The Harry Potter series is fine, but . . .

[Slave1]

I'm at home with my daughter because she has strep, and she's having a Harry Potter marathon.

A well-filmed series, but there's one logistical point that has just occurred to me, and having realized it, I can't stop thinking about it . . .

Has this ever occurred to anyone else besides me? They have this huge wizard school where these kids are taught the fine art of sorcery (awesome), only they're not supposed to practice magic out in the mogul (non-wizard) world. So what exactly is the purpose in learning all this stuff that you're not going to be able to use later? The only reason Harry needs his magic abilities is because of his and his parents' association with Hogwarts.

Don't know, but as I think about this, the main point of the whole series seems very illogical. It's very important that we train these hundreds of children each year so that when they leave, they will be highly skilled in an art which they will not be permitted to use for the rest of their lives.

Maybe this is addressed at some point in the flms and I've just missed it.

 

[Westies14]

That restriction is only for student wizards and witches!

 

[tk1055]

They can practice outside after their 17th (?) birthday. Basically they are on a learners permit till then.

 

[Solo4114]

Yeah, but they have to do it outside of muggle view, right? Like, wasn't that part of the rules or somesuch? Or did they usually just magic their way out of that problem? Or send the Wizard equivalent of the MIB? I know that they're known to the government of the U.K. (hence the Ministry of Magic).

 

[tk1055]

Have you read the books? It actually goes into quite a lot of details on how the Wizarding world stays hidden. You arn't too far off on the WIB (Wizards in Black) idea. They do have a group that will mind wipe muggles that see too much.

 

[Slave1]

Just seems kind of off, though. When do they need to use it? Seems like once they're out in the world, they try to live like regular people.

So they learn all this stuff and put it to what use? Make the clothes iron do the work on its own when no muggles are around?

 

[Vermithrax 4]

I'm a huge fan of the books and the movies but there are some questions that Rowling has never really answered, not that she really needs to answer them to make the series fun, after all it is a fantasy. The specific points I'm referring to are what do trained wizards DO after they graduate from Hogwarts? I know a number of them go to work for the Ministry, which would seem like a dull use of one's powers, some become Aurors, some open shops in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade, some work in other countries doing...whatever. It just seems like there's not a lot of options in terms of what to do as a career once you're a fully-trained wizard. The other thing I've always wondered is why don't wizarding children go to some sort of elementary school BEFORE going to Hogwarts? I know Muggle kids go to regular school until they get the Hogwarts letter at age 11 but what about the kids born into wizarding families, do thy just hang around the house until they're 11? Are they all home schooled? How do they learn to read, write, do math, all that important basic school stuff? She never really addresses this point and I've never really heard it asked either. But, like I said, if you analyze it too much it takes the fun out of it so I don't lose sleep over it.

 

[Gryffindor1991]

Underage witches and wizards aren't allowed to use magic outside of school, until they turn 17. They aren't allowed to because some students are Muggle-born and can't use magic in front of Muggles because of the Statute of Secrecy. Since Muggle-borns can't sure Magic, students in wizarding families can't because it wouldn't be fair. They are not punished before they start school at age 11 because they haven't learned to control magic yet. All students, after starting school until they turn 17 have the Trace on them. The Trace allows the Ministry to know if underage wizards use magic. Its harder to trace in Wizarding household, but in Muggle households with underage wizards they will get a warning. As soon as they turn 17 they can use magic all they won't as long as its not in front of Muggles.
Not all wizarding professions need magic, but thats not the point. I mean, in a bookshop, wouldn't it be easier to wave a wand to make the books put themselves on the shelf instead of doing it yourself.
After leaving school, there is no magic university, the only thing that requires more is becoming an Auror. I'm not sure why students don't go to a school before Hogwarts to learn basic stuff, but they do get homeschooled. Like Mrs. Weasley had to homeschool all her children.
Magic comes in handy for many things. Healers use magic in the hospital to help sick and injured. Tons of magic is used in the Ministry depending on the job. While the Minister, support staff, secretaries and positions like that won't use magic for work, people like Obliviators will. Obliviators and the Accidental Magical Reversal Squad wipe the memories of Muggles to make them forget the magic they saw. Aurors catch Dark wizards.
Gringotts curse breakers use magic a lot to get treasures from the Egyptian pyramids because they have to break enchantments and such to reach it.
Here is a list of Hogwarts classes and what they would be good for:
Transfiguration: Auror and possibly healers
Potions: Healers and Aurors
Defense Against the Dark Arts: Aurors and everyday life (because you never know if youll be attacked)
Charms: Aurors, Healers, everyday life
Astronomy: mostly for potioneers because moon phases determine the effects of many potions and ingredients.
Muggle Studies: Ministry workers that work close with Muggles.
Arithmancy: curse breakers
Ancient Runes: curse breakers
Care of Magical Creatures: magizoologists, people specializing in certain creatures
Divination: not useful for anything really

