Harry Potter movies

Latest Potter trailer reveals secrets

2008-11-16T22:13:00.000-08:00

A brand new trailer for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince has been released.
Hot on the heels of the international teaser which debuted online last month, the full U.S. trailer has emerged, a week before the film's original release date.
The new trailer, which includes much of the same scenes seen in previous clips, offers a preview of the forthcoming film's storyline, including new characters and a love-struck Ron Weasley.
Directed by David Yates, the latest Potter film follows the trials of Harry as he embarks on his sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
The film also lays the foundation for Potter's final battle against Voldemort as told in the final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince will hit cinemas in July 2009.

Tom Felton gives radio interview

2008-11-11T01:18:00.000-08:00

Actor Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy) was interviewed on a radio program earlier today and spoke very briefly about the Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince film as well as his upcoming appearance on the ITV2 program Jack Osbourne: Celebrity Adrenaline Junkie.

On the subject of the upcoming sixth Potter film, the actor describes the film as "epic," but is unable to give much more specific detail about the film. The young actor also mentions his participation in Jack Osbourne program, by relating the fact that this was a "totally new experience." He goes on to say, "I’m kinda glad that I pushed myself to do what I did, ’cause there’s no other way I would have ever done it otherwise."

Source: http://feltbeats.com

'Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince’ Trailer

2008-10-26T22:53:00.000-07:00

The new International trailer for the next Harry Potter film has hit the interwebs. With a little over seven months to go, anticipation is already building for The Half-Blood Prince. Those of you who have already read all the books know what’s in store for Harry’s sixth year at Hogwarts. If you’re only following the films, then trust me when I say the darkest times have yet to come and this next movie, while monumental in it’s own right, sets the table for the feast that awaits in the seventh year (and final two films).

Emma spotted with Prince William 'look-alike' boyfriend

2008-10-18T23:07:00.000-07:00

Miss Watson, 18, who plays Hermoine in the film series, held hands with 25-year-old banker Jay Barrymore, who bears a startling resemblance to the Royal prince.
The pair perused paintings, sculptures and installations at the Frieze Art Fair in Regent's Park but seemed in no mood for buying.
Asked by a reporter if she intended on purchasing anything, Miss Watson, who is believed to be worth more than £10 million, just giggled.
Mr Barrymore started dating Miss Watson earlier this year, before she turned 18 in April. Her parents Chris and Jacqueline were said to be concerned at the seven-year age gap.
However, Mr Barrymore was notably absent from her 18th birthday party. Over the summer the teenager has been seen in the company of a number of potential suitors, including Italian acting student Roberto Agnillera, whom she met on an eight-week Shakespeare course at RADA.
Since then she appears to have re-established her relationship with Mr Barrymore.
Miss Watson earned £2.8 million in the last year, Forbes magazine reported in August, making her the seventh highest-earning young person in showbusiness.

Daniel Radcliffe misses gran's funeral

2008-10-12T22:10:00.000-07:00

Actor DANIEL RADCLIFFE chose to skip his beloved grandmother's funeral in Northern Ireland and continue his stint on Broadway this week (begs06Oct08) - because it's what she would have wanted.

Elsie Radcliffe - mother of Alan Radcliffe, the star's dad - passed away on 2 October (08) after a long battle with ill health. She was 79.The Harry Potter star is currently starring in Equus on the New York stage and was due to fly back to the U.K. last Monday (06Oct08) to attend her funeral.

But he decided against attending the memorial service after talking it over with his parents.A spokesperson for Radcliffe says, "It's been a very difficult time but Dan chose to remain in New York after discussions with his family."They decided that it was what his grandmother would have wanted.

She was a strong supporter of Dan and his career and she wouldn't have wanted him to miss a performance."Elsie was her grandson's biggest fan, and flew to London last year (07) to see his West End stage debut in controversial play Equus, despite suffering from heart problems.

JK Rowling - world's highest paid author

2008-10-05T22:55:00.000-07:00

JK Rowling is the world's best paid author, banking more than £170 million in the last year, the US business magazine Forbes has said.
Rowling, who wrote the first of her best-selling books about boy wizard Harry Potter while an impoverished single mother, earned 300 million US dollars (£170 million) over the past year.
The 43-year-old billionaire author's income was six times that of second-placed James Patterson, who wrote Along Came a Spider.
Last month, Rowling donated £1 million to the Labour Party ahead of its annual conference, indicating that her gift was motivated by Labour's record on child poverty and Tory leader David Cameron's offer of tax breaks to married couples.
A Forbes spokesman said: "It was wizardry that transformed JK Rowling from a destitute single mother on welfare into a bestselling billionaire."
The magazine described her work as "a children's literary sensation" and a "publishing hit".
It went on: "Once a single mother on welfare, Rowling can now claim best-selling billionaire status thanks to her Harry Potter franchise. Over on the big screen, her Potter franchise has already generated 4.5 billion dollars (£2.6 billion) at the worldwide box office - and she still has three more flicks to come."
Last month, she won a New York legal battle and succeeded in blocking publication of a Potter encyclopaedia which she described as "wholesale theft" of her work.
She also said it had forced her to stop work on a new novel because the lawsuit had "decimated my creative work".

After completing the Harry Potter series, the author -- who earned more than the other writers in the top 10 put together -- devotes most of her time to charity work, including the Children's High Level Group, which she founded.
Last month, she donated $1.9 million to the U.K.'s ruling Labour Party.

Goofs for Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets 2002

2008-09-26T22:14:00.000-07:00

During the Quidditch match, the wire that attaches the broom to Harry is visible for several seconds.

When Harry and Ron's car is caught by the tree, a limb smashes a hole in the rear window but the hole is missing in one shot when the car tips forward while falling out of the tree.

When Harry and Ron are in the Dark Forest and the spiders begin to attack, Hagrid's dog gets in the car twice.

When the Weasleys' enchanted car has ejected them and Ron and Harry are chasing the car, you can see the hand and silhouette of the driver.

When Professor Lockhart is knocked backwards by Professor Snape's charm during their duel, his wand can be seen flying through the air. When he lands, however, the wand is back in his hand.

When Harry and Ron go in to Lockhart's office, Lockhart is not wearing a cloak. But when they arrive in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom Lockhart has a cloak on.

When Harry tries to run through the wall to Platform 9 3/4 but bumps into the wall instead, you can see an obvious dummy of the owl inside the cage when it falls over.

Trivia for Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

2008-09-26T21:53:00.000-07:00

Daniel Radcliffe has said that "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" is his favorite book.

Zoë Wanamaker does not appear in this film as Hogwarts' flying instructor, Madam Hooch. Her character was written out.

Fourteen Ford Anglias were destroyed to create the scene where Harry and Ron crash into the Womping Willow.

The Weasleys' car registration number is 7990 TD.

The train station interior used in the film is Kings Cross in North London, whereas the exterior shot is actually St Pancras. The two stations are adjacent to one another, but not the same building. This was done because the architecture of St Pancras is much more visually appealing.

In the UK, this became the first movie to achieve a million DVD sales in its first weekend.

Nurses were drafted into the production when an outbreak of head lice occurred among the young cast.

The script originally said that Hermione would hug Harry and Ron in the final scene. As the then 11-year-old Emma Watson was embarrassed about having to hug the boys in front of the entire cast, Chris Columbus allowed her to change the scene so that Hermione just hugs Harry then starts to hug Ron but the two get embarrassed and resolve to only shake hands. Watson also stated in a recent interview that she kept letting Daniel Radcliffe go too quickly, so the film was "frozen" for a few seconds to make the hug look like it lasted longer than it actually did.

Daniel Radcliffe was initially only offered £125,000 (approximately US $181,500) for this film. The actors' union, Equity, stepped in and negotiated new terms which increased his salary to roughly £2,000,000 (US $3,000,000).

Many Harry Potter fans went to see Scooby-Doo (2002) just to see a trailer for this film.

When Hagrid is escorting out of Knockturn Alley, they pass by a bookstore which has Harry Potter hardcover books in its window display.

Goofs for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

2008-09-25T04:47:00.000-07:00

Crew or equipment visible: When Harry, Ron, and Hermione are struggling in the Devil's Snare, a puppeteer can be seen on the left of the screen, working at least some of the masses of tendrils.
During the train journey, Ron's hair is parted in several different places.
Harry's glasses sometimes have lenses, and sometimes don't, as do Dumbledore's.
When Harry, Ron and Hermione are talking to Hagrid about Fluffy, Ron's scarf goes from being on his shoulder to being draped over his shoulder.
Harry's scar clearly changes positions throughout the movie.
The note that Hagrid gives to the teller in the bank is wrinkled in one shot, neat and clean in the next, and then back to wrinkled.
Just after passing Madam Malkin's shop and before the owl emporium in Diagon Alley, a woman dressed all in black and a man with a burgandy top hat and mutton chops pass on Harry's right walking in the opposite direction. In the next shot, as Harry looks to his left, the same pair can be seen standing and chatting in the doorway of the owl emporium.
When the first years climb the stairs and meet Professor McGonagall for the first time, Ron's robe is hanging partly open in one shot, but is closed in the next.
In the scene in the hut on the rock, where Hagrid comes to fetch Harry, Harry's T-shirt is hanging off his left shoulder at the beginning of the scene, and then it is in the center of his chest, then hanging off the left again, and then back to center.
In the scene with the flying keys, we can see the string holding up the broomstick just before Harry grabs it.
According to the book, Hogwarts students reach the train by going through platform no. 9¾, which is secretly located in the barrier between platforms 9 and 10. In reality, platforms 9 and 10 are in separate buildings, and there is no barrier between them, but railway tracks. People wrote to Rowling about this, and she admitted getting confused between King's Cross and Euston stations. The Platforms actually used in filming are platforms 4 and 5.
At Kings Cross the camera crew is reflected on the side of the train on the right.

