Harry Potter coming to an end. :(

[HoosierGuy]

Looks like this could be the big summer blockbuster. I doubt Captain America will do the business Harry is doing. There's Captain America, Cowboys and Aliens, and a new Planet of the Apes film that looks very good. I don't see any of them making more than Potter. The local theater here had two 12:01am showings, a 3D 12:05am showing and a 2:35am showing.

BBC News - Harry Potter film takes $168m to break ticket records

The final Harry Potter movie has shattered box office record in the US and Canada, taking $168m (£104m) over its opening weekend.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 had already made $92.1m (£57m) on its opening day, said the film's distributor, Warner Bros.

[slamjet]

Currently in the middle of a Harry Potter hangover, but I was on the whole extremely impressed with the movie. Bawled my eyes out.

oh... my... word.

[Jennarator]

I've seen the movies, some on cable, some in the theater, but most of the time I'm mumbling under my breath because I can see where she stole from Tolkien. It's been awhile, but back in my college days there were classes on fantasy lit, with significant space given over to Tolkien. I used to read the trilogy every year for years. I'm sure Tolkien would like to come back and have a nice lawsuit against Rowlings. That would be worth watching!

Now that I think about it, my elders and I were talking about this and we came to the belief that there was nothing eternal (spiritually speaking) or philosophically redeeming about the Potter movies (none of us had read the books). They were entertaining, but that's it. You can't make any life decisions based on Potter; you can after a deep reading of Tolkien.

Still, I was a bit miffed to find that the son had gone to the midnight showing and not taken me. : (

Sure you can. I love the quote where Dumbledor says "there will soon come a time where you have to choose between what is easy ans what is right."

There are tons of good quotes that can help with life.

[skippy740]

Now that I think about it, my elders and I were talking about this and we came to the belief that there was nothing eternal (spiritually speaking) or philosophically redeeming about the Potter movies (none of us had read the books). They were entertaining, but that's it. You can't make any life decisions based on Potter; you can after a deep reading of Tolkien.

Let's see:

- Choosing between what is right vs what is easy

- It is our choices that make us who we are

- Big Wizard Brother is always watching you (evidence with letters addressed to Harry Potter Under the Stairwell & the "trace" on minor-age wizards)

- Conspiracies & Secret Combinations

- "The world isn't split into good people and death eaters. There is both light and dark within each of us." - Sirius Black

- "You will never know love or friendship. And I feel sorry for you." - Harry Potter speaking to the Dark Lord

- The lies of the "dark side": "There is no good and evil. There is only power and those who know how to use it."

- "He who studies evil IS evil." (Never mind. That was a Star Trek Deep Space Nine quote)

- The showing of devotion to a mission that is greater than ourselves.

But really, it's just great entertainment! Great story lines and a decent plot.

I think a lot of it was stolen from Star Wars:

- The Good Guy battling the Bad Guy who both have special powers and sticks that light up.

- The best friend and the girl will hook up.

- The 'force' and 'magic'

- Conspiracies to take over the proper form of government and turn it into a dictatorship of sorts

- John Williams as the composer of the main Harry Potter theme and Star Wars

- The Good Guy never knew his parents.

- The Bad Guy KILLED the good guy's parents (depending on your POV)

And I have just confirmed that I have WAY too much time on my hands.

Someone cast the memory charm on me so I can forget all this analysis?

[Backroads]

I've seen the movies, some on cable, some in the theater, but most of the time I'm mumbling under my breath because I can see where she stole from Tolkien. It's been awhile, but back in my college days there were classes on fantasy lit, with significant space given over to Tolkien. I used to read the trilogy every year for years. I'm sure Tolkien would like to come back and have a nice lawsuit against Rowlings. That would be worth watching!

Now that I think about it, my elders and I were talking about this and we came to the belief that there was nothing eternal (spiritually speaking) or philosophically redeeming about the Potter movies (none of us had read the books). They were entertaining, but that's it. You can't make any life decisions based on Potter; you can after a deep reading of Tolkien.

Still, I was a bit miffed to find that the son had gone to the midnight showing and not taken me. : (

I beg to disagree. Tolkien completely ripped off Norse mythology. I also think children's literature offers much advice on life. (Then again, the majority of my literature classes were focused on children/young adult literature, so perhaps I just have a different perspective.)

