What HP Movies should I watch in advance of going to Diagon Alley?

[BadgerGirl84]

We are going to Diagon Alley in September. It wasn't our plan to be there within 2 months of opening, but it just worked out that way.

Before we visited Hogwartz at IOA 3 years ago, DH and I watched the entire HP movie series. It made visiting the land really fun.

Which of the movies would be best to re-watch to "prepare" for going to Diagon Alley? Looking for ones where the bank, Leaky Cauldron, etc. are featured. I'm not a die-hard HP fan, so I don't really feel like watching all the movies again, but it would be fun to re watch one or two.

 

[ZiPaD3doDAH]

Um, I'll say the last movie. HP Deathly Hallows Pt 2

In the beginning of the film, they go back to Diagon Alley to enter the Gringotts bank (which will be at the new land with a ride inside).

 

[Tiggr88]

All of them!!

Seriously, I would think the first one if you are chooising one. Watching Harry's amazement at entering the Leaky Cauldron and then Diagon Alley plus his first trip on the Hogwart's Express would put me in the best frame of mind to experience DA for the first time.

 

[jlay68]

Sorcerer's Stone shows Diagon Alley and Gringott's bank.
Chamber of Secrets has Diagon Alley and Knockturn Alley.
Prisoner of Azkaban shows The Leaky Cauldron.
Half-Blood Prince has Knockturn Alley/Vanishing cabinet.
Deathly Hallows Part II has all the Gringott's escape stuff.

 

[cigar95]

If you want to be familiar with Diagon Alley, READ the first hundred pages or so of books 1-3. You will understand the place much better from the books than you ever will from the movies.

There's also a section in the first part of book six that gives you a bit more insight on Knockturn Alley. Also worth a read. (But to understand book six, you'll need to be familiar with the first five.)

Heck, just start reading now and don't stop until you get to page 4133 and you'll be just fine. You'll also be glad you read it all, and you'll probably want to read it again.

 

[Best Aunt]

To expand on what Jaylay68 said, if you just want to see the Diagon Alley scenes, here's where they are (I think, somebody correct me if I'm wrong):

SPOILER ALERT - if you haven't seen the films yet, this contains spoilers.

Sorcerer's Stone shows Diagon Alley and Gringott's bank. It's in the first 1/3 of the film. You have to get past the stuff where Harry is living with his Aunt and Uncle. Then Hagrid comes for him and they go to Diagon Alley. Once Harry gets on the Hogwarts Express, I think that's the end of the Diagon Alley scenes.

Chamber of Secrets: Again, in the first 1/3 of the movie. You have to get past the stuff where Harry is home. Then he goes to Ron's house. The family goes to Diagon Alley. There are scenes of Knockturn Alley. Once Harry and Ron take off for Hogwarts, that's the end of the Diagon Alley scenes.

Prisoner of Azkaban shows The Leaky Cauldron. Same in this one. You have to get past the scenes of Harry at home. You see the Night Bus in this one, then the Leaky Cauldron. Once the kids take off for Hogwarts, that's it.

Half-Blood Prince has Knockturn Alley/Vanishing cabinet. I think this is the one where Harry and Dumbledore go off on an "errand" in the beginning of the film, then Dumbledore takes Harry to Ron's house. Harry, Ron and Hermione follow Draco as he heads to Knockturn Alley.

Deathly Hallows Part II has all the Gringott's escape stuff. I'm drawing a blank on where in the film this occurs. Obviously before Harry, Ron & Hermione go to Hoggsmeade.

 

[EvangelineG]

Heck, just start reading now and don't stop until you get to page 4133 and you'll be just fine. You'll also be glad you read it all, and you'll probably want to read it again.

This!

You are missing out if you don't read the books!

 

[BrytEydBelle]

If you want to be familiar with Diagon Alley, READ the first hundred pages or so of books 1-3. You will understand the place much better from the books than you ever will from the movies. There's also a section in the first part of book six that gives you a bit more insight on Knockturn Alley. Also worth a read. (But to understand book six, you'll need to be familiar with the first five.) Heck, just start reading now and don't stop until you get to page 4133 and you'll be just fine. You'll also be glad you read it all, and you'll probably want to read it again.

This is my plan! The movies are good but the books are amazing.

 

[csmith041177]

My plan is definately to re-read all of the books and watch all of the movies!

 

[BadgerGirl84]

Thanks for all the suggestions--you all are awesome!

 

[fairyprincess88]

As others have said the best thing to do is read the books.

While I do love the movies, if you really want to know Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade for that matter then it's the books you want.

Also, as a Potter-nerd I have to say it irritates me to know end when people use the films as "research material" or something similar. It's a unreasonable response to be irritated by that I know, but I can't help it. The movies are fun but are by no means canon accurate at times and don't even begin to touch on the true magic described in the books.

