Harry Potter Thread

[Bird Boy]

I have yet to see a Harry Potter thread on this board (and..that could be because nobody likes it..and if so...then may this thread sink into the other pages faster than the Flash can travel around the world), so I thought I'd create it.

I just felt like talkin' about Harry Potter. I'm reading the books again for the third time (my brother is amazed I read it a second time..), and I find them as intriguing as I first read them.

So, what about all you other posters..anybody read harry potter? :)

-BB

[BourgeoisBuffoon]

I read 'em! They are GOOD. The only problem is that we are going to have to wait for years before we see the end....
....I hope Malfoy bites the dust. I wanna smack him...

[TuffyCatt]

Harry Potter books are currently my favorite books. I think they're wonderful stories...some of the best books out there that can be enjoyed by kids and adults. My whole family reads them, and we can get into huge debates about what's gonna happen in the future books. It'd be cool if we could do something like that on this board...

I'm lookin' forward to the movie in November, but I'm a little worried that they're gonna end up messing up the books for me. I already have my own picture of all the stories in my mind, and I really don't want the mvie to change that picture too much if you know what I mean....

Anyway, I hope there are some other Harry Potter fans out there. It'd be great to have some discussions on here! :D

[BourgeoisBuffoon]

I'm afriad of the movie already; I saw the preview in J. Park 3 and was NOT impressed....
....lemme read the books again (no easy task) and maybe we can get into those debates! But here's a little starter: What do you think of Voldemort coming back? I think it's gonna be interesting seeing how Harry's 'family' learn of this....since they most likely will....and I wonder how the Prime Minister of Magic is gonna hold up....

[redDragon]

I've read the books, I'll get to rereading them someday. Maybe when the stampede is over ^^.

The movie better not be disappointing....especially since J.K. Rowling(I think I spelled the name right..) is supervising or something like that.

[BourgeoisBuffoon]

What intrests me about the movie is that Rowling complained that she would never go into licensing and a fad, because she said as a mother, she hated all this stuff. Anyone know why she turned tail on that philosophy?

....and I will also be dissapointed if the movie sucks and she's supervising it. The Final Fantasy creator worked on the movie, right? And it did bad.....if this one fails as well, it could be a sign for creators not to work on movie adaptions!:D

[TuffyCatt]

I've actually been impressed by the trailers for the movie so far. I think the movie's gonna be pretty good. I've read some interviews w/ J.K. Rowling and she's said that she was working as hard as she could to make sure that the movie was accurate, because she knows that's what her readers want. I hope it turns out that way. I'm sure at least this first movie is gonna do well at the box office, because basically every Harry Potter fan is gonna go see it, despite what critics say. If the movie is really bad though, the sequels probably won't do too well.


What do you think of Voldemort coming back? I think it's gonna be interesting seeing how Harry's 'family' learn of this....since they most likely will....and I wonder how the Prime Minister of Magic is gonna hold up....

I don't know...the last book ended with such a feeling of uncertainty that I have no idea what's gonna happen. I have a feeling that the Ministry of Magic is gonna start to fall apart as Voldemort continues to gain power since the Minister is gonna screw everything up. We'll just have to wait for the next book...which is still a while away.

I really don't like all of the merchandise. It's kind of ruining the whole feeling of the books. I will admit that I've bought a few Harry Potter T-Shirts and some bookends and stuff, but it feels like the market has just been flooded with way too much stuff...

[Bird Boy]

glad to see I'm not alone in liking harry potter!

As for He-Who-Should-Not-Be-Named (I can't believe you said his real name! honestly! :p )..hehe..j/k..anyway, I think that when Voldemort comes to absolute full power again..well..actually I don't really know....I'll discuss that latter..it'll leave me time to ponder...

The movie looks good.....I'm glad I saw what uncle vernon looks like..I kept picturing him as the thin old uncle from "Hey Arnold!"....which isn't the way she describes them at all....this time around since I know she envisioned the characters, I'm getting a better feeling..but I still picture snape in a different way..probably always will...

only thing that bothers me: The moved the scar on his forehead over above his left eyebrow...while on the book covers..it's above his nose..


