On Friday, someone asked me what the last film I saw was, that wasn’t work related. Which meant that I had to confess my recent Harry Potter splurge. On ITV every Saturday at 3.25pm, they seem to be having Harry Potter season. I watched Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone with my flatmate last Saturday. She fell asleep but the wave of nostalgia that washed over me was so acute that I just had to watch Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets on Sunday. And then the remaining six films over the next four days.
I spent 1,179 minutes immersed in the world of Quidditch, dragons, and golden eggs which sing underwater and I loved it. My dreams were infiltrated, as they always seem to be whenever I reacquaint myself with JK Rowling’s work, with ways of defeating He Who Must Not Be Named. A few years ago, I spent quite a lot of time on a broom, chasing Voldemort until he gave up Neville’s remembrall in a cave. This time, The Dark Lord was trying to organise a heist and I foiled his plans. Admittedly, I go a bit off track when I’m asleep but the intention is there.
I don’t know what is so addictive about Harry Potter films. I was (and still am) a huge fan of the books and the films were nowhere near as entertaining but there was just no way they could be. So much detail was omitted and it still makes me angry but at the same time, it’s still quite a feat. To see Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint grow up before our very eyes is quite amazing; the acting gets marginally better, the sexual tension becomes more and more forced ("PRETEND YOU’VE BEEN IN LOVE WITH HIM FOR EIGHT YEARS!") and suddenly it’s ok to fancy them. And Draco.
Actually, Honest Trailers does a far better job of summing up Harry Potter. Warning - Contains slightly rude stuff and definite spoilers!
I think I love the fact that while Harry Potter can be alienating if you don’t know the jargon, it’s also very inclusive, it makes you feel part of a club (who didn’t wish they were part of Dumbledore’s Army?). Watching them (almost) back-to-back reminded me of queuing up for the books at midnight, dressing up as Ron Weasley for a Halloween party (I pulled it off, despite being female and half Indian. It’s all in the expression) and eagerly anticipating every film. Have a go, it's fun. And time-consuming. Basically have a go if you have no friends.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: Saturday 3rd August, ITV, 3.25pm
