Should I watch the movies?

[wilma-bride]

OK, so I know there have been a few posts similar to this one over the last few days but we are due to visit Universal/IOA in August for 5 days. Although I am not a fan of HP in any way, shape or form, I am very excited by what I have seen and read so far about WWOHP.

HOWEVER, I have only seen one of the movies (the first one) and that was when it first came out about 7 years ago. Will I still 'get it' if I don't watch the movies or is it adviseable to watch them before our visit? I'm just wondering if my appreciation of the detail will be dumbed down by the fact that I cannot relate them to the actual detail in the films

 

[plutotek]

Based on what I've seen, if you get the first movie and go to the scenes pertaining to HP purchasing school supplies, then get any of the movies that have trips to Hogsmeade and look at those, you should be good to go for the majority of it.

 

[Dollyrar]

Read the books! They are a thousand times more enjoyable than the movies, and you don't have to put up with Daniel 'one look' Radcliffe's attempts to convey any sort of emotion for two hours each time!
Even if you don't have time to finish them before August, I'm sure they would help you to appreciate so many of the special details in TWWOHP.
I honestly though they would be very childish, but they grow very dark and mature as the series progresses, and are extremely well written.

 

[jheigl]

I know my post has nothing to do with Harry Potter, but as a general rule, I personally like to watch the movies before I go to a theme park. For instance, before our return trip a few years ago (it had been 10 years since we've been to Orlando before our trip a few years ago), I watched Jaws, Beetlejuice, ET, Jurassic Park, Back to the Future (all 3), etc. Last time I was there, I was a kid. On the return trip a few years ago, I was grown and more mature, so I thought I might be able to experience the attractions in a new way if I nknew the background story of them.

So, I am always a big fan of watching the movies to get a good feel of the idea and story of the attractions. But, I am NOT a Harry Potter fan!

 

[Claire-Bear]

We're planning to re-watch the films before we go. More to pay attention to items and scenery that appear within the films so that we don't miss or overlook anything in WWOHP. Full appreciation :

 

[Larrabe]

Read the books! They are a thousand times more enjoyable than the movies, and you don't have to put up with Daniel 'one look' Radcliffe's attempts to convey any sort of emotion for two hours each time!
Even if you don't have time to finish them before August, I'm sure they would help you to appreciate so many of the special details in TWWOHP.
I honestly though they would be very childish, but they grow very dark and mature as the series progresses, and are extremely well written.

Absolutely, the books are fantastic!! And if reading isn't your thing, maybe give the audio books a whirl. Jim Dale's voice is AMAZING!! He was also the narrator for Pushing Daisies, if you've ever seen the TV show, and even my non-reader son, (BIG TIME non-reader,) was thoroughly captivated by the story and his voice.

Either way, I hope you have a great trip!

 

[Disney Padawan]

I agree that the books are fantastic and very well written, however, I think most of the movies are really good and should be watched if you have the time. You'll have a greater appreciation for the place and also have an idea of what it will look like since the sets were designed by most of the same people. I think it will enhance your experience and make you a fan.

 

[snowbunny]

Read the books!

Seconded -- the books are so much superior to the films that followed. All of the magic is in the BOOKS!

 

[Albytaps]

I haven't been to WWOHP yet but from what I've seen/heard you'd probably be good to go after watching the first 4 movies. The more the better obviously but I'd still try to do the first couple.

 

[MaleficentandGoons]

The books are way better and i have a feeling there are some hidden treasures for us alone in the area.

 

[bumbershoot]

Read the books! They are a thousand times more enjoyable than the movies, and you don't have to put up with Daniel 'one look' Radcliffe's attempts to convey any sort of emotion for two hours each time!

Perhaps you didn't notice the "eyebrow method of acting" that "Hermione" seems to have studied? She's far more distracting to me than "Harry".



Read books...see movies....I imagine any of it would help.

 

[Dollyrar]

Perhaps you didn't notice the "eyebrow method of acting" that "Hermione" seems to have studied? She's far more distracting to me than "Harry".

Lol! I just know that i'm going to be in stitches next time I watch one of the movies and see her after reading that! Another thing ruined!

 

[schumigirl]

You will still get it if you`ve seen the first movie. It certainly wouldn`t do any harm to re watch it again as I think the first one does the castle a lot of justice.
The third book was my favourite but I didn`t like the film as much, things changed too much like Hagrids hut all of a sudden was in the middle of nowhere.
I agree with PP, the books are superior but it`s nice to see the castle in the films with all the same detail from the books.

 

[heatherwillmom]

My DH,DD, & DS all loved the books. They have made me go with them to see all of the movies. I only liked the first one. They told me that the books were much better than the movies. The acting definitely isn't that great. I've seen the actors from the movies being interviewed & was even more disappointed. They appear to have a much higher opinion of themselves than I do, especially Daniel Radcliff. He made the comment that he didn't like it when fans called his name out all of the time. I think he needs to remember if it wasn't for the HP movies, no-one would even know his name.

 

[U2_rocks!]

If you don't feel like getting into the books, watch movies 1 - 4 i.e. Sorceror's Stone, Chamber of Secrets, Prizoner of Azkaban and Goblet of Fire, in that order. They will teach you in a nutshell about Hogwarts Castle, Dumbledore, the main characters in the FJ ride, Room of Requirement, dementors, quiddich, the spiders in the Forbidden Forest, the crashed blue Weasley's flying car, the whole queue for Dragon Challenge (Triwizard Tournament), Hagrid's Hut, hippogriffs (and bowing to them), who the heck those Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students are, the frog choir, the Hogsmeade stores and restaurant/bar, etc. etc. There is so much detail that you will enjoy more if you understand what it is.