Discovering the Real World of Harry Potter

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Starring: Hugh Laurie
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Type: DVD
Studio: Questar
Release Date: 2002-05-28
Discovering the Real World of Harry Potter picks up where the blockbuster film and bestselling books leave off. This critically-acclaimed documentary explores the myths and legends that inhabit the real world of Harry Potter. Follow award-winning documentary filmmakers as they offer insights to witches, wizards, Greek Gods, Ancient Celts, ghosts, magical creatures, alchemy, and ancient spells. Extra Features: The Ghostly Visitors of Harry Potter; Harry Potter's Alchemical and Herbal World; In the Footsteps of Harry Potter; Harry Potter and the Holy Grail.

Deadly Dullness in the Real World of Harry Potter
Hugh Laurie,currently famous as the cynical doctor on "House" and Stephen Fry's comical foil on "Jeeves and Wooster",provides narration for this "special" about the "real" world of Harry Potter. As a narrator, Laurie is wonderful. He has an expressive voice,and is clearly having fun, despite the boring script.

There are tours of Oxford, Cambridge, English boarding schools, even an interview with a so-called "white witch" who claims broom-riding powers(???) It sounds more exciting than it is.

Seeing this on PBS,I found it terribly boring. JK Rowling's sources of inspiration are pretty clear,and this travelogue is a waste of time.

Rented from the library and still feel a bit cheated
I was hoping that this video would have done 2 things: 1, given me a bit of a tour of the filming locations, like Christ's Church, Gloucester Cathedral, Glenfinnan Viaduct, and more and 2. given me a bit of history that led to the book, both mythic in telling and in real locations like Wookey Hole Cave. Basically, I wanted a fan tour without having to pay the 2-3K it costs to actually do that. Instead, I was given sort of "this is the junk we have in our pocket" presentation. It's not worth your money, unless you're REALLY interested in listening to some guy who calls himself the "white witch" babel on about proper broom flying technique. I suppose the author date should have clued me in that it wasn't likely too be all that useful, but I'm still disappointed (to the point I signed on to author this review), and I watched this for free.

Well if you really want to know?
It is an alright documentary. But if you are any kind of a "Pot-head" (i.e. a serious Potter/Rowling fan) you won't find anything really new in here it was filmed in 2001. Still it is nicely filmed and excellent narrations by Hugh Laurie.

Great info
We liked the movie very well. It is always interesting to learn whats behind something that is popular.

learn more about the world of harry potter
i loved it, it was very informing and entertaining