The recent phenomenon of Harry Potter isn't so unusual. An early case it the amazing popularity of Oz.
The books, the first ones, became popular, amazingly so. By some measures more popular than Potter. They are simple: children, a magical land rather a land like ours in many ways but with magic and magical creatures.
Then the movies started. Magic sells cinematically when the world is like the one we live in plus magic that matches what the camera can emulate. When the writer understands the overlap, he or she can write books that are cinematically rooted. Each feeds the other. Each feeds the juvenile imagination.
You should watch this. Because with distance, you can see how shallow that imagination is. The effects of today's movies are better, but they are no less believable to us than these were in their day. Let that soak in and you'll get pretty depressed about the current Potter phenomenon (and probably increase your appreciation for the "Rings" works).
Ted's Evaluation -- 2 of 3: Has some interesting elements.
The books, the first ones, became popular, amazingly so. By some measures more popular than Potter. They are simple: children, a magical land rather a land like ours in many ways but with magic and magical creatures.
Then the movies started. Magic sells cinematically when the world is like the one we live in plus magic that matches what the camera can emulate. When the writer understands the overlap, he or she can write books that are cinematically rooted. Each feeds the other. Each feeds the juvenile imagination.
You should watch this. Because with distance, you can see how shallow that imagination is. The effects of today's movies are better, but they are no less believable to us than these were in their day. Let that soak in and you'll get pretty depressed about the current Potter phenomenon (and probably increase your appreciation for the "Rings" works).
Ted's Evaluation -- 2 of 3: Has some interesting elements.