6 of 6

Sheri McMurray (Christian Spotlight) says, "We, as God fearing, loving parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and all, have been running fitfully in front of J.K. Rowling, and whatever she may have to dish out next, protecting our children. With just cause, we are appalled by her relentless and eerily accurate depictions of witchcraft, spells and dark arts. She is declaring to our youngsters that this is merely harmless fantasy, when in stark reality witchcraft is a sin and no one will go blameless before the Lord who practices it. It is only just and right that we have the righteous urge to shield our children from practicing such acts and are worried they will become involved in things that God strictly forbids."

She also warns viewers about a werewolf transformation scene. "I was scared to watch it myself, and I can sit through 'scary' with the best of 'em."

Annabelle Robertson (Crosswalk) says Rowling "is an excellent writer with an amazingly creative imagination, and her films reflect this. But her occult worldview, which is of great concern to Christians, teaches that humans are the ones who judge good and evil—and that we can and should use supernatural power to influence both." She concludes by writing that Rowling is "perhaps assisted by the very forces she unveils in her novels."

I'm curious: Have any Film Forum readers changed in their opinions about the Harry Potter stories since the controversy first arose? Do you find your children being lured toward the dark arts because of the boy wizard? Do you have other concerns about the stories? Or do you find the stories to be wholly worthwhile? Let me know.

This week, more Christian press critics stood up to praise director Alfonzo Cuarón's work on Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

Alan Thomas (Movies Matter) writes, "Cuarón lets the franchise grow up with the characters. He has changed the voice of the series for the better. Not only does that make this the best of the Potter films, but the magical world itself is liberated and more vivid. By not having everything explained to us, Cuarón places this story in a newly mysterious place"

Mike Parnell (Ethics Daily) says it's "much superior to its two predecessors in the Potter film franchise. Azkaban deals with large issues. We see that the wizard world has problems with politics and injustice. Ambiguity arises out of the interpersonal relationships between wizards and the bureaucracy. Cuarón taps into puberty's emotions and feeling powerless in the face of those with power. He thus develops a fine film about, essentially, being a middle-school kid in a world that doesn't understand."

He adds the opinion of another critic: "My son, who is a Harry Potter fan, did not like the movie because of its differences from the book."

Andrew Coffin (World) says it's "easily the most stylishly designed and directed of the three," but that the Potter franchise will continue troubling parents due to its "magical elements" and "the flimsiness of the film's moral structure." He adds, "Azkaban frequently relies more on the conventions of horror films than what one would expect for a PG-rated children's fantasy."

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is still proving popular at the multiplex, and this week, a new review from Peter T. Chattaway of Christianity Today Movies has been posted at Canadian Christianity. Defending the series against critics of its magical metaphors, Chattaway turns in a positive review. "Many Christians—and I am one of them—defend the books on the basis that the 'magic' within them serves the exact same purpose as the technology in science fiction. And nothing has convinced me of the link between these books and science fiction more than the fact that this story introduces time travel to the wizards' bag of tricks. Somehow I think most children are smart enough to recognize that this is pure make-believe."

A ready-to-download Movie Discussion Guide related to this movie is available at ChristianityTodayMoviesStore.com. Use this guide after the movie to help you and your small group better connect your faith to pop culture.

Copyright © 2004 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

first page |  6 of 6

Related Elsewhere:

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone	Printer view
Is the big-screen Harry Potter as delightful as the one in the book? And should you be worried about his witchcraft? Critics and viewers respond.

---

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets	Printer view
Christianity Today Movies did not review this film, but here's what other critics are saying ...

---

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire	Printer view

---

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix	Printer view

---

Mad About Harry	Printer view
Our readers seem to be absolutely mad about Harry Potter—both ways. They love him, or they hate him.

---

Redeeming Harry Potter	Printer view
The initial Christian outcry against the boy wizard seems to be dying down. Maybe that's because more and more of us are discovering multiple redemptive themes in the series.