-BB

[Jowy Blight]

I think the Harry Potter books are decent, but seeing as Harry Potter slowly becoming the next Pokemon, I might not like it much longer. I mean, trading cards, video games, toys, a movie, and I heard that they were going to make a T.V. show out of it.

We might as well get ready for another fad.

[BourgeoisBuffoon]

Well, it's nice to see that they are keeping the MAJOR visual facts straight in the movie....I usually forget the scar until it has to figure in a plot.

A TV series....? Oh no no no....Jowy is right. This could become the next 'Mon, and I don't want that to happen to Potter...

[TuffyCatt]

Originally posted by Jowy Blight
I think the Harry Potter books are decent, but seeing as Harry Potter slowly becoming the next Pokemon, I might not like it much longer. I mean, trading cards, video games, toys, a movie, and I heard that they were going to make a T.V. show out of it.

We might as well get ready for another fad.

When I heard that there was gonna be a TV show I wanted to be sick. Even though some of the merchandise is cool, I'm trying to resist the temptation to buy some of it, because I really don't like Harry Potter turning into this huge fad. I figure if I can just ignore all the extra hype around the books, I'll still be able to enjoy the books for what they started out as...just books.

[Nightflower]

I read the books, but I'm sad to say I haven't read them more than once. But I agree, they are well-written and great for kids. There are many people who turn their noses at them, without even looking at them, just because they are popular, and by not liking them, automatically make these people unique or whatever. I hate fads as much as anyone, but that doesn't mean that whatever started it isn't good (Pokemon games were good!).

I think the movie will disappoint some people, movie adaptations are always iffy. Also, I think that it's easy for people, even with a deep genuine love for something to stay original, to become swayed by things: money, executives, people in the field who claim they are "experts".

I read that witches in Britain have cast a "hex" or curse on Warner Brothers and hope that the movie will do poorly. Apparently the people in the movie will be riding broomsticks with the brush behind them, and according to them, they're riding the broomsticks backwards. Encouraging stereotypes like this is a bad thing, you know. And I thought witches were trying to convince people that they don't harm people. :rolleyes:

[BourgeoisBuffoon]

Eh....some of those witches may get thier wish come true, I'm not gonna see the movie...
....it's a pity when things sell out. I wonder if I would still like Pokemon if it did not go on all that fad and merchandising....and yes, the games were good. Those things that withstand merchandising like Calvin and Hobbes are always admirable, they're still beloved all these years....yet no merchandising were done with them. I am just sad Potter has apparently sold out...

[The Mad Hatter]

I like the books too, though I've only read the first two... I'm too poor to afford hardcover, and the last two books are always checked out of the library.

Witches putting a hex on the movie, eh? I actually know a self-proclaimed witch, I'll have to ask her what she thinks. Then again, she gets a HUGE kick out of Witch Hazel (you know, the green witch from the Bugs Bunny cartoons) so she probably digs Harry Potter.

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

The books are well-written, but I'm starting to see some problematic holes in the saga as I finished the 4th one...

For one thing, the story format for each book follows a certain predictable pattern that sets up the mystery and conflict. The lack of character growth seems evident at times, as Malfoy and Professor Snipe are basically one-dimensional types who get somewhat irritating after three books. Rowling seems to write little girls better than boys. Harry Potter is a pretty generic boy hero and his best friend (his name eludes me...help me out here, guys...) is a pretty generic "friend." They have personalities to be sure, but they aren't particularly unique.

Hermione is my favourite character and I think I know why. She has a certain complexity and depth to her that is very believable. Like real people, she is not always predictable. She sometimes changes her feelings on things, and she does not always state her feelings explicitly. She can be tough and emotional at the oddest times. I am often intrigued by her shifts in emotion, and they are usually more complex than " You killed my mommy and daddy! DIE, MURDERER!!!"

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

I don't let stuff like "Harry Potter has sold out!" affect my opinion of the books. I either like them or I don't. They are either good stories or they are not. Harry Potter being a big merchandising phenomenon has no bearing on the quality of the books. If I do eventually dislike Harry Potter, it will be because I don't like the stories anymore, not because it is some new fad.

