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 ReviewA 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.
Mar
07
Emma Watson has updated her website to officially confirm that she is to star in Bling Ring.
The film, which has been rumoured for the last couple of weeks, will be directed by Sofia Coppola and is based on a true story about a group of teenagers who commit a string of celebrity burglaries.
Emma notes that she will be taking the third term out of her studies at Worcester College, Oxford University, in order to take part in the film. Here’s what she had to say in the brief message on her site: Get the whole story »
Mar
06
Due to such a successful run at Sydney’s Powerhouse Museum, the museum has decided to extend its run of Harry Potter : The Exhibition by an extra three weeks. The exhibition will run through Easter to April 9, 2012. Harry Potter: The Exhibition has given Powerhouse Museum some record-breaking traffic with last summer being their best ever. More than 325,000 visitors came to the museum in the summer of 2011 and it has prompted a boost in tourist visitation, with almost half of the visitors coming from outside of Sydney’s city limits. The museum’s biggest month ever to date was December 2011 with over 109,00 visitors. The busiest day for paid entry in the museum was 7,140 on Friday, January 6, 2012 and January has surpassed the December record with over 153,000 visitors.
Here is what Powerhouse Museum’s Director Dr. Dawn Casey had to say about the exhibition:
We have been absolutely delighted by the incredibly positive response from visitors and are pleased to announce a three-week extension. As a museum for inspiring and engaging young minds, it was so fitting and such a wonderful opportunity for the Powerhouse to stage this unique exhibition, and we hope to inspire future generations of writers, filmmakers, and costume designers!
In partnership with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, Global Experience Specialists, Inc. (GES) created the 1,400 square meter exhibition, allowing visitors to get up close and personal with many aspects from the Harry Potter films. Visitors can be sorted into a Hogwarts House by the Sorting Hat, toss a quaffle around on the Quidditch pitch, pull a Mandrake out of its pot, and can even tour Hagrid’s hut and sit in his over-sized chair. Some special things were added to the Sydney leg of the exhibition. The Deathly Hallows case, which features the Resurrection Stone, the Invisibility Cloak, and the Elder Wand; and the Horcrux case, which includes five of the items that were so essential in containing parts of Voldemort’s soul; made their debut at Powerhouse Museum.
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Mar
06
Rupert Grint’s new World War II film Into the White had its world premiere on Sunday in Oslo, Norway (the country where it was made). Take a look at some photos from the event, along a with another new clip of the film, right here. Note: Into The White still doesn’t currently have worldwide releases confirmed.
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Emma Watson has updated her website to officially confirm that she is to star in Bling Ring.
