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Hundreds line up in the Valley for 1st peek at last ‘Potter’ film
REVIEW
HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 2
Grade: A-
Rating: PG-13 for violence.
Credits: Directed by David Yates; staring Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Ralph Fiennes, Alan Rickman.
Length: 2:10
Movie
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part 2)
In the epic finale, the battle between the good and evil forces of the wizarding world escalates into an all-out war. The stakes have never been higher and no one is safe. But it is Harry Potter who may be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice as he draws closer to the climactic showdown with Lord Voldemort.
BOARDMAN
Hundreds of people waited in lines that snaked around Regal Cinema South theater Thursday night, all waiting for their first glimpse of the final installment of the Harry Potter series.
For four friends from New Middletown and others around the world, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2” marks the end of an era.
“When they first came out, I was around the same age as Harry. We grew up with them,” said Randi Ress, 23, of New Middletown.
The films are an adaptation of the seven-part fantasy book series that chronicles the adventures of three young wizards: Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermonie Granger. The first book was published in 1997, and the first film was released in 2001.
“I’ve been excited for this and every other ‘Harry Potter’ movie since the first one,” Ress said.
Ress and Carrie Ritzler, 21, donned wizard’s robes and clasped wands as they waited in line about three hours before the film’s midnight start time with their friends Mike Szalay, 21, and Vince Marinelli, 21.
Cinema South, on South Avenue, has seven screens showing “Harry Potter.” The midnight shows were sold-out there, a trend across all Valley theaters.
Marinelli said standing in line and seeing the film with a group at midnight is more exciting than the usual theater-experience.
“Everybody here is excited to see Harry Potter,” Ress added. “The midnight show is the one time it’s acceptable to clap at the end of the showing.”
With the exception of Marinelli, everyone in the group had read the books before seeing the films.
“It’s really cool; the movies were just as popular as the books,” Ritlzer said.
Reese said although she doesn’t have many critiques of the films, she does think the complexity of the later films could confuse some audiences.
“I don’t like that if you didn’t read the books, you would probably be confused and not know what’s going on, especially in the later movies,” Ress said.
Szalay said he plans to see the film again in less than 24 hours.
“I’m taking my sister to see it tomorrow morning. It’s a whole second-generation thing,” he said. “Other kids are reading it now.”