So as I have officially completed the series once over again since the last time [which was about 5 years ago]. I am reminded of all the bits and pieces that caused me to fall in love with the story in the first place. The world I dream about being apart of and of course the writer and her brilliant imagination. Its safe to say I probably won’t read it again for a long while [otherwise I just won’t ever read anything else and never get around to my already excessive and continuously growing list of books to read] but the films will always be my go to for background noise or you know, if its a Sunday…
I am actually a huge fan of the graphic designers from the films, Mina and Lima whom designed everything from Harry’s letter from Hogwarts, to the house crests, to Mrs Weasley’s magical clock, and so on. They have actually been creating illustrated versions of the novels and they are beautiful. They not only capture the the world exactly as its described and I would imagine it, but they add additional pop ups and pull outs in the books to make it that much more of a magical experience. So I made a oath to myself to wait until all of these are released before re-reading this story again… easily over 10 years but I am happy to make that sacrifice.
19 years later
I did re-read the Cursed Child playwright as well and I’ll make a seperate post about my thoughts on watching the play live in Melbourne. What I found interesting to learn as they’ve grown older, was where they all end up.
Spoiler alert, Hermione becomes Minister for Magic. Understandable and predictable in a sense. You do sort of always feel like she’ll amount to something great in her adulthood and be called to a position of power and making changes.
Anti-climactically Ron ends up running the joke shop for his brother. But if you think about it, where else would he end up right? He was never good enough academically and never good enough at Quiddich or anything else entrepreneurial, so as mediocre as it is for the 3rd companion of the dynamic trio, its realistic. I’m always grateful for moments of realism in a fantastical story – It just sells the whole package a little more for me. As if the smallest detail of truth while in suspension of disbelief somehow makes it truly believable.
Then there’s Harry, someone who too was destined for something great. Not necessarily because of his prophecy or finally defeating Voldemort but because he was just one of those naturally born exceptions. With DNA passed down from his academic mother and athletic father. But through that destined fate and the unfortunate life events that lead him to not only avenge his loved ones but save the world, it then became his life mission in a way to continue being that hero who saves lives; by ending up as an Auror of course [Dark Wizard catcher – A magical version of a detective in my eyes]. He could have easily become a famous Quiddich player but here is where I believe the difference between a true Gryffindor and a Slytherin lie – the true Gryffindor chose the selfless profession, to continue to fight the bad guys. Whereas a Slytherin would have chosen the life of physical fun and fame.
Why I love it
Okay I can sit here and talk about how this whole story filled with fun and adventure was simultaneously a beautiful story about friendship and family not always meaning blood relation, which does sound a lot like The Last Airbender and so many other great stories. But let’s not get over the fact that this story is exceptionally imaginative and this world that JKR has created is so detailed and beautifully described, it just makes me doubt my own brain’s capacity sometimes.
She has thought of every important historical moment that led up to where we read from. Everything dates back to some point in the timeline of Wizards and Witches on Earth. She’s thought of different parts of the world and their differentiating governments and practices. Sure there is also the fact that she “made it all up” but she had also done real life research on witchcraft in the real world and made it align with that. From the spells originating from Latin, to real life plants and fungi used as ingredients in magical concoctions. She has a back story for each and every character and has an answer for every missing piece of the grand puzzle. And let’s not even get started on the plot twists as there are so many. I am yet to read her other books outside of the Wizarding world [which are also on this crazy list of books on my bucket list for life] but have heard similar things being described in those lines of work so its a unique and rare thing that as a fellow [self proclaimed] creative individual, I can appreciate fully.
Hogwarts is a place for not only the characters but for us as readers to escape to. I always grew up thinking if I ever were to step into that world, I would take the full Hermione approach and would just want to learn absolutely everything there is to know about it [including learning about Muggles from the Wizarding world’s perspective]. Then there is also some hippy part of me like that of Luna Lovegood, Newt Scamander and Hagrid, that just wants to befriend all the magical creatures and become host of all types of magical organisms. To explore such a beautiful and aged castle like Hogwarts is something I fantasise about… I also wonder where my place in the Wizarding world would be. I’d like to think something cool like working with Dragon’s or being an organiser of a magical event like a Tri-Wizard Cup!
At the end of the day, its one of my favourite story’s ever told, more than anything because of nostalgia and just how it made me feel as a kid, probably not even understanding it to the fullest capacity.
Mr Radcliffe
Watching back the films, seeing Daniel Radcliffe step up to the plate and play in this story, specifically in Philosopher’s Stoner, when he was still quite fresh and inexperienced; when the other young actors like Rupert Grint and Emma Watson are so confident and natural at playing pretend. Then also re-reading the books and getting to know more about what’s going on inside Harry’s mind, it sort of made Daniel Radcliffe the perfect boy for the job.
I’ve seen some interviews of other older actors in the films talking about how he was less experienced and needed a bit more guidance and direction at the start, before he found his feet and knew how to take charge; then slowly he came into his confidence and his skills for screen grew with him as he grew with the series.
Harry comes from a family that don’t acknowledge him as a real person, with the right to an opinion. He knows that his parents are dead but knows not much else about them. He is denied even the luxury of painting a picture of how his parents were and imagining a life with them. So quite frankly, he is lost. He is unsure of himself, of his life but knows that the people around him aren’t allies. He is a boy in survival mode. Daniel being less experienced as you would say, made him perfect for the role of Harry. Harry shouldn’t be completely sure of himself in his situation and having a young actor who was more firm in his decision making wouldn’t align. We got lucky.
So to end my devotion to the mind of J.K Rowling, her beautifully imaginative story of a magical world with fun and adventure, I hope if you are not a fan or haven’t had the pleasure of exploring if you are one, that this somehow entices you to step into the world. The books are easy to read and actually mature in literature each book/year as the characters age and mature in school. The films will always be a timeless piece thanks to a huge budget and practical effects. I am still waiting for a director’s cut though… If the books are too long and you want more out of what’s given from the films [and hopefully a less PG rated version] then I guess we wait patiently together for the new HBO series to come to fruition.
Bye for now