How EA’s Handling ‘Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince’’s Shocking Ending

2008-09-25T04:35:00.000-07:00

Something big happens at the end of “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.” Fans of the book are well aware of the revelation.
We’re not here to spoil it for you. But I already know how it ends, so I wanted to ask Electronic Arts how they’re handling “Half-Blood Prince”’s conclusion.
The problem: EA can’t actually talk about the ending. “I can’t, under our Warner Bros. embargo, talk about the ending,” laughed “Harry Potter” executive producer Jonathan Bunney while he was showing me the game at a publisher event a couple of weeks ago. “But I can tell you that you will not be…interacting…”
Will you take your Wiimote and…? “Whatever you’re alluding to, you won’t be doing that. [laughs],” said Bunney. “Obviously, it’s a massive — I was so shocked when I read it. I put the book down and said, ‘That’s crazy! You can’t have done this.’ We’re dealing with it very sensitively because it’s a big deal, right? Obviously, we’re making a game that kids are going to be playing, as well.”
Of course, none of this story makes any sense if you don’t know the conclusion to “Half-Blood Prince.” But if you do, it’s interesting to see EA’s approach.

Warners' Puttar-Potter Suit Peters Out

2008-09-23T22:31:00.000-07:00

A court in New Delhi, India, has dismissed the studio's legal action aiming to halt the release of Bollywood's Hari Puttar—A Comedy of Terrors over fears the name too closely resembles Warners' blockbuster franchise.

Muggles are apparently bright enough to tell the difference between Harry Potter and Hari Puttar—no matter what Warner Bros. believes.

In fact, Puttar's plot is more John Hughes than J.K. Rowling. Set in England, the film tells the tale of a 10-year-old Indian boy who, à la Macaulay Culkin, is left home alone by his parents and must guard his scientist dad's top-secret computer chip against a pair of inept thieves.

The decision now clears the way for the film to premiere in Mumbai on Wednesday and open wide across the subcontinent this Friday.

Potter rival Brisingr fastest selling children's book

2008-09-23T22:26:00.000-07:00

Brisingr, by American author Christopher Paolini, sold more than 45,000 copies on its first day, according to its publisher Random House. It is the third book in Paolini's Inheritance Cycle series, about a dragon rider, Eragon, and his steed, Saphira.

Before it went on sale Waterstone's, the bookseller, predicted it would be met with "near Harry Potter-style demand." The first of the series, Eragon, published when Paolini was just 19, was made into a successful Hollywood film.

Although the 45,000 first day sales figure is likely to send it to the top of the children's bestseller charts, it is still dwarfed by those for JK Rowling's books.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the seventh instalment in the series, sold more than 2.6 million copies on its first day in Britain when it went on sale in July 2007.

Tight security on Half-Blood Prince sts

2008-09-22T00:07:00.000-07:00

Security is so tight on the set of "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" that the cast is practically frisked as soon as cameras stop rolling.

Actor David Thewlis, who plays Remus Lupin, says, "You finish a scene, and the crew treat your wand like it was a diamond and take it straight off you. Filming hasn't even finished, and there is already a big fight for the props."

Originally scheduled for a Christmas-season release, it has been pushed back to next summer.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - Photos

2008-09-17T22:59:00.001-07:00

Rupert Grint, Bonnie Wright, Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson in Warner Bros Pictures' Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - Photos

2008-09-17T22:59:00.000-07:00

Steve Vander Ark - in trouble again?

2008-09-14T22:43:00.000-07:00

Steve Vander Ark, the would-be lexicographer is back in the headlines again.

This time, the discussion is about his new book, “In Search of Harry Potter,” a guide to Harry Potter-related sites throughout the United Kingdom. (Perhaps most interesting to Potter fans will be Vander Ark’s claim to have discovered the location of Hogwarts school on Rannoch Moor in the Highlands.)

The new book is scheduled to be published next month and is making headlines because Potter author J.K. Rowling’s agents are asking to see the manuscript in advance. Their concern is to determine whether or not Vander Ark breaches copyright by using too much of Rowling’s language.

Vander Ark has told the press that this time around the words are all his and there should be no copyright issues.

(In the court decision banning his earlier manuscript, a New York judge stated that Vander Ark had appropriated too much of Rowling’s language.)

Potter delay triggers scramble for movie release dates

2008-09-10T22:38:00.000-07:00

In the Harry Potter stories, wizards play chess with life-size, animated pieces.

When Warner Bros. pushed the release of the next film in the Potter franchise, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," from Nov. 21 to summer 2009, the studio set off a chess game of another sort that’s being played out in Hollywood.

In the last few weeks, distributors have shifted several major fall releases -- including the animated 3-D comedy "Bolt," the vampire thriller "Twilight," the James Bond adventure "Quantum of Solace," and the epic romance "Australia" -- to new dates in November, hoping to take advantage of the box-office void created by Harry’s departure.

November is one of the biggest months for movie ticket sales outside the summer popcorn season, and its three biggest openings ever were all Harry Potter movies, with weekend hauls ranging from $88 million to $103 million.

In Search of Harry Potter

2008-09-09T23:22:00.001-07:00

London, the West Country, Lancashire and Scotland are but a few locations readers will visit in Steve Vander Ark's latest Harry Potter rendition, In Search of Harry Potter. A United States court, the Harry Potter Lexicon - derived from the now defunct www.hp-lexicon.org - citing a breach of JK Rowling's copyright
A United States court yesterday banned the school librarian-cum-author's encyclopedia, the Harry Potter Lexicon - derived from the now defunct www.hp-lexicon.org - citing a breach of JK Rowling's copyright.
The publisher, Methuen, describes In Search of Harry Potter as an 'extraordinary travel book' which 'evokes the myths and magic of Harry Potter.
Methuen had also planned to publish a UK version of the Harry Potter Lexicon, but after yesterday's ruling that's now in doubt.

Rowling Wins Lawsuit Against Potter Lexicon

2008-09-09T23:05:00.000-07:00

For seven years, a Harry Potter fanatic worked on a guidebook to J. K. Rowling’s best-selling series, but in the end, a federal judge ruled on Monday, his book was too close to the work he admired.

“Plaintiffs have shown that the lexicon copies a sufficient quantity of the Harry Potter series to support a finding of substantial similarity between the Lexicon and Rowling’s novels,” Judge Robert P. Patterson Jr. of Federal District Court in Manhattan wrote in his 68-page ruling blocking publication of a Harry Potter Lexicon written by Steven Jan Vander Ark.
The decision, which came nearly five months after a four-day trial, was a victory for Ms. Rowling and Warner Brothers Entertainment, the company that produces the Harry Potter movies. They had sued to block a Michigan-based publisher from producing the lexicon. Judge Patterson awarded the plaintiffs $6,750 in damages.

Mr. Vander Ark, 50, who bears a striking resemblance to Harry Potter, said he wished he could come to a resolution with Ms. Rowling that would allow him to go forward with the lexicon, which he said was written in response to the demand of fans of his Web site, also called the Harry Potter Lexicon.

For now, however, Mr. Vander Ark has his sights on his next Harry Potter project: his book “In Search of Harry Potter” is scheduled to be released next month. It is a memoir of his travels to locations similar to the ones described in the Rowling books. The book, Mr. Vander Ark said, should not land him back in Wizengamot — the wizards’ high court of law depicted in the Harry Potter series.

“It’s a travel memoir,” he said. “It’s not in any way the kind of a thing which should raise any red flags.”

Mr. Vander Ark was a librarian and teacher at Byron Center Christian School in Byron Center, Mich., but now makes a living as a writer.

Voldemort Hath No Fury Like Angry Harry Potter Fans

2008-09-07T22:55:00.000-07:00

To a world of wand-wielding Harry Potter loyalists, the Warner Bros. studio executive had crossed to the dark side. Within hours of Warner Bros.'s decision to postpone the release of "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" to next July, hate mail began to pour into the studio. An online petition expressing fans' disgust with the decision garnered more than 45,000 signatures. The studio says it even received death threats. "I hope you choke on your own saliva," snarled one fan in an email.

While executives' private email addresses circulated via the Web, angry homemade videos were being uploaded onto YouTube. In one, Greg and Penny Gershman overlaid their own subtitles to a German film about the final days of Adolf Hitler. "How am I supposed to get my Potter fix now!" Hitler violently shouts, according to the new subtitles, when told of the delay by one of his officials. He adds: "We are going to make Warner Brothers suffer."

The withering attacks over a family-friendly franchise like Potter show how the nature of fan uprisings has grown increasingly hostile. Thanks to the Web, angry fans can arm themselves with the latest information and speedily deliver profane brain dumps straight into executive email boxes. When CBS canceled its drama "Jericho" last year, fans deluged its network with vicious emails and a cavalcade of nuts -- a sly reference to a word used in the finale. As a result, CBS changed its mind and ordered up new episodes.

It's an unpleasant new challenge for the entertainment industry, which is more used to quaint letter-writing campaigns like the one that briefly saved the television show "Star Trek" from being canceled in the late 1960s.

But Warner Bros. is in some ways a victim of the same forces that drove its success. The five prior Potter films have grossed almost $4.5 billion in world-wide box-office revenue, making the series the biggest franchise in history. In the past, Warner Bros. has invited staffers of Potter fan Web sites to movie premieres to help whip up hysteria ahead of upcoming movie releases. With its transgression, Warner Bros. inadvertently unleashed this powerful force against itself.

On Aug. 19, Mr. Horn issued a formal apology assuring fans that the studio "would certainly never do anything to hurt any of the films." He also noted a "silver lining," which is that "Half-Blood Prince" would now open closer to the studio's seventh planned Harry Potter film, due out in November 2010.

Potter fans felt particularly betrayed by the studio for giving them such late notice about the delay. In late July, just two weeks before the announcement, the studio released a trailer for the film, which explores the teen wizards' early struggles with romance and promises the shattering death of a major character. And Time Warner's Entertainment Weekly had just put Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe on its cover.

Many fans felt Warner Bros.'s stated reason for the delay -- that the film would make a bigger splash in the middle of summer -- was a crass admission that the studio cares only about bigger box-office returns. "YOU just slapped the face of EVERY Harry Potter Fan and told us you don't care what we want -- you only want our money!" stormed Natalie DeGennaro, a 50-year-old electronic-design engineer who lives in Hillsborough, N.C., in an email she sent to Time Warner Chief Executive Jeffrey Bewkes, Warner Bros. Chairman Barry Meyer and other executives.

Some think the outsized reaction could actually be a boon for the studio. Steve Sansweet, who runs fan relations for George Lucas's Lucasfilm Ltd., says "Warner Bros. should be delighted. Sure, they have a problem on their hands, but they are also seeing the passion of their fans. The real problem comes when you have fans that don't give a damn."

