Harry Potter 7: The Deathly Hallows

[BrAinPaiNt]

Harry Potter was quite the challenging read for you, I'm sure. I don't read kid's books, though.

The books are more than Kid's books.

They are actually well written.

And maybe if you would come off your condescending high horse and give them a chance, you would know that. You might also know that he does sacrifice himself as to do away with your whining kid theories and heroes.

A teenage is going to be a whiner to an extent..it would be unrealistic otherwise. But when push comes to shove a character is willing to lay his life on the line in order to defeat an evil power...I think that would give him hero status in a story.

But again...since you can't be bothered to read the books you would not know that yet still pretend to know more than those that read the books.

In other words if you don't know squat about something, don't act like you have a superior attitude towards it.

 

[Faerluna]

Harry Potter was quite the challenging read for you, I'm sure. I don't read kid's books, though.

It's not that the books are somehow challenging, it's that they are wonderfully written and a lovely story. Why put limits on yourself for personal enjoyment because it's geared toward a younger age group?

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

It's not that the books are somehow challenging, it's that they are wonderfully written and a lovely story. Why put limits on yourself for personal enjoyment because it's geared toward a younger age group?

Because opening his mind to something he does not know might be too much of a challenge for him?

 

[Meat-O-Rama]

I don't read kid's books, though.

But you watch kids movies and piss and moan about how terrible they are?

 

[TheCount]

Below average compared to adults who have spent their entire lives as wizards, or compared to others his age?

I think it's pretty obvious that he is far more skilled than most in his class, and his only real weakness is in putting in the work and study like Hermione does.

He's bested adult wizards plenty as well.

He's only bested adult wizards when it was tied into his "destiny".

He isn't a talented wizard, JKR took great pains in making that painfully clear.

The whole point is that he's a hero because he's ordinary and extra ordinary things are happening to and around him. The end of the series also makes it clear that he was meant to just be a normal person, or as normal as a wizard can be. It's a pretty classic cannon as these things go, think Frodo. Readers are supposed to see themselves as Harry.

 

[theogt]

The books are more than Kid's books.

They may be more than that, but they are in fact children's books. I don't read fiction it at all, much less children's fiction, so it has nothing to do with Harry Potter itself.

And maybe if you would come off your condescending high horse and give them a chance, you would know that. You might also know that he does sacrifice himself as to do away with your whining kid theories and heroes.

Condescending high horse? The guy, out of the blue, replied to my post stating that it was the stupidest thing he'd ever read. Don't expect me to be kind and gentle in my response to that.

But again...since you can't be bothered to read the books you would not know that yet still pretend to know more than those that read the books.

Seems pretty clear that I've stated several times that I don't know what happens in the books, so your statement that I'm "pretending to know more" is pretty off-base here.

In other words if you don't know squat about something, don't act like you have a superior attitude towards it.

I watched the movie and will comment on the movie as I please. If you dislike that, then don't read my posts about the movie.

 

[TheCount]

They may be more than that, but they are in fact children's books. I don't read fiction it at all, much less children's fiction, so it has nothing to do with Harry Potter itself.

Condescending high horse? The guy, out of the blue, replied to my post stating that it was the stupidest thing he'd ever read. Don't expect me to be kind and gentle in my response to that.

Seems pretty clear that I've stated several times that I don't know what happens in the books, so your statement that I'm "pretending to know more" is pretty off-base here.

I watched the movie and will comment on the movie as I please. If you dislike that, then don't read my posts about the movie.

I can just imagine Theo sitting in a dank den reading volumes of the Encyclopedia cover to cover by candle light for entertainment. :laugh2:

 

[theogt]

He's only bested adult wizards when it was tied into his "destiny".

He isn't a talented wizard, JKR took great pains in making that painfully clear.

The whole point is that he's a hero because he's ordinary and extra ordinary things are happening to and around him. The end of the series also makes it clear that he was meant to just be a normal person, or as normal as a wizard can be. It's a pretty classic cannon as these things go, think Frodo. Readers are supposed to see themselves as Harry.

The author does borrow an inordinate amount of material from LOTR, so I guess that's the apt comparison. But it seems to me that giving him the power of being a wizard and calling him "the chosen one" for having the ability to defeat (in battle) the most powerful wizard takes the comparison a little too far off course for me. Frodo's uniqueness is his ability to resist the power of the ring. Otherwise, he's less than special. There's no temptation of power outside of his sheer will. With Harry Potter, it's quite different.

 

[theogt]

I can just imagine Theo sitting in a dank den reading volumes of the Encyclopedia cover to cover by candle light for entertainment. :laugh2:

It's a very warm and cozy den, actually.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

I can just imagine Theo sitting in a dank den reading volumes of the Encyclopedia cover to cover by candle light for entertainment. :laugh2:

Him not reading any fiction at all...would seem to explain a great deal of things.

