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.
May
10
This is looking like the year for awesome Harry Potter memorabilia. The Telegraph has just released some exciting new information. The original manuscript of Harry Potter and the Philosopher/Sorceror’s Stone will be on display for the world to see. The British Library is hosting the Writing Britain: Wastelands to Wonderlands exhibit from May 11 until September 25 of this year. The pages from the story where Harry gets on the Hogwarts Express at Platform 9 3/4 will be on display as well. If you will be in the London area during this time and would like to purchase tickets, you can do so here. That would be an awesome thing to see. How do you feel about the manuscript being shown? Would you try and visit?
May
05
With the huge console debut success in 2011, LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 in now available on iOS devices! If you have any Apple products, such as the iPhone or iPad, you can now purchase them through iTunes. The game retails for $4.99 and you can buy it in the iTunes store or here.
LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 was so highly viewed, IGN gave it an 8.0, that I am sure that Years 5-7 will not disappoint. I personally own Years 1-4 and loved it, so I will definitely buy Years 5-7 and let you know how it is! Have you purchased or played either game? What did you think?
Happy Cinco de Mayo to all who celebrate!!!
May
05
This month’s issue of Interview Magazine is changing up some things. Harry Potter alum Daniel Radcliffe interviewed Helena Bonham Carter, another Harry Potter alum. Radcliffe asked Carter how she got ready for her part as Bellatrix Lestrange in the HP films. Below is an exerpt from the article.
Dan: Your Harry Potter character, Bellatrix Lestrange, is one of the scariest characters in the books. But I think it’s fair to say that she is very playful and quite sexy as well.
Helena: When they sent the part, I thought, What am I going to do here? Because, actually, on the page, she wasn’t all there, so I thought, Well, you’ve got to be noticed. And Bellatrix-kids were terrified of her. So I think, Okay, I’ve got to be scary. But then also, if you’re with the kdis, you want to have fun being naughty.
Dan: Do you think you take inspiration from kids a lot? Because I do. They’re very honest in how they act and how thye are in the world.
Helena: Oh yeah. They are. And I also think there’s a lot of Peter Pan about me anyway. I never really wanted to grow up. I grew up really young. I moved out when I was 13- that’s when I started acting. Dad was really ill-he was pretty much paralyzed- so there was a part of me that felt like I had to become responsible.
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