Review: The Seekers Guide to Harry Potter



 Reality Films has produced a new DVD entitled The Seekers Guide to Harry Potter, and UK distributor Wienerworld kindly sent us some free copies to review and give away to you visitors as competition prizes.

Here is the official synopsis of the film:

The Seekers Guide to Harry Potter takes you on a journey and exploration into the underlying themes of J.K Rowling’s fantastically successful Harry Potter series. Drawing from her unique background and personal experiences, the author provides original insights into the mysticism, magic and symbolism within the world of Harry Potter. Dr. Geo Trevarthen is an academic who has painstakingly researched the Harry Potter craze. She goes far beyond the normal criteria and steps into a world of real magic and its shamanic past. In doing so she reveals the origins of many of the elements found within the novels and films.


HPSupporters Review

A Seeker's Guide to Harry Potter is an interesting exploration of the underlying symbolism, themes and messages in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series.

A small scale, intimate production, it is shot in the appropriate location of Edinburgh (where JK penned much of the series) and is presented to us by Dr Geo Trevarthen who comes from a background of Shamanism. The film, therefore, may not sit comfortably with everybody. Its author's ideas and beliefs as well as the style, imagery and music used throughout strongly convey this spritual Celtic discipline.

Nevertheless, there were some fascinating elements examined in depth by this avid reader of our favourite story. She probes some real world magical and alchemic history and how they inspired JK's writing. For example I learnt about the ancient origins of characters' names, the symbolic nature and history of the golden snitch, the influences behind the four school houses, and the layers of meaning beneath these.

Dr Trevarthen also makes intriguing parallels between different parts of the novels and gives her thoughts on how some of Rowling's messages can connect with our own real world lives. One of the interesting issues she raised is that of love, a key feature in Harry's life, and something that she says is hugely important in the early stages of real-life childhood, bringing her in line with today's psychological and socialogical theories. Further themes she explores include the moral neutrality of magic, following true will over whim, and Death and the triangle of the three Hallows.

With future re-reads of the HP books I'm sure I shall now view many components of the canon in much more depth than I previously have. The film reinforces for me what a triumph of storytelling J.K. Rowling has created and the incredible expanse of meaning behind her stories.

For those Harry Potter fans with spiritual inclinations like those of this film's author and want to look at the novels from that perspective, or for those merely with an interest in getting beneath the surface of the books, this is a film you'll very much appreciate. For me, the DVD shall fit nicely in my collection of all things Harry Potter.


If you like the sound of this DVD then tomorrow evening on Twitter we will be giving away a copy to a lucky follower. Unfortunately, for postal reasons, the competition will only be open to people from the UK.


Posted on 04 May 2011 by Tom
0 Comments

What do you think? Write your comments here...

Name:
Smilies: smile wink wassat tongue laughing sad angry crying 

| Forget Me


See some of the latest Harry Potter news below...
Content Management Powered by CuteNews
Apr 01 NO comments
Events, Interviews, WB Studio Tour

Photos and interviews from yesterday’s WB Studio Tour red carpet opening

Yesterday afternoon, Harry Potter cast and crew and a host of other celebrities gathered at Leavesden Studios near London to celebrate the opening of the WB Studio Tour with a big red carpet event.

Below we have a selection of photos of the stars via Mugglenet and Snitchseeker (see more in our gallery), and after this we have some great interviews with Evanna, Tom and Rupert courtesy of TheHPFan.

Get the whole story »

Apr 01 NO comments
Uncategorized

Paramount buys movie rights to Harry Potter, reveals plans for remake with Michael Bay directing

Michael Bay

Huge news just developing: Paramount has announced that it has purchased all film rights to Harry Potter from WB and that they have a remake of the movies in the pipeline and are lining up Michael Bay to direct and produce.

A spokesperson for Bay, the director of the Transformers movies, had this to say:

“Michael has been in discussions with Paramount for a few weeks about a potential reboot of the Harry Potter series in the near future. He is very excited to hear this news this morning and that the plans are set to come to fruition.

He wants to go way bigger and better than before, and has been developing new computer technology for creating the best explosions movie goers will have ever seen.”

We will of course update you on this situation as soon as we hear more news. Stay tuned!

In the mean time, read the statement from Bay’s spokesman in full right here.

Mar 30 NO comments
WB Studio Tour

Watch the WB Studio Tour red carpet opening event live here

The big opening of the WB Studio Tour is taking place tomorrow today with a red carpet event featuring many stars of the movies. For all those of us not lucky enough to get a ticket to the event, WB will thankfully be livestreaming it all online, and you’ll be able to watch it right here.

It is due to start at 10am EDT, 3pm UK time.