'Harry Potter' movie, final book ready to be released

E-mail this story

Print this story

Share

Between the release of a new movie and the long-awaited conclusion to the series of Harry Potter books, it's Christmas in July for Potter fans in the Sauk Valley. The fifth movie, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," opens at 12:01 a.m. at the Plaza Cinemas, 1315 North Galena Ave., in Dixon. Tickets go on sale at 11 p.m., although advance tickets are available.

The seventh and final book, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," goes on sale July 21. The suggested retail price is $34.99; however, demand for the Potter books has been so high that they usually are available at a reduced price everywhere from bookstores to big-box department stores to grocery stores.

Dozens of moviegoers already have reserved tickets for the midnight movie, said Judy Felz, the theater manager at Plaza Cinemas.

"We're going to have fun," Felz said.

Her enthusiasm is not misplaced - the four previous Harry Potter movies have made $3.5 billion worldwide. Theaters are hoping the magic will continue with the fifth film.

To sweeten the deal for fans, the Dixon theater is offering prizes, movie passes and food for movie-goers who come in costume for the midnight showing. The better the costume, the better the prize, Felz said.

Starting Wednesday, Sauk Valley 8, the Carmike Cinema at 4110 E. 30th St., in Sterling, will offer eight shows a day, at least through Saturday, and Midway Dive-in Theatre, between Dixon and Sterling on Old state Route 2, will pair it with "Ocean's 13."

The Harry Potter phenomenon is an amazing story in itself. Author J.K. Rowling was a struggling single parent when she found a publisher willing to print her first Harry Potter volume in 1997. Ten years later, she is said to be the first person in the world to make $1 billion dollars through writing. Around 325 million Harry Potter books have been sold, in 63 languages.

The books follow seven years in the life of Harry, a young wizard in training whose parents were killed by the evil Lord Voldemort. The sixth book in the series, "Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince," Rowling shocked readers when she decided to kill off a beloved character, Professor Dumbledore, showing that nobody is safe, including Harry himself. In less than two weeks, Potter's fate will be known with the release of the last book in the fantasy saga.

Worldwide sales of the first six books already top 325 million copies. U.S. publisher Scholastic has printed 12 million copies of "Deathly Hallows," and stores say the initial supply may be gone by sundown July 21.

Harry Potter fans are eager to see how the series ends, and Scholastic is determined that everyone wait until July 21 to find out. The publisher is storing the books in steel containers wrapped in thick plastic and bound with chains. A truck driver told the British press he was ordered to drive the books nonstop form Virginia to Georgia, and his truck was outfitted with a global tracking device to make sure he did just that.

Brenda Spratt, a manager at Books on First, said she and the owner had to sign a dozen of papers promising not to open the boxes until 12:01 a.m. July 21.

The store will have live music, snacks and more to keep all the witches and wizards busy while they count down the minutes.

"It's going to be a great night," Spratt said.

GateHouse News Service contributed to this story.

Reach Olivia Cobiskey at (815) 284-2222 or (800) 798-4085, ext. 535.

Reach Olivia Cobiskey at (815) 625-3600 or (800) 798-4085, ext. 535.