Updated! Harry Potter Film Wizardry: Christian Imagery in Deathly Hallows, R/Hr Moments, & More!

The new book Harry Potter Film Wizardry is scheduled for release on October 19, 2010, but I was very fortunate to get a sneak peek at it today.

Harry Potter’s Page has a detailed review here: http://www.harrypotterspage.com/2010/10/16/hpps-review-of-harry-potter-film-wizardry/

I have to say that I agree with Dijares’s review: you just can’t get enough of this book. It’s really beautiful and filled with fascinating facts.

I loved the Foreward by Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson. Rupert gave us one of the best quotes I have ever read regarding his character, Ron Weasley:

“But the truth is that Ron is my hero. He’s always there for his friends–sometimes belligerently, but there nevertheless. He’s also the comic relief in stressful situations; the funny guy with a great one-liner. And no matter how scared he may be, he will put aside his fears to support and protect the people he loves. To me, that represents true courage.”

I absolutely love this quote. Here’s another one that I like, mainly because it’s about my favorite couple, Ron and Hermione.

“I love the humor in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and I think it is the funniest of all the films. I particularly enjoy the romantic interplay between Ron and Hermione, who cannot acknowledge that they are in love and do everything possible to make each other jealous. ” –David Heyman, Producer

I’m glad to know that Heyman is a R/Hr shipper. Fans who love this couple, you’ll be glad to know that this book has a photo of yet another Ron and Hermione movie moment that wasn’t in the novel. In the picture on page 144, Ron and Hermione are squatting down to gather stones on the very pebbly shore of a lake. The two of them are very close together and are looking at each other while picking up small rocks. Ron’s facial expression is priceless here: he’s giving her a very adoring look, not unlike the “piano scene” in Grimmauld Place. It’s a very cute moment.

On page 149 there’s a full-color photo of Hermione dancing with Viktor Krum at Bill and Fleur’s wedding while a jealous Ron watches them.

On page 159 there’s a new photo of Ron and Hermione running hand in hand, trying to escape the fiendfyre in the Room of Requirement. They are dripping wet, presumably after their adventure in the Chamber of Secrets.

Then there’s the much-anticipated Christian Imagery in the Godric’s Hollow scenes. On page 154 there’s a photo of the tomb of James and Lily Potter with the quote from 1 Corinthians 15:26, “THE LAST ENEMY THAT SHALL BE DESTROYED IS DEATH.” Cross-shaped grave markers are visible both in a storyboard and in a new photo of a tearful Harry and Hermione at the tomb.

 The nearby church’s visible stained-glass window is huge and depicts five human figures. The central figure is of a crowned, bearded man–Christ the King! He is flanked by two men on each side of him, one of whom is holding an object marked with a dove descending (a symbol of the Holy Spirit!). All four of these men have a winged angel hovering above their heads. My assumption is that this is a depiction of the four Gospel authors: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. I am so thrilled about this detail of the set design. Bravo, WB! Then on page 155 there’s the first published photo of Kendra and Ariana Dumbledore’s grave, which is inscribed with “WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS THERE WILL YOUR HEART BE ALSO” from Matthew 6:21, a quotation from Christ’s Sermon on the Mount. Update: I also wanted to mention that the stained-glass window and the Dumbledore family tomb were designed in the shape of a Gothic arch. The tomb’s arch had a small quatrefoil at the top containing the letters IHS. I have seen this design in Catholic Churches before, and knew that IHS was an abbreviation for Jesus. This webpage was very helpful to me in deciphering the meaning of the quatrefoil design containing the letters IHS: http://fisheaters.com/symbols.html Here are some quotes from that page:

Quatrefoil: ubiquitous in Gothic architecture, the quatrefoil symbolizes the four evangelists, as do the Winged Man (Matthew), Lion (Mark), Ox (Luke), and Eagle (John) — the four beasts of Ezeckiel and the Apocalypse.

IHS: dating from the 8th c., this is an abbreviation for “IHESUS,” the way Christ’s Name was spelled in the Middle Ages (despite popular belief, the monogram stands neither for “Iesus Hominum Salvator” –”Jesus Saviour of Men” — nor for “In His Service.”) Popularized by St. Bernardine of Siena, the monogram was later used by St. Ignatius of Loyola as a symbol for the Jesuit Order.

“I’m not pushing any belief system here, although there is a lot of Christian imagery in the books.” –J. K. Rowling on Oprah, broadcast 10/01/10.

Jo went on to say that it was “undeniable” and “very clear” in Hallows. I think the film will portray this imagery with great clarity indeed. If you would like to read an in-depth analysis of the Christian imagery in the novels, please read my book, The Lord of the Hallows: Christian Symbolism and Themes in J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter, which is available from www.outskirtspress.com/thelordofthehallows. And please tell other Harry Potter fans about this blog, which will be updated quite frequently in the upcoming weeks.

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