The fans, however, are still angry. Many are still signing petitions planning protests and uploading angry videos to YouTube. Ms. Fink, the artist and administrative assistant, recently stood outside Warner Bros.'s Burbank lot with a large sign. "Dear Mr. Horn," she scrawled in red marker. "You will forever be known as 'The man who changed Harry Potter's release date.' Are you happy now?"

Source: http://online.wsj.com

Emma's difficult childhood

2008-09-06T22:36:00.000-07:00

Emma Watson found it "hard" growing up on 'Harry Potter'.

The 18-year-old actress - who appears on the cover of Vogue Italy magazine's September issue - started playing teen wizard Harry's friend Hermione Granger at the age of 11.

She has since starred in four more films in the hit franchise, but admits becoming famous at such a young age took something away from her childhood.

She said: "In a way, it's hard to grow up inside a film. I lived a period of my life that is full of lessons and changes under the spotlight. People have the strange feeling of knowing me intimately because they have seen my transformation from child to woman, albeit only on screen."

Emma also revealed despite the fact she has learned a lot about the industry since she started as an actress, she often wishes she could have had an ordinary upbringing. She added: "I learned a lot of things, met tons of people from as many different places and had incredible experiences. It was just a bit different, but that's OK. "Some days I wish my life were simpler, but the rest of the time I feel like the luckiest girl in the world. After all, whose life is normal?"

Daniel Radcliffe gets rave reviews for Equus

2008-09-06T22:28:00.000-07:00

"Harry Potter's" boy wizard, Daniel Radcliffe, is all grown up and the first fan reviews are in for his Broadway debut in Equus.

According to People, fans who saw the first preview performance Friday night are giving Radcliffe rave reviews. In Equus, Daniel plays a troubled and distressed teen. One scene even requires him to take it all off.

Opening night for Equus is scheduled for Sept. 25, and the production will play through Feb. 8, 2009.

New Harry Potter Image

2008-09-06T22:18:00.000-07:00

There's a new image for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince from Snitch Seeker, is from a scene that seems to have been added for the movie - Tonks, Lupin, Harry, Mr. Weasley and Ginny are out in a field near the Weasley's home The Burrow, holding wands.

This sure is going to be a long Harry-less winter.

Daniel Radcliffe: Lost Virginity to Older Woman

2008-09-03T22:57:00.000-07:00

In October's Details, Daniel Radcliffe confesses that he lost his virginity at age 16 (Britain's age of consent) -- and that the woman was older.
The age difference "wasn't ridiculous," the actor, now, 19, says. "But it would freak some people out."
(Though Radcliffe doesn't name-drop, a source says in the new issue of Us Weekly the ex is Amy Byrne, an assistant hairdresser who was 23 when they met on the set of 2005's Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. His rep had no comment.)
Despite the hanky-panky, Radcliffe — who also says he'd like to play a "drag queen" one day — insists his life isn't too racy.
"I don't pretend to do anything particularly wild," he says. "People talk about rebellion and they say, 'Where is the teenage angst?'
"But I say I try to do it simply by the choices I make in the work I do," he goes on. "I just like wrong-footing people. I write poetry and I love it. I like being different from most other people in my generation."

Harry wants to play drag queen

2008-09-03T00:51:00.000-07:00

"I think part of me would love to play a drag queen," Daniel tells the new issue of Details magazine, "just because it would be an excuse to wear loads of eye makeup."
Fans might have to wait a while to see the 19-year-old star don high heels - he is about to embark on a stint playing tortured Alan Strang in Equus on the Broadway stage later this month.

"For the most part I've been happy every single day," he says. "And all the times I've been unhappy, it's never been anything to do with Potter. It's just been the normal, boring teenage c**p. Insecurities, acne -- all the normal stuff. I've got a great family. We're a very tight-knit group - we work very well as a team and as a tribe. I owe it to that."

Hari Puttar release put on hold

2008-08-31T05:28:00.000-07:00

The makers of children comedy Hari Puttar - A Comedy of Terrors continue to be in trouble.Though the release date has been fixed at Sep 19, it will depend on the next hearing of the case filed by Hollywood studio Warner Bros alleging infringement of their copyright of the 'Harry Potter' franchise.

Warner Bros filed the copyright case against Mirchi Movies, makers of the film. Munish Purii, COO, Mirchi Movies, said that the next hearing will be on Sep 2 at the Delhi High Court when a judgement is expected.The last hearing, scheduled at the Bombay High Court on Aug 25, was cancelled.

Asked what action they planned if the judgement went against them, Purii said: "Let's wait and watch. We will see what we can do." Purii said he is hopeful of a favourable verdict as the title was registered way back in 2005 and feels it has no similarity to the popular Harry Potter series. About the film, Purii said, "It is a 90 minute fun-filled film with four and a half minutes of animation where the two children take the audience for a joy ride.""It is a film about two children and the power of presence of mind and how the kids create a lot of hilarious sequences," he added.

Music is an integral part of the film and the songs have been composed keeping in mind the situations in the story, he said."I think the music will be quite outstanding as we have tried to create fun filled music keeping in mind the storyline."

2008-08-29T00:07:00.000-07:00

A group of young wizards and witches got to dine in the Great Hall of Hogwarts last Thursday, Aug. 21, during a special Stonewall Kitchen Cooking School event.

In a kitchen decorated with cobwebs and lighted by candles, kids learned hands-on how to make a variety of Harry Potter treats during the Dinner at Hogwarts program, organized through the York Parks and Recreation Department. Treats like "witches in a blanket," a snack similar to what Muggles would call "pigs in a blanket," "parchment scrolls" and "witches' fingers" were on the menu.

The kids made plenty of wizardly food, but according to 10-year-old Gracie Ciccarelli, a York Middle School student, the best treat was "definitely the cupcakes." The kids decorated cupcakes themselves using any toppings they wanted.

Patty Rouche, manager of the cooking school, found herself a student during the event. "I'm learning more about Harry Potter than I ever wanted to know in these past two weeks," Rouche said from behind a pair of Coke-bottle glasses. She was in costume as Professor Trelawney, a role she portrayed during the two weeks the cooking school hosted the event.

Originally, only one Dinner at Hogwarts was planed, but it was so successful Stonewall Kitchen created three more.

Wii Love Harry Potter

2008-08-27T23:13:00.000-07:00

Companies often capitalize by modeling video games after successful blockbuster movies, and the Harry Potter series, obviously a huge success in print as well, is no exception. Electonic Arts, the company that produces video games for Warner Bros., has announced the July 2009 release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince for Nintendo Wii.

EA has previously released Harry Potter games for PlayStation 2 and Xbox, but the company has had a more difficult time creating a game for Nintendo Wii because the system is controlled via physical movement.

Billy Stalcup, sales associate at Game Nut Entertainment says EA will have problems trying to integrate wand actions and broom flying into the Harry Potter game for Wii. Stalcup says such actions will take a great deal of precision, and with said precision comes the possibility of creating yet another EA “flop” like Red Steel. One of the first releases for Wii, Red Steel failed to utilize the versatility and response of the “Wii mote,” and, in turn, many facets of the game turned out to be disappointing.

The completion of J.K. Rowling’s series has put more pressure on Warner Bros. and EA to continue to attract Harry Potter customers. By producing the movies and video games, these companies now take on the full weight of the Harry Potter market.

Warner Bros sues Indian studio over Harry Potter copyright

2008-08-25T22:28:00.000-07:00

"The truth. It is a beautiful and terrible thing, and should therefore be treated with great caution." (Professor Dumbledore to Harry, vol. 1, p. 298)

Warner Bros have filed a lawsuit against Mumbai-based studio Mirchi Movies, who are set to release a film entitled Hari Puttar—A Comedy of Terrors. Releasing September12, the film follows the life of a 10-year-old Indian boy who moves to Britain. The film have two animated characters - Hari Puttar and Fantoon - who are the film's narrators.

The Hindi-language children's film, which was shot entirely on the Yorkshire Dales in 2006 and 2007 on a budget of £2 million, tells the story of Hari Prasad Dhoonda, a hapless ten-year-old Punjabi loner who is nicknamed Hari Puttar and moves to Britain. The plot tells how Hari's father, Professor Dhoonda - and Warner's lawyers may have noted that their client's films feature a Professor Dumbledore - is assigned to work on a top-secret project for the Indian Army. His plans are kept on a computer chip hidden in the family's house.

Warner Bros believe the name is too similar to the title character of the hugely popular wizard franchise, whose latest film Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince has been pushed back for release until next year.

"We have recently commenced proceedings against parties involved in the production and distribution of a movie entitled Hari Puttar. Warner Bros values and protects intellectual property rights. However, it is our policy not to discuss publicly the details of any ongoing litigation," said a spokesperson for Warner Bros.

But Mirchi Movies denies any copyright conflict. "We registered the Hari Puttar title in 2005, and it is unfortunate that Warner Bros has chosen to file a case so close to our film's release. In my opinion, I don't think our title has any similarity or links with Harry Potter," said Munish Purii, chief executive officer, Mirchi Movies.

The case is listed for hearing in Bombay High Court on Monday.

Bond moves in for the kill

2008-08-25T01:53:00.000-07:00

Sony on Thursday moved its next James Bond film, Quantum of Solace, back one week to Nov. 14. That move is closely tied to the departure of Warner Bros.' Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince from the Nov. 21 release berth.

The moment the sixth Potter film was shifted, Summit Entertainment's decision came in to move its youth-targeted vampire film Twilight up three weeks into the vacated Potter slot.
Sony executives - who had been wishing for a release date closer to Thanksgiving and the holiday box-office season for their next Bond release - have taken Solace to a suddenly much more attractive slot. Bond's previous perch, on Nov. 7, was intended to maximize pre-Potter playtime.
"Harry Potter moving out gave us an opportunity to get a little closer to the holidays, which has always been the traditional Bond spot," Sony worldwide marketing and distribution chairman Jeff Blake said. "Bond has a really good history of not only playing through Thanksgiving, but going deep into the Christmas holidays."

