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.
Would you like some variety in the “Golden Trio’s” aresnal of new projects? Of course you would. With The Woman in Black starring Daniel Radcliffe opening last night, we should focus for a minute on Rupert Grint’s latest project Into the White. Here is a great clip via hypable.com and Snitch Seeker where we see Rupert’s character Gunner Robert Smith skiing.
The summary from IMDb, Internet Movie Database, says:
English and German pilots shoot each other down, and later find themselves at the same cabin. In order to survive the tough winter in the Norwegian wilderness they have to stand together. It is the start of a long and unlikely friendship.
The clip looks to be one of the milder moments of the film, but I definitely want to see what happens at the end of the clip! Stay tuned for more info about Into the White, which makes its way to theaters on March 9.
As rumoured a few weeks ago, Deadline is reporting that HP director David Yates is set to work with Emma Watson again on a new film, Your Voice in My Head. From the article:
Warner Bros is negotiating to acquire Your Voice in My Head, the Emma Forrest-scripted drama based on the scribe’s memoir that is expected to be the next film by director David Yates. The film is shaping up to be a Harry Potter reunion. Yates is in discussions with Emma Watson to star in the role of a young woman who attempts suicide before being saved by a New York-based psychiatrist who’s dying of cancer.
They go on to say that the studio may be aiming to get Tom Hanks or George Clooney for the male lead in the film. Sounds interesting! We’ll be sure to update you when any more information is released about this.
Daniel Radcliffe is no angel and he acknowledges it fully. We learned in the summer of 2011 from British GQ, that Radcliffe had had to battle a reliance on alcohol. He stated that he felt he could not enjoy himself without alcohol and would drink profusely. In a recent article via hypable.com, Radcliffe reveals more of that time and admits to turning up on HarryPotter sets, especially Half-Blood Prince, still under the influence.
Radcliffe can easily point out where he looks “dead behind the eyes”. Here is what he had to say to Heatworld.com:
You’re only 22. Don’t most people in their early twenties drink too much? Unfortunately it’s not that simple. I have a very addictive personality. It was a problem.
Really? There were never any stories of you going on wild benders… People with problems like that are very adept at hiding it. It was bad. I don’t want to go into details but I drank a lot and it was daily – I mean nightly. I can honestly say that I never drank at work on Harry Potter. I went into work still drunk, but I never drank at work. Get the whole story »
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