Frankly, I don't care what happens to Harry Potter. I accept that in a capitalist society, people are always out to make a buck. And nobody is forcing me to buy Harry Potter merchandise, so I could care less how many products they pump out. I have no opinion about that since it doesn't concern me. All I'm interested in is a good piece of entertainment.

The simple answer to the question, " What are you going to do if Harry Potter becomes a big fad and puts products out like water?"

IS

"Easy. I'm not going to buy any."

Not because I'm defying corporate objectives, but because I simply have no use for any Harry Potter stuff other than the books.

But, as long as weak-kneed parents who let their kids control their bank accounts keep pointing the finger at companies when a simple "No Billy, we can't afford to buy those toys at this time," would suffice, the media will suck-up to the parents and keep condemning corporations for putting out products when all it takes is a little common sense from the average civilian.

[BourgeoisBuffoon]

Well, I'm afriad that Rowling will concentrate too much on merchandising too concentrate on the stories, thus having the quality of them drop. That's usually what I am afraid of when a fad like this comes along...

....hm. I never noticed how Hermoine got more character development than the other chars. You're right...
BTW, Harry's friend was named Ron.

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

Originally posted by BourgeoisBuffoon
Well, I'm afriad that Rowling will concentrate too much on merchandising too concentrate on the stories, thus having the quality of them drop. That's usually what I am afraid of when a fad like this comes along...

....hm. I never noticed how Hermoine got more character development than the other chars. You're right...
BTW, Harry's friend was named Ron.

Yes! Ron, that's it.

You're right that Rowling's stories may suffer as she may try to milk this longer than it should for the sake of money. But that doesn't discount the effort of the first few books, and I won't blame the merchandising as I will blame Rowling. Not for "selling out," but for not writing WELL. Heck, I've already mildy slapped her wrist for the fourth book, and not because she's milking the franchise, but for her actual character development and plotting, which has nothing to do with merchandising.

If she does decide to milk the franchise, I'll read until I get bored of the series. After all, Batman's been going for more than 50 years and it's had its ups and downs...

But I won't ever "hate" Harry Potter, even if it becomes some big juggernaut. It gave me a few hours of enjoyment and I will be always loyal to that.

I guess that's why it's the same with Pokemon, or Transformers, or Teenage Turtles. All were merchandising phenoms, but I got some enjoyment out of all of them at some point (Pokemon=great Game Boy game, Turtles=Good first season, Transformers=liked the cartoon, loved the toys). If I've liked them, I'll never "hate" them. I may dislike later efforts, but I will never say stuff like "Transformers sucks."

Kinda like the Simpsons. I may say, " I really dislike the last few seasons of The Simpsons," but never "I hate the Simpsons."

[Nightflower]

Hermione is my favourite character and I think I know why. She has a certain complexity and depth to her that is very believable. Like real people, she is not always predictable. She sometimes changes her feelings on things, and she does not always state her feelings explicitly. She can be tough and emotional at the oddest times. I am often intrigued by her shifts in emotion, and they are usually more complex than " You killed my mommy and daddy! DIE, MURDERER!!!"

As a coincidence, Hermione is JK Rowling's favorite character.

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

Originally posted by Nightflower


As a coincidence, Hermione is JK Rowling's favorite character.

No wonder she's the character with the most substance!

[Lachesis]

Read all four so far and enjoyed them, but I'm anticipating the "Lord of the Rings" movie more than the Harry Potter one. Don't mind the merchandising so much because I don't see it having very much impact on the books.

[TuffyCatt]

The lack of character growth seems evident at times, as Malfoy and Professor Snipe are basically one-dimensional types who get somewhat irritating after three books.

I actually think that Prof. Snape is a very intersting character. He used to work for Voldemort, but now has come over to the good side. And although he may just seem like an annoying character that Rowling placed in the books for conflict, I think in the next couple books he is going to become a very important character. At the end of the fourth book, Dumbledore sends Snape off to do something that will help in their fight against Voldemort, and you can tell that Snape is very nervous about it. Dumbledore really trusts Snape, but we aren't really sure why. So Snape isn't just a one-dimensional bad guy, he's really a good guy who who has emotional problems and like to pick on people. :p I think we're gonna learn more about Snape in the upcoming books...

