Oh, read the books first! There are so many things that don't make it into the movies, especially the later ones as the books get darker and longer. The most recent movie (Order of the Phoenix) was disjointed and practically incomprehensible if you hadn't read the book. Not to say I don't enjoy the films, but you get much more out of seeing them if you already know the story.
Also, keep in mind that the series started out for a younger audience. I've heard a number of people complain about the first book, and I can understand that. (I actually read the fourth one first, after my "I hate reading!" little brother breezed through the 800 page monster in three days. Then I went back and started from the beginning.) The Sorcerer's/Philospher's Stone is probably the "youngest" of the bunch, if that makes any sense, with a lot of exposition and not a whole lot of action. After all, it has to lay the groundwork of the world in which this entire series takes place! So if you don't love it straight away, at least try the second or third book. The series builds upon itself and *mostly* gets better as it goes along. (Although the 4th was my favorite.)
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momijizukamori
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Date: 2008-08-05 03:21 pm (UTC)Also, keep in mind that the series started out for a younger audience. I've heard a number of people complain about the first book, and I can understand that. (I actually read the fourth one first, after my "I hate reading!" little brother breezed through the 800 page monster in three days. Then I went back and started from the beginning.) The Sorcerer's/Philospher's Stone is probably the "youngest" of the bunch, if that makes any sense, with a lot of exposition and not a whole lot of action. After all, it has to lay the groundwork of the world in which this entire series takes place! So if you don't love it straight away, at least try the second or third book. The series builds upon itself and *mostly* gets better as it goes along. (Although the 4th was my favorite.)