‘Transformers’, ‘Harry Potter’, and the Jurassic Franchise: Which Reigns Supreme?
Annlyel James 
Annlyel explores her love of the Jurassic Park, Harry Potter and Transformers franchises
As you may know, I am a diehard Star Wars fan but I’m other things as well. I’m a brand-new diehard Marvel fan and a SERIOUS Middle-Earth fanatic…when it comes to the movies. (I don’t read those extra J.R.R. Tolkien Middle-Earth novels that he wrote.) DC Comics, eh? But outside of these two Disney-owned franchises and the land of Sauron that have become staples in my life growing up, there are three other franchises that have managed to grasp my heart; the Harry Potter franchise, the Jurassic franchise, and the Transformers franchise.
Each of these incredible stories told through epic sagas can be found at Universal Studios in Florida, one of my favorite theme parks in the United States, via exciting rides and awesome attractions. I can assure you, over the years, I have fallen in love with all of them.
As a child under the age of ten, I loved Star Wars, but I REALLY LOVED Harry Potter. Seeing Harry, Hermione, and Ron (kids, by the way) as heroes facing these incredible monsters and horrifying villains in this mystical world filled with magic, wands, and strange creatures was everything to me. But as the years passed by, I couldn’t keep up. As the movies progressed the themes got older and I began to only read the books. I remember being so proud when I was able to finish Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince in two weeks (it was the fastest I had ever read a large 600+ page novel.) I was roughly nine-years-old at the time.
Because the movies were outgrowing me my obsession with the Harry Potter franchise began to dwindle and my cemented love for Star Wars grew at lightspeed rates. My first introduction to the Jurassic franchise happened in 2013. I knew vaguely about the famous 90s’ movie. I knew it had something to do with dinosaurs…that’s it. My father, on a trip to the movie theaters, saw that it was in IMAX and took my sister and me to see it. I wasn’t ready.
It will go down as one of the greatest movie surprises of my life. Sitting in that theater watching Jurassic Park for the first time, in IMAX, was beyond astounding. The dinosaurs felt so real. The peril felt legitimate. The roar of the iconic Tyrannosaurus Rex was bone-chilling. I have never squealed and jumped as much as I did in that theater as I had my mind utterly blown for nearly two hours. It was after that experience that I have become a legitimate fan of the Jurassic franchise. I’ve watched all of the movies except one at least twice, (Jurassic Park 3 is pretty bad.) In fact, I have even grown a distinct fondness for Jurassic World, which I have almost watched more times than Jurassic Park actually.
The very next year, 2014, I was introduced to the Transformers franchise for the first time thanks to Transformers: Age of Extinction. Growing up, I knew what the Transformers were but I wasn’t that interested in the story of the transforming alien robots. There were the Transformers movies that came out before Age of Extinction but I never saw them because I wasn’t old enough. When we went to watch Age of Extinction in the movie theaters in IMAX (yeah, I’m an IMAX fanatic) I’m not gonna lie, I was BLOWN AWAY! The story wasn’t the greatest thing I had ever seen but the Transformers, the action sequences, the NOISE, it was everything I could’ve wanted…and more. Suddenly, the Transformers were everything to me and I fell in love with the likes of Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Ratchet, Drift, etc.
Since then, I have watched every recent Transformers movie, that includes Transformers: The Last Knight (which, unfortunately, I didn’t like as much) and Bumblebee which was actually really delightful. Of these three franchises, I have had multitudes of memories. Each franchise has managed to wow me in different ways and each franchise has wormed its way into my heart. In short, I love all three of them. But there is a clear winner.
And that is the Harry Potter franchise.
I’ve watched every movie (even the Fantastic Beasts movies) at least twice. I’ve seen Harry Potter 1, 2, and 3 more times than I could count. I am a proud owner of my very own wand (obtained while on a trip to Universal Studios) and am a loyal Hufflepuff with a Piebald Stallion Patronus Charm. (For those of you who don’t know anything about Harry Potter I’m sure what I just wrote sounds like gibberish right now.)
I love these movies. In a way, this franchise was my first love even before Star Wars. And that’s why, between these three franchises, there’s no contest.
And now, here’s one of my favorite Harry Potter quotes.
“But you know, happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” – Professor Albus Dumbledore
😊
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Annlyel James is a prolific Staff Writer for Future of the Force. She is passionate about Star Wars and Marvel but loves a wide variety of movie genres. Aside from her role with Future of the Force she also writes for her own blog: annlyelonline. Follow her on Twitter @annlyeljames where she channels the Force frequently!
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Annlyel James is a Senior Correspondent of The Future of the Force. She is passionate about Star Wars and Marvel but loves a wide variety of movie genres. Aside from her role with Future of the Force she also writes for her blog: annlyelonline. Follow her on Twitter where she channels the Force frequently!
