Twillight Reflects on Harry Potter & TwilightMOMS Reviews the HP Exhibition

Posted on 15. Jul, 2011 by Amanda31 in News

USA Today ran a feature yesterday about how Harry Potter has changed films, including quotes from Summit’s Erik Feig, Twilight Saga Screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg and New Moon Director Chris Weitz.

Erik: “The story has a younger protagonist, but the book series and the movies are greatly enjoyed by older people, too. I devoured the first book and gave it to every grown-up I knew. We saw the same thing with Twilight. We did not ghetto-ize it as a young-adult movie. Nor did they with Harry Potter. They drew all audiences. It was an inspiration to us.”

Chris: “The impact of the Potter series has been tremendous in that it has essentially become the idea of a modern franchise. They latched onto something that has its own sequels built in. Now everyone is looking for a literary property that extends enough for them to keep on building.

“It’s led to this speculative bubble in mystical young-adult fiction. Twilight found its own way to hit upon the hunger for the supernatural and a particular time of life. But if you look at the bookshelves now, half of what is coming out in (young-adult) fiction is about a werewolf or a vampire or angels or demons. The other half is about magic and wizardry.”

Melissa: “The Harry Potter filmmakers and screenwriter Steve Kloves really respected the fans. When you’re adapting a book series and you have that kind of fan base, you really have to deliver. You can’t just use the books as a jumping-off basis for another story. When I see a Harry Potter movie, I forget what is missing. Because Kloves is taking me and those kids on the same emotional journey as the book does … The audience looks to see if the author is happy with the adaptation,” says Rosenberg. “If the author is, then the audience has permission to be happy, as well.”

Given the recognized influence of the Harry Potter films, and with the film debuting at midnight last night, we wanted to share our thoughts on how the HP world will continue, specifically with the Harry Potter Exhibition. TwilightMOMS Stacey (secsec1) had the chance to check it out; here’s her review:

I’m sure you, like me, are both extremely excited and sad to see the end of this exciting journey. But thankfully, the journey doesn’t have to be completely over. With the recently announced Pottermore.com, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and The Harry Potter Exhibition, we can continue to live in the magic.

Amber (Pixie) and I recently went to the Harry Potter Exhibit in New York City. This was my 3rd time through but I had to go in NYC to see the added props. It was still as amazing and magical on the 3rd time as it was the 1st! This is a must see exhibit while in NYC and even worth making a special trip out for it. This is its last stop in the US and it runs through September 5, 2011.

The exhibit holds props and costumes from all eight movies including bits of Hagrid’s hut, the beds that Ron and Harry slept in, the dragon’s egg from Goblet of Fire, the Triwizard Cup, wands and costumes from many of your favorite characters, the newly added horcrux items and Gryffindor’s sword, and much more! It was amazing to see the extreme attention to detail that the costume and set designers took while putting together these movies. And it’s totally worth getting the hand held tour guide; it gives even more insight into the movies. One fun details that I learned from the guide was that in Order of the Phoenix, the costumes that Delores Umbridge wears get progressively more pink. I never noticed while watching the movie, it’s such a subtle increase, but after hearing that tidbit, it was something I looked for in the movie and it has made my movie viewing experience that much better.

And I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention or favorite Harry Potter/Twilight crossover star. Robert Pattinson’s dress robes that he wore to the Yule Ball do hang in the Great Hall exhibit!

This is truly a one of a kind exhibit and I hope you all can make it out to see it! It will continue touring the world with its next stop being in at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney, Australia. It will run from November 19, 2011 through March 2012. Keep checking back HarryPotterExhibition.com for where the exhibit is going to be next!

Tags: Chris Weitz, Melissa Rosenberg