Wondering what the thoughts were on here about JK Rowling and her books? Also, what you think of the films?

I have to hold my hands up and say I love them. Sheer adventure, escapism and while the writing falls down a bit at times, they're a phenomenon. The films are- as is typical- not as good as the books, but still more than passable entertainment.

It helps I think that I share the stories with the kids, but I know many proud and adult HP fans.

Thoughts?

I've never actually read the books, I vaguely intend to someday, but I've got so many other books to read.

I have seen the films, I thought they were quite enjoyable although I don't think much of the plotting - the bad guys always seem to come up ludicrously complicated plans to trap Harry when they could do something much simpler.

I used to love the books. Now...well, they're still good, but I've found the quality of entertainment decreasing. Maybe that's just me.

The movies have gotten worse. Well, the acting from the kids has. The adult supporters are all terrific. But the kids....I seriously think their acting was better in the first couple movies. It was painful to watch Goblet of Fire, really.

I like the books hate the movies. And actually i dont think its the acting thats gone down hill.. thats improved noticably across the board... its the directing.

I mean its not poro acting if oyu give people bad lines heh. Or you mangle the plot or flow. Or you just make whats happening plain old boring

If the directors were the kind that got involved in every little action of an actor then I'd blame them. I don't actually know if they are....so for now I shall continue blaming the cast; it's easier that way ;)

loved the books (well the 4 first ones to be honest, the fifth and sixth weren't as good, but that's another subject) but didn't really like the movies (only saw HP1 and 4)
too much stuff was taken out
movies are ok if you haven't read the books i suppose

well my problem with hte movies arent how the actors say things or move. its *what* they say more heh. and thats a director or writers fault. that and when i watch the plot i fall asleep heh. And alot of the lines make me wince and go "man if i ever actually met someone who said that I would have to try really hard not to punch them just to improve the human race"

I've read them all, enjoyable series. How can you not like book 6, I loved book 6. The early books were the ones I have the least amount of like for. I prefer 4/5/6.

The movies...well, like I've said before, I watch a movie for entertainment and not to nitpick and try to see what they did wrong or should've done or whatever. So with that being said, they aren't great but it's nice to see some of the stuff on film. I did think the 4th movie was pretty craptastic though.

hmm, I was quite disappointed with book 5 because the end of the previous one let me believe the apocalypse was coming
i was expecting war à la empire strikes back and all i got was a pouting harry potter playing the angry teenager
i was expecting big things and nothing happened
ok i'm too harsh, a lot happened, some of great consequence, but i don't know, book 5 was kind of anti climatic after book 4
guess i was expected too much, should reread it to be more objective

book 6 was the worst of the series as far as i'm concerned
still nothing happens...
it seemed to me there was no editing
maybe JKR has become too big i don't know, maybe her editors are afraid of her
anyway, the pace was just sluggish for the 3/4 of the book and then things rush too fast
HP thinking of kissing Ginny all the while with the final war coming on was just plain annoying. And not very credible also. Guys at that age want more than just a kiss, believe me. It's not even a french kiss, come on !
the book was undecided and it spoiled the fun for me: is it a book for children or adults? Some scenes are really naive and the next chapter, it's as if you're reading GRRM's red wedding...

[SPOILER]
plus i foretold the end a long time ago
there was no other way for D but to die
he was too much of a mentor, HP had to be on his own
let's hope not he'll not come back though, let's hope that's not a setup

oh, and I pray, I really pray Snape is not the villain he seems to be
the theme of redemption is very important in this series, it's a concept I very much value AND it's a book for children after all, so I hope S was ordered by D to do everything it takes no matter what, be it murdering D
it's just a personal wish/thought though...
[/SPOILER]

I was skeptical of this series and a hold-out, even though several co-workers urged me to give them a try. I finally did (right before the first film), and was stunned.

I think Rowling is an excellent story-teller, with very intriguing characters. The school year framework is brilliant, and allows a very structured tale. I've enjoyed every novel, my fave being Goblet of Fire.

I've also liked the movies. I think I'm okay with the parts being left out, because I'm not a big re-reader, and I've forgotten much of the fine detail of the novels, anyway. Fave movie, probably Chamber of Secrets.

Rowling has earned her millions, as far as I'm concerned, if for no other reason that getting this fast-food, fast entertainment video generation to actually pick up a book and read.

I've heard the rumor that the finale will be published on 07/07/07. How cool would that be, as the seventh novel?

Well, if not, I'll just look forward to the fifth film, due out next summer.

I read the first book when it came out, but didn't open up another one until this past November. Oddly enough, it was one of the movies ("HP and the Prisoner of Azkaban") that motivated me to go back and read the books, which I did in the following month. "Goblet of Fire" is by far my favorite book, with the graveyard scene being my single favorite part of the series. The 4th movie was a big disappointment. There was too much story and a limited amount of time, some of which they squandered on things like gratuitous dragon chase scenes. Oh well.

i will say part of the problem to my mind is this... books 1 and 2 are clearly kids books. Book 3 is a sort of transition book. Fine.

