J. K. Rowling’s series about the young Harry Potter has cast a spell over people young and old. She got the first of her seven book series published back in September 1998 by Scholastic in the United States under the title, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone at the same time the second book was released in the UK. In July 2007 the final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was released selling 15 million copies in the first 24 hours. The series follows a young wizard by the name of Harry Potter as he attends Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and discovers a destiny he as an orphan never believed he had.
Rowling signed over the movie rights to Warner Bros. Studios in October 1998 and the fad grew, to more than just readers. November 2001, the first film hit the big screen featuring Daniel Radcliffe as the star, Harry Potter. Warner Bros. divided the final book into two films the first’s release date is November 2010, and the second finally commencing the series 10 years later in July 2011. In regard to whether or not the change from books to movies was good varies. Rowling’s novels are not small, so to fit them into one movie a lot had to be cut out. Me as a reader knew the details that were deemed unnecessary to include, however my siblings who just enjoy going to see the films and not reading the books often had several questions at the end of each movie. This proves to me that they books were not translated as well as they could be. Editing aside though I believe they stayed very true to Rowling’s original work. I’m actually happy that the final novel will be divided into two segments in hopes that the films will portray the book as well as it possibly can. Of course the pressure is now on for Warner Bros. since it is two movies a lot of the changes they got away with cannot necessarily be shrugged off by saying they didn’t have the time to include it.
This series also inspired video games and a theme park, to learn more about the new theme park visit the site here.
Here is the trailer for the final two Harry Potter Films:
Enjoy!
(I take no credit for the video or pictures in the post)
