Harry Potter and the Many Fans

[GoTeamGirl]

I love Harry Potter, the books, the movies...everything. Interestingly enough when I read the first Harry Potter book I didn't like it at all until the end, which is the only reason I decided to read the second book. Chamber of Secrets was much better, and I've loved Harry Potter ever since.

The last book was amazing. I hear they're going to do the last movie in two parts, in which case it should be closer to the book than the others, which is great.

[TransWarpDrive]

I've seen three of the movies, and I've got two of them on DVD. I've been meaning to get around to reading the books, but I've got a lot of other books I'd also like to read. I'm not really big on fantasy, but the "Harry Potter" stuff I find fascinating.

[jeriddian]

I have all five Harry Potter movies as well, enjoyed the heck out of them, even though I know they are supposed to be significant departures ijn many ways form the books themselves ( I haven't read them myself). The books are done. Only three movies to go.

[GoTeamGirl]

I found this a few days ago (but it's older than that). J.K. Rowling wrote a two-page "prequel" to Harry Potter. It can be found here and focuses on James Potter and Sirius Black (two characters whom I've always wondered about). It can be read here:
http://www.mugglenet.com/app/news/full_story/1684

Quite funny.

[Fireand'chutes77]

Ironically, our family just finished listening to the 7th book-on-CD while driving home from Canada.

Mr. Jim Dale is absolutely amazing; our entire family loves how he gives character to all the people in the story. These books-on-tape (which have now become books-on-CD) are wonderful for the long, 14-hour-each-way drive to Canada and back. A single book lasts the entire trip, both ways, and my sister and I never squabble over what to listen to on the radio because it's always, automatically, "Harry Potter."

My mom, my sister, and I have all read the books; my dad doesn't have time to read them, but he catches up during our drives to Canada and the beach.

Our family has also seen all the movies, and we've come to the consensus that they're never as good as the books - although if they get the special effects right, the 7th movie will be very interesting....

[TransWarpDrive]

Ironically, our family just finished listening to the 7th book-on-CD while driving home from Canada.

Mr. Jim Dale is absolutely amazing; our entire family loves how he gives character to all the people in the story. These books-on-tape (which have now become books-on-CD) are wonderful for the long, 14-hour-each-way drive to Canada and back. A single book lasts the entire trip, both ways, and my sister and I never squabble over what to listen to on the radio because it's always, automatically, "Harry Potter."

My mom, my sister, and I have all read the books; my dad doesn't have time to read them, but he catches up during our drives to Canada and the beach.

Our family has also seen all the movies, and we've come to the consensus that they're never as good as the books - although if they get the special effects right, the 7th movie will be very interesting....

Yes, a good actor can really make an audiobook "come to life" the way you describe it, 'chutes.
I've heard a number of people sing the praises of audiobooks on long car trips. It gives you something to listen to instead of music, and helps make the time go by faster. I myself have listened to a few audiobooks while driving long distances. One year, I listened to a couple of "Star Trek" audiobooks about Captain Sulu as commander of the U.S.S. Excelsior (he commanded that ship in "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country"). One was titled "Cacophony," and told how Capt. Sulu had to stop a reckless broadcaster from destroying the ecosystem of his homeworld with his audio/radio broadcasts; IIRC, the other, "Transformations," dealt with a malevolent alien spirit who possessed other people's bodies. Both starred George Takei as Capt. Sulu; and were well-done, interesting stories. I have another Capt. Sulu story on audiocassette somewhere; I'll have to dig it out and play it some time.
Of course, every December, I listen to Patrick Stewart's one-man reading of Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" - marvelous acting, there!

[GoTeamGirl]

I've only got one Harry Potter audio-book, Goblet of Fire, and I thought it was very good.

The movies usually are never as good as the books for any movie/book combination. Order of the Phoenix left a lot out, and I was upset by the fact that the whole Kreacher and Sirius plotline was left out. My favorite of the Harry Potter movies was probably Prisoner of Azkaban, although the Shrieking Shack scene was very short.

The only movie I've ever thought better than the book was "Prince Caspian" of the Narnia series, but that is another fandom entirely...

I did hear that the 7th Harry Potter book is being split into two movies. That should be interesting...

[jeriddian]

I've only got one Harry Potter audio-book, Goblet of Fire, and I thought it was very good.

The movies usually are never as good as the books for any movie/book combination. Order of the Phoenix left a lot out, and I was upset by the fact that the whole Kreacher and Sirius plotline was left out. My favorite of the Harry Potter movies was probably Prisoner of Azkaban, although the Shrieking Shack scene was very short.

The only movie I've ever thought better than the book was "Prince Caspian" of the Narnia series, but that is another fandom entirely...

I did hear that the 7th Harry Potter book is being split into two movies. That should be interesting...

You are correct in that. The last book will be done in two separate movies.

[GoTeamGirl]

I hope they don't wait to release the two movies too far apart. I wonder if they'll release them as one DVD or two separate ones.

As for now, I can't wait for Half Blood Prince. It wasn't my favorite book, but there are some pretty interesting scenes and a lot on Voldemort.

[TransWarpDrive]

I hope they don't wait to release the two movies too far apart. I wonder if they'll release them as one DVD or two separate ones.

That's an interesting point you've made there, GTG. If their marketing people are smart, they'll release both films on DVD in one package shortly after the second part hits the cinemas. By then, the fans will have seen both parts and want to see the whole story again and again on home video.
But - hey, that's only my opinion...
We'll just have to wait and see what they do.