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Harry Potter delay, Sir Critic’s away
So … how many people want to take bets that Warner Bros. changes its mind about delaying Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince to next July after they get flooded with angry mail?
I’m actually half serious. No one outside of WB seems to be saying, “Hey, a Harry Potter delay! What a great idea! I don’t mind waiting 11 months instead of three!” I like the theory in Entertainment Weekly that since The Dark Knight has been insanely popular, WB didn’t need another big movie this year. It’s all Batman’s fault! Or maybe the Joker’s.
I understand the studio is trying to fill out its summer slate, but this still strikes me as a bad idea, if for no other reason than that it will generate a tremendous amount of ill will. If the studio doesn’t revert to November, I guess that means Madagascar: Back 2 Africa will have the IMAX field to itself after all. Yay! (SARCASM - I can’t think of a family film I’m looking forward to less, outside of maybe Fly Me to the Moon.)
Well, look at the bright side, gang. This way the last three Potter films will come in quick succession: 2009, 2010 and 2011. But somehow I think that’s small consolation.
While Potter fans sigh in exasperation, I will be away next week on my annual Memphis trek. Here’s what’s new in theaters while I’m gone. (I reviewed Tropic Thunder Wednesday and decried the attendant controversy Thursday).
At the multiplexes
Mirrors: Hm. Since this is a horror flick, and a bunch of mirrors are bound to break, does that mean more than seven years of bad luck?
Star Wars: The Clone Wars: I will not be seeing this while I am away.
Vicky Cristina Barcelona: This has attracted some of Woody Allen’s better reviews lately. I will be seeing this while I am away.
The Neon hangs on to Brideshead Revisited and The Wackness and adds Brick Lane, about a young girl from Bangladesh who finds the spark in her life fading after traveling to London for an arranged marriage.
The Little Art opens Brideshead Revisited.
At the Victoria
Hello, Dolly! is the Cool Film this weekend. The movie doesn’t have a great reputation, but it got some choice exposure by being featured so prominently (and used so well) in Pixar’s WALL-E. So question for Victoria: Does your programmer have a really sharp eye or is this a very happy coincidence? Either way, good going!
Next week’s offerings after the jump.
Multiplexes
The Rocker: On Wednesday, Fox opens this comedy featuring Rainn Wilson as an “I won’t grow up” rocker dude. I’m not sold.
Death Race: Paul W.S. Anderson remakes 1975’s Death Race 2000, and the ads for it actually don’t look too bad. One hopes it’s more Mortal Kombat than Alien vs. Predator.
The House Bunny: Wow, it’s a movie by Adam Sandler’s production company that actually doesn’t look terrible!
The Longshots: Five words: Fred Durst directs Ice Cube.
At the Victoria
The Cool Films series concludes with the Beatles in A Hard Day’s Night, one of my three favorite films of all time. It’s very clean.
Permalink | Comments (18) | Post your comment | Categories: Sir Critic muses
Comments
By Lea
August 25, 2008 11:37 AM | Link to this
Actually, when Eclipse came out a few weeks after the last HP books it shot him off the chart. Why not the same for the movie? I am a HP fan as well, just not rabid. I figure I’ll see it eventually, probably at the drive in which IS a summer thing with my kids. And they’ll love it… But Twilight will be a memory by then for the teenager, so she won’t be anticipating it more than paying attention to HP.By Pavliga
August 19, 2008 12:52 PM | Link to this
+100. Respect. ;)By Glenn
August 18, 2008 7:29 PM | Link to this
Harry Potter films take place during the school year. We encounter holidays such as Halloween and Christmas. Seems redundant to watch this during the summer heat. Can not imagine the ergency to watch and sweat.By josh
August 18, 2008 2:31 PM | Link to this
i wish some of the more vocal harry potter fans wouldn’t make a lump-sum statement, such as “hp fans are raising a rebellion,” because that paints everyone who is a potter fan in a bad light. i’m a potter fan, but certainly have no interest - at ALL - in a “rebellion”… not everyone who enjoys the potter films is up in arms at wb’s decision; they’re a business. i expect them to want to make money. and now i have something to look forward to next july; no biggie. we’ll all live. just please don’t make the entire fanbase of harry potter seem to be whiny little children.By Illiana J
August 18, 2008 1:35 PM | Link to this