4-6 though are NOT kids books. Period. I dont care what you say. You could sell me on them being teen books. But thats it. I worked in barnes and nobles for 3 years. In the reference section. But the kids/teen section were the same floor. So im familiar with the sort of books there. Harry Potter 4-6 were about 5 times longer and many times more compelx then the next largest book in the kids section there. Not to mention you have people being killed. etc etc. Those are not kids books. I could be sold on them belonging in the teen section instead of the adult section maybe. But kids? never.

Now the movies. the first couple of movies were clearly *kids* movies. I didnt think them anything too special. But they were prob entertaining for the youngsters.

The problem with the movies though is that the later ones havent been able to mature themselves as the books did. the third and fourth movie are still very much in the "wow look its magic! Wow look at the neat things we can do and the cool graphics" mode. IE they are trying to jam a book which is *not* a kids book imo into a kids movie. And it just doesnt work and ends up coming out lame.

One of the biggest perception problems imo that series has is the "its a kids series" thing. Books 1 and 2.. and maybe even 3.. are definitely kids books.

But if you want your 7 your old daughter reading harry potter 5 and 6 I would question your parenting skills. Hell if your 7 year old daughter can *understand* whats happening in those books shes a gifted kid. The movies if they are going to be any good have to recognize this and change the way they approach the material in books 5 and 6 and make it more seriouse and adult. Otherwise the content of the movies wont jive with the content of the book

Love the books and find the films merely entertaining.

The main thing here is that the initial readers are aging as the characters do so its easier for them to continue enjoying the series as its released. Basically I would say that the books are meant for approximately the same reading group age as the characters are at the time.

The films are harder to really have an opinion on. Sorry for this one but...its like LotR. The books are just too large to fit correctly into a film. So as the books themselves grew larger in size, the films became more complicated in scripting. Guessing what to cut out/leave in/and change so that it would still work ok without being too long. I wouldn't blame it on the acting abilities of the cast at all. Just the situation that they're working in.

OsRavan is spot on
i agree books 1 and 2 (and 3 i would add) are kids books but that after them the content is definitely not for children
the problem i have is that JKR sometimes tries to still write for children
maybe it's just me but, in book 6 in particular, some scenes were patently childish whereas others were as dark as any GRRM's ones and that disturbed me a lot

i know the readers are supposed to have grown as HP has like Mich said, but I didn't find HP acted like a 15-16 teenager... more like a 12-13 (he's not 12, is he?)

mind you, i criticize but i love the books (especially the fourth which certainly deserved the hugo prize even if i would have preferred a Storm of Swords to win it) and I definitely read the 7th HP


to come back to the subject, I agree with Mich, the movies were entertaining but definitely not on par with the books
I'm impressed with Emma Watson (aka Hermione) though. She's playing great for a kid

Nuff said

Meh. I read the first four books in one sitting while I was bed-ridden with a chest infection for a few days. My mum lent them to me - so I didn't give JKR any cash. They were okay. Massively overhyped, I thought. And I never felt any inclination to read any other HP novels.

I did go to see the first film because a friend did creature effects for it. That was okay too. I woudn't mind watching the other films but Mr Isis would never let me have them on while he was in the house. I think that he may detest JKR more than any other person he hasn't met except for Tony Blair.

It's almost time for the final book/5th movie, and I'm looking forward to it. Not like I'm looking forward to RSuRS, but still. :P

I'm curious about what will happen with Harry and Voldemort, as well as where Snape's true loyalty lies. Hopefully Harry doesn't turn out to be a freaking horcrux (but he probably will).

Massive book sales ahoy!

I'm an avid reader and mid- to - high hardcore HP fan. I absolutely adore the books and find them really fascinating with all of the layering JK does, like all of the myths she's put together, intentionally or not, and all of the red herrings have me jumping up and down trying to solve the mystery of the book before I finish it.

HP is also one of the only books where I become emotionally involved to the point where I actually yell at the character, or spin my theories aloud.

I agree with OSRaven that the last several books are definitely NOT KIDS BOOKS; the amount of death, blood, screaming and angst is too high for the kiddies.

:ph43r: [SPOILER for #7] :ph43r:


I'm personally glad that Snape wasn't evil, I really enjoyed his character :lol:


:ph43r: [END SPOILER #7] :ph43r:



As for the movies, well, as per usual they are no where near the books, but they are good entertainment. I actually got hooked on the series after the second film. The first one I thought was okay, but the minute they brought out the Basilisk in CoS, all my mind could think was "F*CK YEAH".....or some variation of that, I was only 12 :P

Some of the lines in the movie make me cringe, but considering what they have to cram into a 2 hour movie, they did a good job :lol:

Movies are never as good as the books. The characters never look like they do in our imaginations (although the movie version seems to somehow replace that version), and it is unavoidable that there will be changes or omissions to our favorite parts of the books upon translation to film.