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

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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.

Watch 1st. You never know you might like it, the detail, set design and cast are superb. It's aimed at families not just children and they become more sophisticated as they progress. You never know you might enjoy it. All the best of British appear in it at some point.

7 very easy to read books made into 8 movies.

reddish hair makes you an obvious candidate to be a Weasley. Mrs. Weasley is the matriarch of the clan. Ginny Weasley is a student. Both are badass in their own way. Neither wear hats.

@Chab92 @BeachedOff

I love that you had themed weddings. This is something my friend had mentioned in the past that is something she would have loved to have done, but as she is very single (been through a horrid divorce) and reckon she is never going to remarry, so her 50th theme it now is.

I have no interest in Harry Potter but Dd loves it. I watched the films with her and they're good. It wasn't a hardship.
Give them a go.

Well the costume is easy ... Muggle. Go as you. Get a mate who is interested in HP to go with you and every now and again point a stick at you and say oblivate. (Makes you forget anything magical as it a secret from Muggles (none magic people.) That way you don't have to understand anything

Honestly it was the best thing ever!!! All our guests were sorted into houses, tables were all themed to different locations from the stories and tonnes and tonnes more! I have just got my 3.5year old started on the films and she keeps asking to watch the next one so it’s definitely a win there too 😁. I haven’t ever found anybody else who’s done the hp theme for their wedding either!! So cool!!!!

There's loads of costumes out there OP.

I'm just reading the HP books with our 7 year old, and they are far from fluffy subjects covered in them. I've watched the films with the children as well.
The books are much, much more than the films.

There's the complexity of human behaviour one of the main protagonists Snape is a bully who hates Harry but is also brave and saves his life without any fanfare or wanting thanks.

There's the creep creep creep of Authoritarianism (kind of going unnoticed) until bam everything becomes very dark, families disappearing and the like.

Umbridge thinks she's righteous and on the side of good (she even looks lovely and safe all pink and Kittens) but is doing horrific things like torturing children.

The Heroes are annoying and flawed.

I think the later books do cover a lot of complex subjects.

But you can also just take them as a bit of childish fun.

There's the complexity of human behaviour

This is a theme throughout all her work, including the Strike books. Humans are complicated and even the best ones are flawed. I was stunned when Harry discovered via the Pensieve that the father he had hero worshipped was actually a pretty horrible person at one point while he was very young, and even Dumbledore had made some truly bad mistakes.

I would normally agree, but I'd expect a party theme usually reflrcts the visuals in the films, rather than individual imaginations. In this specific situation, a film is probably more useful, and quicker too.

Id listen to the books, the recordings by Stephen Fry are really good. Great on a commute or long car journey etc.
The books are better than the films ( dodgy child actors etc).

what did you wear OP?

The audio books are excellent. Stephen Fry does all the voices and brings the books to life so much more than the films do. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy the films, but the books are tons better. Give them a whirl over watching the films 🙂

While I agree the books (and Fry's audio reading) are better than the films, if OP wants a quick intro to the wizarding world, and is looking for some costuming ideas, then a visual summary is more suitable.

Going as Ana actual muggle is brilliant. Going as Mrs Dursley is brilliant! Especially as she’s in the first chapter so not much to read!

I go to York alot - because my DGC live there - and there are always HP walking tours gathering at the Shambles and walking through pointing out where stuff was filmed and there the shop with no name which sells HP stuff .A bit of a nuisance when you're trying to get through to the butchers on the Shambles Market ! But just thought you your friend might enjoy a short break there as a pressie ?

Oh that’s a lovely idea !