Should the Harry Potter Theme Park Have Been Built in England?
SodaHead Film
June 11, 2010 22:01:15
June 18 will witness the grand opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, a 20-acre theme park within Universal's Islands of Adventure in Orlando, Florida. But not everyone is excited about it. The mayor of London, Boris Johnson, wrote a scalding article in the "Telegraph" explaining why he "deeply resents" that the park was built in America, and not J.K. Rowling's homeland.
Johnson wrote that he has "nothing against Orlando, though you are, of course, far more likely to get shot or robbed there than London." He admitted that he adores America, but is upset by foreign exploitation of British "intellectual property," such as splitting the atom, building "the finest cars on earth," and of course Harry Potter. He also made an off claim that England invented the internet.
So does Johnson have a point, or is he just bitter about having to take his kids to America to see The Wizarding World, or the $5 billion Warner Bros. has made off the films so far?
"Nevermind the movies," he wrote. "Where is Diagon Alley, where they buy wands and stuff? It is in London, and if you want to get into the Ministry of Magic you disappear down a London telephone box...My point is that this Potter business has legs." Maybe he's just realizing that Potter's legs are in America.
WATCH
Johnson wrote that he has "nothing against Orlando, though you are, of course, far more likely to get shot or robbed there than London." He admitted that he adores America, but is upset by foreign exploitation of British "intellectual property," such as splitting the atom, building "the finest cars on earth," and of course Harry Potter. He also made an off claim that England invented the internet.
So does Johnson have a point, or is he just bitter about having to take his kids to America to see The Wizarding World, or the $5 billion Warner Bros. has made off the films so far?
"Nevermind the movies," he wrote. "Where is Diagon Alley, where they buy wands and stuff? It is in London, and if you want to get into the Ministry of Magic you disappear down a London telephone box...My point is that this Potter business has legs." Maybe he's just realizing that Potter's legs are in America.
WATCH
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Top Opinion
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+18Logically it should be Scotland if you're arguing that. That's where the castle is.
I would be much more upset if warner bros came and built a theme-park out of one of englands nature or heritage sites.
As to the theme park being built in London....No!
I believe it should have been built in England but not London. Firstly have you seen London? Where would you put it? Secondly, where is Hogwarts? It is not in London, neither is Hogsmeed, they are situated in Scotland i think. If the Harry Potter world was to built anywhere it should be there. After-all Harry Potter is the world best selling British book, written by the best selling British author and it is the second largest British film franchise, after the Bond films.
I have heard a lot of arguments against it from Americans saying that they cant afford to come to Britain, but we are in the same boat. People who grew up with the book in the country it is set cannot afford to travell to America to go to the park.
It is a shame it wasn't built in Britain, it would have bought a lot of trade, and buisness to a country that is suffering badly during the credit crunch, But there is not much we can do now.
I think it is great that it was built, and i understand why it was built where it was, but i think Warner could have spent some more time thinking ab...
As to the theme park being built in London....No!
I believe it should have been built in England but not London. Firstly have you seen London? Where would you put it? Secondly, where is Hogwarts? It is not in London, neither is Hogsmeed, they are situated in Scotland i think. If the Harry Potter world was to built anywhere it should be there. After-all Harry Potter is the world best selling British book, written by the best selling British author and it is the second largest British film franchise, after the Bond films.
I have heard a lot of arguments against it from Americans saying that they cant afford to come to Britain, but we are in the same boat. People who grew up with the book in the country it is set cannot afford to travell to America to go to the park.
It is a shame it wasn't built in Britain, it would have bought a lot of trade, and buisness to a country that is suffering badly during the credit crunch, But there is not much we can do now.
I think it is great that it was built, and i understand why it was built where it was, but i think Warner could have spent some more time thinking about it and realised that the homeland of the story would have given them more.
On a lighter note may i ask:
In America, why is "Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone" called "Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone"?
That way american and england can both have a super awesome HP theme park! :D
as to the BOOKS -- another story entirely.
I worked with children for years. after 1999 [when I discovered Harry] it suddenly became WAY easier to interest them in reading. I would get them started and, more than once, they rushed to the library and were halfway through the first book when I returned the following week.
thanks, J.K.R.
Twilight is good.
Harry Potter is complete crap.
Also. If me and you were to fight in real life. I would win. Because I know I'm stronger than you.
Do you atleast like True Blood? It's an awesome tv show.