"You might belong in Gryffindor where dwell the brave at heart," the Sorting Hat recites. Well, then odds are a Gryffindor will enjoy a fantasy film with a good amount of action and where the brave and the good triumph over evil (a little like the Harry Potter series itself. Harry was a Gryffindor after all). A little bit of fun never hurt anyone either.
After reading and watching enough excitement taking place in the Gryffindor common room it would seem that some humor would not be amiss in a film that every member of the house would enjoy. So here are five movies for Gryffindor's next movie night, and five for them to skip.
Love - Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Of course the Fantastic Beast movies follow a Hufflepuff, Newt Scamander, but the story is Gryffindor in nature. Consider the fight against an evil that threatens the wider Wizarding World.
Think how much a Gryffindor would appreciate Newt's facing off against a controversial government and the threats of an older but no less dangerous dark wizard. It sounds like history may have repeated itself a bit in the Harry Potter story and Fantastic Beasts might not only be enjoyed, but educational as well.
Hate - Mary Poppins
Mary Poppins is the classic musical movie starring Julie Andrews and Dick van Dyke. It's popular and fun, but not really a top pick for a crowd of Gryffindors. The story is a little absurd, and dancing animated penguins aren't really enough action for the daring crowd that would likely be in attendance.
With all of the magic, Mary Poppins possesses it would probably be a letdown to watch her use it to clean a bedroom and enchant a chalk drawing.
Love - Peter Pan (2003)
The story of a group of children running away from the muggle world to learn to fly and fight the evil of pirates should be right up the aisle for any Gryffindor.
Add to that the fact that antagonist Peter would likely have been a Gryffindor had he attended Hogwarts and not lived in Neverland.
Hate - Nanny Mhee
Again, magical caretakers would likely not be a big hit to a crowd of Gryffindors. Add to that that the seven children she's been tasked with taking care of in the film are all a bit more like Slytherins (especially Simon) then there's not much to enjoy for the brave at heart.
Nanny Mhee also lacks a bit of the sarcasm that would have perhaps intrigued Gryffindors when it came to Mary Poppins.
Love - The Lord of the Rings
A story of rangers, knights, and underdogs taking on a dark lord? What's not to love. Gryffindors may be a bit more drawn to the storylines of Frodo, but that doesn't mean a Gryffindor wouldn't enjoy the film (or films, really) overall. A smaller band of good guys versus larger, older, and insurmountable odds? That's a Gryffindor story if there ever was one.
Hate - The Chronicles of Narnia
Similarities to Harry Potter don't always mean a Gryffindor will be on board. The movie versions of the C.S. Lewis classics, The Chronicles of Narnia, are unlike to entice a majority Gryffindor audience.
There's a bit too much righteousness, a bit too much Hufflepuff do-gooding to really make a Gryffindor love the story. Aslan may be a lion, but he's a bit more of a defensive presence than one of action and offense.
Love - The Hobbit
Along with Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit is a perfect Gryffindor film. Consider an underdog going out (bravely) on a quest with a rough and worldly group of dwarves. What Gryffindor would refuse the call? Add to that that there's a fight against a dragon and there's much for any Gryffindor to enjoy.
Forget wands and offer a true Gryffindor a magical sword and there's a lot to indicate that Bilbo Baggins himself would be a member of the house of red and gold.
Hate - Bridge to Terabithia
Gryffindors are likely to be more for happy endings and that means that ridge to Terabithia would automatically be a problem. It's a cute story, but not the same sort of epic quest present in most of the fantasy films that would be on the list of Gryffindor favorites.
The characters also spend a bit too much time in the muggle world for comfort. The magic would likely be a joke to a Gryffindor willing to sit through the whole thing.
Love - The Princess Bride
The Princess Bride offers sword fights, fire swamps, humor, and the triumph of good over evil, it should top the list of any favorite fantasy films when there's a Gryffindor involved. What Gryffindor wouldn't want to fight off Rodents of Unusual Sizes or get revenge on the man who murdered their parents? (Harry could certainly relate).
Include the fact that, like Hagrid and Grawp, the giant is working with the good guys and it's hard to find something for Gryffindors not to like.
Hate - The Witches
The film, based on the Roald Dahl novel of the same name, gives magic a bad name. The witches of the title are the bad guys, and that's not likely to go over well with a Gryffindor audience.
Full of stereotypes about witches being ugly it's simple to imagine Gryffindors booing at the screen if forced to sit through the entirety of the story. The Witches is a fantasy film obviously made for a muggle audience rather than one of brave wizards.
