. As I got older my love for the franchise never died, and it still has not. I have met people who have never even read the books and I often encourage them to give it a shot before watching the films. I’ll elaborate on that a little later. In the meantime let’s go over the eight films based on the seven Harry Potter books.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s/Philosopher’s Stone. The very first one to start off an incredible adventure. Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) has lived with his verbally abusive guardians, the Dursleys: Uncle Vernon (Richard Griffiths), Aunt Petunia (Fiona Shaw) and cousin Dudley (Harry Melling), for as long as he can remember, that was until owl keep dropping off letters to his home addressed to him. Despite the best efforts from his guardians, Harry discovers the truth; he is a wizard like his dead parents (James and Lily) and is famous for somehow surviving as an infant against the darkest wizard of all time: Lord Voldemort (otherwise addressed as You Know Who or He who Must Not Be Named) who seems to have died after trying to kill Harry; leaving the boy with a lightning shaped scar on his forehead. Harry is accepted and attends Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (a gorgeous castle) where, after convincing the responsible party, is sorted into the Gryffindor house instead of Slytherin. Harry soon makes true friends in Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint), a red head multi generation wizard, and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) a brilliant witch with non-magic (otherwise called Muggles) parents among a few others including Neville Longbottom (Matthew Lewis) a clumsy and forgetful student; he also discovers a natural talent for the wizarding game Quidditch and earns the position as Seeker. Harry as well begins bonds with some of the teachers and staff at the school, including Rubeus Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane) the groundskeeper, Professor Minerva McGonagall (Maggie Smith) the head of his house and one of the teachers and Professor Albus Dumbledore (Richard Harris) the headmaster of the school. Harry also makes enemies in fellow student Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton), a very spoiled and jealous child, and one of his professors Severus Snape (Alan Rickman) who seems to have a grudge against Harry. Harry, along with Ron and Hermione soon discover a secret hidden in the school, an object known as the Philosopher’s, or Sorcerer’s, stone which has the ability to grant the user immortality. Harry believes Snape wants to use the stone to bring Voldemort back to life and he, along with Ron and Hermione, decide to stop him. Other characters introduced are members of Ron’s family: doting yet strict mother Molly (Julia Waters) and three of his elder brothers Percy (Chris Rankin) and twins Fred and George (James and Oliver Phelps). The film was very exciting to watch, bringing the characters I had come to love to life. While I knew everything wasn’t going to be exactly like the book the changes did not bother me as much as I thought it was going to do. I enjoyed the performances of the cast, especially Daniel’s, Rupert’s and Emma’s despite it being their first films.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Harry and his friends return to Hogwarts and discover their school is in danger. Students are being petrified (literally) by an unknown creature and the only clue is the bloody message “The Chamber of Secrets is Open, Enemies of the Heir Beware.” Believing it to mean the heir of the house of Slytherin and Hogwarts may shut down Harry Ron and Hermione set out to find the responsible party before it is too late. Harry soon discovers he has the ability to talk to snakes, which has (almost) everyone believing he is the heir, until someone close to him gets attacked. Harry also finds an enchanted diary belonging to a student named Tom Riddle over 50 years ago when the Chamber was first opened and a student was killed. The audience is also properly introduced to important characters: Ginny Weasley (Bonnie Wright), Ron’s young sister who has a crush on Harry, Arthur Weasley (Mark Williams) Ron’s father who loves learning about Muggles, Dobby (Toby Jones) a house elf determined to protect Harry and Lucius Malfoy (Jason Isaacs) Draco’s father who was once a follower of Voldemort. I really enjoyed figuring out the mystery in the book and seeing it on-screen was nothing less than great.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Harry, Ron and Hermione return for their third year, but this time have to be cautious. Sirius Black (Gary Oldman), an alleged follower of Voldemort, has escaped the inescapable prison Azkaban and seems to be going after Harry. The castle is being guarded by creatures known as Dementors searching for Black against Dumbledore’s (now portrayed by Michael Gambon after Harris’s death) wishes. The trio’s friendship (specifically Ron and Hermione’s) is tested multiple times, but soon make-up after Hagrid, now the Care of Magical Creatures teacher, is nearly sacked after one of his creatures, a Hippogrif called Buckbeak, attacks Malfoy (he provoked it). Instead Buckbeak is sentenced to death. Harry soon learns the truth about Sirius thanks in part to one of his teachers, Remus Lupin (David Thewlis). Other characters introduced are Sybill Trelawney (Emma Thompson) an eccentric teacher and Peter Pettigrew (Timothy Spall) someone with a connection to Harry’s parents. For the longest time this seemed to be everyone’s favorite Potter book, but I thought the film adaption was a little odd. New parts of the castle changed and more casual clothing was worn by the students when not in class, which I had not really pictured when reading. Nonetheless I thought everyone did a fabulous job.