[Bird Boy]

on a slightly off note...

I warn you all to NEVER read the Chamber of Secrets in two days, then start the 3rd one right after you put down Chamber of Secrets..because of that, I put too much eyestrain on myself, and I became throughly nausious..

Just a warning thats all... :)

Prof. Snape grows more in each book, I think....because you learn more about him. Malfoy is just an annoying pimple I'd like to squeeze, pop, and get out of the picture.

Now I hear they are making 2 & 3 into movies also.... I wonder if I'm the only one upset about this...

-BB

[TuffyCatt]

Now I hear they are making 2 & 3 into movies also.... I wonder if I'm the only one upset about this...

If the first movie's good, I'll probalby actually look forward to movies 2 & 3. If the first one's really bad though, I'm not sure if I'll want to see the next two.

I read the fourth book for the first time in about two days...talk about serious eyestrain! :p

[BourgeoisBuffoon]

I read the first 3 books continuously in one night, and book 4 in one afternoon (when IT finally came out)! I may be a voracious reader, but not many book series can keep me hooked enough to read them continuously like that...
....I hope to see Snape more too. It's nice to note how he's finally going to get his act together, as seen in book 4's end...

[RockItShipper]

I read each book in one sitting (mostly during plane trips)... I've always hated stopping in the middle of a movie, and HP books seem no different. (Speed-reading doesn't help, but I can't seem to shrug it off)

There's cool parts and predictable parts, and that's about it.

I've gotten an outline done for another fanfic of it, tho'. I just hope none of you read it. :D

[DR. BELCH]

I'm almost ashamed to admit I've never read a Harry Potter book in my life. Though we should bring in Sharklady from the WBC to really take us to school on this one--she's a diehard fan.
I never even knew Rowlings was a woman...but I'd like to see her beat the frig out of R.L. Stine on MTV's Celebrity Deathmatch for first polluting FOX with his abyssmal Goosebumps series and now plotting to do the same to Kid's WB with The Nightmare Room. :mad:

[BourgeoisBuffoon]

Rowling and Stine on CDM? Hm. Interesting...but my money's on Stine, since he gets the spooky stuff for him. I imagine him using monster blood (anyone remember THAT little plot point?). But then again, Rowling's wizardry should let her make up anything she needs....
...give the books a try, BELCH. They're pretty good, at least one will captivate you! And congrats on 1000 posts!:cool:

[Bird Boy]

Originally posted by BourgeoisBuffoon
Rowling and Stine on CDM? Hm. Interesting...but my money's on Stine, since he gets the spooky stuff for him.

I dunno..I thought Chamber of Secrets was pretty freaky..that whole "Let me rip you...let me tear you....let me kill you" thing scares me everytime...

-BB

[Nightflower]

Ewwwww....RL Stine SUCKS!! Granted, I haven't read an RL Stine book for seven years now, but when they were popular, he BOASTED about his "technique" of how he writes the ending first and works his way there from the beginning. Don't even read the book. Just flip to the end and you'll find the hero gasping, "It was you! You were the one who sabotaged the stage, put that dead rabbit in my locker, tripped Kelsey, and put hair remover in my shampoo!" The gist of the story in one convenient sentence.

[BourgeoisBuffoon]

Ng, he was okay for a while....but he lost my fanship when he abandoned Goosebumps for that new series, the name escapes me right now. Eh, they were still fun to read while they lasted. But, he went to the advertising/marketing blitz too....sigh. I have not read one of his books since he abandoned Goosebumps...

[TuffyCatt]

I never even knew Rowlings was a woman...

I heard that they used the name J.K. Rowling on the books instead Joanne Rowling so that guys wouldn't automatically know that it was a female author and would be more likely to read it...

I've never read R.L. Stine...never really been interested in stories like that. I remember that in fourth grade, though, it was all anybody else ever read...

I definitely recommend the Harry Potter books to anyone who hasn't read them yet. I don't know anyone who has read them and didn't like them. They're really great books.