Book #22
Harry Potter: Film Wizardry by Brian Sibley
Immerse yourself in the world of the spectacular Harry Potter film series, and learn why Yule Ball ice sculptures never melt, where Galleons, Sickles and Knuts are really "minted", how to get a Hippogriff to work with actors, about the inspiration behind Hogwarts castle, and why Dementors move the way they do.
This was wonderful; I really, really enjoyed it.
I am by all means a fan of the Harry Potter books before the films, but I have always been very impressed by how the films have taken shape and evolved over the years. I think they do a good job of representing the wizarding world in a visual form. This book gives an amazing insight into how this is achieved, and some of these ways and means are absolutely incredible.
The photographs, storyboards, and concept art that were printed in the book were breathtaking. These, combined with the copies of props which came with the book (the Marauder's Map, Umbridge's proclamations, Harry's acceptance letter to Hogwarts, and even a Yule Ball programme), ensured a wave of goosebumps up and down my arms every time I turned a page. I especially enjoyed the pages detailing Weasley's Wizard Wheezes - everything is so eccentric and colourful; it'd be an incredible place to work.
I was particularly struck by the passion for the saga that each and every person who works on the films very obviously has for both the books and the films. The effort that could be put into a single prop - even one which is visible for only a fleeting second - is truly epic. There was an intense amount of research put into even the smallest of moments; I particularly liked the inspiration for the Ministry of Magic taken from research of the Soviet Union. The quotes given from the crew members really show their devotion, also. They really are the best people for the job.
Each of the main characters has a page dedicated to them, how the actors who play them ended up with the part, and in some cases how they were transformed into their character. This was absolutely fascinating; I particularly enjoyed reading about Evanna Lynch who plays Luna Lovegood - she seems so like her character, and such a big fan of the series.
I was also treated to a sneak peek of some of the scenes from the last film - namely Gringotts Bank and the Room of Requirement before it's consumed by Fiendfyre. My heart was pounding as I pored over it, I will not lie.
This is a good example for an anti-ebook argument. There is absolutely no way an ebook reader could begin to convey anything this book is trying to evoke in a reader. The glossy pages and the pull out pages did a lot for my appreciation. I honestly don't believe that this would have had the same effect had I read it from a screen.
This really has been great, and it's a wonderful book for anyone who likes Harry Potter - but especially the more hardcore of fans amongst us. It's inspired me to begin reading the series again in preparation for the final film, which will break my heart. I reviewed the entire series last year, and will be doing this again.
Haters to the left.