Harry Potter and the Amazing New Trailer

One of the biggest culture phenomenons for the millennial generation was, and still is, the Harry Potter series, hands down. Those who refused to read them at first, myself included, was most likely at some midnight release party at a Barnes and Noble for the newer books. Those who find the books childish and immature most likely only read the first two and never saw how the last books have progressed tremendously and the plot lines have become both relate-able and insightful. Those who ban the book for discussion of witchcraft obviously don't know the meaning of the word, fiction. For me, the Harry Potter books have inspired me to write and read again, while the movies have inspired me to make better movies, although the last two ones make me wonder if I would be able to one day.

I recently saw the trailer for the sixth movie and I am beyond excited. I haven't been able to reread the series since the release of the seventh book in summer 2007, but seeing this movie makes me want to read them again. I was discussing with Chris how the movies in addition to the books definitely progressed over time. The movies are different because different directors worked on the films, and movie buffs like Chris and myself can clearly see a different mood for each of them. In preparation for the sixth movie, I decided to go back and watch the trailers and compare all the different elements of each of them.

Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone, 2001, Chris Columbus:


You can definitely notice the brightness of this film. A lot of scenes were shot outside, and I don't think there was one rainy day, except the scene where Harry finds out he's a wizard. And why should it be dark? Little eleven year old Harry is a wizard, going through trivial problems like fighting the school bully and facing three-headed dogs, not a big deal. Compared to the others, this film tries desperately to be dark and suspenseful but fails; but it does not mean it's a bad movie. The same thing happened in the book. But these are necessary in order to set up for future installments. Also, this movie (especially the preview) contains a lot of fluff from the books that future directors abandon (flying, Quidditch, the moving staircases, the Fat Lady portrait, and so on). Just goes to show how cute and innocent this movie is so that they can afford to put in the fluff, whereas future films have much better plot lines to worry about.
Also, for being eleven year olds, or however old the kids are, they aren't horrible actors, but you will definitely be able to see a progression. I remember some scenes are awkward because they're still so young, but I am not one to talk. I'm almost nineteen and I'm a worse actor than the three kids put together.
The last line suggests foreshadowing, 100%: "I think it is clear that we can expect great things from you". When this movie was made, only the first three books were released, so audiences had no idea of the stuff Harry would go through in future books. Which also makes me wonder, what would the films have been like if they waited until the last book was released? How different would the script be, since the screenplay writers would know how the series ended and could include more instances of foreshadowing and leave out other parts. Just a thought.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, 2002, Chris Columbus

Now, this suggested a trend where the films would be released once a year, to reflect that the books are one year apart from each other. Back then, I was happy that the second movie came out so soon, but now I realize it's worth the wait. I realize now how much time movies take to make, especially in-depth movies like the later installments. 'Cause let's face it, the first two books were good for setting up the material and the deeper plots for future books, they weren't good for that much else. They only needed a year to make. Except they should have spend more time on the Whomping Willow scene, that was disappointing.

Just like with the first one, it relies on the brightness and humor to make the trailer. This and the Sorcerer's Stone are truly children's books, until you get tot he part where a giant snake is in the school's pipes and a dark wizard corrupts and innocent girl and a ghost haunts the bathroom she was killed in.
But again, this movie had good foreshawing: "Don't worry, I will be around [to save the day]". This can be applied to every book though. Maybe it's not really foreshaowing since it's common sense that Harry is the hero and will prevail through anything and everything.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, 2004, Alfonso Cuaron


Now, why did they keep Snape's line: "Open to page three hundred ninety-four", seems completely irrelevant to me. He has much better lines that could have been used. That bothered me when I first saw it, and it bothers me now.
Now, notice the different director. Right away you can see a change, though, with the dark purple clouds around the Warner Brothers Logo.
Radcliffe has become slightly more convincing in his deliverance of lines. He hasn't gotten there completely yet, but he's working on it. His "Expecto Patronum" was pretty good though. Also, I actually like the Michael Gambon as Dumbledore as opposed to Richard Harris. I find him more convincing as Dumbledore, but that's just me.
There are two trailers that rely on different music. This one has bright, optimisitc music closing it while the other one has a chorus sinigng "Something Wicked This Way Comes". I was annoyed by the song then, and I still am. It helps with the pacing and it technically fits, but I find so stereotypical of witchcraft and I didn't think that Harry Potter series had to include it. For the bright music that was in this trailer, I think it helped the bridge of going from innocent and bright and happy tones of the film to dark and serious and depressing that the next films will bring, just like the third book was the bridge and was my favorite.
And of course they had to throw in Hermione punching Malfoy. Everyone was looking forward to that.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, 2005, Mike Newell