 

[theogt]

Him not reading any fiction at all...would seem to explain a great deal of things.

Well, I read entirely too much for my job. And I work quite a bit (think an average of 60 or more hours a week). So the last thing I want to do on my time off is sit down and read for hours. I do watch a lot of movies, however.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Well, I read entirely too much for my job. And I work quite a bit (think an average of 60 or more hours a week). So the last thing I want to do on my time off is sit down and read for hours. I do watch a lot of movies, however.

Problem with movies, made from books, is you miss too much stuff and really don't get the full story. I think in the harry potter franchise of movies they sometimes go too far in assuming that people have read the books so they should know some things already.

As far as the ordinary thing. It goes beyond just being the chosen one.

He has at times displayed things that go beyond him just being an ordinary wizard in the books.

He has, without realizing it, used defensive spells vs Snape in training. His full patronus (sp?) (the white stag) was something that was beyond most wizards of that age to the point that in the book when he was taking some tests...many of the elder wizards giving the test were amazed at him being able to do the spell so well. His being able to survive multiple encounters with volemort was also beyond most normal wizards ability. He also had the natural ability to fly the broom compared to other wizards...to the point that he was the first freshman to be on the sports team and not only that but to be the one who was a special position as seeker.

So he is ordinary in some ways, very extraordinary in others.

 

[theogt]

As far as the ordinary thing. It goes beyond just being the chosen one.

He has at times displayed things that go beyond him just being an ordinary wizard in the books.

He has, without realizing it, used defensive spells vs Snape in training. His full patronus (sp?) (the white stag) was something that was beyond most wizards of that age to the point that in the book when he was taking some tests...many of the elder wizards giving the test were amazed at him being able to do the spell so well. His being able to survive multiple encounters with volemort was also beyond most normal wizards ability. He also had the natural ability to fly the broom compared to other wizards...to the point that he was the first freshman to be on the sports team and not only that but to be the one who was a special position as seeker.

So he is ordinary in some ways, very extraordinary in others.

And all of this fits with in the "coming of age" story. My point is just that at some point he should actually come of age and be a bad*** wizard, even if he's still relatively young. Skywalker actually becomes a jedi knight at some point.

 

[TheCount]

And all of this fits with in the "coming of age" story. My point is just that at some point he should actually come of age and be a bad*** wizard, even if he's still relatively young. Skywalker actually becomes a jedi knight at some point.

It was my interpretation that Harry is purpose built to defeat Voldemort and only Voldemort. Outside of that, like most kids, he's naturally good at some things (sports) and not good at others (class work).

 

[theogt]

It was my interpretation that Harry is purpose built to defeat Voldemort and only Voldemort. Outside of that, like most kids, he's naturally good at some things (sports) and not good at others (class work).

I don't think there's any other way to interpret it, unfortunately.

 

[Kevinicus]

He's only bested adult wizards when it was tied into his "destiny".

He isn't a talented wizard, JKR took great pains in making that painfully clear.

The whole point is that he's a hero because he's ordinary and extra ordinary things are happening to and around him. The end of the series also makes it clear that he was meant to just be a normal person, or as normal as a wizard can be. It's a pretty classic cannon as these things go, think Frodo. Readers are supposed to see themselves as Harry.

Well, he's not an all powerful wizard, and won't ever be, but it is made clear that his has some abilities beyond those of others of comparable age, and even of adults. The fact that those powers are as a result of Voldemort, doesn't make them any less a part of him.

That said, Harry is very limited in his knowledge of spells, even after his years at Hogwarts, and he doesn't really go out of his way to improve in this matter. He's brave, and does have talent, but he's no scholar and doesn't work to reach his full potential.

As for fighting, he's not the best at dueling and really, with a few exceptions, has learned mostly defensive techniques. I doubt they taught wand marksmanship at Hogwarts. He also limits himself by not using spells that those who go against him would use.

But ultimately, Harry has held his own when facing adult wizards/witches, and other creatures (Basilisk, Dragon).

 

[burmafrd]

Harry frankly is stupid and he is lucky he has Hermione around to figure things out for him. You would think that knowing that someday you are going to have to face down the bad guy, someone with any sense at all would work as hard as he could to get ready. But I guess stupid sells.

 

[TheCount]

Harry frankly is stupid and he is lucky he has Hermione around to figure things out for him. You would think that knowing that someday you are going to have to face down the bad guy, someone with any sense at all would work as hard as he could to get ready. But I guess stupid sells.

 

[kristie]

you're a mean one, mr. grinch. :laugh2:

 

[Maikeru-sama]

I'm going to see it today.

My cousin told me it wasn't that good over Thanksgiving dinner, I hope he is wrong.