Sony unspooled the last Bond film, the Daniel Craig-starring Casino Royale, on Nov. 17, 2006, and it was still playing in about 1,100 theatres between Christmas and New Year's, Blake noted.

Six Reasons for the change in Potter 6 release date

2008-08-25T01:29:00.000-07:00

"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” was ready for theaters Nov. 21. But suddenly the studio delayed the opening to July 17 2009. Here are six possible reasons why the presto-chango for Potter No. 6:
1. $$$. In a statement Warner Bros. CEO Alan Horn said summertime is the “ideal window for a family tent pole release.” After all, last summer’s “Order of the Phoenix” is the second-highest grossing Potter film, behind “Sorcerer’s Stone.”
2. Filling a void. Horn also said that “like every other studio, we are still feeling the repercussions of the writers’ strike.” Aside from “Terminator Salvation” in May, Warner had no big movies scheduled for summer.
3. Blame Batman. A Potter movie for Warner in 2009 “will also stop next year’s profits from looking seriously underwhelming after the phenomenal success of ‘The Dark Knight,’ ” said Entertainment Weekly online. “ ‘They don’t need the money this year anymore,’ said a rival studio exec.”
4. Nudity! Fox News said Warner wants to distance itself from naked Daniel Radcliffe, who will reprise his starring role in London’s “Equus” on Broadway this fall.
5. Wild beasts. In November “Half-Blood Prince” would have faced big family competition in the form of “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa” (Nov. 7) and “Bolt” (which until Warner’s announcement was opening Nov. 26).
6. An evil plot. Potter fans, sensing the work of Lord Voldemort here, have vowed to boycott all Warner Bros. movies (take that, “Clone Wars”!). See their clever pleas on YouTube; search for WB boycott.

Source: http://www.kansascity.com

Warner Bros releases statement about movie delay

2008-08-20T23:24:00.000-07:00

Alan Horn, president of Warner Bros., has issued a statement for fans in direct response to criticism of the company's choice to delay the release of "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" until next July.

This is what he has to say:

"Many of you have written to me to express your disappointment in our moving Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince to Summer 2009.
Please be assured that we share your love for Harry Potter and would certainly never do anything to hurt any of the films. Over the past 10 years, we have nurtured and protected each film, and the integrity of the books upon which they are based, to the best of our ability.
The decision to move Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was not taken lightly, and was never intended to upset our Harry Potter fans. We know you have built this series into what it is, and we thank you for your ongoing enthusiasm and support.
If I may offer a silver lining: there would have been a two-year gap between Half-Blood Prince and the much-anticipated first part of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, which opens in November 2010.So although we have to wait a little longer for Half-Blood Prince, the wait from that film until Deathly Hallows will be less than 18 months. I am sorry to have disappointed you now, but if you hold on a little longer, I believe it will be worth the wait."

New photo of Dumbledore

2008-08-20T23:02:00.000-07:00

The latest issue of German magazine Cinema has an article and behind the scenes look at the “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” film which a short report, photos from the film, and a photo of Dumbledore during a scene shot in the Great Hall.

'Harry Potter' fans fight delay

2008-08-18T23:42:00.000-07:00

Fans are furious over the delayed release of the next Harry Potter film. And they are venting their anger online.
Potter fan sites MuggleNet and The Leaky Cauldron are bubbling with dismay and anger about the scheduling move, announced Thursday by Warner Bros. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is now scheduled to hit theaters in July 2009 rather than in November 2008.
"Totally disgusted by WB's decision," wrote a user known as ocean on MuggleNet. "I'm totally convinced that the decision was motivated by money and only money." On Leaky Cauldron, a user known as Savannah wrote: "This is a huge let down (sic). I can’t believe that they are moving it back by nearly eight months!"
Potter fans are also airing their grievances on social networking sites like Facebook and YouTube. A Facebook group named The Delay of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Has Ruined My Life is calling for a nationwide boycott of the film on opening day.
Fans are also signing up petitions fans online in thousands. Some Potterphiles are even planning to protest outside Warner's corporate headquarters in New York, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Meanwhile, Warner Bros. says the decision to magically transform the film into a summer release will boost the Half-Blood Prince's box office potential.
"Like every other studio, we are still feeling the repercussions of the writers' strike, which impacted the readiness of scripts for other films," said Alan Horn, president of Warner Bros., in a statement Thursday.

Why Warner Bros delayed release of 'Half-Blood'

2008-08-18T23:03:00.000-07:00

Now if you were the producer of children movies and your protagonist goes around signing plays, which isn't such a bad thing, but also goes around posing in the buff on horses, which is definitely not good news. Just what would you do?
Fox News has presented the theory that Warner Bros. decided to push back the release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince because of Daniel Radcliffe's flesh-flashing in the Broadway production of Equus. Had they stuck to the film's original release date (November 21), Radcliffe would have been bang in the middle of the play. And that's not the image Warner Bros. wants associated with bespectacled Harry.

Warner Bros definitely do not want to start answering questions about blinding horses and having sex with them vs. flying around and making potions.

Hours after the announcement was made about the film's delay, Potter fans were incensed and took to the internet to vent their rage.

We have a shot of Radcliffe riding a horse bareback in the latest issue of Vogue magazine. The images were taken by Annie Leibovitz.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince to open in summer 2009

2008-08-18T08:45:00.000-07:00

Warner Bros has announced the delay of the release of the latest Harry Potter movie from this fall to next year summer.

But, obviously the left hand does not know what the right hand is up to. Entertainment Weekly printed Harry Potter's photo on the cover of Aug 22 issue which was about the movie's release on Nov 21 2008. However, Warner Bros announced almost simultaneously the rescheduling the release date. It is an irony that both the companies are under one parent company. But there was an obvious lack of communication between the two. Entertainment Weekly did make amends by adding a footnote on its online issue.

Now, why did Warner Bros change the release date? Were they scared of the competition this fall? Obviously, they seem to be.

'Twilight' will open three weeks earlier than planned, on November 21 After 'Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince' Delay. The move allows for "Twilight" to premiere on more screens than it otherwise would have and to stay in theaters for a longer time prior to the major holiday season, according to the press release.

"Twilight" will now face off against Disney's "Bolt," the animated story of a hero dog, for the box-office crown. Previously, it would have competed against Scott Derrickson's "The Day the Earth Stood Still" starring Keanu Reeves.

Trivia for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone 2001

2008-08-09T00:11:00.000-07:00

Robbie Coltrane was the very first person to be cast.

Richard Harris only agreed to taking the part of Albus Dumbledore after his eleven year old granddaughter threatened never to speak to him again.

Author J.K. Rowling insisted that the principal cast be British and she got her wish, with two exceptions - Richard Harris was, of course, Irish, and Zoë Wanamaker, though she has made her name as a "British" actress, was actually born in the United States. Other non-Brits in the cast include Verne Troyer, born in Michigan, USA, who plays Griphook (the second Goblin in Gringots' Bank) and Chris Columbus daughter, Eleanor Columbus, who played Susan Bones.

The trouble-making poltergeist Peeves (played by Rik Mayall) does not, in the end, appear in the movie.

There was a huge media outcry in Gloucester, England when it was decided to use the local Cathedral for some of the Hogwarts scenes. Protesters wrote letters by the sack-load to local newspapers, claiming it was blasphemy and promising to block the film-crew's access. In the end, only one protester turned up.

The movie is known as "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" everywhere except the USA and so every scene in which the Philosopher's Stone was mentioned was filmed twice, once with the actors saying "Philosopher's" and once with the actors saying "Sorcerer's".

The hut used during the filming as Hagrid's hut has since been demolished in case fans of the film swamped it.

The tabby cat used ran away during filming and came back two days later.

While the movie used Platforms 4 and 5 at Kings Cross to represent platforms 9 and 10, there is, in fact a "Platform 9 3/4" at Kings Cross. It's located in the walkway area between the intercity section and the section where the real platforms 9 and 10 are, and was obviously put there for fans of Harry Potter.

At one point, when Harry, Ron, and Hermione are approaching Hagrid, he can be seen playing a wind instrument. He is playing the Hedwig's Theme.

Among the portraits on the shifting staircase, you can clearly see a painting of Anne Boleyn, King Henry VIII's second wife and the mother of Queen Elizabeth I. Anne Boleyn was popularly believed to be a witch.

This movie has the distinction of opening on more screens in the USA than any other (3762).

By February 2002 this was the second highest grossing film worldwide after Titanic (1997).

Harry Potter's birthday is reported in the books as being "somewhere in July", "As the seventh month dies" and finally the day after Neville's (30/7). In the American Book, "HP & the Sorceror's Stone", Harry reads the Daily Prophet's story about the Gringott's break-in as happening "on 31 July". He then remarks it was the day he and Hagrid were there, which was his birthday. Author J.K. Rowling, and actors Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) and Richard Griffiths (Uncle Vernon) were all reported to have their birthdays on 31 July. It was later revealed that Radcliffe's birthday is, in fact, 23rd July and that the claim that his birthday was the same as Harry Potter's was merely a publicity stunt.

Daniel Radcliffe learned he'd won the role of Harry Potter while in the bathtub.

Warner Bros. originally considered making the entire "Harry Potter" series as a set of CGI animated films, or attempting to combine several of the novels into a single movie. The studio's reasoning mainly had to do with concern over the rapid aging of child actors-if production ran too long on any of the films, or if production was delayed between sequels, the leading actors might have to be recast. Author J.K. Rowling vetoed both the ideas of combining books and an animated film, so the studio decided instead to produce all seven (later eight) films back to back so the same child actors could play their roles in every film.

On the Quidditch trophy that has Harry's father's name on it, there are additional inscriptions for M. McGonagall and R.J.H. King. The latter being a reference to John King, the supervising art director on the film.

The inscription around the Mirror of Erised says: "Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi". Reading the inscription backwards it says, "I show not your face but your heart's desire."

The word 'bloody' appears in the film six times, along with one 'arse', one 'bugger', and two 'blasted's. This, and some very scary scenes in the haunted forest, led to its PG certificate.

The film reveals that the 12th use for dragon's blood is an oven cleaner.

Nicholas Flamel, mentioned as the creator of the Philosopher's/Sorcerer's Stone, was actually a real alchemist who was believed by some people to have produced the Philosopher's Stone and who has mysterious circumstances surrounding his "death". It is rumored that he might still be alive and, if so, he would be about the age given in the book and movie.

