Daniel- This is a great question. I've thought about it too. Not even from a movie perspective. But also from the perspective of: "Which books should I keep on my bookshelf, versus. which should I toss this year?" And for me, if it remains on the bookshelf--it gets higher and higher into the 'classics' or 'epic' category. Perhaps both surprisingly and unsurprisingly, Potter remains on the bookshelf.
On a side note, I think it's so very interesting that you knew the story line before having ever read the books. It does seem impossible to keep the ending of this series a surprise to those who haven't read it. I'm giving my daughter the books a little at a time (she's only read through book three) because book four and up are a little too dark for her. But it's so frustrating that some of her friends/ or just people that she meets have seen the movies and have told her the ending!
I quite literally grew up with Harry. I read book one at age 11 and then swallowed books two and three. When I became a teenager Rowling was putting out about one a year and I'd be up at midnight at the bookstore to purchase my copy. I love that I didn't get to know the ending until I read that last book. (Though my BFF's dad finished it a few hours before me, and nearly spoiled it for reasons I will never understand!)
My friend, my friend, why oh why did you watch the movies without reading the books!?!? I might suggest that you cannot have a true opinion about the series without first reading them. The movies simply don’t compare to what Rowling did in writing. And plus. Daniel Radcliffe. I mean come on. The first two movies alone are enough to put you off the first two books. When rewatching the series, I always skip those. Read it, please. You can listen on audio if you don’t have the sitting time.
Also--Harry Potter as the last true myth--only time will tell, I think. I love the series, but it is so very different and at the same time so very similar to Lewis and Tolkien’s works. However, personally speaking, I think HP has a good chance.
The movies have made me want to read the books more! I know there are many intricacies that are not in the films and I can't wait to discover those secrets.
Also, I've heard people complain about the young actors in the first two or three films. But those complaints didn't register with me. Are they perfect? No. But they are charming!
It was their first roles for EW and DR. RG has been in Thunderpants - the trailer is worth a watch! So yes they were bad but so is everyone the first time they do something
I agree with Jaclyn that you really must read the books but not because the movies will put you off. Just that the books are a million times better than the films!
JKR was a classical undergrad and it shows up. Look up what Sirius means in Latin or the animal connected to the name Remus Lupin. And how she used her mental illness to create the dementors. Not to mention the characters you missed out on or the storylines that were cut but are the most heart wrenching. Those books will break your heart. You’ve been warned.
Yes, and I guess I didn't mean my comment to put down the movies/actors so much. What I meant was that the books are the original source of how the story was told. I'd love to see Daniel engage with the original source. The side takes about Snape (and how his story is unraveled with every book), the meanness level, etc., are so much more interesting/powerful/different(?) in the books. In my opinion, the movies are kind of secondary literature.
Daniel- This is a great question. I've thought about it too. Not even from a movie perspective. But also from the perspective of: "Which books should I keep on my bookshelf, versus. which should I toss this year?" And for me, if it remains on the bookshelf--it gets higher and higher into the 'classics' or 'epic' category. Perhaps both surprisingly and unsurprisingly, Potter remains on the bookshelf.
In addition to the above, I also think people have their personal hierarchy of classics/epic literature that can be inscrutable to others.
Correct. It’s very difficult to be entirely impartial, isn’t it, David? :)
On a side note, I think it's so very interesting that you knew the story line before having ever read the books. It does seem impossible to keep the ending of this series a surprise to those who haven't read it. I'm giving my daughter the books a little at a time (she's only read through book three) because book four and up are a little too dark for her. But it's so frustrating that some of her friends/ or just people that she meets have seen the movies and have told her the ending!
I quite literally grew up with Harry. I read book one at age 11 and then swallowed books two and three. When I became a teenager Rowling was putting out about one a year and I'd be up at midnight at the bookstore to purchase my copy. I love that I didn't get to know the ending until I read that last book. (Though my BFF's dad finished it a few hours before me, and nearly spoiled it for reasons I will never understand!)
My friend, my friend, why oh why did you watch the movies without reading the books!?!? I might suggest that you cannot have a true opinion about the series without first reading them. The movies simply don’t compare to what Rowling did in writing. And plus. Daniel Radcliffe. I mean come on. The first two movies alone are enough to put you off the first two books. When rewatching the series, I always skip those. Read it, please. You can listen on audio if you don’t have the sitting time.
Also--Harry Potter as the last true myth--only time will tell, I think. I love the series, but it is so very different and at the same time so very similar to Lewis and Tolkien’s works. However, personally speaking, I think HP has a good chance.
I beg to differ about having a 'true opinion.'
The movies have made me want to read the books more! I know there are many intricacies that are not in the films and I can't wait to discover those secrets.
Also, I've heard people complain about the young actors in the first two or three films. But those complaints didn't register with me. Are they perfect? No. But they are charming!
It was their first roles for EW and DR. RG has been in Thunderpants - the trailer is worth a watch! So yes they were bad but so is everyone the first time they do something
I agree with Jaclyn that you really must read the books but not because the movies will put you off. Just that the books are a million times better than the films!
JKR was a classical undergrad and it shows up. Look up what Sirius means in Latin or the animal connected to the name Remus Lupin. And how she used her mental illness to create the dementors. Not to mention the characters you missed out on or the storylines that were cut but are the most heart wrenching. Those books will break your heart. You’ve been warned.
Yes, and I guess I didn't mean my comment to put down the movies/actors so much. What I meant was that the books are the original source of how the story was told. I'd love to see Daniel engage with the original source. The side takes about Snape (and how his story is unraveled with every book), the meanness level, etc., are so much more interesting/powerful/different(?) in the books. In my opinion, the movies are kind of secondary literature.
Agreed!!!!
Haha, okay okay. I hope you do read them soon. Then let us know what you think!