Harry Potter books are a franchise in itself. No one expected much from the first Harry Potter book but it was a huge success upon its release. It connected with not just children but also adults. The characters of Harry, Ron and Hermione were firmly etched in the minds of the readers. The subsequent books made the characters and also the world of Hogwarts immensely popular. Through her writings JK Rowling made the readers root for these underdogs. You wanted them to win against Lord Voldermort. Along with the three protagonists another very important character was that of Neville Longbottom. Initially it looked like a character for laughs but as the story expanded there were more shades to Neville.
Not surprisingly the seven books were made into movies. Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint became over night stars. Emma went on to act in films like 2019’s Little Women. On the 20th anniversary of Harry Potter the cast and the crew come together to relive their memories of making these seven films.It is difficult to fit in all these stories and experiences in a documentary film but directors Casey Peterson and Joe Pearlman deliver a reunion which will be liked by all Potter fans.
The highlight of this documentary film is the revelations shared by the three main actors. We see how much they have grown along with the franchise. They perfectly articulate the challenges that the each film gave and how they had to portray emotions beyond their age.Another highlight is the exchanges between the directors and the cast. The directors who appear are Chris Columbus, Alfonso Cuaron, Mike Newell and David Yates. These five men had directed Harry Potter movies at different stages. I particularly liked the one between Daniel Radcliffe and Chris.
Add to that there is also a lot of behind the scene action. These moments work as a cherry on the cake. The sets, the auditions etc will make you emotional.
Finally, the inclusion of the supporting cast also works wonderfully. The moments shared by the men who played Sirius Black, Lucius Malfoy and Dobby in particular are impressive. It is a pleasure to see them talk about what they felt about playing these characters.The one thing which was missing though is a fresh interview of JK Rowling. There is footage of an old one but it would have been nice if there was a new one too.
All said and done, Harry Potter 20th Anniversary is the perfect nostalgia ride for those who have grown up on Harry Potter.
