Where do we stand on Harry Potter?

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I will say that one of my problems with The Phantom Menace was the use of RW racial stereotypes as the basis for certain aliens. It wasn’t the only disappointment, but it was among the more problematic ones.

Kinda killed the franchise for my family.

It happens in literally the first sequence of The Phantom Menace (which had several such racist sequences). It baffles me that it got so little comment, then and now.

 

[Parmandur]

Part of the reason for Eddison’s Worm to be in popular decline is artistic decisions he made. Literary merits aside, it’s written in a style emulating older English prose, and that’s a “speedbump” for many readers. It’s simply not as immediately accessible as something written in contemporary prose.

I'd say a better example might be the Oz works of Baum: once extremely popular, now still k own, but way less in the public imagination than a hundred years ago.

Comparing Oz to Potter, given the current discourse, is thematically ironic.

 

[Parmandur]

It happens in literally the first sequence of The Phantom Menace (which had several such racist sequences). It baffles me that it got so little comment, then and now.

If this pasty homeschooled kid could notice how cringe that was at 14, I think anyone can.

 

[ValamirCleaver]

*To be honest, I was already a bit turned off by HP because I viewed it as a rip off of the Troll movie

As opposed to it being a rip off of the Unseen University of Terry Pratchett's Discworld which pre-dated it by over a decade?

The Worst Witch is an older story about a kid in a magical school that started back in 1974.

Thank you of reminding me of that, I recall the TV movie from the '80s.

Is there really a still compelling reason for wanting to still reference this specific property when there are multiple other media examples of a school for wizards that both pre- & post-date HP?

 

[Sacrosanct]

As opposed to it being a rip off of the Unseen University of Terry Pratchett's Discworld which pre-dated it by over a decade?

Well, Troll was literally about a kid named Harry Potter who had to find a kindly old wizard/witch to teach him magic. An older mentor who was in a close relationship with the big bad guy when they were younger and had to keep the magical world away from mortals, but are now enemies. Why? Because the older mentor's ex bestie wanted to bring the magic world over into the mortal world and take it over. :shrug

 

[Gradine]

Thank you of reminding me of that, I recall the TV movie from the '80s.

Is there really a still compelling reason for wanting to still reference this specific property when there are multiple other media examples of a school for wizards that both pre- & post-date HP?

There's a 4-season British show from just a few years ago on Netflix and starring Bella Ramsey. It's very good and I highly recommend it.

 

[ValamirCleaver]

There's a 4-season British show from just a few years ago on Netflix and starring Bella Ramsey.

The 1986 TV movie starred Fairuza Balk, Diana Rigg, Charlotte Rae & Tim Curry.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Well, Troll was literally about a kid named Harry Potter who had to find a kindly old wizard/witch to teach him magic. An older mentor who was in a close relationship with the big bad guy when they were younger and had to keep the magical world away from mortals, but are now enemies. Why? Because the older mentor's ex bestie wanted to bring the magic world over into the mortal world and take it over. :shrug

Another predecessor to Harry Potter was DC’s Tim Hunter, star of Neil Gaiman’s Books of Magic and other Vertigo imprint stories.

Warner Brothers Doesn’t Need to Worry about Saving Harry Potter - They Have Neil Gaiman

The Harry Potter Wizarding World is slowly crumbling. Warner Media has a replacement ready, though: Neil Gaiman's Books of Magic.

www.cbr.com

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

As a general rule, the world is made better by watching things that include Diana Rigg.

 

[HectorsNemesis]

If I was one of the richest people to ever exist, by year two, I would be out of ways to spend my money that weren't "well, I guess I'll make sure every child in my country is fed" or "what disease should I spend the rest of my life eradicating?" Instead, she spends her time gleefully attacking some of the most vulnerable people in society on social media.

It's completely baffling and horrifying.

Rowling has donated $100 million+ to charities among which include childrens poverty, AIDS, Dyslexia, MS charities