Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

[aberkowitz]

The reason I want to wait for all of the movies to be done, is that I had started watching the movies and hadn't read the books, and everyone that I have spoken to has usually said that the books are better than the movies. Thus they have always been a bit disappointed with the movies. I don't want to feel disappointed with the movies, I want to be able to enjoy them, then enjoy reading the books as I learn more details that I didn't get from the movies.

That's not a bad reason. What's funny though is that you're going to have to wait 2 years to see the rest of the movies, but once you pick up the books you will read through them in less than a month. They are that addicting.

 

[Fenix]

Actually, only a year and a half. I believe the next one comes out Nov. this year then the last one only 6-8 months later (May-Jul 2011). I can't remember off the top of my head.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I have tried really, really hard to like the HP movies. I've seen all six.

I'm thinking that I just might like the Harry Potter character better if someone were to tell me what makes his character so great?

My impression of the Harry Potter character:

1) Whimpy
2) Sissy
3) Average Mental skills
4) Can't kill any big bad guys
5) Not powerful
6) Nerdy-to-ugly looking

So if he is not a genius and not very powerful, then what is so great about his character?

 

[aberkowitz]

I have tried really, really hard to like the HP movies. I've seen all six.

I'm thinking that I just might like the Harry Potter character better if someone were to tell me what makes his character so great?

My impression of the Harry Potter character:

1) Whimpy
2) Sissy
3) Average Mental skills
4) Can't kill any big bad guys
5) Not powerful
6) Nerdy-to-ugly looking

So if he is not a genius and not very powerful, then what is so great about his character?

Again, gotta read the books to really understand the depth of the character. And to be honest, you really don't get the full view of Harry's character until after the 7th book. The strength of Rowling's writing really comes on in books 5-7... she builds out the characters so extensively.

I think the best way to describe Harry is a reluctant hero who was thrust into his situation by sheer luck. He's not all that special of a person (nor deep down does he want to be), and if you asked him what he thought of his celebrity, he would gladly trade all of it away to have his parents alive. Harry's greatness to others in his world is more ground in perception than in reality.

What makes Harry great as a literary character, is that he is deeply flawed (like all great literary characters are) and that his "special" quality, the ability to love and inspire others, is one that a common reader can attain.

As a reader, Harry reflects off the page like Holden Caufield, Gatsby, Tom Joad... insert your favorite flawed character.

I think he translates terribly to film because the movies are billed as action/adventure/fantasy films, and he is clearly not the standard type of hero character.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Is Harry Potter is "special" in that he is somehow protected and can't be killed by bad dude Voldermort?

 

[Fenix]

From watching the movies (as I have not yet read the books) what I understand of Harry is that:

Originally Voldemort could not touch him due to the protection that Harry's mother gave him when she sacrificed herself to save him (some sort of old powerful spell). However since the Goblet of Fire, when they used Harry's blood to bring back Voldemort, that protection is no longer there.

To me it seems that Harry is more powerful than the movie is showing us (as in the movies he does seem like a lucky little weenie) though I won't say that everything he does is skill.

It seems that he really could care less that people see him as a celebrity, as he just wants to be a regular kid, and enjoy time with his friends, etc.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

From watching the movies (as I have not yet read the books) what I understand of Harry is that:

Originally Voldemort could not touch him due to the protection that Harry's mother gave him when she sacrificed herself to save him (some sort of old powerful spell). However since the Goblet of Fire, when they used Harry's blood to bring back Voldemort, that protection is no longer there.

To me it seems that Harry is more powerful than the movie is showing us (as in the movies he does seem like a lucky little weenie) though I won't say that everything he does is skill.

It seems that he really could care less that people see him as a celebrity, as he just wants to be a regular kid, and enjoy time with his friends, etc.

Seems like I would probably like Harry Potter a lot more if I actually understood everything.

I don't read books either, but I cheated a little a read some stuff on the final book - Deathly Hallows. Seems like Vodermort kept on trying to kill Potter again and again, but just cannot succeed How does Potter do it?

 

[AVRat]

Keep reading!!