Get ready to Potter with a Half-Blood Prince
Well here we are just one week from the 15 July (that's a WEDNESDAY, South Africa) release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the 6th installment in the beloved fantasy film franchise - based, of course, on the penultimate book in J.K. Rowling's bestselling fantasy novel series.
As you may recall, Half-Blood Prince is my second most highly anticipated film of 2009, next to Watchmen. And it appears I'm not the only one going giddy with excitement over a return to Hogwarts. I personally know people who have already reserved their seats, and that's almost unheard of in South Africa.
Meanwhile, Fandango sent me some very interesting statistics about advance ticket sales for Half-Blood Prince in the United States. Two weeks before release the film was already accounting for 28% of ticket sales on the site, so personally I'm expecting it to flatten Transformers at the box office. And I'm really hoping that it's on the same quality level as Order of the Phoenix and NOT the over-rushed, over-crammed Goblet of Fire. Blergh.
Anyway, here's some other interesting info that Fandango uncovered during a survey of around 2000 moviegoers:
-83% of respondents have seen all of the Harry Potter films in a theater.
-86% have read all seven Potter books.
-56% of respondents say Half-Blood Prince's release date change (from November '08 to July '09) has not affected their interest in the film, while 32% say they are even more interested in seeing it this month than they were in 2008.
-40% say they plan to see the movie in both the standard format and in the IMAX presentation.
-49% of respondents are 18-34 years old; 31% have kids.
I guess that's what happens when you delay a highly anticipated film by 6 months - you send the fans crazy. Smart move, Warner Brothers, but just please don't make it a habit, okay? My nerves can't take it...
If that wasn't enough Harry Potter fun for today, be sure to visit Windypundit.com where some remarkably witty, well-read bloggers have imagined how other authors and pop culture creators would have wrapped up the Harry Potter series. Obviously the more well-read you are yourself, the more you'll get out of the post, but it's a highly enjoyable read nonetheless. Here are just 2 examples of what you'll find:
Harry Potter as written by Enid Blyton:
"This is their hideout," whispered Harry. "We've found their hideout!"
"I say," said Ron, "I don't think we should be out this late, chaps, don't you think we should Floo our parents and tell them where we are? After all, I think grown ups should deal with this."
"I don't have any parents," wailed Harry, running towards where the Death Eaters were.
"Ron!" said Hermione, shrilly, "Now look at you've done!"
"Woof!" said Fang.
Everyone ran after Harry except Fang who ran back and got the grown ups. They arrested the Death Eaters and Voldemort was sent to prison for a Very Long Time.
"I say, that was an adventure, wasn't it?" said Harry that night as they all had a midnight feast. "I wonder what will happen to us next?"
Harry Potter as written by JRR Tolkien
Good guys win, bad guys lose. Yet, there are still 600 pages left in the book.
30 Pages of Ron going home,
40 more of Hermione going home. Crookshanks peed on the rug, 70 pages of cleaning that up.
30 more pages while Harry goes home.
Harry doesn't like home, goes to visit Ron. (50 more pages). They go to the mall (20).
Someone mentions Dumbledore and they talk about him.. 75 more pages.
Appendix A - Entire text of 'Hogwarts, A History'.
Appendix B - Muggles, and how they got that way.
Appendix C - A collection of songs, presented in their original Parselmouth language.
Appendix D - Detailed description of the flora and fauna of the forbidden forest.
Appendix E - Wand styles of the famous.
Appendix F - A treatise on Lucius Malfoy's hair.
As you may recall, Half-Blood Prince is my second most highly anticipated film of 2009, next to Watchmen. And it appears I'm not the only one going giddy with excitement over a return to Hogwarts. I personally know people who have already reserved their seats, and that's almost unheard of in South Africa.
Meanwhile, Fandango sent me some very interesting statistics about advance ticket sales for Half-Blood Prince in the United States. Two weeks before release the film was already accounting for 28% of ticket sales on the site, so personally I'm expecting it to flatten Transformers at the box office. And I'm really hoping that it's on the same quality level as Order of the Phoenix and NOT the over-rushed, over-crammed Goblet of Fire. Blergh.
Anyway, here's some other interesting info that Fandango uncovered during a survey of around 2000 moviegoers:
-83% of respondents have seen all of the Harry Potter films in a theater.
-86% have read all seven Potter books.
-56% of respondents say Half-Blood Prince's release date change (from November '08 to July '09) has not affected their interest in the film, while 32% say they are even more interested in seeing it this month than they were in 2008.
-40% say they plan to see the movie in both the standard format and in the IMAX presentation.
-49% of respondents are 18-34 years old; 31% have kids.
I guess that's what happens when you delay a highly anticipated film by 6 months - you send the fans crazy. Smart move, Warner Brothers, but just please don't make it a habit, okay? My nerves can't take it...
If that wasn't enough Harry Potter fun for today, be sure to visit Windypundit.com where some remarkably witty, well-read bloggers have imagined how other authors and pop culture creators would have wrapped up the Harry Potter series. Obviously the more well-read you are yourself, the more you'll get out of the post, but it's a highly enjoyable read nonetheless. Here are just 2 examples of what you'll find:
Harry Potter as written by Enid Blyton:
"This is their hideout," whispered Harry. "We've found their hideout!"
"I say," said Ron, "I don't think we should be out this late, chaps, don't you think we should Floo our parents and tell them where we are? After all, I think grown ups should deal with this."
"I don't have any parents," wailed Harry, running towards where the Death Eaters were.
"Ron!" said Hermione, shrilly, "Now look at you've done!"
"Woof!" said Fang.
Everyone ran after Harry except Fang who ran back and got the grown ups. They arrested the Death Eaters and Voldemort was sent to prison for a Very Long Time.
"I say, that was an adventure, wasn't it?" said Harry that night as they all had a midnight feast. "I wonder what will happen to us next?"
Harry Potter as written by JRR Tolkien
Good guys win, bad guys lose. Yet, there are still 600 pages left in the book.
30 Pages of Ron going home,
40 more of Hermione going home. Crookshanks peed on the rug, 70 pages of cleaning that up.
30 more pages while Harry goes home.
Harry doesn't like home, goes to visit Ron. (50 more pages). They go to the mall (20).
Someone mentions Dumbledore and they talk about him.. 75 more pages.
Appendix A - Entire text of 'Hogwarts, A History'.
Appendix B - Muggles, and how they got that way.
Appendix C - A collection of songs, presented in their original Parselmouth language.
Appendix D - Detailed description of the flora and fauna of the forbidden forest.
Appendix E - Wand styles of the famous.
Appendix F - A treatise on Lucius Malfoy's hair.
Comments
Hope you have luck with your babysitter's return.