Who's That Guy With Harry Potter?

Newsweek ^ | Dec. 18, 2006 | Sean Smith

[GOP Jedi]

(snip) "Phoenix," the fifth book in author J. K. Rowlings's series, is by far the most ideological, and seems allusive to post-9/11 politics. Harry knows that the evil Lord Voldemort has been reborn and is building an army, but the wizarding government, the Ministry of Magic, refuses to believe him. .... "There's a really interesting principle at the heart of this story," says Yates, in an exclusive NEWSWEEK interview. "The ministry is this bureaucratic authoritarian regime trying to impose a fundamental doctrine on this liberal wacky school. The ministry isn't very good at accepting the beauty of differences. Everything has to fit in a box, and if it doesn't fit, it must be removed. The wonderful thing this story tells kids is that it's OK to be different."

[GOP Jedi]

If the rise of Voldemort must be politicized and compared to 9/11, I think Yates has it completely backwards. It isn't the liberals who are spoiling to man the baracades and the conservatives who see no threat. Quite the opposite!

Most annoying to have this false premise foisted on the public who want to enjoy the film.

[andyssister]

Most annoying to have this false premise foisted on the public who want to enjoy the film.

I couldn't agree more. Just make the movie and be quiet!!

[retrokitten]

Potter Ping!!

Thanks for the heads up, andyssister!

[andyssister]

I just hope this guy makes a really good movie and helps the trio take their acting to, um, another level. :)

[null and void]

Wow. Same planet, different worlds!

[Dr. Eckleburg]

The wonderful thing this story tells kids is that it's OK to be different."

We should be telling children it's okay to be normal.

[AmishDude]

They'll get the square peg into their round hole if they have to use a sledge hammer.

[GOP Jedi]

It's a total distortion. Recall that the DEs have sleepers and spies throughout the organization structure of the Ministry. They carry out terror attacks. And the characters who want to sweep it under the rug and carry on as normal and spend the "peace dividend" of Voldemort's supposed death are Fudge and Umbridge and all their camp. They are clearly of the Kerry/Mother Sheehan camp.

And those guys who don't listen to conventional wisdom that all is well in hand, who go underground to train because the true threat is marshalling its forces, those are Bush's Army (and thankfully, it's a real one, with guns and everything). ;)

I knew this was going to happen. I hope that, like Forrest Gump, a more accurate message emerges in spite of them.

"It's okay to be different." Puke... no matter what planet you're on, that is NOT the lesson of 9/11 or the War on Terror. "Different" moves into your neighborhood, preaches hate, and then starts burning cars and buses. "Different" boards airlines and runs them into buildings.

[Tanniker Smith]

Potter Ping!!

Badda Bing!

(I hadn't done that in a while...)

TS
8-)

[kevkrom]

The ministry is this bureaucratic authoritarian regime trying to impose a fundamental doctrine on this liberal wacky school

Bleh... it's far more accurate to say that the Ministry is akin to the typical government-based school board meddling in the busienss of a private school run by people who actually know what they're doing.

You can read it any way you want, but I saw it as a slam against government-run schools and socialistic-leaning bureaucracies.

[retrokitten]

I'm easily entertained and it makes me giggle every time. :-)

[retrokitten]

Yeah, I hope so, too. The guy who directed the 3rd one (Curon? Was that his name?) said equally retarded things about President Bush and/or America being Voldemort and that one turned out okay.

[js1138]

The problem with a story that tells the truth is that people will see it from different angles. to me the parallels with Churchill and the rise of fascism are too clear to be missed.

[Tijeras_Slim]

That was my take too.