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Harry Potter
Since
I haven’t read the “Harry Potter” books, I was kind of looking forward to the
movie to see what all the fuss was about. I was surprised to learn they have
nothing to do with a furry guy who likes to make containers out of clay. Who
knew? But,
seriously, “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” is the story of a boy
discovering his magical powers and his heritage. Raised in England by his aunt
and uncle after his parents’ untimely death, Harry is forced to live under the
staircase and serve the rest of the family. But on his 11th
birthday, Harry learns that he’s actually a very special wizard. After
being introduced to the supernatural world hiding inside modern-day London,
Harry is taken by train to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Hogwarts
is a very British boarding school, complete with uniforms, house competitions,
and organized sports. But its primary focus is that of training wizards and
witches to hone their special powers. Before
long, Harry and his new best friends, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, are
knee-deep in adventure. They must figure out what powerful secret is hidden in
the school and who, exactly, is trying to steal it. And what does it all have
to do with the “z”-shaped scar on Harry’s head, supposedly left by the evil
wizard that killed his parents? As
a movie, “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” is beautiful to look at.
Though set in modern day, the movie focuses on very old places and structures,
giving it the deeper feel of a historic film. From the wizard’s mall of Diagon
Alley in London to Hogwarts fortress to the floating-candle-lit meals in the
school dining hall, the screen fills with rich, textured images. All
the actors give solid performances, including those playing Harry and his
friends. Daniel Radcliffe as Harry seems to have the right combination of
wide-eyed wonder and intelligent bravery. I especially liked Rupert Grint, who
played sidekick Ron Weasly. Also fun is Robbie Coltrane as the reliable but
overly talkative giant, Hagrid, keeper of the grounds at Hogwarts. The
movie, itself, is mostly well-executed storytelling. Along with Harry, we get
introduced into a world of magic and magicians. We feel the intimidation of
being the new kid at school and with the pride of being special. In fact, it
makes sense that so many kids would identify with Harry. Who wouldn’t want to
discover that in spite of the boring life you see around you, you’re actually a
special and powerful person? At
2 1/2 hours, “Harry” might be too long for some kids. It takes quite a while to
get past the introductions and into the main conflict about the sorcerer’s
stone. Most of the special effects are great. Only occasionally do you notice
that an object or person has suddenly become computer-generated. And the game
of quidditch, kind of like polo played on flying broomsticks, is great fun to
watch. Does
the film live up to the books? I have no idea. But as much as some kids love
those books, I wouldn’t be surprised if a few young readers are saying for the
first time, “The book is so much better.” That’s usually the case. Now
for the big question: Is Harry Potter evil? The books and movie obviously don’t
have a Christian worldview, but most movies don’t. Many Christian writers have
used fantasy--including witches, wizards, and magic--to tell stories within a
Christian worldview (e.g., “Lord of the Rings”). So I don’t think the existence
of such characters in a story is bad in itself. It’s just a tool. And
the movie makes some points we would agree with. Harry clearly rejects the lie
that there’s no difference between good and evil. The wise headmaster of
Hogwarts also encourages him not to lose himself in his desire for things he
can’t have and later suggests that love is the true power over evil. These are
other, equally vague but positive messages. The
main problem with the story for Christians is that supernatural power can only
come from two places—God or Satan (and demons). We don’t believe humans can have
power over the natural world all by themselves. They’ve got to get it from one
place or the other. Stories like “Harry Potter” (or “Star Wars” or “Buffy” on
TV) want us to believe that you can have “good” supernatural beings without the
one, true God. You can’t. In real life, you either get that power from Him or
from the enemy. So
should we watch a fantasy like “Harry Potter”? Well, if we shouldn’t, we’d also
have to give up “Star Wars” and every other story that pictures “good”
supernatural power in a “Godless” world. In fact, we’d need to walk away from
any story that suggests there’s any good at all outside of God and Jesus. I’m
more inclined to encourage people who want to see the film to compare “Harry
Potter’s” worldview with a biblical worldview. A lie identified loses its power
and just becomes a story. We also need to avoid becoming so engrossed in the
books and movie (and comics and video games and toothbrushes, etc.) that the
story begins to control us. Seeing it once is different than becoming a Harry
Potter scholar. Don’t
get me wrong. I believe Satan is real, and I understand that some people do
seek power from him. I just don’t believe that seeing a story with those
elements gives our enemy power over us--unless we become obsessed or can’t spot
the lies. And I do believe that getting to know our world’s “stories” gives us
the chance to jump into conversations with friends and neighbors about the true
sources of supernatural power--and supernatural love. If
you see the movie, questions you can discuss with friends, parents, or just
think about yourself: • In the worldview of the movie, where does Harry’s supernatural
power come from? In real life, where does supernatural power come from? • Does the Bible say anything about witches or magic? If so, what? • Do you think it hurts Christians to read or watch “Harry Potter”
stories? Why or why not? • How is the fantasy world of Harry Potter different than the
fantasy world of “Lord of the Rings”? |
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