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Original poster

I am just going to have to watch Harry Potter aren't I?

191 replies

Highlighta · 09/01/2024 07:09

My closest friend is having her 50th this year. I am a few years older than her, so I am not sure if this contributes to my lack of knowledge on the subject.

She is quite Harry Potter mad. She watches the films over again every now and then also has themed objects, like Le Creuset dishes and the likes.

She is having a Harry Potter party, I am not too shocked about this. The thing is, I have never watched Harry Potter, it just isn't something that ever appealed to me.

She chats to me about her party plans and is bouncing things off of me, and tbh I do not have a clue about half the stuff. I suggested something food wise and so she said, well actually that doesn't fit in with the theme 😂

She is a great friend and I would love to help her. But that means I am going to have to watch the films now I think. I have to dress up too, so I could pop along to the costume hire place and ask them to suggest something, but then I think I would be being a bit of a fraud not knowing who I am.

So I need advice. Do I need to watch them all? If I just watch the first one will that sum it all up? Or should I rather just watch the last one, and try fill in gaps, so I am a bit caught up.

Please don't suggest the books either. I think that seems way more torturous.

OP posts:
reluctantbrit · 09/01/2024 07:40

If you have time then watch movie 1-3
If you don't - watch movie 1
If you are really short on time - read the plot on wikepedia.

The audiobooks are great, DH missed regularly turns when we had them in the car, Stephan Fry is a great narrator. But they do take a lot of time, I personally read faster than listening to a book.

Books 4-7 (or movie 4-8) are a lot more dark and complex, in my opinion some are also just ridiculously long (I look at you Order of the Phoenix).

Just enjoy the party.

Original poster
Highlighta · 09/01/2024 07:43

parrotonmyshoulder · 09/01/2024 07:36

I love that Lavender Fields story!
Enjoy the audiobook - we’ve managed many, many long car journeys with DC due to these.
I never thought my DH would like Harry Potter. I was a new teacher when the first book was released so kind of grew up with them. We listened to the audiobook when DD was desperate to read it but couldn’t read and have listened to them on a repeated cycle ever since.

I have heard the start of Lavender fields hundreds of times I am sure. The end however, nope. Not so much 😂

My dc are in their 20's now, so I am not quite sure how this escaped me, as they are smack bang in the age range to have watched HP from the start.

I do drive a lot for work. So audio seems the way to go.

OP posts:
shepherdsangeldelight · 09/01/2024 07:48

If you don't want to read the books or watch the films then don't.

If this is a great friend then surely she understands you have no interest, and there are still plenty of things you can help with? You just can't suggest theming ideas (except actually you can because the witch/wizard/dragons and mythical beasts/defeating evil overlord is a fairly universal theme).
Or you could just google Harry Potter theme and show your friend any interesting ideas?

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Films
Jimmyspiano · 09/01/2024 07:49

If you only have time for one, I would read one of the books rather than watch a film. I admit that I am a huge HP fan.

Silverbirchtwo · 09/01/2024 07:49

For me the first half of the first film/book is enough to put you off, it only really gets into gear after that. Harry under the stairs is just daft and the family...!

I would like the magic banquet in Hogwarts Hall for a meal, but don't think it can be done.

Beware you may get hooked.

Original poster
Highlighta · 09/01/2024 07:55

shepherdsangeldelight · 09/01/2024 07:48

If you don't want to read the books or watch the films then don't.

If this is a great friend then surely she understands you have no interest, and there are still plenty of things you can help with? You just can't suggest theming ideas (except actually you can because the witch/wizard/dragons and mythical beasts/defeating evil overlord is a fairly universal theme).
Or you could just google Harry Potter theme and show your friend any interesting ideas?

She does know I am rather clueless on the topic, and it's got to a stage now where I say something party related and we both just laugh, as its just not related to the theme at all.

She most definitely isn't expecting me to be well versed, but I feel I could help her a little more if we were not laughing so much about how clueless I am.

The party is in a few months, so time wise is not really an issue.

OP posts:
RaininSummer · 09/01/2024 07:56

Just dress as a random witch as you don't need to be a main character.

Jioyt · 09/01/2024 08:00

Hoglet70 · 09/01/2024 07:27

Just Google it. The whole HP thing is painful! Just because a lot of people like it doesn't mean everyone enjoys it. I sat through the first film and that was more than enough.

This 😀.

I went to see the first one in a cinema when it came out and fell asleep halfway through.

I tried watching it again in 2022, and the same thing happened.

However, I've dipped in and out of most of the films due to having a massive HP fan in the family. I think from the third film, the children's acting starts to get better and is just about bearable. The first two I would give a miss.

Buffypaws · 09/01/2024 08:01

go as aunt petunia. She is a muggle. You don’t need a costume just lady clothes maybe an apron but try to look uptight and like you dislike Harry Potter.

