So I'm watching all of the Harry Potter movies because I never have

[shortylickens]

I think it's because people loved the books, which are supposedly vastly, vastly better than the movies - so I've been told, I've never read them.

Which does absolutely nothing to explain why the movies are so god damn popular.

 

[coldmeat]

Which does absolutely nothing to explain why the movies are so god damn popular.

When people say they like a book, it's usually because they like the characters and the story, both of which are in the movie as well. It's also a lot easier to watch a 2 hour movie with friends than it is to read a 500 page book.

 

[nanette1985]

The books, especially the early ones, are very entertaining. The movies are sorta interesting if you've read the books, and we get to have endless boring discussions about how they screwed up making the movies.

I have no idea how anyone can watch the movies without having read the books.

 

[gorcorps]

Which does absolutely nothing to explain why the movies are so god damn popular.

It's the same reason why Star Wars video games do so well, despite the vast majority of them being quite bad. A popular IP will do well across several media.

 

[Leros]

The books, especially the early ones, are very entertaining. The movies are sorta interesting if you've read the books, and we get to have endless boring discussions about how they screwed up making the movies.

I have no idea how anyone can watch the movies without having read the books.

Another plus for the books is that they are very easy to read with short chapters. It very easy to get stuck in the "one more chapter" mode.

With other books, taking up another chapter can be a significant time investment (20+ minutes). Harry Potter is very easy to read.

 

[shortylickens]

It's the same reason why Star Wars video games do so well, despite the vast majority of them being quite bad. A popular IP will do well across several media.

That actually makes sense.
Though I disagree about Star Wars. Only a couple of the games are remotely bad.
Star Trek makes all the crappy games.

 

[gorcorps]

That actually makes sense.
Though I disagree about Star Wars. Only a couple of the games are remotely bad.
Star Trek makes all the crappy games.

I was exaggerating with the "vast majority" part, but there were quite a few bad Star Wars games. I remember nearly every tie in with the specific prequel being bad, pod racing games, Galaxies, some strategy game, a mortal kombat style fighting game, and more. Yes they've had some decent ones too, but a lot of bad ones.

 

[gorcorps]

Also:

Yeah, that 4th movie kind of sucked too. Though it ended better than expected and the rest may be better because of it. I'm not exactly looking forward to the next one still.

 

[RedCOMET]

I enjoyed reading books. I thought the first few books were rather simple in terms of story and plot. As the series matured, the level of plot complexity grew. They had subplots, and this and that added depth to the books. You didn't really have that with HP-1.

The moves were a good adaptation considering the source material. However, the later movies do gloss over something in order to have a "reasonable" running time.

OP, not trying to ruin anything for you, but perhaps you will feel the same way after watching Half Blood Prince.. that movie shoudl have been made into two parts. If you read the books, which I suggest you do, you'll understand why i say Half blood Prince shoudl have been made into two films.

 

[Mr. Pedantic]

I, too, recently watched all 6 out on blu-ray, because I never have before. All my male friends thought I was crazy. Most of my female friends thought I was 'cute'.

But I have to say, the movies get better as they go along. The actors get better at acting, and the movies seem a lot darker and more mature. I thought everything was too flashy and empty in the first movie, but from about the 3rd onwards they seemed a lot better and more suited to an older teen/adult audience.

 

[TridenT]

If you never read the books then they might be OK.

I think the first one was the best of the series. It stayed pretty true to the story and general theme. The second one was OK, but after that I was annoyed. They completely changed things for the worse on many levels.

Which does absolutely nothing to explain why the movies are so god damn popular.

It's because kids who read the books go to see the movies. I don't know why they still do it.

 

[Leros]

The Harry Potter movies and the LOTR movies are the only movies that I can watch over and over again. Whatever that is worth.

Usually I get bored watching a movie a second time.

 

[TridenT]

The Harry Potter movies and the LOTR movies are the only movies that I can watch over and over again. Whatever that is worth.

Usually I get bored watching a movie a second time.

I liked the LOTR movies quite a bit, but I never read the books... so that's probably why.

 

[ProfJohn]

I saw the last one in the movie theater for a midnight movie...

all the little girls have grown up since the books first came out. Some hot college aged chicks dressed up in their school girls outfits... very distracting.

 

[Leros]

I liked the LOTR movies quite a bit, but I never read the books... so that's probably why.

