The trailer was released a few days ago, what do people make of this? I wasn’t surprised that the Fantastic Beasts series took a dramatic downward slope, quite apart from the Rowling, Depp and Miller controversies they seemed wrong-headed in both conception and execution. A movie, possibly a trilogy at a push, could have been made about collecting quirky magical creatures. Rowling appeared to want to cram in a darker tone and real world horrors, especially in the latter two.
I suspect that the appeal of Potter is a combination of the orphaned child finding his place, the general “Olde Worlde” Gothic Britishness and the intrigue of a magical school. I initially thought that a big budget series was a good idea, and the only real place to go with the franchi$e. I don’t think that any more.
My main thought last year when they published a photo of the main trio last year was “God help those poor kids”, we all know how toxic the online world is, I don’t think there’s any way for even the most repsonsible parents and production companies to adequately protect them. I saw a commentator on reddit make a post within hours of the reveal saying they had seen comments complaining that Hermione was black and others complaining that she isn’t black. Making Snape black will throw up issues on various levels - the only black teacher will be seen being mean to Harry for years and come across as a baddy long before he’s revealed to be otherwise. It will also make Harry’s dad’s bullying him seem racist.
The first movie will be 25 years old by the time this debuts, a long time but still perhaps not long enough. A movie podcast I listen to had a comment from the producer who I would guess is around 30 - that there’s an almost uncanny valley quality to the trailer, it looks to close to the movie. He made the point that the old films don’t look that “old”, maybe a kid would disagree, but I do find myself agreeing.
There’s certainly an ouroborous effect where something that hasn’t really left the public consciousness is being reinterperated which comes across similarly enough to the point of effectively being a remake. A lot of set and costume designs look quite similar and there’s a good reason for that - they don’t want it to clash with the various Wizarding World locations that you can visit.
I read the books, baring the last, as an adult. Quite enjoyed them, preferred the earlier ones which were more naive and escapist. Her prose is pretty dreadful and the “world building” is slipshod at best. I’ve watched/listened to the youtuber “Shaun”’ making an extended critique of her books and I have to agree that they are more problematic than had clicked with me.
I’m not a fan of Rowling as person and any goodwill she built up with her philanthropy has been largely if not entirely nuked by her recent bigotry.
