I know the Lucas purists will chastise me for this, but is Harry Potter this generation's Star Wars? It seems like it has the same following as Star Wars did back when. I've never been much for Star Wars but I love the Harry Potter movies and books.
Harry Potter the new Star Wars?
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There are more of them so it would stand to reason that more people have been exposed to the HP saga than the SW trilogy
Funny I was just talking about the modern day "Star Wars"...and mentioned "The Matrix." I like the Harry Potter stuff, but it's more fanatsy instead of Sci Fi. I still rank the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy above "Harry Potter" as well. JMo.
People dog "The Matrix"...but I think the story line, effects, and musical score are some of the best the screens have seen in a long time as far as Sci Fi goes.
People dog "The Matrix"...but I think the story line, effects, and musical score are some of the best the screens have seen in a long time as far as Sci Fi goes.
Yeah, but The Matrix was one great movie followed by two that were unbelievably bad. Star Wars was three great movies (I know some people have mixed feelings about RotJ, but I like it).
What the OP is talking about, I think, is the cult appeal. Star Wars has a HUGE following. There are people that just live for the fiction books in the Star Wars universe.
I think it's too soon to say about Harry Potter. Star Wars has that longevity. HP hasn't been around that long. I would say that it's definitely the closest thing to Star Wars since Star Wars.
What the OP is talking about, I think, is the cult appeal. Star Wars has a HUGE following. There are people that just live for the fiction books in the Star Wars universe.
I think it's too soon to say about Harry Potter. Star Wars has that longevity. HP hasn't been around that long. I would say that it's definitely the closest thing to Star Wars since Star Wars.
I'll put myself in the camp that says the series of HP movies is better on the whole than Star Wars, Matrix and an infinate number of other movies.
They managed the story relatively consistant over 8 movies.
That alone is impressive.
A few years back I would have said the Matrix is the new reference point for youth.
now, I'm not sure.
I can get behind HP as the new Star Wars.
They managed the story relatively consistant over 8 movies.
That alone is impressive.
A few years back I would have said the Matrix is the new reference point for youth.
now, I'm not sure.
I can get behind HP as the new Star Wars.
Do you think 30 years from now there's going to be "Harry Potter Conventions"?
I could see JK Rolling coming back and releasing three terrible movies to bolster her franchise in the future.
I could see JK Rolling coming back and releasing three terrible movies to bolster her franchise in the future.
In terms of popularity, yeah, but I think that they are fundamentally different. Star Wars is all about movies. For at least the first three films, Lukas was mining a deep vein of movie history. Kids who fell in love with Star Wars learned to love film at the same time. Harry Potter is much different. With the exception of Cuaron's installment, the Harry Potter movies are really just fan service. They're faithful movie adaptations of books. I'm not saying that's a bad thing, but I don't think that there's much happening beyond that.
I think the good thing about HP is it got a lot of kids reading who might not have otherwise.
But the best part of Star Wars was that it was a three film advertisement for toys. I'm betting Lucas made a lot more money off the merchandise than he did the films. All those characters, space ships, etc, etc. collecting and playing with them when I was a kid was great fun. I don't see so much of that in the HP franchise.
But the best part of Star Wars was that it was a three film advertisement for toys. I'm betting Lucas made a lot more money off the merchandise than he did the films. All those characters, space ships, etc, etc. collecting and playing with them when I was a kid was great fun. I don't see so much of that in the HP franchise.
That depends, will there still be men living in their mothers basement 30 years from now?
Yeah, and they'll be the kids of the Harry Potter fans, so HP will out.
My father grew up on Buster Crabbe vs. Ming the Merciless on the big screen serials. He was a big Star Trek fan, and thought Star Wars was great, as it was "Just like Flash Gordon". I read someplace that Roddenberry got the idea for Star Trek from the Hornblower novels. My dad loved those, and the Aubrey series. The are all very similar.
I'm with The Nid Hog on this one. There's an element to the best Star Trek and Star Wars stuff that goes all the way back to Beowulf and Homer. Although the HP books and movies are very good, there is something about them just works within itself instead of being more universal.
I think there will be HP fans, and the books will still be read, but it won't have the devoted following decades down the road.
The first two Harry Potter films I liked, the third not so much, after number four I was done. The books got to big for a good adaptation and I felt like I was watching a highlight reel and it made little sense without reading the book.
