By Jenni Cooper
What makes a book so much better than a movie? What can a book convey in its pages that a movie cannot convey? And yet, why is it so much easier to sit in front of a screen than it is to focus on a book? Where do you stand in the book series turned to movie series debate? Are you team-books or team-movies?
I was talking with a friend, we’ll call her Rach, about the Harry Potter series recently, and she told me she hated Harry Potter. I asked her why she felt this way, and she didn’t really have a valid reason. She just mentioned something about it being for little kids. I asked her if she had read the series or even watched the movies, and she answered no to both. Now, as much as I am team-books when it comes to Harry Potter, I still think the movies are a good time. So, I challenged her to watch all 8 Harry Potter movies with me in one sitting. If she still didn’t like Harry Potter after all that, I promised I would buy her dinner. But, if she did end up liking them, she would have to eat her words and promise to read the books.
Yesterday we took on that challenge of watching all 8 Harry Potter films in one day, and here is how it went:
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Movie Started: 7:08 a.m.
Rach’s Reactions: “That professor is a cat?”
“It’s a scar, not a birthmark??”
“He’s filthy rich! How did he make all that money, he’s 11 years old!”
About Snape: “Why does he talk like that?”
Movie Ended: 9:33 a.m.
Rach’s End Rating: 3.5/5
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Movie Started: 9:45 a.m.
Rach’s Reactions: About Fred and George: “Wait Ron’s brothers are those two? I thought they were all just conveniently red-headed friends.”
About Lucious: “Alright, well HE’S cute.”
About Lockhart: “So what’s up with this artist guy?”
“Is the Phoenix crying? That’s so emotional.”
“If I see someone hit or hurt Dobby one more time I will throw hands.”
About Hermione and Ron: “Do they like each other?”
Movie Ended: 12:18 p.m.
Rach’s End Rating: 4/5
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Movie Started: 12:26 p.m.
Rach’s Reactions: “She’s blowing up like that one blueberry girl from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory!”
About Trelawney: “Is she a hippie wizard?”
About Snape: “I still just can’t believe he talks like that.”
“This is just a testosterone battle.”
“He’s a rat?? I don’t know how many more plot twists I can handle.”
Movie ended: 2:38 p.m.
Rach’s End Rating: 3/5
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Movie Started: 2:52 p.m.
Rach’s Reactions: “Oh no, all the enchanted tents are dead.”
“IT’S EDWARD CULLEN!”
“Neville’s getting a little cute.”
“It was that mad eye guy!”
“Oh, Hermione is with that Viking dude? Am I supposed to think he’s cute?”
“What’s Doctor Who up to?”
About Voldemort: “So this is what he truly looks like? No nose?”
Movie Ended: 5:20 p.m.
Rach’s End Rating: 4/5
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Movie Started: 5:37 p.m.
Rach’s Reactions: “Dang, Dudley’s a gangster.”
“She’s an idiot! Wait, what’s her name? Dolores? Ugh! Dolores! Every Dolores I’ve met is the worst.”
“Are those dinosaurs?? And a carriage??”
“I would date Neville. He would treat me right.”
“I can see how the twins could be attractive, I get the hype.”
About Sirius: “Oh. Oh no. I am sad now.”
“I could vibe with Kreacher tbh.”
Movie Ended: 7:45 p.m.
Rach’s End Rating: 3/5
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Movie Started: 8:43 p.m.
Rach’s Reactions: “Draco is such a wimp!”
About Draco: “He’s not as cute as his dad, but he’s still got some stuff going for him.”
“Stop the crying in this movie, I can’t handle it. I’ve already been through so much today.”
About Neville: “Look at my husband working!”
“Did Malfoy unbreakable vow to kill Harry Potter?”
“It’s not easy being Weasley.”
“Why do I feel like something bad happens when they touch the water?”
“This is a good plot.” 5 seconds later, when a hand reaches out of the water to grab Harry: “I changed my mind.”
Movie Ended: 11:05 p.m.
Rach’s End Rating: 5/5
This is unfortunately where our marathon ended. Rach couldn’t find her DVD player remote, and all the other DVDs had been auto-playing up until that point. Apparently, the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 and Part 2 DVDs do not deserve auto-play. But do not worry, I will be making sure she finishes the series. And in case you’re still reading and wondering, I think she’s secretly really enjoying them. I’ve loved this series for so long I’ve forgotten what it feels like to be surprised by everything that happens, so it was really fun to be there with someone who’s learning everything for the first time. And eventually, I really hope I can get her to cave and start reading the series because let’s face it: I’m on team-books. A book really can say so much more than a movie could ever hope to.
And if you haven’t read the Harry Potter series, or even watched the Harry Potter series, what are you waiting for?