Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not understand the appeal of Harry Potter...?!

232 replies

Scaramoose · 17/07/2018 21:08

This is lighthearted btw...

I am off to Florida with DH and DS (6) in a few weeks and we have watched the first Harry Potter film and also been looking at the Harry Potter stuff at Universal.

The film bored me to absolute tears. The characters seemed two dimensional and wooden, the story dragged and the names for things, eg Muggles, just irritated. I shared this view with my sister who couldn't believe I didn't like it as she thinks it is 'absolutely brilliant' and 'incredibly clever.'

DS will love it, as he did love most of the film (I say 'most' as it's so long) and I wouldn't want him to know what I really think but I really, honesty, don't get it! The pretend platform at Kings Cross and the queue outside the HP shop in York also flummoxed me as it's obviously such a big deal for so many people! Im amazed something that seems so dull has done so incredibly well (and from what I have heard about JK Rowling she is very level headed about it, which is lovely.)

Am I the only one...?!!

OP posts:
WTFdidwedo · 17/07/2018 21:48

The films are shit. I read them as they came out however and they were the most magical thing in the world growing up. Going to midnight launches of books and film premieres was the best. The rides are also incredibly good. Even if you are not a HP fan you will really enjoy the Wizarding World. Gringotts was incredible!

serenajneedsashag · 17/07/2018 21:48

Yep get past the first quarter of the first book (I.e. wait until he gets to school)

So that's where I went wrong.
I thought the book was shit and didn't get much past chapter 3.

Vandree · 17/07/2018 21:51

The books are fantastic, I grew up with them and my daughters have been reading them over the last 2 years and they get more proficient. We had the same rule, you could only watch the film after your read the book. The books are better but dh watches the films so he knoew what the girls are going on about (and me) he isn't into Harry Potter at all. We went to Florida in April with my parents and the extended family. HP world is just amazing in Universal, I teared up just walking in the gate to Hogsmead and seeing Hogwarts in the distance. My oldest was picked in Olivanders for a wand and I really blubbed and dh did too. My parents who wouldn't have a clue about harry potter at all said that the day in HP world couldn't be topped by anything, the lightshow at the end of the day had them speechless. Don't be put off, you don't have to be into HP to get the experience out of it.

Vandree · 17/07/2018 21:52

I have HP christmas tree baubles....so not sorry ;)

Tomorrowillbeachicken · 17/07/2018 21:53

Love love love the books. Reading them to ds6 atm.... just got the first task in book 4.

Tomorrowillbeachicken · 17/07/2018 21:54

He’s also listened to first on audible since too and loves them.

WittyJack · 17/07/2018 21:54

I bought the books to see what all the fuss was about, expecting not to be that interested. I was HOOKED. The world is so compelling and put together in such Technicolor detail. There is so very much in there that films could never capture it all.

The first few films really disappointed me. Wooden acting and even amazing actors like Alan rickman didn’t seem to get it right. Later films are better. BUT the visuals are perfect. Exactly how you imagine it all.

BakedBeans47 · 17/07/2018 21:54

I quite like it but JK Rowling must be the luckiest person on Earth.

ChadwithaK · 17/07/2018 21:55

As everyone else says. Read the books.

mrjoepike · 17/07/2018 21:56

you will be too busy trying to stay cool and dry to worry about hp.

JessicaJonesJacket · 17/07/2018 21:56

They had a fab marketing campaign but tbh neither the books nor the films are that good. The pacing is woeful and there isn't anything original in them.

However, I'm not their target market. DS loves them but he's 9.

BakedBeans47 · 17/07/2018 21:56

I read the first 4 books when they were all first published (long before I had kids) and enjoyed them, but I found the later ones dragged on and were a bit dull.

YoThePussy · 17/07/2018 21:56

Agree about the Hogwarts model at Warner Brothers in Watford. In a big room all on its own with mood lighting and music. Very impressive.

Rest of the tour can take or leave. Name of the game seems to be to rush people through and encourage them to spend lots of money.

Iced Butter Beer sounds interesting, the beer itself is foul.

WhirlAndTwirl · 17/07/2018 21:57

Read the books! Or listen to audio books narrated by Stephen Fry, that will change your mind. Never been to the theme park, but the films (although ok’ish) never truly told the story the same way as the books did. My kids loved the books, no other books quite captured their interest and imagination as much as Harry Potter.

thornyhousewife · 17/07/2018 21:58

I like HP, I think it's a nice epic story for kids. Phenomenal book sales and inspired little readers all around the world.

I do think the films are much better than the books though. The first book I thought was excellent, but the subsequent books felt really repetitive and like reading the same story over and over again.

I think the films are much better - they are really heavy Hollywood blockbusters.

dudsville · 17/07/2018 21:59

I'm with you op!

RedRedBluee · 17/07/2018 21:59

Yabvvvvvvu
Read the books.

FatBarry · 17/07/2018 21:59

Agree, the books are the way to go. No way do the films match up. I read them all as they cam out years ago and found them utterly enchanting.In my forties.

RedDwarves · 17/07/2018 22:00

The books are brilliant.

I like the films too, by default, but the books outshine the films a million to one.

But I am part of the "Harry Potter Generation", so I am always astounded when someone says they don't like it, particularly when they are the same age as me.

BakedBeans47 · 17/07/2018 22:01

Ha yes ploppy we were there last week and I felt a right sap welling up at it!

MustBeThursday · 17/07/2018 22:03

The films are not in the same league as the books. I've always been a big reader but I've never, before or since, been able to lose myself so completely into a world or been so excited for book releases (the last one was released when I was 19).

The music in the films is absolutely amazing though, and I do love watching them. I think there's so much background information in the books that just doesn't come through in the films (as well as the missing storylines SPEW anyone? ) that I can see why the films might not have the same draw if you hadn't read the books.

curious541 · 17/07/2018 22:03

Never read the books, seen only the first film
Have been to studio tour in London (as a film fan it was interesting but it could've been about anything for me - I went with mega fans)
Universal Orlando HP - it's amazing, completely immersive, hugely impressive, love the rides but again I don't appreciate it fully but it doesn't matter

NoParticularPattern · 17/07/2018 22:04

I’m seconding the advice to listen to the books!! I mean I’ve read and re-read them all millions of times but the audiobooks by Stephen Fry are works of art!!

I don’t have it in me to say that the films are a bit rubbish, because they’re HP and I just love it, but they’re not a patch on the books. You don’t get that complete immersion in the whole world illustrated by your own imagination with the films like you do the books. They're probably never going to go down in history as great works of literature next to Shakespeare or Jane Austen, but they are properly magical for me and so many others!

Thesearepearls · 17/07/2018 22:04

DD (20) was earnestly telling her older cousin “I had a magical Harry Potter childhood”.

NoParticularPattern · 17/07/2018 22:05

I’m also very jealous of your trip to Florida. Even though I don’t think the films are as good as the books I do imagine that it will be fantastic over there!!