 

[Seeker615]

I would definitely read the first two at the very least. Book 1 has a lot of info on Diagon Alley.

Of course the last book will totally explain what is going on in the Gringotts ride.

Read them all and enjoy. They are awesome!

 

[BadgerGirl84]

I'm catching Harry Potter fever again!

I watched the first movie again last night (have only seen each one once and that was in 2011 before I went to USF on my honeymoon) and it was SO FUN. I loved seeing the look on Harry's face when he saw Diagon Alley, Hogwartz and the train for the first time. I'm definitely going to watch ALL the movies again because it made going to Hogsmeade so fun with all those movies fresh in my mind.

I'm usually not into any kind of fantasy type fiction, but I read the first book forever ago (as a teen)...I think I might take a spin at the second book to see how I like it.

 

[Karkor]

Have to agree with the others. READ the books. The films in my opinion do not do the books justice in any way! That said enjoyed last film split into 2.

Even though I am 34 2mor I still love HP.. The books are the best books I have ever read. I started them about 12 years ago when I was going thru a bad stage. They take you into another world.

Yea the films are visual so you get a great idea, but JK is awesome at explaining small detail and brings the world to life perfectly.

I do sometimes think some 'not yourself' forget that these films are only here because she wrote the books. The films are ok but man the books are special
I have not had chance to get back to ORlando and see WWOHP yet. But from what I have seen online it looks epic. I am VERY pleased she is SO strict on how they do stuff at Uni. This is the thing that makes it authetic to us book fans.

Yea I am sure shops are tiny, but that is what makes it real for me
So pleased Uni were willing for her to have a lot of control. Think that is why Disney did not get it.

 

[Best Aunt]

I've read all the HP books. I've seen all the HP movies. I'm interested in how Diagon Alley compares to what is shown in the films, not how Diagon Alley compares to what is in the books. I'm not saying the movies are superior to the books; I'm just personally interested in the visual comparison, particularly because I've seen a presentation by MinaLima and I'm eager to see their concepts in person.

I realize that puts me in the minority on this thread of HP book lovers.

 

[bumbershoot]

I'm usually not into any kind of fantasy type fiction, but I read the first book forever ago (as a teen)...I think I might take a spin at the second book to see how I like it.

Very nice. You are going to respond to the books in a totally different way than you did as a teen, because, as I see in your signature, you have a baby. To read the books and really think about the sacrifices all of the parents (many of them dead or will be dead) make for their children, or for this cause when all they really want to do is hide, etc, is truly moving. And at the end when one couple does just leave with their child, it's still OK, because they are leaving behind a really bad cause.

Anyway, when you immerse yourself in the stories, and then, yes, see the movies to have the visual (though when I'm reading the later stories I start to tear up well before I get to the sad parts, while in the movies for those same parts it's not as powerful for some reason), and you think about you in that situation, with a year old as I think your signature says you have...wow. Totally different response.

Yea I am sure shops are tiny, but that is what makes it real for me

Aha, but if you watch the movies when they are in, say, the bookstore, it's not actually that cramped for any individual person. Plus, these are actors...they are, in general, small. Put a bunch of more typical people in that same set and it would be more cramped. They could 100% have made it a bit more magical, by having it seem small but BE bigger. (then again, JK really doesn't seem to like people of size; it's her one IMO failing, but a pretty icky failing!)

 

[Karkor]

Aha, but if you watch the movies when they are in, say, the bookstore, it's not actually that cramped for any individual person. Plus, these are actors...they are, in general, small. Put a bunch of more typical people in that same set and it would be more cramped. They could 100% have made it a bit more magical, by having it seem small but BE bigger. (then again, JK really doesn't seem to like people of size; it's her one IMO failing, but a pretty icky failing!)[/QUOTE]

Fair point that. I guess they could have made the outside tiny but once in it could be bigger. I hear she was VERY strict though on how they did it.
It is poss they made slightly bigger for film due to space needed for filming. I am probably grasping at straws lol.

She seems a bit of a stickler for healthy food and what and body size. Yet I am sure butter beer is loaded with cals. Also I know fish and chips on the menu and that is fattening
That said anyone else notice fish and chips in USA not like the UK lol. in America always seems to be about 3 strips of fish and the chips nothing like ours.
Love my fish and chips.

 

[DisneyFreak06]

My plan is definately to re-read all of the books and watch all of the movies!

Me too! I have about 3 weeks or so... good thing I'm a fast reader (and I've read the books about a dozen times or so! )

 

[Karkor]

I wish I could read the books for the first time again!! Nothing like reading it first time round.. But still enjoy re reading.
I will read them again before I go next year.

 

[ChristaDeVil]

Just finished re-reading last night. Now to start the movies!!! I haven't seen the last 3, so this will be fun!!!