The Problem with Harry Potter
16th July, 2009 by Marcelo - 9 Comments
With the release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince in theaters, there’s finally a light at the end of the tunnel. Potter fans across the world, now unable to line up outside bookstores for the latest chapter, have taken to lining up at movie theaters in order to see how badly Hollywood has gutted the books to fit into a 2.5 hour run time. And soon they won’t even have that.
That’s not to say that I’m against people dressing up for premieres and expressing their fandom. I’ve been a devout Trekkie for decades, and when I was a swing dancer in LA, I’d always be wearing old vintage clothes. I’ve always appreciated the shared experience, the camaraderie, the anticipation of something new to love with my fellow fans. So before Potter fans around the world start sending me hate mail, let me be clear: this post is not about you.
This post is about how the Harry Potter books just aren’t that good. And while their massive popularity might have tons of positive effects (especially the way it’s engaged a whole generation of new readers to crack open some massive-ass books), there are also a few things I’m not too crazy about when it comes to Potter-mania.