From what I've heard the author of Harry Potter is fanatical in her total control over the HP world. I have a feeling when the checks start to get smaller she is going to do a George Lucas and make a terrible sequel/prequel that will get her some cash but reduce the appeal of the brand.
From what I've heard the author of Harry Potter is fanatical in her total control over the HP world. I have a feeling when the checks start to get smaller she is going to do a George Lucas and make a terrible sequel/prequel that will get her some cash but reduce the appeal of the brand.
I think Star Wars was groundbreaking in bringing things to the screen that was never done before. Harry Potter is a great movie, but nothing groundbreaking movie making-wise. So in that sense I don't think HP is the same as SW.
I remember seeing Star Wars back in the 70's and being awestruck by the special effects. The space ships, blasters, light sabers, etc.
I remember seeing Star Wars back in the 70's and being awestruck by the special effects. The space ships, blasters, light sabers, etc.
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After reading all of this, I can see both sides of the argument (although I LOVE Harry Potter and am not a fan of Star Wars). I don't know if the longevity will be there like it is with Star Wars, but whatever book J.K. Rowling writes will fly off the shelves. If it's good or not will show her longevity, as well.
I don't think there is any comparison between star wars and harry potter. Star Wars has become a part of the english lexicon and people understand the references but not so much with HP. I have only seen parts of maybe two-three of the movies and from what I saw, while entertaining, I really don't think you can compare. I thought SW touched on more of deeper philosophical points whether you agreed with them or not. HP was just entertainment and not much else. Keep in mind that when I said my last sentence I am referring to the HP movies only. I have never read the books.
Harry Potter is an enjoyable series and successful, but it will never have the impact on cinema that Star Wars has. It was a revolutionary bit of film making. It introduced many new methods of special effects and made "science fiction" more acceptable to the masses. It has been almost 40 years since Star Wars came out. Go to Toys R Us and look at how many Star Wars toys there are compared to Harry Potter toys. In 30 years people will still be talking about Star Wars. Will they still be talking about Harry Potter? I don't know for sure. I like Harry Potter. I have read the books and seen the movies and enjoyed them. I think as far as the movies go, Star Wars will be remembered a more important. As far as books go, I think Harry Potter is way ahead. They made reading fun for kids again.
If we're just comparing the MOVIES, I don't think Harry Potter has a chance. The first three movies were pretty good - the two by Columbus and the third by Alfonso Cuaron. But even all eight movies combined didn't have the impact that A New Hope had by itself. In order to compare the two universes, you'd have to include the Harry Potter books, which are really more important/significant than the movies, aren't they?
One thing Harry Potter has going for it is female fans. There are not a lot of women/girls who are really into Star Wars.
I think Harry Potter is more socially acceptable (probably because there are female fans) and thus is less prominent. I mean that the Harry Potter following is less conspicuous than the Star Wars following. The whole Star Wars Dork thing is sort of a sub-culture that is frequently mocked and viewed humorously.
One thing Harry Potter has going for it is female fans. There are not a lot of women/girls who are really into Star Wars.
I think Harry Potter is more socially acceptable (probably because there are female fans) and thus is less prominent. I mean that the Harry Potter following is less conspicuous than the Star Wars following. The whole Star Wars Dork thing is sort of a sub-culture that is frequently mocked and viewed humorously.
I was browsing pictures of costumed fans at the San Diego Comicon and I saw hundreds of people dressed up in Star Wars stuff, but only two people dressed up as Harry Potter people. Yes, sadly, I looked at over 1,000 pictures. So, in conclusion, Star Wars has a much larger cultural impact.
I really enjoy the original Star Wars Trilogy, HP and, and Lord of the Rings. IMO, Star Wars is the best followed closely by Lord of the Rings second. FWIW, the Chronicles of Narnia is pretty fair, to me.
A small piece of me just died reading this post. Never even considered this.
Harry Potter won't be the new Star Wars until they've made crappy prequels as well. 
Seriously though, I think it's pretty close. Two big differences...HP has sold WAY more books, but SW is still the king of merchandising and toys.
Seriously though, I think it's pretty close. Two big differences...HP has sold WAY more books, but SW is still the king of merchandising and toys.
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