Take a trip back to Hogwarts

Posted on January 14, 2022

By MARK VIOLA

Based on the exceptional fantasy series by J.K. Rowling, the eight Harry Potter films released over the course of 10 years from 2001 to 2011 comprise one of my favorite movie franchises (despite my issues with the actual adaptations due to various changes and/or omissions).

Like the books they were based on, the films were nothing short of a landmark in the popular culture of the past two decades. And, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the release of the first film, “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” the HBO Max streaming service recently released the aptly titled, “Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts.”

Gathering all of the principal cast, many of the secondary cast members and all four directors responsible for the eight movies, the one-hour, 42-minute special provides a wonderfully nostalgic look back at the franchise and the people who brought it to life. It’s a journey back in time filled with smiles, tears and plenty of laughs.

Much of the special consists of various discussions between the actors and filmmakers, and while I’m sure the resulting conversations were shepherded along, they feel surprisingly natural, like old friends meeting for the first time in years. And, that’s exactly how it felt as a fan watching everyone come back together.

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