by Jennifer A. Walker

Created on: August 02, 2009

Choosing between the Harry Potter books and the movies may be more difficult than one might think. The gut reaction is that the books are of course better that the movies, as most books are. Books give more detail and more back-story, and movies often leave out large portions of the book's plot. After some reflection, however, the answer isn't quite so clear-cut.

The Harry Potter books are certainly worthy of praise. J.K. Rowling has an engaging writing style, and her books evoke a vivid imagery that allows readers to fully immerse themselves in the magical world she's created. It's easy to lose oneself in a Harry Potter book, to block out the real world and spend time with characters who have become almost like friends.

The movies, on the other hand, limit the viewers to the director's interpretation of the books' descriptions. This is not always a bad thing. The set design is spectacular, and the lush scenery gives richness and detail to the story that surpasses many readers' imaginations. In this sense, the movies can serve to enrich and inform the books.

At times, though, the differences between what a reader imagines and what ends up in the movie can be jarring. New characters often look entirely different than their book description, although once the actors are on-screen for a few scenes those differences seem negligible (with the glaring exception of You-Know-Who's green eyes!). However there are also some parts of the Harry Potter books that, no matter how lavishly the reader imagines them, can only be brought to life in the movies. Quidditch on the big screen is incredible, and even the most vivid mental picture falls short of the chilling movie scene with Katie Bell eerily suspended mid-air, mouth wide open in a silent scream.

Rabid fans of the Harry Potter books will never be entirely happy with the movies. The limitations involved with fitting 700+ pages into two and a half hours of screen time mean key components must be cut or re-crafted. These omissions don't always sit well with those who know the books backward, forward, and sideways. (No Marauders? Harry just hands over the prophecy? Dumbledore doesn't get a funeral?) Still, if one can separate the book-plot from the movie-plot, and for those who haven't actually read the books, the movies stand alone as entertaining, exciting adventures that open the world of Harry Potter to an even wider audience.

That said, at the end of the day the Harry Potter books do win out over the movies - especially for those who are fans of both. While the movies are satisfying in their own right, the additional details and story lines contained in the books simply can't begin to be fully portrayed in a couple of hours of film. Rowling's compelling, complex characters and intriguing, intricate plots make the Harry Potter books an experience that can't be matched, even by the movies of the same name!

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