Big Harp Order: The 20th anniversary special for the anemic and unnecessary "Harry Potter" movies

"Harry Potter: Union Special" purports to celebrate the great work that created the successful film series, but in practice it settles for generic stories and empty compliments.

Even when an opportunity arises for her to engage in an unfamiliar story of her protagonists, he is quickly swept away.

And JK Rowling?

Remind us who it is?

Ilan Kaprov

02/01/2022

Sunday, 02 January 2022, 08:41

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"Harry Potter: The Union Special" Trailer (Warner)

Even the reunion between the various stars, and especially the leading trio, seems artificial.

As if they themselves do not understand why they are supposed to get excited about it

One of the emerging disadvantages of the content revolution we have all experienced in recent years, is the fact that there is no longer a real commitment to quality.

Certainly not in the sense that has characterized film studios and television networks in the past.

After all, the catalog is bottomless and the algorithm will already know how to find the right eyes for almost everything.

And what not?

Well done, who will remember in this huge flood of content.

Quite a few series and movies in recent years are a product of this worldview, but their most refined example seems to be the nostalgia specials of sorts.

One such is HBO Max's "Harry Potter: Union Special," which aired (also on yes in Israel) on the second anniversary of the first film: "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone."

$ 7.7 billion has garnered eight "Harry Potter" movies worldwide, a priceless asset in the brutal streaming war. Instead of pouring millions on new content that no one can predict if it will succeed, Warner, the owner of HBO Max, can simply flaunt content that has endless viewing potential in the eyes of potential subscribers. Similar to the union of "friends", that of the wizarding world has been pressing hard on the emotion glands since the beginning. Hogwarts invitations to the event find their way to a library, cafe or taxi, where the various stars of the films reside; Wharf 9 and three-quarters crowded, with the red locomotive waiting for passengers to Hogwarts; Emma Watson walks in amazement through the corridors of the iconic school, opening the doors to the grand hall filled with dancers, diners and excited encounters between the various actors.

But alongside the excitement of returning to the impressive and magical sets of the films, as well as the heartbreaking melodies of John Williams, there is very little in this special that will renew Harry Potter fans wherever they are.

Even the reunion between the various stars, and especially the top three - Watson (Hermione), Daniel Radcliffe (Harry) and Rupert Grint (Ron) - seems artificial.

As if they themselves do not understand why they are supposed to get excited about it.

"I don't feel like much time has passed," Grint says honestly as the three sit together in the common room of the Gryffindor house.

"Do not feel we have earned this union."

And while the three laugh, none of them seem to disagree with this diagnosis.

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Everyone had great fun, the cast felt like family and so on.

"Harry Potter: Union Special" (Photo: Warner)

Few expected the special to relate directly to JK Rowling's remarks or the storm they caused, but it's amazing to discover how little the sole creator of this world - for all its characters, creatures, sites and themes - has to do with what's going on in the movies.

For an hour and 40 minutes, "Harry Potter: Union Special" includes almost nothing that breaks the rules of the ceremony, a unique revelation or an extraordinary moment that we could not have foreseen if we had to guess what exactly it looks like in this work. In practice, what is seen on screen is a rather superficial chronological journey in the timeline, including interviews with the various directors and actors added along the way. In some cases these are the actors themselves interviewing their friends (Radcliffe Gary Oldman or Grint the Helena Bonham Carter), in some cases these are routine camera interviews - but both these and those insist on recreating the same messages: everyone had great fun, the cast felt like family and no more Work, the kids were wonderful, the adults were hospitable and kind, they all inspired each other. And that is, more or less. Even a fall like the late Alan Rickman (who is responsible for one of the most important characters in books and movies, Severus Snape), gets no more than a few polite words from colleagues.

Even if it's hard to expect Warner to critically analyze one of her own crown diamonds, a minimal requirement from such a huge TV event is to present at least some new insight from the distance of time on the film's heritage, certainly when so many esteemed directors and stars bother to come and talk about them. Reveal the creative dilemmas throughout the process, the way the directors' different visions influenced the films. However, there are none. The maximum that Union Special is willing to provide us is a link between the adolescence of the stars of the series and the older themes of the films. But these were also so based on the content of the books of which adolescence is a central part, so that there is no discovery here.

This sterility also characterizes the few moments when it seems that the special does reveal something new to us.

Watson goes back in one of them to the period leading up to the fifth film, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," and the emotional load that threatened to overwhelm her and caused her to seriously consider retiring from the series.

This in itself could have been the great story of this union, certainly in the very topical context of dealing with the consequences of mental stress.

But even though Watson confesses that she feels lonely and without a supportive shoulder, the special just leaves that story behind and moves on.

In a minute, the three stars return to tell about their love and special relationship, and the crisis is left behind.

And what about Grint Wardcliffe's tackle?

How has this tremendous exposure affected the people who have become?

These questions will remain unanswered.

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Very little that renews for fans.

"Harry Potter: Union Special" (Photo: Warner)

And if there are already open questions, it is impossible not to address what has been hovering over the entire special in particular - and the pursuit of creation in general - in recent years.

Since providing a series of statements that were perceived as transphobic, JK Rowling has become assigned due to disgust within her own empire.

Watson, Radcliffe and Eddie Redmine (who stars in "Wonder Beasts") went against it, sites and fan associations decided to condemn her, and recently even the official Quidditch League (yes, there is such a thing) announced it would adopt a new name for the game Rowling invented from her fevered mind, just to keep her away Herself from her.

The writer herself reportedly refused to attend the special, which includes her most minor appearances in the form of old interviews.

Few expected the special to relate directly to the remarks or storm they caused, but it is amazing to discover how little Rowling - the sole creator of this world, for all its characters, creatures, sites and themes - is linked to what is happening in the movies.

For those unfamiliar with the details, one can almost be mistaken for thinking that Rowling served as a kind of vague inspiration to the directors, rather than the driving force behind them.

In all these elections, the Union Special not only proves the futility of its existence, it even goes further and undermines the power of the work it seeks to celebrate.

If the series of books and movies that have touched and continue to touch so many millions around the world, that have sanctified uniqueness and embraced the outcasts, give rise to such a sterile cycle encounter - perhaps it is not as big as HBO is trying to claim?

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Thank God for Ruby Coltrane.

"Harry Potter: Union Special" (Photo: Warner)

From the little practicality we still got, the qualitative gap between Emma Watson and the two stars who accompanied her for a decade is further sharpened. While even in this special, and certainly in the films themselves, Watson brings with her an impressive presence of emotion and talent, Grint and Radcliffe look almost like those who were forced to attend. For Grint, this feeling of natural indifference still manages to pass, but Radcliffe mentions how anemic he was in real time. Even in conversations where he seems to be authentically excited, it is very difficult to get caught up in the feelings and emotions he seeks to express. Not surprisingly, the entire event is closed by the beloved Ruby Coltrane (Hagrid), who manages to flood the emotion in such a natural and authentic way. Its creators also did not seem to believe that Radcliffe would be his engine.

"Harry Potter: Union Special" is a product that is not really clear what purpose it is intended to serve, other than the commercial of the network behind it.

Fans who want to dig into their favorite work can do so with the help of countless podcasts and related articles.

Those interested in the Rowling storm will find a host of developments on news and entertainment sites, and who really missed out?

Can just watch movies again or read the books.

For a cute photo gallery of the kids in their infancy, we have Google.

"Harry Potter: Union Special" is available on Biss and Yudi and will air tonight (Sunday) at 9pm Bite Mobiz Drama and Biss Docu.

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