June 28, 2001
By Jae-Ha Kim
Chicago Sun-Times
''Ever have anything strange
happen? Anything you couldn't explain?''
So begins the latest trailer
for ''Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.'' The film won't be in theaters
until Nov. 16, but fans got an exclusive sneak peek Wednesday on America
Online.
Several key America Online
brands, including AOL.COM, CompuServe, Netscape, Digital City, Moviefone
and ICQ, as well as www.harrypotter.com , will also provide their audiences
with access to the new ''Harry Potter'' trailer today. It will debut Friday
in theaters before screenings of ''A.I.''
Running 2 minutes, 15 seconds,
the trailer incorporates all the hallmarks of Harry's world much as the
reader might have envisioned them: Students sail in darkness to the haunting
Hogwarts (Harry's school); Harry narrowly averts disaster with pals Ron
and Hermione in the Forbidden Forest; a magic broomstick is delivered by
Harry's owl, Hedwig.
''It was a passion for me
to be as faithful to the book as possible,'' says director Chris Columbus.
''To make this film, you have to be a fan. These books are incredibly imaginative,
classic stories. Why would you need to toy with that?''
The movie follows author
J.K. Rowling's highly successful book franchise, which started more than
three years ago when she wrote of an orphaned son of wizards who, on his
11th birthday, learns of his magical lineage.
In the trailer, young Potter
is told, ''You're a wizard, Harry. . . . I think it is clear we can expect
great things from you.''
He also is warned in the
trailer that not all wizards are good, and to keep an eye on the staircases,
which are not stationary but move in all directions (we get a glimpse of
them).
If you want to see this
trailer at theaters, don't expect to get a free peek. Area theaters will
not be refunding money for people who want to see the trailer but don't
stay for ''A.I.''
''Most people don't know
what trailers are going to be showing at any movie, but they seem to be
pretty knowledgeable about this Potter trailer,'' says Brian Callaghan,
director of film marketing at General Cinema. ''We've had people come to
see trailers for things like 'Lord of the Rings,' 'Star Wars: Episode One'
and 'Harry Potter' and want their money back after seeing the previews.
We usually put out signage at our theaters that say that if you're just
there to see the trailer, we're not giving out refunds.''
British actor Daniel Radcliffe
portrays the young hero. Never mind that he looks more like a young Sean
Lennon or, as one observer pointed out on a Potter fan Web site, more like
Elijah Wood than the boy depicted on the book jackets. Columbus is hooked
on Radcliffe.
''He's got a sense of wisdom
and intelligence and a real sort of haunted quality that Harry Potter has,''
says Columbus.
The film also stars Robbie
Coltrane (as the giant Hagrid), Maggie Smith (Minerva McGonagall) and Alan
Rickman (Professor Snape).
Contributing: Gannett News Service
Looking for the trailer
Where's Harry?
That was the question fans
wanted answered when they tried to find the trailer on America Online Wednesday
morning.
At 2:47 a.m. Wednesday,
Marisah111 posted a message on AOL's Harry Potter fan Trailersite: ''I
heard that the second trailer for 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone'
was available for AOL users this morning and then AOL mysteriously took
it off. Does anyone happen to know the details?? Apparently people went
to Keyword: Harry Potter, and then viewed the second trailer. I was surprised
that anyone saw it on Tuesday because AOL promised to put it up on Wednesday.
And now it is Wednesday and the trailer is still not up. Darn! I want to
see it!''
Things were a little confusing.
Warner Bros. Pictures had said the trailer would be available on AOL's
welcome page as of 11 p.m. Tuesday. An AOL spokesperson said that the Potter
icon was sporadically on the welcome page on Wednesday, but that the menu
changes periodically.Fans may find the trailer by going to AOL's Kids Only
page, by surfing the entertainment channels or by utilizing Keyword: Harry
Potter.
Read more about Harry Potter:
Libraries prepare for
Potter-mania
There's Something About Harry
The Sorcerer's Stone
The Sorcerer's Stone web sites
Potter Web Sites
NYT Bestseller
Internet trailer
Midnight sale
Book sales
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