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Thursday, March 21, 2013

Top 25 Character Of Harry Potter Movies....(5 to 1)


Top 25 Character Of Harry Potter Movies....(5 to 1)

5.
Albus Dumbledore
5 For a character that was introduced into popular culture only in recent years, it speaks volumes that Professor Dumbledore has already taken his place among the great mentor figures in literature and film. Like Gandalf and Yoda before him, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore plays the role of wise sage, guide, and pseudo-grandfather in the story.


There's a whimsical eccentricity to Dumbledore that might mislead some into thinking he's a kind of absent-minded professor. That would be a mistake as he's proven to be one of the most skilled wizards that ever lived. In the films, we loved Richard Harris' more soft-spoken approach early on, but have to admit that Michael Gambon felt right at home showing Dumbledore at his most impressive – from taking on Voldemort in a one-on-one battle, to single-handedly thwarting off a horde of zombie-like inferi. His absence in Harry's life, since he was killed by Snape on the astronomy tower on a fateful and tragic night, has been powerful… even as Harry has begun to learn new, and potentially troubling, information about his mentor.


4.
Severus Snape
4 Whether you love him, or hate him, or love to hate him, Severus Snape makes quite an impact in the Harry Potter series. If you're Harry, Snape is a nightmare of a teacher – picking on the boy from the moment he stepped into Potions class, and showing clear favoritism toward Draco Malfoy and other Slytherin students. And yet… When Harry and his friends thought Snape was the one trying to steal the Sorcerer's Stone, it turned out he was trying to protect it, and every now and again, Snape actually seemed like he was trying to help these kids.


Snape turned into one of the most discussed and debated characters from Harry Potter. Is he an evil man with moments of good, or a good man who has some very ugly characteristics? Or something more complicated all together? When Snape killed Dumbledore, it was a defining moment for Harry, who couldn't fathom Dumbledore being betrayed by a man who his mentor had -- for whatever reason -- chosen to trust so much. We couldn't ask for a better actor than Alan Rickman to portray Snape, bringing the same charisma he's given to so many screen villains, from Die Hard on. And Snape is a villain after all... right?


3.
Ron Weasley
3 Ron Weasley is Harry Potter's best friend and ever-present sidekick. But unlike most sidekicks, Ron isn't a coward or a simpleton, nor is he content to live in Harry's shadow. Of the three friends that make up the main cast of characters, Ron is the comic relief -- not an uncommon trait for sidekicks of his ilk -- a characteristic that makes him instantly endearing. And while he lacks Harry's natural magical talent, or Hermione's smarts, Ron overcomes his shortcomings with faithfulness and perseverance.


In spite of his fear of spiders, Ron follows Harry loyally into the Forbidden Forest, and mixes it up with the bad guys more than a few times in the series. He goes from bumbling Gryffindor keeper to Quidditch hero and works undercover at Hogwarts to co-found the vigilante student group Dumbledore's Army. Ron's flirtation/frustration with Hermione is also a highlight of the series. After all they'd been through, it was therefore difficult to see Ron abandon Harry and Hermione in Deathly Hallows Part 1 - but oh-so gratifying when he returned, facing some very personal, nightmarish visions (forget those spiders - he saw Harry and Hermione naked and getting it on!) and conquering them with the bravery of a true Gryffindor.


2.
Hermione Granger
2 Hermione Granger, Harry Potter and Ron Weasley's best girl-pal, is so much more than just a token throw-in for female readers/viewers to identify with. In fact, she narrowly edges out Ron for second place on our list. Why? We're glad you asked... Potter author J.K. Rowling describes her as "very logical, upright, and good." And while she's at first painted as a brainy do-gooder who always plays by the rules, it's fun to watch Hermione develop into so much more over the course of the series.


Throughout the novels and films, Hermione remains the voice of reason, but she'll break the law without hesitation if it's for the greater good. And her Spock-like logic is no help at all when hormones come into play -- completely fracturing, in fact, when it comes to her playfully love-hate relationship with Ron. You'll find no better friend or magical ally than "the brightest witch of her age."


1.
Harry Potter
1 Perhaps it's a given that Harry Potter himself tops our list, but it's important to still reflect on why the character has been so universally accepted. He's a sympathetic figure; a kid plucked from unfortunate circumstances and thrust into a magical reality. He realizes he has been gifted with great power. And then he's pitted against the ultimate evil in the wizarding world, Lord Voldemort, who years ago killed his mother and father . Everybody loves an underdog story of good vs. evil and we've watched Harry grow up in this fantastic setting -- forming friendships, fighting foes, and finding love.


While Harry only partially realizes his deepest desire, to see his dead parents again, he is fathered and mothered by the care-taking adults who surround him -- Albus Dumbledore, Hagrid, Molly and Arthur Weasley, and Sirius Black to name a few. His faithful friends Ron and Hermione are an extension of this ad hoc family -- as close as any real brother and sister. And Harry has needed all the support he can get in his battle against those who would do him harm -- from school bully Draco Malfoy, to soul sucking Dementors, the terrible Death Eaters, and ultimately the Dark Lord himself.
J.K. Rowling was careful to not make Harry perfect. His temper has gotten the better of him and he's made some crucial mistakes along the way, ignoring his friends in the process. But Harry's defects only help to endear us to him, as he feels so very real and part of both our world and the magical one he spent the first ten years of his life ignorant of. The weight of the world is upon his shoulders, as he's said to be "The Chosen One," on top of processing being famous simply because he didn't die when someone tried to kill him – the same someone who killed his parents. That's a lot to deal with, but Harry Potter somehow is able to stand strong, even when faced with tremendous loss and being asked to make terrible sacrifices of his own.    

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