FILM | HARRY POTTER
How “Harry Potter” Became the Gold Standard of Film Series Adaptations
The magic of conscientious recreation
It’s hard not to be a little biased when the first Harry Potter film came out not long after your fifth birthday, but there’s a magic to these films that extends well beyond the wizardry. I can think of no film that’s done more justice to the fantastical world of its source material than the colossal Hogwarts castle and the hallowed grounds around it.
J.K. Rowling has attested that the world was brought to life in ways that were in line with some of her loftiest visions; the recreation of Diagon Alley was the spitting image of the written word. Few sets have ever been designed as thoughtfully as those of the Harry Potter films.
The Harry Potter series was a perfect coming together of cast, scenery and score. It’s difficult to even talk about Harry Potter without hearing that most famous melody. And if you don’t know the one I’m referring to, there’s a good chance you’re not reading Harry Potter articles to begin with. By the release of the second movie, John Williams’ already enduring musical career would be indelibly intertwined with the family-friendly franchise.