Again with the dark Warner Brothers logo! But it worked!
First of all, there was still some fluff in this trailer. You would think they learned by now to get rid of the fluff. Like, I find the part of Harry asking Cho to the dance unnecessary for the trailer. Like, I guess it shows Harry's growing up, but we don't need to see that in the trailer that's supposed to get audiences excited for the film. But of course they had to throw in Ron dancing with McGonagall, which drew all teenage girls who have a celebrity crush on Rupert Grint and his cute scenes like that. Also, I just found that their interpretation of Sirius in the fire was weird. It did not say that Sirius was part of the logs and ashes, it said he was part of the fire. That would have been so much cooler. Not to mention the absence of the Quidditch World Cup; major disappointment.
But enough with my complaints. There was a lot of stuff that looked really good, like Voldemort's rising, the Dark Mark, the dragon and underwater scenes, and so on. And of course this film built up suspense for the next three films with the final line, "Everything's going to change now, isn't it?" Yes, Hermoine Granger, everything will change.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, 2007, David Yates



Welcome back to your appearance in the trailer, Hagrid! We missed you since the first film! Glad to see you've matured since the "I shouldn'ta told ya that" bit.
So yes, Hermoine Granger, everything has changed--even the director, and this director will be here until the end. But this director did a damn good job of fulfilling the suspense that the first two movies set up for and the next two led up to. When Cornelius Fudge is like Big Brother, you know these are not just children movies anymore. When I get the chills from seeing Voldemort at the train station, you know this is not just a fanstasy movie.
A shorter trailer, TV Spot I guess, had Snape training Harry for Occulens, he says "If Voldemort invades your mind, you would not last two seconds", Harry replies (acting skills have increased) "I'm not weak!", Snape replies, "Then prove it!" Ah, foreshadowing! Most likely unintentional, but I still love it.
Also, it's cute that we finally see a kiss in these trailers. I've noticed how in most trailers, there's a shot towards the end with the suspenseful music that the hero hooks up with his girl. And here's Harry, leaning towards Cho to give what looks like is an innocent kiss. It's adorable.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, 2009, David Yates


I am so excited. These trailers look so good. They looked so good that I put them both up.
The first one that shows how Dumbledore met Tom in the memory was amazing. Extremely well done, especially the tag line "to know the future, return to the past". Nice connection.
Now, compare Dumbledore telling Tom that he's a wizard to Hagrid telling Harry that he is a wizard. That shows the difference not only of the hero vs. the villian, but the first movie vs. the sixth movie. I love the juxtaposition though, and I wonder if that was intentional. If it was, kudos. Also, not only was the music perfect with the action, but little ten year old Tom Riddle did an amazing job. Sorry Daniel, Rupert, and Emma, but little Tom Riddle was a better actor than you all put together. And not to mention that crazy cut sequence of Voldemort and Tom Riddle, amazing!
Now, this last like, "Did I knwo that I just met the most dangerous dark wizard of all time? No." Epic! Well done, Michael! I do not think Richard Harris could have done that as good.
Now for the second one, we are introduced to Slughorn, which was not what I expected when I was reading the books, but we'll see how he does. Ron is once again cute, and his best lines must be included to get his fan club to see the movie. Harry even had a funny line in this preview, where he's all "But I am the chosen one". A few years ago, he was pissed that he was the chosen one. But now he's proud of it, cute.
So, this transition of the six movies and the four directors was completely necessary, and I feel like the sixth movie is only leading up to the final installment, which will be split up into two movies. I am beyond excited. Now I wanna watch them, and read the books too. If only I had more time..