The Hogwarts motto, "Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus" means "never tickle a sleeping dragon".

Three owls play Hedwig: Gizmo, Ook and Sprout, but mainly Gizmo.

Warwick Davis, who played Professor Flitwick and the first Gringotts Goblin, also provided the voice for Griphook who was physically played by Verne Troyer.

In the original draft, Drew Barrymore, a self-proclaimed Harry Potter fan, had a cameo.

Rosie O'Donnell and Robin Williams were two of the celebrities who had asked for a role in the movie without pay. However they did not film any scenes for the movie.

'Tim Roth' was a leading contender for the role of Professor Severus Snape. Roth dropped out of contention, however, to pursue his role as General Thade in Tim Burton's adaptation of Planet of the Apes (2001).

In the script, the flashbacks to Voldemort killing Harry's parents were written by J.K. Rowling herself. The producers knew she was the only one who knew exactly what happened.

The "Hogwart's Express" locomotive portrayed in this film, a 1937 4-6-0 "Hall" class steam engine number 5972, originally belonged to the Great Western Railway and went under the name of "Olton Hall".

Alan Rickman was hand-picked to play Snape by J.K. Rowling.

Alan Rickman received special instruction from J.K. Rowling as to his character. Rowling even provided the actor with vital details of Snape's back story not revealed until the final novel.

Robbie Coltrane was also handpicked by J.K. Rowling to play Hagrid.

In the troll scene in the girl's bathroom, Daniel Radcliffe isn't actually on the troll's neck, because the motions would have snapped his neck; therefore, his image was digitally added.

In the trophy cupboard, to the right of the Quidditch trophy, you can see the "Service to the School" trophy with part of "Tom M Riddle" engraved on it.

The Wizard's chess-set Harry and Ron were playing, the red queen is from the Lewis Chessmen, the most important of all chess pieces dating from the 12th Century. They were found in 1831 on a beach in Uig, Lewis. 78 pieces were recovered in all, and are now in the care of the National Museum of Scotland and in the British Museum in London.

For the Gringotts interior scenes, the Australian High Commission in London was used. The exteriors are the Silver Vaults located not far from the Australian High Commission.

Gabriel Thomson was considered for the role of Harry.

All the cars in Privet Drive are Vauxhalls, no matter the time period. The Dursleys own a silver 2000 Vauxhall Vectra estate. All other cars parked in the drives are Vectra estates in the present day, with Astra Belmont and Cavalier saloons from the late 1980s in the pre-titles prologue.

The street that Harry and Hagrid walk down to get to the Leaky Cauldron is the same street Sean Connery is parked in waiting for Catherine Zeta-Jones to leave the antiques shop in Entrapment (1999).

David Thewlis, who later played Professor Lupin in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004), was considered for the role of Professor Quirrell.

In the film, the scar on Harry's forehead is off-center. This was done at J.K. Rowling's request. Due to the artwork on the covers of her books, many people have assumed that his scar is supposed to be in the center of his forehead. The books, however, never specify exactly where on his forehead the scar is located.

At one time, Alan Parker was considered for the director's job.

The exterior used for King's Cross Station is actually St Pancras Station which is just down the road. This was used because the facade of St Pancras is more visually appealing than that of King's Cross.

Platform 9 3/4 was filmed at Kings Cross, but on platforms 4 and 5. J.K. Rowling has admitted that she mixed up the layout of London's King's Cross railway station when she assigned the Hogwarts Express to platform 9 3/4, reached by using magic between platforms 9 and 10. She meant the location to be in the Inter-City part of the station, but 9 and 10 are actually among the rather less grand suburban platforms. The movie conformed to Rowling's original intent: the platforms seen as 9 and 10 are in real life inter-city platforms 4 and 5.

John Williams composed a piece of music specifically for the movie's trailer, and it is found on the soundtrack as "The Prologue". As of March 2002, he has done this only once before, for Steven Spielberg's Hook (1991). (However, on the collector's edition of the soundtrack for Jaws (1975), a previously unreleased track appears called "Shark Attack" - this was only used in the trailer for that movie - in 1975.)

Robbie Coltrane's 6'10" body double for Hagrid is former England rugby international, Martin Bayfield.

Screenwriter Michael Goldenberg wrote a draft of the script but was ultimately rejected by David Heyman in favor of Steve Kloves' draft. Heyman however was impressed with his draft and was subsequently brought in to write the script for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)when Kloves backed out to commit on a personal project.

Steven Spielberg reportedly wanted Haley Joel Osment for the part of Harry.

The last name Dumbledore means "Bumblebee" in Old English.

West Anglia Great Northern Trains, the company that owns "Platform 9-3/4", affixed one-quarter of a luggage trolley forwardly "disappearing" into the wall so as to allow fans (and their parents) to take pictures of themselves seeming to disappear into the wall.

During filming, Daniel Radcliffe changed the screen on Robbie Coltrane's cellphone to Turkish. Coltrane had to phone hair designer Eithne Fennel's Turkish father in order to find out Turkish for "Change Language".

Director Chris Columbus wanted to work with DP John Seale and asked the studio to hire him to shoot the picture, but at that time Seale was committed to shooting Timeline (2003). However, production delays for the latter film enabled Seale to be available for the movie's photography period.

The platform attendant at Kings Cross who asks Harry, "You think you're funny, do you?" actually works for GNER. He is, however, a train manager and not a platform attendant.

Liam Aiken was originally given the role of Harry, but a day later the offer was revoked when it was discovered that he wasn't British (Aiken had previously worked with director Chris Columbus).

In addition to Steven Spielberg, other candidates for the director's job were Jonathan Demme, Brad Silberling and Terry Gilliam. Gilliam was J.K. Rowling's initial favorite but the studio finally picked Chris Columbus to direct because he had experience directing child actors. Columbus was also asked many times by his daughter to direct and he agreed after he read her copy of the book.

Ron's choice of opening in the final chess match is called Center Counter Opening (or Scandinavian Defense), which, due to its asymmetrical nature, is said to be a highly unpredictable and difficult opening for either side, that rarely results in a draw.

The Harry Potter Virtual Film Location Tour

2008-08-07T23:04:00.000-07:00

The mystery of Harry Potter conjured up on screen can be credited in no small part to the atmosphere provided by historic, moody backdrops in key scenes.

Luckily, the movie's producers had only to look around England and Scotland to find real-life set locations.

Today, the cathedrals, abbeys and castles that feature in Harry Potter films - for centuries the scene of political intrigues, royal marriages, or bloody battles - have suddenly gone Hollywood.

Glenfinnan Viaduct - The real-life 'set' used for many scenes featuring the Hogwarts Express, this famous viaduct was built in 1901. Today the surrounding area remains a prime stop for walking tours through the Scottish highlands. The Jacobite Steam Train takes modern day, muggle passengers for a scenic trip on the train that was featured in the Harry Potter films.

A trip to Glennfinnan, located 16 miles west of Fort William, also includes a friendly visitor center wher you can snap photos of the train .Stop by for brochures and related nearby attractions, including the Railway Museum and the monument to Bonnie Prince Charlie.

Gloucester Cathedral - You'll almost certainly recognize part of the interior which doubled for the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry at this ancient cathedral, and the adjacent King's School, a day trip from London.

Originally built as an abbey in 1089, the cathedral features a medieval labryinth, world famous Gothic fan vaulting, and the stained glass of the Great East Window, along with the tombs of Edward II and Robert Duke of Normandy.

Bodleian Library, Oxford University - The Oxford library doubled as the Hogwarts Library in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, and is especially noteworthy for the scene in which Harry hides under the invisibility cloak, as he searches for information on Nicolas Flamel. A visit to the Bodleian includes exhibits, visitor info, and a gift shop, and is usually featured on a London-to-Oxford day trip.

Kings Cross Station - The sprawling Underground and railway station featured in all Harry Potter films. It's the place where young witches and wizards hop the train - at Platform 9 3/4 - for the magic commute to Hogwarts.

Alnwick Castle - First glimpsed in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, this 11th century castle eventually took on a larger role in the flying-lesson and Quidditch match scenes in Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone.

Alnwick Castle has also prominently starred in other films such as as Becket with Peter O'Toole, Mary Queen of Scots with Vanessa Redgrave and Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves with Kevin Costner.

For more details read http://www.londonforidiots.com

The Unofficial Guide to Harry Potter Fun, Facts and Trivia: Part3

2008-08-07T00:38:00.000-07:00

Characters - Individuals (N-Z)

Nearly Headless Nick - His real name is Sir Nicolas de Mimsey-Porpington. Hit 45 times in the neck with a blunt axe, his head is still atttached to his neck by 1/2 inch of skin and sinew. Because of this he is not eligible for membership in the Headless Huntsmen Club. (vol. 2, p. 123)

Nigellus, Phineas - Former Hogwart's Headmaster; clever-looking old wizard with a pointed beard, whose portrait hangs in Dumbledore's office; Sirius's great-great-grandfather. (vol. 5, p. 472, 821)

Ogden, Bob - As Head of Magical Law Enforcment Squad, was sent to give Morfin Gaunt a summons for a hearing because he broke Wizarding Law by performing a jinx on the Muggle, causing painful hives. (vol. 6, p. 208)

Ogden, Tiberius - Resigns in protest from the Wizengamot when the post of Inquisitor to Hogwarts School is announced. (vol. 5, pp. 308, 714)

Ogg - The gamekeeper before Hagrid got the job. (vol. 4, p. 617)

Padfoot - Sirius Black's nickname at Hogwarts; a large black dog that Sirius masquerades as at times. (vol. 4, p. 520)

Paracelsus - Name of wizard depicted on a wizard trading card.

Parkinson, Pansy - In Slytherin House, fifth-year prefect. (vol. 5)

Patil, Pavarti - In Gryffindor House, fifth-year prefect; sister of Paadma Patil (Ravenclaw).

Perkins - Stooped, timid-looking old wizard; has white fluffy hair; works for the Ministry of Magic. (vol. 5 p. 133)

Pettigrew, Peter - A rat animagus; nicknamed Wormtail; a friend of the Potters, who thought Sirius was implicated in their deaths and went after him. He "Died a hero's death." Received the order of Merlin, First Class, when he died by Sirius's hand. (vol. 3, p. 207, vol. 3, 4. 5). In later books he becomes a Death Eater. See Wormtail.