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. After attending the Quidditch World Cup our trio returns with exciting news at Hogwarts. The Triwizard Tournament featuring the wizarding schools Hogwarts, Durmstrang and Beauxbatons has returned. Three students, over the age of 17, from each school will be picked by the Goblet of Fire and participate in three deadly tasks. From Durmstrang is Viktor Krum (Stanislav Ianvski) a famous Quidditch player who also develops a crush on Hermione (much to Ron’s displeasure). From Beauxbatons is Fleur Delacour (Clémence Poésy) a beautiful girl Ron has a crush on (much to Hermione’s displeasure). From Hogwarts it is Hufflepuff seventh year student Cedric Diggory (Robert Pattinson) a handsome young man whose girlfriend, Ravenclaw student Cho Chang (Katie Leung), Harry has a crush on. However the Goblet pulls out another name: Harry Potter. Despite being underage Harry has no choice but to participate; it also temporarily damages his friendship with Ron. During the final task Harry is forced to witness to the return of his greatest enemy: Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes). The film also introduces Alastor “Mad-Eyed” Moody (Brendan Gleeson) a wizard with a big reputation and Rita Skeeter (Miranda Richardson) a nosy reporter for the wizarding paper, The Daily Prophet, who exploits “secrets” even if they are not true. It also introduces a magical item known as the Pensive which has the ability to go into a person’s memories. This was the most exciting Harry Potter film I had seen until the final one as the Triwizard tournament was portrayed as exciting as it appeared in the book, not to mention the first battle between Harry and Voldemort. Ralph Fiennes was perfect as the Dark Lord; an excellent start to an iconic villain.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Harry is treated as an outcast by many at Hogwarts; the Ministry of Magic has convinced the entire wizarding world that Voldemort is not back and Harry is mad. Very few people actually believe Harry; Dumbledore, Ron, Hermione, Neville, Ginny, Cho (who now has feelings for Harry), Ravenclaw oddball student Luna Lovegood (Evanna Lynch) and members of the group known as the Order of the Phoenix; a group which has reformed due to Voldemort’s return. New Defense against the Dark Arts teacher Dolores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton) is placed at Hogwarts by the Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge (Robert Hardy) to see if Dumbledore is planning anything against the Ministry and uses her power to basically take over the school. Harry and his friends form a secret group to help those who actually believe in him, called Dumbledore’s Army, teaching them defensive spells to prepare for battle. When someone close to Harry is threatened by Voldemort he, Ron, Hermione, Neville, Ginny and Luna travel to Ministry to stop Voldemort. Other characters introduced are Nymphadora Tonks (Natalia Tena) the colorful member of the Order of the Phoenix, Kingsley Shackleboat (George Harris) another member of the Order and Bellatrix Lestrange (Helena Bonham Carter), one of Voldemort’s most loyal (and insane) followers (they are called Deatheaters) whom Harry and Neville hold a deep hatred to. The book as well as the film changed the game for Harry and his friends as they realize they are at war with not just Voldemort but the government. I thought for the longest time it was Daniel Radcliffe’s best performance as Harry, until the last film.
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. Now that the world knows Voldemort is back his grip on the wizarding and Muggle world gets tighter every passing day. Harry begins to suspect Voldemort has recruited Draco into the Deatheaters and has a mission for him at Hogwarts. Harry gets a new potions book which includes hints to help him do much better; the author is called the Half Blood Prince. Harry goes with Dumbledore as they explore Voldemort’s past to find a way to destroy him; which is in the form of Horcruxes: magical items Voldemort has placed pieces of his soul in so he can never die. Meanwhile Ron (despite being clearly in love with Hermione) begins to date fellow student Lavender Brown (Jessie Cave) much to the anger and sadness of Hermione (who is in love with him) while Harry realizes he is in love with Ginny. It ends with someone close to Harry making a big sacrifice and a possible traitor exposed. If I’m being honest this is the weakest of the Potter books and films, but it was nonetheless enjoyable.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 and 2. The last book was split into two films as it would have been impossible to cover all the material in one film. Harry, Ron and Hermione set out to find the remaining Horcruxes and destroy them; in turn destroying Voldemort. The trio nearly has a major rift in the first part before coming to terms with the greater good. Harry also discovers the secrets Dumbledore kept from him and just how deep the connection between himself and Voldemort is. We also get the most epic battle at Hogwarts between the students and staff against the Deatheaters. An epic conclusion to an epic franchise.
I will go into more details of each film at a later date, but I wanted to give just a taste of my thoughts on the most successful franchises in book and film history. Of course there has been a spin-off film Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them as well as the play on Broadway Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, but those are for another day. Before I conclude there is one thing I must say: before you watch the film READ THE BOOKS; I cannot stress that enough! The books go into details that are barely covered in film; for those who do not read it might be confusing how the gang goes from point a to point b quickly. Do not forget all eight films will premiere tonight and into the weekend on the USA and SyFy networks. These are some of my favorite books and films and I hope they will be yours as well.
Films or Television Worth Watching 