Update (11/25): I have seen Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, and my review is mixed. I liked it because it was a Harry Potter movie, but I was disappointed that certain scenes from the book were left out and scenes not in the book were added. Typical books vs. movies stuff. I will write an extensive review in a day or two. (See my Book 6 theories post.)

After the movie I bought a copy of The Gospel According to Harry Potter: Spirituality in the Stories of the World's Most Famous Seeker, by Connie Neal. I'm sure it will be a fascinating read, just like Looking for God in Harry Potter. I'll also have a thing or two to say to Christian readers who object to my blogging (and reading) about Harry Potter. Stay tuned.

Update (11/24): The Book of Shadows: "Harry Potter is bad news amongst some Christians. The series has been accused of embroiling innocent young things in occultism, Satanism and witchcraft. Calls have been made to ban and burn the books, and sometimes, the author herself."

Merc's Place: "[T]o all you future movie directors and producers out there, don't worry about how long the movie is - just concentrate on making a great film. If it's three hours long, then it's three hours long. No one's going to complain if it's worth it."
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Greetings, Potterheads!

On Friday I'm dragging my mother with me to see Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

Mommie Dearest is the sort of person who can watch sequels without having seen the previous movies. For example, she saw Star Trek: Nemesis with me but hadn't viewed one scene of Generations, First Contact, or Insurrection, or even one episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, even after I strenuously advised her to do so. Absolutely morbid, isn't it? I have the first three Harry Potter movies on DVD, but has she watched one? Not even. Oh, well. As long as she enjoys herself…

Continue reading Great Big Goblet of Fire Review Round-up

Townhall.com has published my article/review, Harry Potter and the Charmed Christians. (The typo in "HogwartsProfessor.com" will be fixed.) I didn't know it would be up so soon (last night), so I'll spend the next hour or so this morning filling this post with my theories about the series, and links to articles and other resources.

If you're a Christian and object to reading Harry Potter, please refrain from commenting. This thread is for Christians and non-Christians who have read the books. If you're compelled to preach and just can't hold it in, please e-mail me.

I'll briefly discuss some of my views on Book 6. They could fill this whole blog, but I'll try to contain them. Those who haven't read the series, including Book 6, or haven't seen the movies will have no idea what I'm talking about. The post is written mainly to fans, so I won't go into detail explaining certain things.

First, the title of the book should tip you off as to who/what is most important now that we're nearing the end of the series. We know the Half-Blood Prince is Professor Severus Snape. So through most of the book, Harry was emulating a man he despised, a man who helped him excel (indirectly) in potions class, a class normally unpleasant for Harry. Snape is important in this book for so many reasons, and one of them is the fact that he killed the beloved headmaster of Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore.

Continue reading Harry Potter Resources and Theories

Harry Potter has to be the most loved, hated, revered, frustrated and misunderstood boy who ever lived.

When he was a baby, his parents were killed by a really bad man who also tried to kill him. As a result, Harry has a wicked (pardon the pun) lightning bolt-shaped scar on his forehead. The Dursleys, the aunt and uncle who raised Harry, treat him like a red-headed stepchild. On top of that, his beloved, formerly imprisoned godfather and his protector-headmaster were both killed. Right in front of him. A rather ordinary teenaged boy who happens to be an orphaned wizard, Harry is believed to be the “Chosen One” destined to kill or be killed by the man who hunts him, the evil Lord What’s-his-name.

Can’t the kid just go to his prom and worry about pimples, algebra, and the SATs like other 16-year-olds?

Harry Potter, with the world on his shoulders, has mesmerized the globe. The first six books of British author J.K. Rowling’s seven-book series – Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (Sorcerer’s Stone for us illiterate Americans), Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince – have been translated into 63 languages and have sold more than 300 million copies worldwide.

Continue reading Harry Potter and the Charmed Christians I