Buffypaws · 09/01/2024 08:01

Btw the seventh film should be on itv tonight and the finale tomorrow I think.

Newgolddream70 · 09/01/2024 08:02

If you watch the Prisoner of Azkhaban you'll get to see Harry's Aunt get 'blown up', the Knight bus, a werewolf teacher, and the first patronas charm - magical! And Gary Oldman is the icing on the cake. (My favourite HP film, can you tell?!)

LeolaGy · 09/01/2024 08:04

I would honestly say just watch the first film if you aren’t interested, it will be quickest and give you enough insight into the story to understand the basics. And you’ll have some characters to chose from, if all else fails just go as the main female character Hermione!
You may end up enjoying it though and want to carry on, give it a go! And if not, at least you can say you’ve tried it and it’s not for you.

Papillon23 · 09/01/2024 08:05

My library offers the audiobooks on their audiobook service I think (so I can borrow them on an app called borrowbox free of chargge). Some other libraries use "Libby" instead.

itsgettingweird · 09/01/2024 08:08

I'd watch film 3 or 4. It'll give you an idea of the characters and probably about where you'll see the main bits of storyline and can follow in previous gaps.

Everyone knows that he defeats Voldemort in the end!

Spirael · 09/01/2024 08:09

Could you go to your friend, explain that you've had Obliviate cast on you, and that she needs to help you understand everything?

WandaWonder · 09/01/2024 08:11

I have seen thr first few but there are kids around which school

There are four houses

It would take 5 mins to read on Wikipedia why on earth would you need to get watch if you don't want?

Sure the theme may be harry potty but I really don't see the need to actually watch it if it is not something you are into

Yoyoban · 09/01/2024 08:11

I'd listen to the first audiobook. I think it needs to be the first one because it introduces a lot of the key characters and features of the "wizarding world'. A later film, without knowing this background will just be confusing. But the acting of the main kids in the first film is just so painful to watch it would be a shame for that to be your only experience of HP.

Other than that the 'crash course' by a pp pretty much gives you the summary of the rest of the books.

WandaWonder · 09/01/2024 08:12

WandaWonder · 09/01/2024 08:11

I have seen thr first few but there are kids around which school

There are four houses

It would take 5 mins to read on Wikipedia why on earth would you need to get watch if you don't want?

Sure the theme may be harry potty but I really don't see the need to actually watch it if it is not something you are into

WITCH/wizzard school I mean

DietrichandDiMaggio · 09/01/2024 08:13

My dc are in their 20's now, so I am not quite sure how this escaped me, as they are smack bang in the age range to have watched HP from the start.

I must admit, I assumed you must not have children under about 35 to not have come across the books or films!

WhatTheFuk · 09/01/2024 08:17

DietrichandDiMaggio · 09/01/2024 08:13

My dc are in their 20's now, so I am not quite sure how this escaped me, as they are smack bang in the age range to have watched HP from the start.

I must admit, I assumed you must not have children under about 35 to not have come across the books or films!

I don't understand how anyone could be so clueless when they had children growing up during the book/film years.

HoleGuacamole · 09/01/2024 08:18

Highlighta · 09/01/2024 07:55

She does know I am rather clueless on the topic, and it's got to a stage now where I say something party related and we both just laugh, as its just not related to the theme at all.

She most definitely isn't expecting me to be well versed, but I feel I could help her a little more if we were not laughing so much about how clueless I am.

The party is in a few months, so time wise is not really an issue.

Show quote history

What sort of things are you suggesting? Assuming you know Harry Potter is about wizards, there’s plenty you could suggest without knowing the details / that she could adapt to be more HP Universe specific.

But I cannot stress how much better the books are than the films, and book one gives you enough background to throw a party. I’m not a huge HP fan (as in I don’t own any HP merchandise) but I do love the books.

Nineteendays · 09/01/2024 08:18

Agree with just watching hp3. Don’t watch the last one, you’ll have no idea what’s happening. I don’t think much to the first 2 either with the kids acting skills. It def gets better by film 3 though. And it’s one of the best stories too

NooNakedJacuzziness · 09/01/2024 08:20

I'd just watch about 20 mins of one of the middle films so you get a bit of an idea. I've only ever seen the first one and apparently it gets better.

Ereshkigalangcleg · 09/01/2024 08:21

I really admire and like JK Rowling but I have no desire to watch Harry Potter, it's just not my cup of tea. You don't have to read HP! As pp said just dress as a witch.

BrendaMcPherson · 09/01/2024 08:22

Would you consider reading the first book? It's pretty short compared to the later hefty tomes. I had no interest in HP when it came out and ended up reading the first one just to understand what the hell the kids in my class were always talking about! After the first couple of pages, I was hooked and ended up reading them all as they came out.