Pince, Madam - The Librarian at Hogwarts. (vol. 2, p. 163)

Podmore, Sturgis - Square jawed wizard; thick straw-colored hair; convicted of trespassing and attempted robbery; sentenced by Wizengamot to six months at Azkaban; A guard at the Order of the Phoenix Headquarters. (vol. 5, pp. 49, 180, 287)

Pomfrey, Madame - Hogwarts school nurse. In charge of the infirmary.

Potter, Harry - The most famous student at Hogwarts because he survived an attack by Lord Voldemort. He has jet black hair and green eyes, his glasses are held together by tape. He bears a lightning bolt-shaped scar on forehead, a remnant from the attack, which killed his parents. "The boy who lived." (vol. 5, p. 847)

Potter, James - Harry's father.

Potter, Lily Evans - Harry's mother. Born to muggles but married a wizard. Lily was the sister of Petunia Dursley.

Prang, Ernie - An elderly wizard who drives the Knight Bus.

Prongs - James Potter's nickname at Hogwarts.

Ptolemy - Name of a wizard depicted on a wizard trading card.

Puddifoot, Madame - Heavy-set, with a black bun; owner of a Tea House in Hogsmeade. (vol. 5, p. 559)

Pye, Augustus - Healer Trainee (vol. 5, p 506)

Quirrell, Professor - Teaches Defense Against the Dark Arts. Tries to kill Harry during a Quidditch match; a disciple of Lord Voldemort. (vol. 1, p. 288)

Rackharrow, Urquhart - Inventor of the Entrail-Expelling Curse. (vol. 5, p. 487)

Ravenclaw, Rowena - One of the four founders of Hogwarts. Ravenclaw House is named for her.

Riddle, Tom Marvolo - A half-blood, owner of the mysterious diary that Harry found; fed on Ginny Weasley's soul to become stronger; learned her deepest fears and secrets; got Ginny to unwittingly open the Chamber of Secrets. He was the young Lord Voldemort, Salazar Slytherin's heir. (vol. 2, p. 314)

Rookwood, Augustus - A spy for Voldemort, worked in Department of Mysteries at the Ministry of Magic, convicted of leaking Ministry of Magic secrets to Voldemort.. (vol. 5, p. 544)

Rosmerta, Madam - Publican of the Three Broomsticks Pub in Hogsmeade. Was put under the Imperious Curse by the Death Eaters so that she would follow their orders to give the package containing the deadly necklace to Katie Bell to deliver to Dumbledore and to sell Slughorn a bottle of poisoned mead to use as a gift for Dumbledore. (vol. 6, p. 627)

Ryan, Barry - Irish International Keeper. (vol. 5, p. 400)

Scamader, Newt - Author of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

Scrimgeour, Rufus- Lionlike mane of tawny hair with streaks of gray, bushy eyebrows, yellowish eyes, wire-rimmed spectacles, slight limp. Former Head of the Auror Office, became Minister of Magic replacing Conelius Fudge, (v. 6, p. 16) Rumored to be a vampire. (vol. 6, p. 314)

Seeker - Quidditch player who tries to catch the Golden Snitch.

Shacklebolt, Kingsley - Tall, bald, black wizard; deep slow voice; wears a single gold hoop earring; an Auror. (vol 5, p. 47) One of the wizards who escorted Harry to Order of the Phoenix Headquarters. (vol. 5, p. 49); works for Dumbledore. (vol. 5, pp. 617, 620) As Secretary to the Prime Minister for Muggles, he is also an undercover wizard reporting to the Ministry of Magic. (vol. 6, p. 17)

Shunpike, Stan - The conductor of the Knight Bus.

Sinistra, Professor - Astronomy teacher. (vol. 4, p. 175)

Skeeter, Rita - An unethical, nosy reporter for the "Daily Prophet," who tries to disgrace the Ministry of Magic. "She never makes anyone look good." (vol. 4, p. 152) Heavy-jawed face; three gold teeth; elaborate, rigid curls; scarlet-taloned fingers; large, mannish hands; jeweled spectacles. (vol. 4, pp. 304, 307); an unregistered Animagus. (vol. 5, p. 569)

Skrewts - Creatures that sting. They have a blasting end and a sucking end. As they grow they develop "a kind of thick, greyish, shining armor." Look like a cross between a giant scorpion and an elongated crab. (vol. 4, p. 294)

Slinkhard, Wilbert - Author of Defensive Magical Theory. (vol. 5.)

Slope, Jack - Beater replacement on the Gryffindor Quidditch team. (vol. 5, p. 453)

Slughorn, Horace - Former teacher at Hogwarts, head of Slytherin House. Likes to mentor the rich, powerful, and famous. Returned to teach Potions. (vol. 6 p. 66) Holds parties for students at Hogwarts who are exceptionally talented or well connected, the Slug Club. It is later revealed that Slughorn has a vital memory of Voldermort which must be recovered by Harry. (vol. 6, pp. 66,147, 496)

Slytherin, Heir of - True heir to Salazar Slytherin who can open the Chamber of Secrets to release the horror within.

Slytherin, Salazar - One of the founders of Hogwarts; creator of the Chamber of Secrets; ancestor of Tom Riddle. Slytherin House is named for him.

Smethwyck, Hippocrates - Healer in charge at St. Mungo's Hospital (vol. 5, p. 487)

Snape, Professor Severus - Potions master who hates Harry; tall and thin with sallow skin, greasy black hair and a hooked nose; head of Slytherin House.

Snivellus - Sirius's nickname for Snape. (vol. 5, p. 520)

Spinnet, Alicia - Gryffindor chaser.

Spore, Phyllida - Author of One Thousand Magical Herbs.

Sprout, Professor Pomona - Herbology teacher who is a witch; Head of Hufflepuff House.

Snuffles - Another nickname for Sirius used by Harry and his friends.

Squib - Child of wizard parents who has no magical powers. Argus Filch is a squib.

Switch, Emeric - Author of A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration.

Thingy, Lord - Fudge's nickname for Voldemort. (vol. 5, p. 845)

Thomas, Dean - Muggle-born (or so he thinks) soccer fan in Harry's year. Good friends with Seamus Finnigan. He is also one of the few Gryffindors who is black. "Snogs" Ginny during Harry's sixth term at Hogwarts. (vol. 6, p. 121)

Tofty. Professor - The oldest, baldest test examiner; friend of Tiberius Ogden. (vol. 5, pp. 713, 714)

Tonks, Nymphadora - An Auror who is a metamorphmagus; can change her appearance at will; prefers to be called "Tonks." Escorted Harry to Order of the Phoenix headquarters. (vol. 5, p. 49) Sirius Black's cousin.

Trelawney, Cassandra - Famous seer; great-great-grandmother of Sybil Trelawney. (vol. 5, p. 314)

Trelawny, Professor Sybil - Divination teacher at Hogwarts. Has a liking for predicting (wrongly) student deaths (especially Harry's) every year at Hogwarts. Very thin with large glasses that magnify her eyes so much that she looks like a giant insect. Wears many beads, chains and bangles. (vol. 4, p. 199) Possessed of second sight. When asked by Dolores Umbridge to predict something, Trelawney says, "The Inner Eye does not See upon command!" The object of Umbridge's scorn. (vol. 5, pp.314, 552)

Trimble, Quentin - Author of The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection.

Trueblood - Someone born to pure magical parents.

Umbridge, Professor Dolores Jane - Palid toad-like face; pouchy eyes; looks like someone's maiden aunt; short curly mouse-brown hair hair; is partial to pink Alice bands and fluffy cardigans; works as Senior Undersecretary to Minister Cornelius Fudge; appointed new Defense of the Dark Arts teacher. (vol. 5, pp. 203, 211, 434, 624)

Vablatsky, Cassandra - Author of Unfogging the Future: A Guide to Basic Fortune-Telling Methods.

Vance, Emmaline - Strange-looking witch; emerald green shawl; escorted Harry to Order of the Phoenix headquarters. (vol. 5, p. 49)

Vane, Romilda - Student at Hogwarts, two years behind Harry. (vol. 6, p. 138)

Vector, Professor - Arithmancy witch.

Vindictus, Viridian - Author of Curse and Countercurse (Bewitch Your Friends and Befuddle Your Enemies with the Latest Revenges: Hair Loss, Jelly-Legs, Tongue-Tying and Much, Much, More).

Voldemort, Lord - Evil wizard, greatly feared by wizarding folk. His dark reputation is such that his name is hardly ever spoken out loud. He disappeared after the deaths of Harry's parents, Lily and James Potter.

Waffling, Adalbert - Author of Magical Theory.

Weasley, Arthur - Thin, balding, red hair; Ron Weasley's father. Head of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office at the Ministry of Magic.

Weasley, Bill - Ron Weasley's brother. Works for Gringotts Bank in Africa; was brutally disfigured by Fenrir Greyback, during a fight. This injury occurred while Greyback was still in human form so it is unknown at this time whether Bill's physical injuries might include some werewolf tendencies or not. (vol. 6, p. 622)

Weasley, Charlie - Ron's older brother who works with dragons in Romania.

Weasley, Fred and George - Ron's older brothers (twins).

Weasley, Ginny- Ron's younger sister; a friend of Harry's.

Weasley, Molly - Mother of the Weasley family.

Weasley, Percy - Third oldest of the Weasley children. Prefect of Gryffindor when Harry and Ron first arrive. After graduation, he gets a job with the Department of International Magical Cooperation and becomes Mr. Crouch's personal assistant in volume 4. Goes to work for Cornelius Fudge, as his assistant at the Ministry of Magic. (vol. 5, p. 143)

Weasley, Ron - Harry's classmate and best friend; birthday - March 1.

Widdershins, Willie - Regurgitating Toilet expert; overheard the secret meeting Harry held at the Hogs Head in Hogsmeade and told all to Umbridge. (vol.5, pp. 489, 613)

Wood, Oliver - Captain/keeper of the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Member of the United Reserve Team.