The movies do not explain this, if you want further information, read the books. They are a wonderful read. And even if you aren't a fan at first you will be one after you read the books. Its stupid to watch the movies and never read the books because you never find out all the information in the films. Although there is some stuff JK Rowling hasn't explained, hopefully she will in due time.
Sorry for the novel, but its a ton of explaining. I went into detail with quite a bit. For more information, like I said, consult the books. They are amazing.

 

[BoozeBeGood]

My brother LOVES Harry Potter...I only know what I have seen in the movies...but don't some live in the wizard world? So maybe its applications in their world would be more practical. Or am I completely wrong?

Then again, I guess it could be like martial arts. Just because you know how to defend yourself doesn't mean you go around starting fights all the time. Or even the life of a Jedi if we want to relate it to Star Wars....a Jedi knows how to do a LOT of things....but how often do they really use all of their powers when they are supposed to be about peace to begin with....

 

[cboath]

Just seems kind of off, though. When do they need to use it? Seems like once they're out in the world, they try to live like regular people.

So they learn all this stuff and put it to what use? Make the clothes iron do the work on its own when no muggles are around?

If you read the books, they mostly keep to themselves. The interact a bit with the world at large, but not a ton. Harry and Hermione are sort of the rare occurrence of a wizard/witch in a muggle family.

 

[TheMechanic]

My problem is 'Albus Dumbledore is the greatest sorcerer in the world' yet he doesn't even know that Voldemort is attached to the back of a teachers head that he hired, he doesn't realize that his old friend Mad Eye Moody is an imposter, even after shaking his hand, having meetings with him etc.
Heck, Dumbledore doesn't know half of what goes on inside Hogwarts it seems.
I love the movies but sometimes I just have to scratch my head.

 

[Gryffindor1991]

My problem is 'Albus Dumbledore is the greatest sorcerer in the world' yet he doesn't even know that Voldemort is attached to the back of a teachers head that he hired, he doesn't realize that his old friend Mad Eye Moody is an imposter, even after shaking his hand, having meetings with him etc.
Heck, Dumbledore doesn't know half of what goes on inside Hogwarts it seems.
I love the movies but sometimes I just have to scratch my head.

Actually to be honest, I think Dumbledore knew all of this from the beginning and let it takes its course because Voldemort was going to return somehow. I believe Dumbledore knew Quirrell had Voldemort under his turban but he didn't do anything about it because he wanted Harry to prove himself by getting to the stone and stopping Voldemort himself. Why else would be send Harry the Invisibility Cloak, have the mirror somewhere Harry could find it, and have Hagrid get the Stone from Gringotts with Harry with him. As for imposter Moody, I think Dumbledore found out about it early on and never did anything because he knew where it would lead. Voldemort return as he had said before and that gives Harry the chance to defeat him in the future. Therefore Albus Dumbledore is the greatest sorcerer in the world. Also, Dumbledore knows an awful lot about what goes on at Hogwarts. He knew Harry would go after the stone, he knew Harry would find the Chamber and prove Hagrid was innocent.

