It’s incredible that enthusiastic spectators started to flood into movies for the premier of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone exactly 20 years ago, on 16 th November, 2001. We, who had been waiting impatiently for the new books and movies, already left our teenage years behind. But we will always remember Hagrid’s „harmless” pets, the secret detours of Harry and his friends at night under the invisibility cloak, the exciting moment of the Triwizard Tournament or the Battle of Hogwarts even if Gilderoy Lockhart himself casts his professional Memory Charm on us. On the occasion of the round anniversary let’s see the best twenty things we like about the Harry Potter septology and its movie adaptation!

1. The three leading characters, Daniel Radcliff, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson proved themselves to be great choices for the roles of Harry, Ron and Hermione. Moreover they constitute an unbeatable trio and the harmony is perfect among them so their common scenes become very powerful.

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2. The soundtrack – especially the works of John Williams – fits the magical world brilliantly and intensifies the effect of the visual elements very well. Who wouldn’t get goosebumps listening to the melodious tune that follows Harry during his first visit to the Diagon Alley or to the motivating music composed for the quidditch matches?

3. Speaking about quidditch, the favourite sport of wizards provided the readers with a collection of pretty exciting episodes. The film directors used the possibilities offered by broomstick riding with an outstanding sense and they cinematized the matches by composing very spectacular scenes.

Photo: Warner Bros.

4. Life in Hogwarts wouldn’t be the same without Hagrid’s bloodthirsty beasts! There is something whimsically funny in the devotion of Harry’s biggest friend when he cares for a dragon baby or a huge spider. And walking a Blast-Ended Skrewt is a worthy initiation into Real Wizard Life.

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5. Preparation or no preparation, growing up is complicated even without magic. Rowling leads her protagonists credibly from childhood to adulthood. She increased the weight of the challenges waiting for Harry, Ron and Hermione step by step, year by year.

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6. In case of some characters, the process of growing up is especially interesting. The most spectacular example is the miserable, forgetful Neville who didn’t understand what was he doing in Gryffindor, but he turned into a fearless hero in the end. And Ginny, the shy little girl living in the shadow of her brothers become a real tough young woman in a few school years.

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7. Dumbledore’s wisdom gives eternal lessons that stay with young readers for their whole life. For example, it doesn’t matter what somebody is born as, but what they become growing up. Or that we always have a choice and we control our destiny even if a prophecy weights on us already as a baby.

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8. Rowling isn’t afraid of portraying the pain of casualties – among other things that’s why Harry Potter stands out of typical children’s books. Important characters die fighting for the Light against Darkness, leaving a huge emptiness in the heart of their loved ones. So the story is much more complex than the victory of good and fall of evil as this triumph requires sacrifices.

Image: Pixabay, KELLEPICS

9. There are some spells that hide very important symbols and essential lessons in themselves. Reading about the Patronus Charm we remember again and again how strong motivation a powerful, happy memory can give us for our everyday life even if we can’t see a way out of a hopeless situation. 

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10. The functioning of the mirror of Erised is also very expressive. The mysterious magical object is the biggest challenge on the way leading to the philosopher’s stone. Reading backward the carving on it (Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi) we get the following: I show not your face but your heart’s desire. So the mirror points out the elemental tempting power of our desires and their ways for leading us astray.  

Photo: Warner Bros.

11. Love as the greatest power and most efficient weapon even during an encounter with the most perilous enemy makes the story very lifelike. Love and true friendship are the spells that can be cast even by us, muggles as well. 

Photo: Pixabay, Klimkin

12. Of course, Rowling isn’t only the master of transmitting lasting life lessons but the master of entertainment as well. She is very talented at giving names. Most names of characters and places given are playfully fanciful and often reveal something about their bearer.

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13. This is also true of the special meals and drinks consumed in the wizarding world. As a child probably everybody thought that snacking a Chocolate Frog, Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans or Fhizzing Whizbees is much cooler than eating M&M’s, Jaffa Cakes or Marshallow. And Gillywater, Butterbeer, Mulled Mead or Firewhisky makes grown up’s mouth water.

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14. The numerous mythological references also add a lot to the experience provided by Rowling’s world. Sphinxes, phoenixes, centaurs and Mandragoras gives a special and mystical ambiance to the story. 

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15. Residents of Hogwarts who aren’t flesh and blood also deserve their own place on the list. Unfortunately, ghosts didn’t have a very important emphatic role in the movies; they were mostly only transparent decoration to the story. Nevertheless, Nearly Headless Nick’s Deathday Party and the nastiness of Peeves were pretty memorable moments in the books. Moaning Myrtle’s character (portrayed by Shirley Henderson) couldn’t be ignored, just as the crucial scene with Helena Ravenclaw (Kelly Macdonald). Both actresses were outstanding ghost girls. 

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16. Reality as a source of inspiration is also an important part of masterful world building. The Harry Potter books mirror the tendencies of politics and media. We can see that fans almost gobble up their idol’s life, but there is also character assassination, mass manipulation and the striving to cover the minority propagating the truth with ridicule and make their situation impossible. 

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17. Character building is just as brilliant as world building. Grey characters are especially exciting. Naturally professor Severus Snape, master of Occlumency is the most striking example. Nobody would have read his mind or found out his motivations until the last chapters of the seventh book. But it is also interesting how we find out that the goodly professor Dumbledore isn’t a saint either and also made his mistakes. But all this makes him much more human. 

Photo: Warner Bros.

18. The serious topics are superbly equilibrated by light and funny elements. Every character has their own sense of humour typical to them. All of them are entertaining in their own way. Dumbledore’s jovial easiness, McGonagall’s stinging style when she gives a peace of her mind to people like Umbridge or Ron’s funny and absurd ideas which afterwards often proves themselves to be correct. 

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19. Of course uncrowned kings of pranks are Fred and George. They already won everybody’s sympathy when they only thought up practical jokes in their room and they annoyed the teachers in class. Ever since they sold their first Nosebleed Nougats and Headless Hats, we had been watching with excitement how Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes were coming along. The cherry on top though was their spectacular exit from Hogwarts.  

Photo: Warner Bros.

20. The invisibility cloak and the Marauder’s Map become essential in Harry’s and his friend’s secret nocturnal wandering very quickly. And we, the readers are happy about it because these magical items make their adventures much more exciting. My heart skipped a beat a few times during reading and I rooted for Harry and his friends to get out off an adventure without getting caught.

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A Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone has turned 20 years old! bejegyzés először Nora Halliwell-én jelent meg.