The books certainly are tough to get through. I read the first one and I still have the other two sitting on my bookshelf unread.

I think the thing that draws me into LOTR is Middle Earth. The books give you some more insight into the world, which is nice. But they sure are tough to get through.

I prefer books on the level of Harry Potter. Easy to read, short chapters, very engaging.

 

[nanette1985]

The books certainly are tough to get through. I read the first one and I still have the other two sitting on my bookshelf unread.

I think the thing that draws me into LOTR is Middle Earth. The books give you some more insight into the world, which is nice. But they sure are tough to get through.

I prefer books on the level of Harry Potter. Easy to read, short chapters, very engaging.

I loved the LOTR books when I first read them as a teenager. I reread them last summer while I was sick, and wow did I skim a lot. Still good in many ways, but don't hold up nearly as well as I expected.

 

[Homerboy]

My kid watches one of the movies nearly every week (and in turn I do too passively).
He's currently reading through all the books (on Order of the Phoenix right now). I've read through them all (literally all, even the small add-ons like Beatle the Bard, Quidditch through the Ages etc). We've seen the last few movies at midnight showings.

I honestly can say I love the HP series. I'm a 36 year old, red-blooded male, and I love Harry Potter.

 

[Homerboy]

I saw the last one in the movie theater for a midnight movie...

all the little girls have grown up since the books first came out. Some hot college aged chicks dressed up in their school girls outfits... very distracting.

LOL so true.

 

[bignateyk]

This is kind of how I'm feeling. I'm in the middle of the 4th one and it's pretty awful. I mean... Hermione crying because Ron didn't ask her to the ball? Fuck you... go back to the god damned fireballs and dragons. And then that creepy ass girl ghost trying to catch a peak at Harry's wand in the tub? Fuck this garbage. Was any of this shit in the books?

It was written by a woman, what the hell do you expect?

 

[PingSpike]

I would assume so. The story and effects seem to be sound across the board, and the kids are getting better at acting with each movie. I can almost stand that little blond prick that plays Malfoy or w/e his name is. Not sure why he in particular has always seemed off to me but he has.

I didn't think you were suppose to like him...his character is a prick right? In that respect, the actor is doing a good job. According to wife Harry eventually pities him rather than hates him and as the movies have gone on I end up feeling the same way about him.

 

[Homerboy]

The books, especially the early ones, are very entertaining. The movies are sorta interesting if you've read the books, and we get to have endless boring discussions about how they screwed up making the movies.

I have no idea how anyone can watch the movies without having read the books.

It's funny as I saw the movies (except DH1) before reading the books, and I think I liked it this way better. I watched the movies along with my son (I probably never would have watched them if he wasn't around). I generally liked them and found them entertaining.

Knowing that the books had to have "more" to them than the movies, I started reading them. It was nice to go back and get all the back-stories, missing pieces etc, but have faces and scenery and a backdrop to the story itself. It was like getting to see a "super-extended" version of the movie in my mind at that point. It was interesting too to then go back and watch the movies again and see all the little things that I glossed over that made more sense to me now that I had read the FULL story in the book.

Now that my son is reading the books, he's seeing the same "advantage" of seeing the movies, then reading, then revisiting the movies.

I will admit I really look forward to DH2 this summer. It should be pretty sweet action from start to finish.

 

[purbeast0]

i watched like 1/3 of the first one when it came to dvd and thought it was terrible so i turned it off. that is all i know of harry potter.

 

[Homerboy]

I didn't think you were suppose to like him...his character is a prick right? In that respect, the actor is doing a good job. According to wife Harry eventually pities him rather than hates him and as the movies have gone on I end up feeling the same way about him.

Agreed to this.
Towards the end with Malfoy

Spoiler

you see he is nothing more than a product of his surroundings and wants to get out... but is trapped.

 

[FDF12389]

Never seen a single one, I've always thought i would catch up on them, but reading this thread, how many damn movies do they have now?

 

[ProfJohn]

I loved the LOTR books when I first read them as a teenager. I reread them last summer while I was sick, and wow did I skim a lot. Still good in many ways, but don't hold up nearly as well as I expected.

I couldn't even finish the first half of the first book.

The books drag a LOT. Kind of wish that someone would produce an edited version that just included events from the movie.