[Backroads]

oh... my... word.

You're surprised? This is me we're talking about!

[slamjet]

You're surprised? This is me we're talking about!

I have to remember, you are a mature 16 year old

[JudoMinja]

I actually saw a free pre-screening of the Last Harry Potter movie the Saturday before it came out in theaters... I didn't post about it on here right after seeing it because, well... I didn't want to sound like a total Harry Potter nut.

My younger brother, who looks more like Harry Potter than the actor who plays him, is completely addicted to the series. He has all the books, the books on tape, the movies, a cloak and wand, buys glasses that look like Harry Potter's, has his room covered in posters, lego sets, the games, etc. He was very adament about organizing the whole event for the pre-screening and making sure he knew who was coming and that we all were dressed and ready to go on time. I've heard on the news that this is being refered to as "the movie that saved summer" and while I really liked it, I personally think they could have done a better job. Perhaps its just because I've read all the books...

[Dravin]

Now that I think about it, my elders and I were talking about this and we came to the belief that there was nothing eternal (spiritually speaking) or philosophically redeeming about the Potter movies (none of us had read the books). They were entertaining, but that's it. You can't make any life decisions based on Potter; you can after a deep reading of Tolkien.

Why are you comparing the movies to Tolkien's books? Rather lopsided don't you think? Wouldn't a better comparison be to compare the movies to the movies or the books to the books? Not that I think Harry Potter is some deep philosophical work, but let's compare apples to apples here.

I'm sure Tolkien would like to come back and have a nice lawsuit against Rowlings.

When do the Norse get to sue Tolkien? Something to keep in mind is that Tolkien established quite a lot of fantasy 'standards' by his work. While Rawlings (and others) have laid a foundation squarely on those standards they're not in danger of copy right violations.

Edited July 18, 2011 by Dravin

[dahlia]

Why are you comparing the movies to Tolkien's books? Rather lopsided don't you think? Wouldn't a better comparison be to compare the movies to the movies or the books to the books? Not that I think Harry Potter is some deep philosophical work, but let's compare apples to apples here.

I compare Tolkien to Potter because Rawlings has stolen so much it doesn't matter whether you compare books to books, or movies to movies.

Maybe I'm a snob, but Tolkien was a scholar, knew what he was doing in terms of linguistics, and what he was drawing from in terms of cultures, civilizations, and religion. I've yet to observe that Rawlings knows anything. My 2 cents. You are entitled to yours.

[Dravin]

I compare Tolkien to Potter because Rawlings has stolen so much it doesn't matter whether you compare books to books, or movies to movies.

It's not an issue of comparing Tolkien's work to Rawling's work, it's comparing the actual works of Tolkien to a derivative of Rawling's works. If you've not read any of the books then your critiques of her writing are rather underwhelming. Just as I imagine you would find a critique of Tolkien's work based on a viewing of Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy to be underwhelming.

Note this is not a defense that Rawling is some literary genius, she a solid entertainment writer but that's it in my opinion, but movies as a lens into the actual work they are based on are flawed.

Edited July 20, 2011 by Dravin

[Backroads]

I compare Tolkien to Potter because Rawlings has stolen so much it doesn't matter whether you compare books to books, or movies to movies.

Maybe I'm a snob, but Tolkien was a scholar, knew what he was doing in terms of linguistics, and what he was drawing from in terms of cultures, civilizations, and religion. I've yet to observe that Rawlings knows anything. My 2 cents. You are entitled to yours.

As someone who has extensively studied fairy tales, Rowling does have excellent insight into their structure.

[Mahone]

Being very pedantic here, but her name is spelt Rowling, not Rawling/Rawlings. Sorry. Carry on :)

[scdoyle]

Someone cast the memory charm on me so I can forget all this analysis?

Obliviate!!

[Backroads]

Thought of another memory...

When the 6th movie came out, it was the summer of making wands at our camp. We snuck them into the theatre, and at the scene where everyone in the movie raised their wands, a bunch of staffers scattered about the theatre did the same thing.

[ADoyle90815]

I'm also a fan myself, and not only do I have a costume, but I even play Quidditch on occasion, only without brooms. I'm going to see this movie soon as I've seen all of the others. I'm looking forward to my niece being able to read the books when she's old enough to read.