By Smilla Eihausen, Y12
“You’re a wizard, Harry!”
If only a 2.59 m half-giant could come knocking down my door with a smushed cake to wish me happy birthday and tell me that I am a wizard, then life would be pretty swell. Is that too much to ask for? Before I begin, please note that I am a disgustingly devout Harry Potter fan and I apologize in advance for any possible cringy content you may find in this article. I find that a long discussion of my resolute love for Harry Potter usually scares most boys away on a first date, but hey, what is shifting realities for… But, if you love the books and movies as much as I do, or maybe you do but you are too scared to make it known to the wider public as I am doing now, then continue reading for a passionate “review” of both the Harry Potter novels and movie adaptations.
Not only did the Harry Potter novels and film adaptations influence our generation with underlying themes of rebellion and the recurring motif that friendship and love conquers evil, but they also shaped our perspective on injustice, fighting for what we believe in, and the power of courage. It is books and movies like Harry Potter that influence entire generations, especially Gen Z, a generation filled with young people who have already impacted the world with their unwavering determination to seek justice for those unable to attain it, end discrimination, stop climate change, and create a society where equality is the norm. Another characteristic of our generation is our constant use of media, literature, music, and film to escape from reality. Our generation has grown up in a technological pandemic where most of us willingly forfeited a real childhood for a phone. Now with the COVID-19 pandemic, most teenagers feel hopeless and defeated because it feels like our teenage years are being stolen from us. Our only escape can be found on apps like TikTok, which has recently revived many people’s Harry Potter obsession and given rise to countless montages of the characters and POV’s that make us feel as if we are really living in Hogwarts.
The Novels
I am not going to be one of those people who reprimands you for watching the movies without having read the books, but for Harry Potter, all I can say is: READ. THE. BOOKS. Especially if you already adore the movies, the books absolutely change the game and you will be enthralled by every single chapter, start to finish. I know that the longest book is around 800 pages, but trust me, the story is so well written and captivating that you will not be able to put it down. While I was in a three week self-isolation because of COVID, my mental stability plummeted and the only escape I had from the virus was the Harry Potter side of TikTok (and yes, Draco tok) and the last three books which I devoured in a week. As you read each chapter, reality will start to teeter and it will feel like you’re falling into the pages of the book. Each character is given so much rich and beautifully written development throughout the book series, and you will definitely find yourself laughing out loud while reading any dialogue involving the Weasley twins. The books not only give each character so much more depth than the films, but they include so many important moments and explanations that were left out of the movies. I understand that movie adaptations are condensed versions of the books, but there are so many key details and plot holes that are never really explained in the movies.
I feel like everyone who has ever read the novels has a strong emotional attachment to their novels, and I will bet you 5 francs that your copy of Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire is the most battered book in your collection. There is just something about the fourth book that is just so chef’s kiss; the descriptive action of each severe task, the suspense slowly building, EVERY aspect of the Yule Ball, the foreshadowing lurking within the pages, the confrontation between Harry and Voldemort in the graveyard, and the ultimate plot-twist at the end. I still have not decided which book is my absolute favorite, but it is definitely between The Goblet of Fire, Half-Blood Prince, and The Deathly Hallows. When I was younger, I would often turn to books especially because it was very hard for me to find friends since I moved around so much. Harry Potter became an escape from my 10-year-old life “crisis”, and I sought comfort in the magic and friendships found within the stories. Let’s just say I was VERY emotionally attached to the series. I was so attached that I still distinctly remember the betrayal and hatred I felt for J.K. Rowling after finishing Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince. When Dumbledore, someone I saw as a “literary grandfather” and friend, was killed, I threw my book across my room and my 10-year-old self sobbed as if I had really just lost someone in real life. Because of the massive betrayal I felt, towards both Snape and Rowling, I refused to read the last novel of the series until two years later.
The Movies
I have lost count of how many times I have watched the movies, but let’s just say I have watched them so often I can now recite each character’s individual lines from each movie. I find that the most awe-inspiring element of the movies is that they bring so many otherworldly and seemingly impossible things from the books onto the screen. The impressive fact that someone read the pages of the books and transformed written words into the magic we get to watch continues to baffle me. One of the most special aspects of the movies is that we watch all of the actors grow up throughout the entire series, something that is so rare in the movie industry. When observing the movies, one must also applaud the exquisite cinematography found in each film, especially that done by director Alfonso Cuarón in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Each scene is shot so beautifully, especially the depiction of the dementors throughout the entire movie and the whomping willow throughout each of the seasons at Hogwarts. The scene where Harry rides Buckbeak and they soar over the Black Lake lives in my head rent free because of the music, the cinematography, and the pure joy we see etched on Harry’s face.
Even though I absolutely adore every single movie, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince has grown to be one of my favourite movies ever. The movie gives us SO much character development and has so many hilarious moments that outrank those of any other of the films. The movie explores romantic relationships between all of the characters, strengthens important friendships, gives Dumbledore a much deeper and comical personality, and finally gives Draco Malfoy his time to shine. Another key element to the films is the music, especially because it makes each movie so much more powerful. I find that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, has the most dynamic and beautifully written musical score, elevating each scene even more. Songs such as “Lily’s Theme” and “Courtyard Apocalypse” make the scenes so much more emotional, giving the audience a much deeper connection to what they see on the screen.
However, one thing that I absolutely HATE about the movies is the portrayal of the relationship between Ginny and Harry. Not only is Ginny’s hilarious and bold personality found in the novels watered down in the movies, but every scene between Harry and Ginny made me physically cringe. THERE. WAS. NO. CHEMISTRY. If I had not read the books and only watched the movies, then I would have never shipped the two of them together. Harry literally had more chemistry with Aragog, the giant spider, than with the girl he would later go on to marry.
All in all, the Harry Potter series continues to influence our entire generation because of the beautifully written novels and the cinematic experience one takes while watching the movies. I hope this article has inspired you in some way to reread the books in your free time or do a Harry Potter movie-marathon with your family. Now, I will end with one of my favourite Harry Potter quotes of all time from Fred Weasley in The Deathly Hallows, “He can move faster than Severus Snape confronted with shampoo”. I hope you enjoyed this article and I thank you for reading!
