If you have ever been on the hunt for the latest installment in the Harry Potter film series, then you undoubtedly know how overwhelming the hype can be. From billboards and magazine covers to social media and retail, the media blitz is incredible. Even the most diehard Harry Potter fans might find themselves swept away in the tsunami of Pottermania.
But as exciting as the films are, that doesn’t mean they are immune to criticism. After all, J.K. Rowling’s books are not for the faint of heart, and many fans believe that the final Harry Potter film, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, completely bastardized what made the original books so special in the first place. In the following, we will discuss how to avoid the Harry Potter movie hype cycle so you can go to the movies and enjoy the franchise without fear of ruining it for yourself.
Skip The Early Reviews
Let’s be honest: unless you are deadset on buying a piece of merchandise related to the film (like a shirt, hoodie, or scarf), you really don’t need to read any sort of review before seeing the movie. The information you need is right there in the headlines: the movie will be released on October 26, 2018, and it is currently the no. 1 movie in its category on YouTube. The only real reason to read any reviews at all is if you want to be forewarned about plot points that might be spoiled.
As a general rule, it’s best to avoid reading reviews altogether. There are exceptions for some films (like Avengers: Infinity War), but for the most part, it’s better to just wait until the verdict is in and see how others have rated the movie. You’ll only get a tiny piece of the film’s overall appeal by skimming through reviews – especially if they are bad, in which case, you might end up spoiling something critical that you wouldn’t have seen otherwise. And then you’ll have to live with that.
Know The Franchise
The Harry Potter series, like many other brand-name franchises, has been subject to some critical backlash. Rowling has even gone so far as to say that the films’ supposedly darker takes on children’s literature are ruining the magic for future generations. But as discouraging as some of the reviews have been, it’s important to keep in mind that this is a common phenomenon among movie franchises. And just like with Harry Potter, it’s usually the early installments that are the most critically panned.
With a bit of research, you can usually figure out what critics thought of previous films. In most cases, knowing the franchise can help you understand what to expect. This is particularly relevant if you have never seen the movie or read the books before; with the exception of Harry Potter, all of the films are rated PG-13, so they are probably not the best place to start if you haven’t watched any movies with fantasy elements or themed events.
Watch Trailers And Samples
While we’re on the topic of spoilers, it’s also important to be mindful of them when watching film trailers. As frustrating as it can be to learn about significant plot points (like the death of Dumbledore) less than two minutes into a film, it’s better to wait until you actually see the movie to get all of the juicy details.
The same goes for TV spots and sample scenes from films. There is often so much more going on in these brief moments than meets the eye, and it’s important to remember that they aren’t intended to be helpful. Especially not in the case of trailers, where the goal is to give you all the juicy details before you even get to watch the movie.
Know Your Own Limits
One of the dangers of anticipating how a movie might turn out is that you might end up disappointed. Even in cases where you know exactly what to expect, there is always the possibility that the developers lied about certain details being in the game (just like in The Dark Knight Rises). Knowing your limits is one of the most important things you can do if you don’t want to ruin the surprise of what the game actually looks like. In the case of Harry Potter, some fans have had a very different experience from what J.K. Rowling intended, and it’s important to keep in mind that the blame does not lie with the developers – it lies with the person playing the game. It’s also important to note that the final film was not supposed to be in HD either – it was originally released in theaters in 16:9 aspect ratio, and many fans believe that the switch to 2.35:1 was done to make the film fit a TV screen better.
Avoid Pre-Ordering Or Following Popular Opinions
The downside of being on the cutting edge of the digital age is that you can usually find out almost everything about a movie (good or bad) before it is officially released. This isn’t entirely bad; it can be exciting to see movies before they are released to the public, especially if you are a fan of the franchise. But it’s also important to keep in mind that many other fans might hate the same movie as you do; after all, it’s never fun to be on the opposite end of the spectrum from what everyone else is doing. And it’s important to make your own judgement call about what is and isn’t worth seeing before the general public.
As much as we all love to follow the trends and the popular opinions, sometimes it’s better to go against the grain. In the case of Harry Potter, a lot of people think that HP: The Final Chapter completely trashes the magic for all future generations. Others think that Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is a step forward for the franchise – it’s really up to you which one you want to believe in.