Harry's The Order Of The Day As Pottermania Grips Cinema Goers

Illawarra Mercury

Thursday July 12, 2007

By TOM STURROCK

POTTERMANIA gripped the Illawarra yesterday as thousands of fans descended on cinemas in Wollongong and Shellharbour for the fifth film in the epic series, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

Theatres buzzed with chatter of Animagi and Aurors, Cruciatus Curses and Patronus Charms, Golden Snitches and Slytherins. To the uninitiated, this might sound like gobbledegook but for the faithful, the lingo of the Potter-verse is a second language.

Robes, spectacles, lightning bolt scars and magic wands peppered the droves of Potter fans, and the queues outside the cinemas were splashed with the red and yellow of brave Gryffindor, Harry's house at Hogwarts.

The latest big screen instalment in the global Potter phenomenon sees Harry and friends battle ghoulish Dementors, escaped Death Eaters from the wizard prison Azkaban and the evil Lord Voldemort, returned from the dead to threaten wizards and muggles alike. Along the way, Harry must deal with yet another short-lived Defence Against the Dark Arts Teacher, and perhaps worst of all, his first kiss.

Harry's much-publicised pash with long-term love interest Cho Chang was the low point of the film for diehard Potter fan Matt McLeod, 13, of Kiama, who saw the film at Shellharbour.

"They spent too much time looking at it - there was too much romance in this movie," Matt said.

Fortunately, lovey-dovey sentimentality still takes a back-seat in Harry 5, with mind-blowing effects, violent set pieces and tinges of horror making this the most mature Potter film so far.

"It's much darker than the rest," Matt said.

"The other ones are kids' movies, this one is more adult - it's more graphic."

After seeing the film at Wollongong, Mark and Sherie Sweeney from Corrimal, parents of eight-year-old Potter fan Tiarne, remained unconcerned by the scarier elements of the M-rated film.

"I actually expected it to be much scarier," Mrs Sweeney said.

"There's a bit of violence, but mostly it's harmless fun."

Mr Sweeney agreed: "There's no swearing or sex scenes, so I wouldn't say it's unsuitable for children."

According to Greater Union's regional marketing manager Melissa Kesby, the new film's more adult classification did little to stem the flow of patrons to the box office.

"We've sold out eight sessions at Shellharbour - all an hour in advance, which is crazy - and the cinemas have been packed at Wollongong," Ms Kesby said.

"The film has a few very dark parts which might be confronting for some kids, but we don't expect that to cause much of a downturn - parents might be inclined to see the movie first before bringing their kids."

Potter hype is set to peak on the July 21 release of the seventh and final book, 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows'.

Fans agree young wizard's latest movie hasn't lost the magic

Joel Briggs, Towradgi.

It was pretty good. Some of the fights were exciting.

Daniel Buckley, Balgownie.

I liked it. The scene where they're fighting the Death Eaters was the best.

Kate Angelucci, Unanderra.

Not as good as the book, but pretty good. Like all the films, they have to leave out a lot.

Tim Wylie, Towradgi.

The effects were great. It wasn't scary but some of the action was pretty cool.

Nicholas Andersson, Unanderra.

It was good. I've read all the books, but there were parts that made me jump.

Just magic: Tiarne Sweeney, 8, saw her hero's latest film at Greater Union cinemas in Wollongong yesterday. Picture: ROBERT PEET

© 2007 Illawarra Mercury

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