 

[Boomer]

In the end books to movie conversion = fail.

 

[darthgordon]

In the end books to movie conversion = fail.

I don't think that's a very fair assessment. In fact, first and second movies lose only a little detail and information from the books and have to condense a few things for time.

No book to movie adaption will ever be able to fit in every detail unless your book is 120 pages or less. As the books got longer, more information had to be left out or scenes condensed. The last four books were between 600 and 800 pages a piece. I would like to see you try and put that in a 150 page screenplay and still retain all the important information... then edit what you've filmed into a movie that makes sense and flows well. Do all that with having to create a whole universe from pages in a book and bringing to life all the characters.

To do all that, a few sacrifices have to be made.

 

[Slave1]

I don't think all film adaptations fail. In fact, I liked the Forrest Gump film version better, and Indecent Proposal, and Planet of the Apes (from another discussion).

I also think Stand By Me, Shawshank Redemption, and The Green Mile are all largely faithful to the Stephen King stories they're based on. Small differences, but they capture the spirit and don't fail one bit IMO.

And I can think of a few like Blade Runner and Salem's Lot, which deviate from the source material and are therefore different versions, but I like them equally.

 

[Boomer]

Alright that was a generalization because I'm on my phone. And before You start flaming me that's my personal opinion. And yes it's true you have to sacrifice things when doing the conversion. That's just my general opinion. The movies are good but when asked which I prefer it's always the books. I would rather sit there and read the book then watch the movie.

 

[Slave1]

Yes, I think generally speaking, the books are typically better. The lager majority are, anyway.

 

[TheMechanic]

So, if Dumbledore knew about Quirell/Voldemort then he knowingly and willingly let an 11 year old boy almost get killed by him inside the school and then later if he knew about the Mad Eye Moody imposter then he knowingly and willingly let Cedric Diggory get murdered by Voldemort?

If Dumbledore does know everything then he's a terrible person for sacrificing children and constantly putting them in harms way.

Why didn't Dumbledore ever clear Hagrid of any wrong doing? He must have known that Tom Riddle opened the Chamber of Secrets. In fact, Dumbledore must have known all along where the Chamber was, right? If he didn't that's another WTF moment.

 

[Nwerke]

Just seems kind of off, though. When do they need to use it? Seems like once they're out in the world, they try to live like regular people.

Yes and no. They do have a largely or entirely separate "black" economy, with their own drinking establishments, clothing vendors, even sweet shops, all inaccessible to Muggles. Whether every one of the necessities of life is covered by wizarding enterprises is not established, but a good deal of them are.

Many live isolated from any human contact at all, on stretches of otherwise wild land, protected from view by magic. Others live in villages that are largely or entirely 'wizarding', and can be relatively open most of the time.

This extends to government too. I can't recall whether witches and wizards pay tax, but if they do it is to the Ministry of Magic, and not the regular government. The Ministry itself does not answer to the Queen or Prime Minister; the Minister for Magic may report to the Prime Minister but only as a courtesy. The rest of the British government is unaware of its existence and the Ministry would 'take a dim view' should the Prime Minister tell anyone.

Not all witches and wizards choose to live in such a segregated way, and presumably some must therefore take part in the regular community/economy to a greater degree.

So they learn all this stuff and put it to what use? Make the clothes iron do the work on its own when no muggles are around?

They do *exactly* that sort of thing. And look after breeding programs for endangered dragon species, and keep various inimical magical beasts at bay, and so on. The books very much > the films. The films are extremely condensed.

Um, wondering whether I have over-thought this stuff a tiny bit, now. :lol

 

[Ttaskmaster]

Quick one for the age and magic thing...

We are taught all about sex from around age 11 onwards, yet we're usually legally prohibited from having sex until 16/18/21 (depending on where you live).
I'd guess it's the same responsibility thing with magic.

And since I'm drawing such a comparison - By that same token, is it considered safe magic if you put a prophylactic on your wand?