Wormtail - The Hogwart's nickname of Peter Pettigrew; also, his official Death Eater nickname; he brought Bertha Jorkins to Lord Voldemort. (vol. 4, pp. 7-13)

You-Know-Who - The evil Lord Voldemort, a dark wizard who killed Harry's parents. Also referred to as "He Who Must Not Be Named."

The Unofficial Guide to Harry Potter Fun, Facts and Trivia: Part2

2008-08-07T00:33:00.000-07:00

Characters - Individuals (H-M)

Hagrid, Rubeus - Half-giant, "twice as tall, five times as wide as a normal man; long, bushy black hair; hands the size of garbage can lids; feet like baby dolphins." After being falsely accused of opening the Chamber of Secrets, as a student, Hagrid was expelled from the school. Dumbledore hires him as Keeper of the Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts. (vol. 2, p. 247) Rescued Harry from his home and delivered him to the Dursleys, after Harry's parents were killed. (vol. 3, p. 206) (vol. 4, p. 429)

Half Blood Prince - Original owner of the Potions textbook that Harry borrowed from Prof. Slughorn; had written notes in it. Later, it was revealed that the prince was Severus Snape. (vol. 6, pp. 193, 604)

He Who Must Not Be Named - The evil Lord Voldemort. Also referred to as You-Know-Who.

Hengist of Woodcroft - Name of a wizard depicted on a wizard trading card.

Higgs, Terrence - Seeker on the Slytherin Quidditch team in Harry's first year.

Hit Wizard - Member of wizard police from the Magical Law Enforcement Squad, specially trained to deal with powerful criminals.

Hooper, Geoffrey - Member of Gryffindor's Quidditch team. (vol. 5, p. 276)

Hootch, Madam - Quidditch Instructor.

Hogwarts High Inquisitor - Dolores Umbridge. (vol. 5, p. 306 )

Hufflepuff, Helga - One of the four founders of Hogwarts. Hufflepuff House is named for her.

Jigger, Arsenius - Author of Magical Drafts and Potions.

Johnson, Angelina - Gryffindor chaser; becomes Gryffindor's Quidditch Captain. (vol. 5, p. 224)

Jones, Gwenog - Captain of the Holyhead Harpies, a Quidditch team. (vol. 6, p. 71)

Jones, Hestia - Pink cheeked, black-haired witch. One of the wizards who escorts Harry to Order of the Phoenix Headquarters. (vol. 5, p. 49)

Jordan, Lee - Pupil at Hogwarts. Has dreadlocks and is famed for his commentaries at Quidditch matches. He is in Gryffindor House in the same year as George and Fred Weasley and is best friends with them.

Jorkins, Bertha - Worked at the Ministry of Magic; Originally had an excellent memory, but after learning a dangerous secret about Barty Crouch, he memory charmed her and damaged her memory; no sense of direction; (vol. 4, p. 89) Captured by Wormtail and tortured for the information she possesed; killed by Lord Voldemort. (vol. 4, p. 10)

Karkaroff, Professor Igor - Head of Durmstrang. Tall and thin, short white hair and a goatee which finishes in a small curl. He smiles only with his mouth, not with his eyes. Former Death Eater. (vol. 4, pp. 247, 363, 417) Died in summer before Harry's sixth term at Hogwarts. (vol. 6, p. 107)

Karkas - Gurg, or chief, of the giants. (vol. 5, p. 427)

Keeper - Quidditch player who guards the goalposts.

Kettleburn, Professor - Care of Magical Creatures teacher at Hogwarts. Retired at the end of Harry's second year.

Kirke, Andrew - Beater replacement on the Gryffindor Quidditch team. (vol. 5, p. 453)

Krum, Viktor - Champion Bulgarian Seeker from Durmstrang School. Distinctly round-shouldered and slightly duck-footed. Competes in the Triwizard Tournament. (vol. 4, p. 115)

Lestrange, Bellatrix - Sent to Azkaban for using Cruciatus Curse on Neville Longbottom's parents causing them to go insane; cousin of Sirius Black. (vol. 5, pp. 505, 544, 545)

Lockhart, Gilderoy - Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts.

Longbottom, Neville - Classmate of Harry. Short, fat and slightly daft. He is of pure wizard blood, but not a good student. He is almost a Squib. His parents were Aurors during Voldemort's reign of terror until they were caught by Death Eaters and went insane. He lives with his grandmother. Works harder than ever to overcome his shortcomings and makes a lot of progress. (vol. 5, p. 553)

Lovegood, Luna (Loony) - Student at Hogwarts, classmate of Ginny Weasley, in Ravenclaw House; Harry's friend; her father runs The Quibbler. (vol. 5 pp. 179, 186 & 262)

Lupin, Professor Remus J. - A young, shabby looking wizard who befriends Harry and tries to teach him how to repel the dementors. Teaches the Dark Arts. (vol 3, p. 74). He is also a werewolf. (vol. 3, p. 350) & (vol 5, p. 46) One of the wizards who escorted Harry to Order of the Phoenix headquarters. (vol. 5, p. 49)

Lynch, Aiden - A seeker from Ireland who plays in the Quidditch World Cup. (vol. 4, p. 108)

Macmillan, Ernie - Hogwarts student; a prefect. (vol. 5, pp. 188, 706)

Macnair, Walden - A Death Eater who was sent to kill Buckbeak; tried to persuade the giants to join Voldemort. (vol. 5, p. 431); Executioner of dangerous creatures for the Ministry of Magic.

Malfoy, Draco - Harry's archenemy at Hogwarts. Has a pale, pointed face that bears a sneering expression; believes himself to be superior to Harry and his friends; a resident of Slytherin House. From a wizard family that came back from the "Dark Side" after Lord Voldemort disappeared. (His family insisted they had been bewitched by Voldemorte.)

Malfoy, Narcissa - Draco's mother.

Marchbanks, Griselda - Head of Wizarding Examination Authority; a friend of Neville's grandmother; resigns in protest from the Wizengamot when the post of Inquisitor to Hogwarts School is announced. (vol. 5, pp. 308, 707)

Marge, Aunt - Uncle Vernon's sister.

Maxime, Madame Olympe - A giant woman with olive skin, black eyes and a beaky nose. Her hair is drawn into a bun at the base of her neck. In charge of students from Beauxbatons Academy. (vol. 4, pp. 243-244)

McGonagall, Minerva - Head of Gryffindor House and a professor of Transfiguration at Hogwarts. Her hair is worn in a tight bun, and she wears square glasses and an emerald green cloak.

Mediwizards - Medics who take care of injuries at the Quidditch World Cup. (vol. 4, p. 114)

Merlin - Name of a wizard depicted on a wizard trading card.

Mimsey-Porpington, Sir Nicholas de - Resident ghost of Gryffindor Tower. Also known as Nearly-Headless Nick. (vol. 2, p. 133)

Moaning Myrtle - Ghost of a girl who was killed when the Chamber of Secrets was first opened 50 years ago. Her home is now a toilet at Hogwarts.

Mockridge, Cuthbert - Head of the Goblin Liaison Office. (vol. 4, p. 86)

Montague - Captain of Slytherin Quidditch team. (vol. 5, p. 627) Shoved into the Vanishing Cabinet by Fred and George Weasley for trying to deduct points from Gryffindor. (vol. 5, p. 639)

Moody, Alastor (Mad-Eye) - An Auror, a Dark Wizard catcher, with many enemies; brought out of retirement by Dumbledore to teach Defense of the Dark Arts at Hogwarts. (vol. 4, p. 162 & 280) Scarred skin, half of a nose, one small, dark beady eye. The other eye moves up and down and from side to side, ceaselessly without blinking, and sometimes rolls over completely, so only the white can be seen; (makes him capable of seeing what is behind him). The moving eye is electric blue and as large as a coin. He has one wooden leg that is carved and ends in a clawed foot; he limps and uses a long staff. He has long, grizzled, dark grey hair. (vol. 4, pp. 184-185) One of the wizards who escorted Harry to Order of the Phoenix Headquarters. (vol. 5, p. 49)

Moony - Professor Lupin's nickname at Hogwarts.

Morgana - name of a witch depicted on a wizard trading card.

Mostafa, Hassan - Chairwizard of the International Association of Quidditch from Egypt. (vol. 4, p. 106)

Mudblood - A really foul name for someone who is muggle-born (of non-magical parents).

Muggles - People without a drop of magical blood in their veins.

The Unofficial Guide to Harry Potter Fun, Facts and Trivia: Part1

2008-08-07T00:20:00.000-07:00

Characters - Individuals (A-G)

Abercrombie, Euan - First year student; lives in Gryffindor (vol. 5, p.208)

Abbott, Hannah - Hufflepuff prefect; first to receive a Calming Draught from Madame Pomfrey for nervousness due to impending O.W.L.s. (vol.5, pp. 188, 605)

Agrippa - Name of a wizard depicted on a wizard trading card.

Avery - One of the Death Eaters who escaped from Azkaban. (vol. 5, p. 586)

Bagman, Ludo - Head of Department of Magical Games and Sports. (vol. 4, p. 61) Helped organize Triwizard Tournament. (vol. 4, p. 254) A famous beater.

Bagnold, Millicent - Former Minister of Magic. (vol 5, p. 93)

Bagshot, Bathilda - Author of History of Magic.

Beater - Quidditch player who tries to knock the bludgers towards opposing team.

Bell, Katie - Chaser on the Gryffindor Quidditch team.

Binns, Professor - Ghost who taught History of Magic at Hogwarts. (vol. 4, p.234)

Black, Alphard - Uncle of Sirius, gave him gold after he ran away from home. (vol. 5, p.111)

Black, Bellatrix - Sirius's cousin; served time in Azkaban; Marries Rudolphus Lestrange. (vol. 5 p. 114)

Black, Regulus - Sirius's younger brother; a Death Eater. (vol. 5, p. 112)

Black, Sirius - A feared and believed-to-be-malevolent character who Harry thinks is responsible for the death of his parents, but who is later revealed to be Harry's godfather and protector; served 12 years in Azkaban. (vol. 5, p. 9).

Bloody Baron - The resident ghost of Slytherin House.

