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heathercottledillon's review against another edition
5.0
The first time I saw this, I flipped out. As someone who's obsessed with all things Harry Potter, I just had to get my hands on this massive book. Reading it was even more fun than I thought it would be. It goes through the entire process of making each movie, from selecting the cast to writing the scripts to bringing the incredible magic to life on screen. It's got the big-picture stuff, like the different directors' and producers' visions, as well as the details, like how they made each magical creature. There are tons of interviews and quotes from the cast and crew, plus memorabilia from the sets. Basically, this is the best coffee table book ever if you love Harry Potter.
Here are a few random things I learned while reading this book:
At the beginning, there was discussion of animating the films instead of using real people (how different that would have been!)
Daniel Radcliffe wasn't even going to try out for the role of Harry Potter; fortunately for him, his family ran into one of the producers at an opera and talked his parents into letting him audition
Michael Gambon (Dumbledore) has never read the Harry Potter books (shame on him!)
Emma Watson (Hermione) had a huge crush on Tom Felton (Draco) during the filming of the first several movies
One crew member's only job was gluing individual hairs and feathers into stuff, like the boar's head in Hogsmead and Dumbledore's bird, Fawkes
Here are a few random things I learned while reading this book:
At the beginning, there was discussion of animating the films instead of using real people (how different that would have been!)
Daniel Radcliffe wasn't even going to try out for the role of Harry Potter; fortunately for him, his family ran into one of the producers at an opera and talked his parents into letting him audition
Michael Gambon (Dumbledore) has never read the Harry Potter books (shame on him!)
Emma Watson (Hermione) had a huge crush on Tom Felton (Draco) during the filming of the first several movies
One crew member's only job was gluing individual hairs and feathers into stuff, like the boar's head in Hogsmead and Dumbledore's bird, Fawkes
ansl's review against another edition
5.0
Dit moet iedere Potterhead hebben! Heel mooi en heel erg geweldig! Het is het geld meer dan waard :D.
thelibraryskeeper's review against another edition
5.0
This is a fantastic resource for the films and even for a little background knowledge on some of the designs for the books from JK herself. It's a wealth of information from each film. I recommend this very highly to anyone who is a fan of the Harry Potter franchise.
heidenkind's review against another edition
This book is totally amazing! I'm thinking about stealing it from the library (I won't, but I'm thinking about it).
linda_v's review against another edition
5.0
A beautiful collector's item. Great for real Harry Potter fans who can't get enough of this magical world.
floralfox's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. Just wow.
As soon as I got this book, I knew I would have to read it cover to cover to really feel complete. I couldn't just skim, I had to know everything! And it was lovely and so rewarding. I knew a lot of stuff, granted, but that's what comes with being so immersed in this universe for so long.
This book really made me appreciate the movies more. I could understand more why they chose to do certain things, appreciate the changes they made. I loved the stories offered by the actors and the crew. And god, I got overwhelmed just thinking about the amount of attention, time, and detail they put into some of those props! Individual hairs! Moulds! Casts! 4 different Buckbeaks! It was astounding.
And the photography was crisp and clear, the foldouts were lovely, the details superb. I loved the owls and snakes and castles that you could only see if the page was tilted just right.
Seriously. This book was perfect and amazing and I learned a lot and it recreated the magic for me in a completely new way.
As soon as I got this book, I knew I would have to read it cover to cover to really feel complete. I couldn't just skim, I had to know everything! And it was lovely and so rewarding. I knew a lot of stuff, granted, but that's what comes with being so immersed in this universe for so long.
This book really made me appreciate the movies more. I could understand more why they chose to do certain things, appreciate the changes they made. I loved the stories offered by the actors and the crew. And god, I got overwhelmed just thinking about the amount of attention, time, and detail they put into some of those props! Individual hairs! Moulds! Casts! 4 different Buckbeaks! It was astounding.
And the photography was crisp and clear, the foldouts were lovely, the details superb. I loved the owls and snakes and castles that you could only see if the page was tilted just right.
Seriously. This book was perfect and amazing and I learned a lot and it recreated the magic for me in a completely new way.
onemonday's review against another edition
4.0
I carried this massive book (3,5 kg!) home from library but it was worth it :) Especially loved the first chapter of the book, the making of Harry Potter movies. Lots of pictures, information and funny stories from the set :)
balletbookworm's review against another edition
4.0
A really fantastic collection about the movie magic that went into the Harry Potter movies. Amazing concept art, blueprints, sketches, reminisces from cast and crew. Lots of fun particularly as it really shows how AMAZING the designers are for these movies.
bookhoarding's review against another edition
3.0
This is pretty much Hogwarts a History, but about the films. Fans of the movies and films will enjoy this coffee-table worthy book filled with page after page of quotes from the cast and crew, interspersed with fantastic never-before-seen photos of the production process. I feel like you really don't need to be a film buff to enjoy this. There are interviews with major and minor actors, and some crew members I never even knew existed. The thought and work that went in to creating most every seen, and unseen, detail is discussed. It would have been impossible to document each detail in one volume, but this does a fantastic job of covering as much ground as possible.
The first portion details the production of each movie, which honestly changed my perspective on some artistic changes and script cuts that were made. I feel like Alfonso Cuaron was finally vindicated in this text. Most every directorial decision was given a chance to argue its point. The next part of the book is broken down to explain in detail the characters, locations, creatures and props that figured prominently in the series. I was really happy with what was provided (from art during the pre-visualization process to the final models), though I'll always wish there was a book dedicated to each and every costume in the series.
I highly suggest any fan take a moment to read this at some point, it'll make you notice aspects of the movies you never paid an inch of attention to before. I was lucky enough to find it at a local library so I didn't have to shell out the $75.
The first portion details the production of each movie, which honestly changed my perspective on some artistic changes and script cuts that were made. I feel like Alfonso Cuaron was finally vindicated in this text. Most every directorial decision was given a chance to argue its point. The next part of the book is broken down to explain in detail the characters, locations, creatures and props that figured prominently in the series. I was really happy with what was provided (from art during the pre-visualization process to the final models), though I'll always wish there was a book dedicated to each and every costume in the series.
I highly suggest any fan take a moment to read this at some point, it'll make you notice aspects of the movies you never paid an inch of attention to before. I was lucky enough to find it at a local library so I didn't have to shell out the $75.
thepiqht's review against another edition
4.0
Book: Harry Potter Page to Screen: The Complete Filmmaking Journey
Author: Bob McCabe
Source: I Own It
Everything down to the illustrations and page design are gorgeous. The book is divided up into sections (characters, making of the movie etc) which makes it a lot easier to find what you're looking for, or to skim past parts that you don't find as interesting.
sidenotes: has a few pullouts, the binding is good for a book this size, includes pictures of polaroids
Author: Bob McCabe
Source: I Own It
Everything down to the illustrations and page design are gorgeous. The book is divided up into sections (characters, making of the movie etc) which makes it a lot easier to find what you're looking for, or to skim past parts that you don't find as interesting.
sidenotes: has a few pullouts, the binding is good for a book this size, includes pictures of polaroids