November 12, 2001
By Jae-Ha Kim
Chicago Sun-Times
If "Harry Potter and the
Sorcerer's Stone" is as mystical as the book from which it is adapted,
then what better time to premiere the film in Chicago than at just past
midnight?
Several Chicago-area theaters
plan on screening the $126-million movie adaptation of J.K. Rowling's first
book at 12:01 Friday morning.
"This isn't just another
movie," says Brian Callaghan, director of film marketing for General Cinema
Theatres. "It's like a rock concert. You need to order tickets in advance
if you want to see it opening weekend. We've done these in the summer for
films like 'Star Wars,' but we've never done a 12:01 showing for a family
film while school was still in session.
"One of our theaters pre-sold
7,000 tickets for opening weekend already. And there are hundreds of thousands
of people in the Chicago area who would love the idea of seeing it first,
which is why we decided on the midnight screenings. The energy level of
a midnight screening like this is really through the roof. You get the
real diehards who love the series coming out."
General Cinema Theatres
at Randhurst, Yorktown and Ford City are participating in the early morning
screening.
Moviegoers will receive
free treats on a first-come basis. General Cinema plans to dole out Potter
temporary tattoos for the kiddies. And ticket buyers may want to pass on
the vat of popcorn and jumbo soda combo and opt instead for the Kid's Big
Snack Movie Pack ($4.75), which includes popcorn, drink, candy and Harry
Potter collectible cards.
Select Loews Cineplex Theatres
also will feature 12:01 a.m. showings of "Potter," but a spokeswoman for
the chain said the theaters hadn't been confirmed as of press time.
Those who are unable to
nab tickets for Potter this weekend may consider praying. And listening.
The Rev. Ed Townley will examine the parallels between Harry Potter and
the Bible on Sunday. Sermons are at 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. at the Unity
Church in Chicago, 1925 W. Thome, (773-973-0007).
Ironically, bookstores aren't
getting in on the film's craze. Neither Borders nor Barnes & Noble
have anything special planned to coincide with the movie opening Friday.
"We do special events for books, not films based on books," says Tenny
Ahn, regional manager of Barnes & Noble.
Unlike many current films,
the highly hyped, 2-1/2 hour film has no commercial tie-ins with McDonald's
or Burger King. But have no fear. We've ferreted out some cool online sites
where you can get your Potter fix from the comfort of your own home:
* We know Halloween's over, but is it wrong to want to dress like you belong at Hogwarts? Check out Order of Merlin ( www.orderofmerlin. com ). Everything a would-be wizard would want is there (fairy dust, crystal balls, hats, magic wands). There's also a Potter book tin (on sale for $6.95), various T-shirts ($15) and a quilted cone-shaped Hogwarts hat ($24.95).
* Comparison shop online for Potter games, toys and collectibles at www.anewtoy.com/harrypotter/index.html. . And if you want a poster of the film, go to AllPosters.com (www.allposters.com). Potter posters are selling for $15.99 to $19.99 Go to amazon.com to order the academically entertaining The Sorcerer's Companion: A Guide to the Magical World of Harry Potter by David Colbert (Broadway, $14.95). You may know that Harry's prized possession is his broomstick, but did you know wizards were once thought to fly on pitchforks? Or that Professor Dumbledore's friend Nicholas Flamel, creator of the Sorcerer's Stone, was a real person? This book is full of fun facts that gives historical perspective to Potter's mystical world in a way that even a clueless Muggle could understand.
* Planning a Potter party? Then hit the HP Wizard Store (www.hpwizardstore.com) first! Touting more than 700 Potter items, we liked the sale items the best. Bertie Bott's Beans Portfolio are marked down from $1.29 to 65 cents. Cute Quidditch picture frames are $9.99 and colorful magical canteens are $3.14.
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