Potboiler Potter and Going Ga Ga Over Goopy! article

Hello Mr.,
While I'm not sure about the other kid movies you refer to, I do agree with your opinion on Harry Potter. Harry Potter is a classic example of mass media created hype. Though I do not doubt Rowling's imaginative genius in writing, I can't comprehend its hysteria that spans across ages around it. It's just a kids series after all with typical characters.
As far as the screen adaptation of Hollywood is concerned, I can't give it any more score than its special effects which anyways are becoming increasingly common and easy to achieve these days.
So again, while I am not sure if your comparison is justified, I do agree that Harry Potter's popularity defies logic. Thank god the series has come to an end with the release of the latest book.

Ah,finally! Here's an opinion that is matching-matching. There exists a blissfully forlorn lot of mankind that is fit enough to survive without having had any past, present or future associations with Harry Potter. I show-off my ignorance by proclaiming that I havent played prive to any of the books or movies or contests and paraphernalia, as well. A whole troupe of my little building friends tell me that theres nothing much im missing out on.
I take their word for truth. And the rest ,remains a mystery.

On another tangent,yes, brand Harry Potter is one hell of a brilliant marketing exercise gone all right : )

So okay, we'll congratulate them.

But Bikas, your fondness for Satyajit Ray is not to be contested. Certainly, no match. No match.

Hey Bikas old boy!
Just try reading the Potter books, the films are merely special effects extravaganza, but the books are ingenious, lively and beautifully written. After reading thm maybe you'll change your mind about the entire Potter phenomenon.

Dear bikas,
I completely disagree with your post....no wonder u did not understand the movie...get over ray..his days are gone...there must be something about Harry which is making the whole world go mad...after all saying that its just marketting that has given it the cult status would be very unfair...good idea would be to go and start from the start..and watch all the movies..then mayb u'lll be in a better position to write about it...

Hello Mr. Bikas,
I read your post again and also read the comments posted. And one question that Sarah raised about just marketing not being the formula behind Harry Potter's success did occur to me too. Then I asked myself, so do we know about any other such similar geniuses outside of the UK and USA. Are we aware of even any other great stories (children's stories, folklore anything) from any other part of the world? Why is it that such powerful images like Harry Potter, Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse that are dominating the world increasingly are coming from the US only? It is hard to believe that no other country is capable of producing better work.
Then I went back to my media policy classes and realized that we a re all victims of media imperialism of the US. The US is so good at production and distribution due to its capitalist structure and deregulation policies that they have mastered the art of selling even an average product as an excellent piece of art around the world. Your maid even knew about Harry Potter. What does this mean? Hollywood movies are dubbed in various languages, marketed and distributed all across the world. Does your maid even know about the fascinating Panchtantra, forget about knowing stories from Thailand, Cambodia or even China that has one of the most fascinating and ancient culture of folklore etc. The US is winning the world with its media imperialism which is soft and intangible. They made commendable success with the technology and now they are imposing their culture as the best thing around the world. And guess what? We are all being fooled into believing that average stories are the most delightful. Is anyone even aware how many marketing and strategic communication plans were created even before the movie was made and how many consultants worked on it? That is the power of media imperialism making the whole world believe in the existence of a genius when there is at best a mediocre. We do not have any choices to compare with , so its is easy for us to get deceived. The genius only lies in the amount of money these media conglomerates or shall say empires make. While I don't deny that some people might enjoy reading Harry Potter, it is within no means spectacular compared to other things of similar genre that I have read. Definitely not the movie.

Can't agree more with you Mayaa. There's so much social pressure to watch this movie, read his books and to buy things bearing his signature. You switch on the TV and you'll find him there. He's hogging headlines in the every other bulletins.

Aniruddha, do read the book and watch the film, if you find it interesting, but my problem is not as much with the book or movie as much I feel oppressed by the hoopla around these works.

Will he survive in this book or not is being debated with equal alacrity as whether democracy will return in Pakistan! Come on, after all it's just a kid's book, let the people who like it enjoy and others rest in peace.

He's eating so much of print space air time and the worst our mind space that I kind of feel repulsive about it. Again Dear Aniruddha, don't read it as a comment on the great work of art that you admire.

And Nikita, I'm proud of you, never ever read the books in protest of marketing managers attack on our otherwise placid minds.

cheers
bikas