Fat-Shaming And 14 Other Things From The Harry Potter Films That Aged Like Milk, And 7 That Stand The Test Of Time
Here are some Harry Potter film moments that aged poorly and some I think have stood the test of time. Let us start with the bad:
1. AGED POORLY: Harry’s ongoing abuse isn’t addressed
3. AGED POORLY: The story of the Malfoys
4. AGED POORLY: Lucius Malfoy is ready to risk it all over losing his house elf.
5. AGED POORLY: House elf slavery
6. AGED POORLY: Harry asking questions gets pretty old fast
7. AGED POORLY: The entire idea of Slytherin
8. AGED POORLY: Umbridge was taken away by centaurs
9. AGED POORLY: The general concept of love potions
10. AGED POORLY: Bad green screens can be really distracting.
11. AGED POORLY: A majority of CGI creatures
12. AGED POORLY: The Quidditch Matches
The pacing and storytelling of quidditch matches are still quality, but the effects have not aged well. A mix of bad green screen and special effects are to blame. They’re still fun, but little moments throughout look very dated.
13. AGED POORLY: Dean Thomas is the Lando Calrissian of Hogwarts
Diversity is lacking among the speaking roles in the films. Off the top of my head, Dean and Cho are the only two students I can think of that check that box.
Throughout the 2000s, the only mainstream Black British actor I can think of is Naomie Harris, so it’s easy to say it was a Hollywood casting problem. I imagine they will fix this problem if they go forward with the series. I say send a casting call for Richard Ayoade for Gilderoy Lockhart.
14. AGED POORLY: Heavy people are bad people in the Wizarding World
It’s either a heavy person antagonizing our hero or being the butt of a joke. The fat-shaming is as common as Voldemort saying “nyahhh!”
All the scenes feel pretty dated and even mean-spirited for a film meant for kids. For example, Hagrid is a good character and a giant, but the point is how they treat overweight antagonists. It’s always a slight about their appearance rather than their character. A character like Hagrid is never the butt of a weight joke, but literally every heavy villain is.
There are some things in the films that I think have aged pretty well that may not have gotten the right amount of love at the time:
15. AGED WELL: Daniel Radcliffe’s acting shaped the lead character
Daniel Radcliffe’s acting helped build the nuance of Harry Potter. Harry isn’t a “cool” character. He has some teen angst and is very awkward at times. It’s interesting to watch the series back and see how much he grew as an actor and even stole some scenes (which is hard to do as a lead).
His Felix Felicus scene takes the cake. Not only is the Wizarding World magical, but it’s fun and layered, thanks to the acting of Daniel Radcliffe.
16. AGED WELL: Aunt Marge’s inflation
The effect of Aunt Marge blowing up still looks great today. When something feels more tangible, it sticks out in a series like this. Is it corny? Yes. It’s a children’s movie, so the scene’s pacing matches the ridiculous nature of its happenings.
17. AGED WELL: Spells still hold up
I’m a big-time hater of unnecessary CGI if you’ve read my content. That said, the Harry Potter films nailed the spell effects. It is the closest thing to the movie magic of Star Wars lightsabers. They happen so fast, so they are often overlooked but still hold up.
Even the wand illuminations are a simple but effective spell that still looks great. Speaking of spells…
18. AGED WELL: Dumbledore vs. Voldemort
This fight not only holds up but is one of the better on-screen movie fights ever. Think about it: how hard must it have been to make wizards fighting from a children’s book look cool?
The pacing is fantastic. All the effects, from the broken glass to the water sphere, still look fine. It was a long-awaited showdown, and it paid off by not being dragged out. It’s short and sweet.
19. AGED WELL: The realism of Cedric’s death
This is a two-parter.
One: The death of Cedric was sudden and shocking. It didn’t dwell on the moment and was a more realistic scene than other grounded movies.
Two: The aftermath of the crowd discovering Cedric is dead steals the thunder of Voldemort returning…in a good/human way. A boy, a classmate, is dead, and everyone reacts in shock, and worst of all, they must witness Cedric’s father react to the tragedy.
I dare anyone to find a better, more grounded death reaction in a film…and it’s from a children’s movie about witches and wizards!
20. AGED WELL: Since it is set in the 90s, it still feels relatively timeless, like most period pieces.
Despite the lack of cellphones and tech, the fact the books took place in the ’90s helped this film stay in its respective time period. Assuming they go through with the series reboot, they should try to keep it placed within the same time period.
21. AGED WELL: The films still feel magical (pun intended)
From the heart of the story to the characters to the movie magic, the films still manage to hit people of all ages in the feels. It’s easy and fun to poke fun at little things, but overall, it still has a magic to it that makes the series as a whole very rewatchable.