I’ll boycott, oh YES I WILL, you almighty WB.By Kim
August 18, 2008 11:49 AM | Link to this
NOOO - this makes me so bummed! I was so looking forward to this and I can’t believe they are changing it at this late date. I love the fall release dates personally. But I’m not going to cut off my nose to spite my face and deny myself the cinematic joy of seeing this in the theater - whenever it may come out. And it should also be noted that WB IS a business and this was probably a smart business decision for them in terms of cash flow and revenue and all of that boring corporate stuff. They aren’t in it for the joy of movies, unfortunately, or they would likely be belly up soon anyway. This is just a real downer for the fans when we were getting excited about it getting close!By Kim
August 18, 2008 8:31 AM | Link to this
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooo!!! This is such disappointing news! Fall is the best time for a HP and I am very upset by this - to let it come so close and then yank it! But I am not into cutting off my noise to spite my face, so I will not deny myself the cinematic joy of seeing this film in the theater. WB IS a business, and this is probably a sound business decision in terms of cash flow and revenue. But it sure is a drag for the fans - we had big plans around this event! :(By Sharon
August 17, 2008 8:43 AM | Link to this
Fall is a truly magical time, especially with the anticipation of Harry Potter. I believe HP fans have waited enough. I expected Rawling to oversee the release date, or at the very least could sway the month. November was an excellent month, due to the lack of worthy premiers. It is also a time to pop corn, and cozy up to the continuing saga of old friends. The hype will surely generate an abundance of revenue, if in fact HP will remain a fall event.By SRCputt
August 17, 2008 4:45 AM | Link to this
What exactly is a boycott going to achieve? There are many injustices in the world that deserve protest. A release date change isn’t one of them.By J V
August 16, 2008 9:26 PM | Link to this
Sir Critic, you’re wrong. WE CAN boycott the HP Films. We will watch it in pirated DVD so that it will not earn their expected 400 million! Please sign this petition. 24,000 fans are already signing! Here is the link: http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/harrypotter6By Betsy
August 16, 2008 7:33 PM | Link to this
What a bunch of money grubbing executives! I’m disgusted.By Sir Critic
August 16, 2008 8:44 AM | Link to this
Actually, Twilight’s distributor has already moved up their release into the slot vacated by Potter. The dominoes are already starting to fall. As for a boycott: Not watching even the Potter films? I say this politely but firmly: I don’t buy it.By M. Williams
August 16, 2008 7:37 AM | Link to this
I don’t think WB was worried about the Twilight movie. At this point in time I don’t think anything Can eclipse Harry Potter. I also don’t think WB will change it back to the November date. Whether it is released tomorow or in 5 years WB know they’ll get their money.By LemonFaerie
August 16, 2008 5:33 AM | Link to this
HP fans are raising a rebellion. WB has created a firestorm. We are planning to boycott, not just HBP, but ALL WB films, including ones by their subsidiaries like New Line. We will also boycott their partners such as AOL and TimeWarner, their merchandise, everything. I for one refuse to see this movie now at ALL. I am completely disgusted with WB.By J V
August 16, 2008 5:20 AM | Link to this
Join this Petition!! Many fans are already signing! http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/harrypotter6 If WB won’t change their mind, WE will boycott all upcoming WB movies including the last 3 harry potter movies!! They are messing with the wrong fans!By Kathy
August 15, 2008 4:17 PM | Link to this
I am very disappointed. It was going to be the feature event in a birthday celebration for my son in November. It is hard enough to find something fun for a birthday so close to Thanksgiving. He knows now that Thanksgiving isn’t just for his birthday. I played that for as long as I could. Thanks a lot Warner Brothers.By Lea
August 15, 2008 4:02 PM | Link to this
Oh… They figured that since they’d only have 3 weeks til they were eclipsed by the Twilight movie they’d move it. Dumb move.By Allie D.
August 15, 2008 12:55 PM | Link to this
Between this horrible news and Netflix being on the fritz, AND my favorite Discovery channel shows being delayed for two weeks for no apparent reason, I am feeling suddenly like the world is destined to take away all of my favorite things.