Harry Potter Movies Cast a Curse Hollywood Seems Unable to Break
Have you ever noticed that magical battles in films are usually all the same?
The protagonist stands tall while the bad guy pales in comparison. Both exchange rounds of magical ammunition until the hero somehow wins victoriously. Well, this trend may be partially due to the Harry Potter series.
How magical combat changed on screen after Harry Potter
After the success of the Harry Potter franchise, it seems as if magical battles in TV shows and movies had all taken a page from J.K. Rowling's playbook.
Spells are often cast with elaborate wand-waving gestures, creatures summoned with over-the-top incantations, and even duels between highly trained wizards which look more like choreographed dance routines than actual battles.
The result was a form of magical combat that often lacks tension or any sense of urgency. Something which often easily makes any magical battle dull and uninteresting.
Even some of the more creative films and television series appear obligated to base their own magical interpretation on a similar style. Wizards, witches and superheroes, who are supposed to be powerful beyond imagining, are depicted as limited to throwing magical spheres and bolts at each other. Marvel's Doctor Strange and the extremely imaginative WandaVision characters are at times almighty in their abilities.
Yet when it comes time for a fight sequence, they are straight back to hurling CG lights and flashes at each other.
Of course, there are some exceptions from recent films. For example, Doctor Strange does push the boundaries of visual effects to demonstrate the use of his powers at times. From the use of the mirror dimension; which never gets old. To the musical sequence in The Multiverse of Madness. In which two versions of himself attack each other with the notes from a music sheet. A scene that can hardly be labelled as unoriginal.
How magical battles could be better
Although it clearly takes a greater deal of effort to come up with more creative magical combat in films, it would certainly be a welcome change. For instance, films before the influence of the Harry Potter franchise saw some very memorable fight sequences. Take the fight between Gandalf and Saruman in Fellowship of the Ring.
Although they both are powerful, adept magic casters, the conflict appears much more physical and dire. They may not be using their fists, but every imaginary blow with their staffs looks like real pain and intensity. And by the end, a defeated Gandalf looks noticeably broken.
Sequences such as this are examples of how magic can be utilised to be more engaging on screen. Where magic needs little to no explanation or rules, the possibilities of what can be achieved are almost limitless. Environments can be changed at will, minds can be invaded, curses can be cast, and creatures can be summoned. So this is a plea to Hollywood. Please move on from the Harry Potter spell-slinging, and make your magical battles a little more magical once again.