Many students can think of at least one person who resembles a character from the “Harry Potter” series.
As the “Harry Potter” series comes to a close, the Emerald sat down with a few “Harry Potter” character look-alikes at the University to get their takes on the saga ending.
Oregon Daily Emerald: Are you going to see the new “Harry Potter” movie?
Whitney Wilson: Yes. I am going to watch the new movie because I’ve seen all of them and read all the books. I will not be going to the premiere because I don’t want to buy tickets to a movie that’s probably sold out.
Mike Bachkanji: I’m going to the premiere because I’m super excited to see myself on the screen.
Adam Holmes: I will see the movie because I’ve seen the others. I feel like I have an obligation to finish it up. Not the premiere, probably just some random Saturday.
Have you read the books, and are you a fan?
WW: I have read all the books several times. I don’t like the later ones as much, as I’m getting older and I don’t really like them anymore, especially when Harry gets moody. I did like the earlier ones, especially the third.
MB: I read the first and part of the second, and then I pretty much stopped reading them. I’m not really caught up. I’m not really into fantasy.
AH: I read all the books. I liked the series more when I was younger and not so much now. I like the later books more than the earlier ones. They’re less childish.
Do you get mistaken for Harry Potter characters?
WW: I don’t think I look like any characters; I’ve never been mistaken. I would like to look like Hermione because I would like to be magical.
MB: I’ve never been mistaken for Ron, although I’ve been told I look like him. I think it’s the red hair.
AH: People tell me I look like him all the time since freshman year of high school. That was when people thought I looked like him. I frankly don’t care if I look like him or not, it’s whatever.
If you could, would you attend Hogwarts?
WW: Absolutely. I’d like to attend Hogwarts. I think that’s why I read all the books. I wanted to be magical, and then I turned 13 and I was really upset that I didn’t get a letter from Hogwarts. And then I waited until I was 18 because Sabrina the Teenage Witch was also older, and I didn’t get a letter then either.
MB: I’ve gotten quite a few letters from Hogwarts, but I have too many obligations and not enough time. No, of course I’d attend Hogwarts. I’m trying to have an owl and fly on a broomstick.
AH: Hogwarts is more interesting than just a plain old college: rotating staircases, giant grounds keepers, broomsticks.
What’s your favorite book or movie?
WW: My favorite book was the third because I just like the plot better and it had a different climax. And I don’t have a favorite movie.
MB: Well, one’s the only one I finished, so I’m going to have to go with that one. (My favorite) movie is number one also, because I knew what was going on.
AH: I like the fifth movie and I like the fifth book. It was the transition from childish antics to actually getting stuff done.
WW: That’s why I don’t like it. I don’t like the fifth book because Harry gets really moody and acts like a bitch. It’s more magical and not about Harry’s issues.
MB: How do you feel about be called a bitch by Hermione?
AH: You know it really hurts me right here, in my heart.
Do you like the movies as much as the books?
WW: The thing I don’t like about the movies is that it leaves too much out from the books.
MB: I’d say I like the movies more because I can see what’s going on whether than having to imagine what’s going on.
AH: Obviously when you’re adapting into a movie you can’t keep everything, but I like what they do by keeping the important stuff. But you know there’s been some mistakes. The last movie left out a scene that was pretty important.
WW: Harry’s supposed to have green eyes, not blue.
AH: That’s not that important.
WW: They talk about it a lot though, especially in the early ones.
AH: Doesn’t add to the plot though.
WW: It seems like a simple problem to remedy.
Who’s your favorite character?
AH: Voldemort’s snake. I don’t know why. I also like Hagrid. He’s just so cheerful and helps out the kids. He knows what he’s doing.
WW: I was actually going to say Hagrid too. He’s lovable, likeable. I actually liked Lupin in the books but not in the movies. There’s some latent homosexual vibe in the movies, because Harry and Lupin, they go on walks in the woods and it’s silent and awkward. I liked him a lot more in the books.
AH: I also like Sirius Black. He seems like he’s evil, but he actually has Harry’s back, until he dies.
MB: I like Ron’s brothers because they’re mischievous and like to get in trouble like me.  
Will a lot of students still go see the movie?
WW: I don’t think people are into “Harry Potter” as much. People have outgrown it, and people are just with it to finish out the series.
MB: I feel I’ve grown away from fiction and fictional stories. At the time, I really liked Harry Potter when it came out but hasn’t really followed me through college. It seems like younger generations have taken a hold of “Harry Potter.”
AH: I personally grew out of it, but there are people out there who still really like the series a lot. There’s those people who will see the movie, but a lot are going to see it out of nostalgic reasons. We grew up with this series, so we have to see it out ‘til the end. But I honestly don’t think generations after us are going to be as into “Harry Potter.”
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