Magic and Youth

Almost everyone is a fan of Harry Potter. I, myself, have a passion for the entire franchise that has run inside me deeply for most of my life. I have an entirely Harry Potter themed kitchen so I can be surrounded by my favorite things while I magically create large feasts for our family of six. We have one child in each Hogwarts House, which creates point competitions among the students.

We make our parenting fun through the use of Harry Potter themed reward systems, and it is clear that the books and their messages have impacted me for the rest of my life. I was introduced to the book series when I was eleven years old; I am now thirty-three, and I am just as in love as I was back then. While the movies didn't quite hold up to my book-snobbish expectations, they're incredible in their own right. For this reason, I will intend to refer to all eight Harry Potter films as one sole entity.

Since Harry Potter has ended and I have moral difficulties with enjoying the Fantastic Beasts franchise, I like to look for things that are similar to Harry Potter. Nothing will ever match up to it, so I needed something different. A friend recommended Miss Peregrine's House for Peculiar Children. The name immediately hooked me in, and I rented the movie since I didn't have time to pick up the books first (a move I have sincerely regretted.)

I decided to summarize my enjoyment with a few points that cross-over effectively enough that my need for more Harry Potter content feels satisfied.

Some Visual Appreciations

What brought me in about this film was, without a doubt, the beauty of this structure. The house that would look quite different in other portions of the film give a cozier yet mysterious vibe; a sensation I recall feeling when reading and watching all of the Harry Potter movies. Having that feeling again was a great reason to feel that Harry Potter is comparable to Miss Peregrine.

Being able to see her home in more than one was adds to the enjoyment of the storyline, though no one can disagree that this view of the Peregrine home isn't stunning.

Harry Potter had Diagon Alley as a wonderful structural nod, but the fact that it exists is exciting for Potter fans. The shops were a huge deal to young Potter fans, such as myself, because being able to see where the students shopped and interacted in the books meant everything. This was such a small, yet integral part to feeling like you were part of the wizarding world.

The structures of Hogwarts, Gringotts Bank ,the Ministry of Magic, being described as large, formidable, and impressive architecture is a compliment to the designers of these complex sets. I believe these commonalities played a huge role in my finding a Harry Potter-themed enjoyment of Miss Peregrine. She didn't mess around when it came to a beautiful place to live, nor did Harry Potter lack in the wonders of its own magical world.

Other Wonderful Mentionables

Besides cool places to shop, characters get to ride mythical creatures like Buckbeak the Hippogriff (pictured above) and we are taken on a whirlwind experience right along with them. These adventures are breathtaking, and the adventures in Miss Peregrine's are quite a bit similar in that. I refuse to give away too much, but there is a major point that includes a great deal of adventure.

Miss Peregrine's given us what is called "curiosities." Every child is different in his or her gifts, and they manifest in different ways. The unique effort put into the concepts of their abilities is also a way to keep a viewer watching; these are not the most common types of gifts you might see in other films. You do get the comfort of some familiar-type gifts, but the unique ones stand out the most. The main goal by the end of the film? To be put simply, with minimal spoilers: survive.

Strong Female Leaders

Another pleasant thing to share in common is that both Miss Peregrine's and the Harry Potter franchise have a strong female character who many (myself included) find much to respect about: Miss Peregrine herself, and Minerva McGonagall.

Miss Peregrine runs the institution called "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children." She is in charge, and she certainly has the strength for the position. Her character is assertive with little tolerance for fibbing or being late. She has poise, grace, and the ferocity of a woman who knows that everything inside of her lives because the children she looks after are well cared for. Her sole purpose it to save their lives, and it is one she has chosen beautifully. She may not be the kindest, most coddling type of woman, but she shows her love in the ways she tries to keep them safe.

Minerva has always looked out for her students in ways others wouldn't. We can see that clearly in the infamous phrase, "Have a biscuit, Potter." He had just finished getting into trouble, and yet, she wanted him to have (what we Americans would call) a cookie and some tea. She knew the corruption that Umbridge brought and preferred to treat Harry as a human being.

In addition to that, Minerva ensured Harry had a broomstick to begin playing quidditch, and she did go face-to-face with Umbridge about Harry becoming an Auror (I will never forget her declaration to dedicating herself to Harry's success, no matter what it entailed.) She refused to let Harry feel any less than as capable as she knew he was, and she was not afraid of a government agent's response to her defense.

As Miss Peregrine is a leader, Minerva carries the title of Deputy Headmistress, which is the last position in line before becoming Headmistress. She has always been one to go for more, but never in a way that would harm another employee. She works hard for everything she has; another commonality between her and Miss Peregrine.

Here Come the Adventures

There are plenty of adventures to be had in both Miss Peregrine's and the Harry Potter franchise. From start to finish, something incredible seems to happen that is brushed off as no big deal by those who have lived that life. (Clearly, we have not lived a life like that!)

Have you ever thought of what it would be like to survive underwater long enough to explore a lost ship, only to have your friend utilize her power to remove all the water from the ship so they can examine articles? Probably not, but this movie can show you what that would be like. I can't think of many other magic-related things as cool as this.

Harry Potter is full of adventures: name a book or movie, you can find one. We don't need to go into the details. Harry might have just started a secret defense organization to learn what the government planted professor wasn't teaching them. Which turned out useful, since they ended up needing things they learned in order to survive.

When the students try to essentially overthrow a horrific teacher with barbaric methods for punishment, they create an entire force to be reckoned with, which leads to many more battles...including one in the Forbidden Forest. The movies never let us down with something extraordinary happening.

In Conclusion

I strongly relate the Harry Potter franchise to the enjoyment of Miss Peregrine's. My only recommendation is that if you are a reader, read the books first. I read the first one later and ended up preferring the movie, which frustrates me! If you're simply a moviegoer, this will work as is.

Good luck in your new journey. I hope you find new magic you like.