The Harry Potter Series

Harry Potter as a movie and novel hero has been there ever since I can remember. The first Harry Potter novels were created before I could read – but as I grew up the franchise grew too. This is true for so many children. The movies were also something that I awaited eagerly – when would there be another trip to the cinema to see the Boy Who Lived?  The students at Hogwarts will also be there for many other children to read, and other generations after that. This is because Harry Potter in all shapes and forms has become an immortal character, and the world in which he belongs is just as well-known as J.R.R. Tolkien’s middle earth. 

But I shall not really get into too much detail about the books, what I'm going to discuss is what made the books and movies sky rocket, and how everyone in the world heard about the Potter Universe.  I’m not going to elaborate about the fact that J.K. Rowling would not allow McDonalds to use her heroes as toys for their celebrated “Happy Meals” – she was a business-woman who chose who she would franchise to.  Or the fact that people might have worried about the famous witches and wizards – sending children off the rails.  Neither am I going to go on a rant about how countless children started to read so they could find out what was going on in the wizard world – I will stick to the generalities about the franchise.

Harry Potter is one of the highest grossing movie franchises, even more successful than the long running James Bond franchise, and along with the highly grossing movies; there have been spin-off merchandise for years following the birth of our hero.

WRITER: J.K. Rowling, a writer who was completely down on her luck created “the boy who lived”. Fourteen years, seven books and blockbuster films later, the Harry Potter brand, valued at over $15 billion, is still going strong. There have been over 400 million copies of the Harry Potter books sold worldwide and it is translated into 67 languages!  Now J.K. Rowling is known as the first billionaire author, wealthier than the Queen of England!

Toys: Although J.K. Rowling was very careful who she handed franchises to, she has allowed us to have toys of the boy hero.  These popular toys have lasted even after the films have ceased – but they are still favourites – and if you’ve been created by Lego – you’ve really arrived.

BOOKS: Numerous copies of the Harry Potter novels were produced.  They have been, and are still being, published in many languages and forms (ebook, soft cover, book sets and hard cover novels) across the world.  Furthermore, to add excitement to the launch of her books, J.K. Rowling started novel idea of releasing each new story at midnight – giving rise to book parties as people counted down to the unveiling of a new Potter adventure.

MOVIES: Altogether there have been eight Potter movies, from the original Sorcerer’s Stone to the last Deathly Hallows, each movie portrays another novel. The Deathly Hallows was split into two parts, each depicting a part of the story.

MY FAVORITE MOVIE:  The Sorcerer’s Stone was my childhood favourite and is still my favourite.  I can see it as many times as I want and say the lines of my favourite characters and not lose anything.  That is the sign of a classic - and I have to say this is probably my favourite film of all time – and I have seen a great number of films.  The book is an introduction – in we meet the Dursleys – the bad guys, and Hagrid Harry’s friend.  We also meet Professor Dumbledore, and the Hogwarts teachers good and bad – and are transported by an old steam train to a land beyond reality – where your imagination soars.  This totally magical movie is something special and a warm fuzzy that you can’t dismiss. 

DIRECTOR: Christopher Columbus was the original director and he brought the magic to the screen. Later the reins were handed to three other directors – Alfonso Cuaron, Mike Newell, and David Yates (who made the darkest films of the franchise.)

THE MUSIC FACTOR: John Williams was the genius who brought us Hedwig’s theme – the quintessential, Potter music.   Although the music was handed to new hands during the run of Harry Potter – the initial magical music was owed to the seasoned veteran.

ACTORS: If it was not for the choice of three “no name” actors, who literally grew up on the set, the film would not have the same chemistry. Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, were taught their formal schooling and their acting skills on set during the filming of the movies. Excluding the child actors one must mention the adult cast - Maggie Smith is amazing, Richard Harris plays (in my estimation) the best role of his career (sadly to be replaced by Gambon on Harris’ death), Alan Rickman is totally villainous and Robbie Coultrane is a “giant” in his role.

SPIN OFF: Harry Potter in book and film form pretty well saturated the market for the longest time.  Furthermore, there have been Harry Potter theme parks built around the world – something I’d like to take a look at. Soon the magical world will be looking for Rowlings new magical movie, Newt Scamander will star in the new movie, which it is rumoured, will continue as another trilogy.

IN CONCLUSION: In conclusion Harry Potter has been a part of children’s culture for the last few years.  The books and films have brought the character to life and many of us will think back fondly on our time at Hogwarts – even if it is just in our imaginations.  As far as a film franchise, this is a small miracle – the right recipe at the right time – and voila.  The franchise ran roughly to the length of the books (the last book was split in two even if the previous book was longer).  And there does not seem to be any talk about resurrecting the story – so now we wait to see if Newt Scamander can command as big an audience as the boy wizard.