Harry Potter 20th Anniversary Return to Hogwarts Review: Walk Down Memory Lane With Helena Bonham's Epic Charm
The Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts is a reunion special celebrating the film franchise's completion 20 years from the release of the first film in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in 2001.
Star
Cast:
Daniel
Radcliffe,
Emma
Watson,
Rupert
Grint,
Gary
Oldman,
Helena
Bonham
Carter
Director:
Eran
Creevy,
Joe
Pearlman,
Giorgio
Testi
Available
On:
Amazon
Prime
Video
(January
1st)
Duration:
110
Minutes
Language:
English
Story:
The
Harry
Potter
20th
Anniversary:
Return
to
Hogwarts
is
a
reunion
special
celebrating
the
film
franchise's
completion
20
years
from
the
release
of
the
first
film
in
Harry
Potter
and
the
Philosopher's
Stone
in
2001.
Review:
Return
to
Hogwarts
is
set
to
bring
back
the
nostalgia
and
love
for
the
Harry
Potter
franchise,
however,
the
documentary-styled
reunion
comes
off
more
like
a
director's
commentary
round-up
of
the
eight
films.
With
a
long
list
of
appearances
set
to
make
cameos,
some
of
the
stars
get
a
shorthand
as
the
screen
time
spent
with
the
leading
trio
feels
a
lot
more
than
needed.
Not
only
did
the
reunion
need
more
of
Draco
(Tom
Felton)
it
also
needed
to
be
focused
more
on
the
films
than
the
actors.
The
reunion
also
features
many
clips
from
the
original
series
and
the
behind-the-scenes
of
the
film
with
the
directors.
Following
the
series
as
well
as
many
aspects
of
the
leading
trio's
life,
fans
are
bound
to
get
an
insight
into
their
favourite
characters
as
well
as
the
actors.
Emma,
Daniel
and
very
little
of
Rupert
recall
growing
up
on
sets
in
the
ten
years
that
the
filming
took
place.
One
of
the
most
emotional
parts
of
the
special
comes
with
a
tribute
for
all
the
talent
lost
since
the
series
began
including
Alan
Rickman,
Richard
Harris,
Richard
Griffiths,
John
Hurt,
Helen
McCrory
and
more.
We
also
get
unmissable
moments
with
Robbie
Coltrane
who
is
best
known
for
playing
the
giant
Hagrid.
Meanwhile,
Daniel,
Emma
and
Rupert
get
several
moments
to
revisit
their
days
together,
it
does
become
repetitive
and
self-involved,
when
the
series
is
known
for
so
much
more.
What
saved
most
of
the
nostalgia
is
Helena
Bonham
Carter's
humour.
Much
like
her
character
Bellatrix
brings
for
the
film,
Helena
did
for
the
special.
She
brightened
the
sombre
environment
and
filled
it
with
her
charming
presence.
She
began
by
reminding
Gary
Oldman
(Sirius
Black)
that
she
killed
him
and
added,
"Sorry,
it
had
to
be
done."
Gary
Oldman
and
Ralph
Fiennes
add
some
class
and
real
reflection
to
the
beloved
franchise
during
the
interviews.
The
writer
JK
Rowling
makes
two
cameos
in
the
reunion
with
clips
from
an
interview-style
documentary
from
2019.
According
to
reports,
the
producers
decided
to
maintain
distance
from
the
writer
after
her
controversial
statements
about
the
trans
community,
which
also
received
backlash
from
the
Harry
Potter
leading
cast.
Overall,
Harry
Potter
20th
Anniversary:
Return
to
Hogwarts
is
like
watching
a
fast
forward
commentary
of
the
movies,
it
may
bore
some
and
make
others
want
to
watch
the
entire
series
again.
Clips
from
the
film's
emotional
moments
and
of
beloved
characters
like
Severus
Snape
are
bound
to
get
a
few
tears
down.