Boardman, Stubby - Another nickname for Sirius Black; lead singer of the Hobgoblins. (vol. 5, p. 736)

Bode, Broderick - An "unspeakable" worked in Department of Mysteries; dies mysteriously at St. Mungo's Hospital. (vol. 5, pp. 546, 548); Under the Imperious Curse. (vol. 5, p. 587)

Bonaccord, Pierre - First Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards; in favor of stopping troll-hunting. (vol. 5, pp. 725-726)

Bones, Amelia Susan - Head of Department of Magical Law Enforcement; one of Harry's interrogators at the Ministry of Magic. (vol. 5 pp. 123, 138) She was found dead, the summer before Harry's sixth term, in a room that was locked from the inside, a signature of a Voldermort killing. (vol. 6, p. 13)

Bones, Susan - Hogwarts student who had an uncle, aunt and cousins who died at the hands of a Death Eater.(vol.5, p. 550)

Bryce, Frank - Tom Riddle's gardener who's accused of the Riddle family murders, but never convicted, he remained as gardener for the new owners. Dies when he sees Lord Voldemort. (vol. 4, p. 2, 15)

Bulstrode, Millicent - Hermione's dueling partner in second year dueling club.

Burke, Caracticus - co-founder of Borgin and Burke's. (vol. 6, p. 213)

Cadogon, Sir - Knight from a portrait in the North Tower. Temporary guardian of Gryffindor Tower while the Fat Lady was being repaired. Also called the "mad knight." (vol. 4, p. 616)

Chang, Cho - Seeker on the Ravenclaw Quidditch team, on whom Harry gets a crush in volume 4.

Chaser - Quidditch player who tries to score using the quaffle.

Chorley, Herbert - Second in command to the Prime Minister for Muggles. (vol. 6, p. 2)

Clearwater, Penelope - Percy Weasley's girlfriend.

Cole, Mrs. - Proprietor of the orphanage where Tom Riddle was raised.

Crabbe, Vincent - A friend of Draco Malfoy and an enemy of Harry. A resident of Slytherin.

Creevy, Colin - Admirer of Harry's, who follows him constantly and is always taking his picture. In Gryffindor House.

Creevy, Dennis - Brother of Colin. (vol. 5)

Cresswell, Dirk - Muggle-born, Head of Goblin Liaison Office. One year younger than Lily Evans. (vol. 6, p. 71)

Crouch, Bartemius (Barty) - High ranking ministry wizard; Head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation; owner of Winky the house-elf; speaks over 200 languages. (vol. 4, p. 89)

Crookshanks - A ginger-colored cat that Hermione buys at the Magical Menagerie. (vol 3, p. 60)

Cuffe, Barnabas - Editor of the Daily Prophet. (vol 6, p. 71)

Dawlish - An Auror; tries to overpower Dumbledore. (vol. 5, p. 620)

Delacour, Fleur - A competitor in the Triwizard Tournament from Beauxbaton School; part veela. (vol. 4, p. 349 & p. 399) Became engaged to Bill Weasley with plans to marry the summer before Harry's seventh term.

Derwent, Dilys - St. Mungo healer and former Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry; his portrait hangs in Dumbledore's office. (vol. 5, pp. 468, 485)

Diddykins, Ickle - Harry's unaffectionate nickname for his cousin Dudley. (vol 5, p.13).

Diggle, Dedalus - Member of the Order of the Phoenix; excitable; wears a top hat. One of the wizards who escorts Harry to Order of the Phoenix Headquarters (vol 5, p. 49).

Diggory, Cedric - Hufflepuff House prefect and Quidditch team captain who is one of the representatives of Hogwarts in the Triwizard Tournament; exceptionally handsome; short, straight nose; dark hair and grey eyes. (vol. 4, p. 296)

Dippet, Professor Armando - Headmaster at Hogwarts 50 years ago; Dumbledore's predecessor. (vol. 5, p.473)

Doge, Elphias - Wizard, wheezy-voiced. One of the wizards who escorts Harry to Order of the Phoenix Headquarters. (vol 5, p. 49)

Dolohov, Antonin - A Death Eater; murderer; convicted of the brutal murders of Gideon and Fabian Prewett (vol. 5, pp. 543-544)

Dumbledore, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian - Headmaster at Hogwarts; widely regarded as the finest wizard of his generation and the only wizard feared by Lord Voldemort. Blue eyes; tall, thin body; several feet of long silver hair; crooked nose; wears half-moon spectacles and a long purple cloak. Also known as Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards & Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot. (vol. 5 pp. 139, 308)

Dursley, Mr. Vernon - Harry's uncle; married to Petunia; father of Dudley.

Dursley, Dudley - Harry's cousin; son of Vernon & Petunia. Also known as "Dud," "Big D," and "Popkin." (vol. 5, p.12)

Dursley, Petunia Evans - Harry's aunt; sister of his mother, Lily; wife of Vernon; mother of Dudley.

Edgecombe, Madame - Mother of Marietta; works at Department of Magical Transportation, Floo network. (vol.5, p. 612))

Edgecombe, Marietta - Cho's friend who spills the beans about Dumbledore's Army; daughter of Madame Edgecomb. (vol. 5, p. 612)

Evans, Lily - Muggle-born; married James Potter and gave birth to Harry. (vol. 5, p. 647)

Everard - Former Hogwart's Headmaster. (vol. 5, p. 462)

Fat Friar - Resident ghost of Hufflepuff Tower.

Fat Lady - The subject of a portrait guarding the entrance of Gryffindor Tower.

Figg, Mrs. Arabella - Batty, cat-loving old-lady; a squib; lives near Harry in Little Whinging. (vol. 5, p. 2, pp. 20 & 21)

Filch, Argus - The caretaker at Hogwarts; a failed wizard; a squib. He hates students and especially does not like Harry or his friends. He has a cat named Mrs. Norris. Very knowledgeable about all of Hogwart's secret passageways and hiding places. (vol. 5, p. 629)

Finnigan, Seamus. - An Irish sandy-haired student in Harry's year. Good friend of Dean Thomas.

Flamel, Nicolas - Dumbledore's partner in his work in alchemy and the only known maker of the Sorcerer's Stone. (vol.1, p. 160)

Fletcher, Mundungus - A wizard who is a member of the Order of the Phoenix. Valuable because he "knows all the crooks;" dirty, unkempt, pipe-smoker. (vol 5, p. 86)

Flint, Marcus - Captain of the Slytherin Quidditch team.

Flitwick, Professor - Charms teacher at Hogwarts; Head of Ravenclaw House. Tiny little wizard who has to stand on piles of books to see over his desk.

Flume, Ambrosius - Owner of Honeydukes. (vol. 6, p. 71)

Fridwulfa - A giantess, who is Hagrid's mother. Her whereabouts are unknown; she is said to be brutal. (vol. 4, p. 439)

Frobischer, Vickie - Member of the Gryffindor Quidditch team (vol. 5, p. 276)

Fudge, Cornelius - Minister of Magic. Wants to take Hagrid to Azkaban, after a fourth muggle is attacked. (vol. 2, p. 261) Later he casts aspersions on Hagrid's Giant ancestry.

Gaunt, Marvolo - Voldemort's grandfather; descendant of Salazar Slytherin. (vol. 6, p. 212)

Gaunt, Merope - Voldemort's mother. (vol. 6, p. 212)

Gaunt, Morfin - Merope's brother. (vol. 6, p. 212)

Goldstein, Anthony - Ravenclaw Prefect. (vol. 5)

Golgomath - Takes over as Gurg (Chief of the Giants) after Karkus is killed; black hair and teeth to match; wears a necklace of bones (some human); massive, one of the biggest giants. (vol. 5, p. 430)

Goshawk, Miranda - Author of the Standard Book of Spells.

Goyle, Gregory - One of Draco Malfoy's stupid henchmen. Thick-set and mean-looking with short, bristly hair. A resident of Slytherin House.

Granger, Hermione - Smart, know-it-all at Hogwarts; classmate and good friend of Harry; bushy brown hair, large front teeth and a loud, rather bossy voice. Her parents are muggle dentists.

Grawp - A giant; Hagrid's half-brother (same mother) "a bit of a runt," only 16 feet tall; tends to be violent; distinguishing characteristic: a single fleshy ear on the top of his head. (vol. 5, pp. 691-695)

Greyback, Fenrir - A werewolf who is very cruel and especially enjoys biting human children and turning them into werewolves. Family friend of the Malfoys and fighting in collusion with the Death Eaters. Lupin, who was a former student and former professor at Hogwarts, was bitten by Greyback when he was a child. Greyback heads a group of werewolves who hate humans and who work on behalf of Voldermort. (vol. 6, pp. 71, 623)

Gregory the Smarmy - (vol. 5 p. 659)

Grey, Lady - Resident ghost of Ravenclaw Tower.

Grubbly-Plank, Professor Wilhelmina - A witch that temporarily takes over Hagrid's job (care of magical creatures) when Hagrid is "indisposed." (vol. 4, p. 484)

Grunnion, Alberic - Name of a wizard depicted on a wizard trading card.

Gryffindor, Godric - One of the four founders of Hogwarts. Gryffindor House is named after him.

Gurg - Title of giant chief. (vol. 5, p. 427)

Gloucester Cathedral as Hogwarts School

2008-08-02T00:09:00.000-07:00

Gloucester Cathedral provided an impressive backdrop for Hogwarts School.

Magnificent Gloucester Cathedral has been a place of worship for more than 1,300 years and is renowned for its stunning Gothic architecture. The cloisters are regarded as one of the most beautiful architectural features in Britain and the cathedral provides the setting for several scenes in the film.

Perhaps the best shot of the cloisters is from the Girls Lavatory door in the Troll scene in the film. Pupils from King’s School, which adjoins the cathedral, were used as extras.

Address of Gloucester cathedral
2 College Green
Gloucester GL1 2LR

The universe of Harry Potter

2008-08-01T23:56:00.000-07:00

The Wizarding world in which Harry finds himself is both completely separate from and yet intimately connected to our own world.

The Wizarding world of Harry Potter exists alongside that of the real world and contains magical elements similar to things in the non-magical world. Many of its locations are in towns and cities which are recognisable in the real world, such as London.

It possesses a fragmented collection of hidden streets, overlooked and ancient pubs, lonely country manors and secluded castles that remain invisible to the non-magical population (known as "Muggles"; i.e. the world of the reader).

Wizard ability is inborn, rather than learned. Most wizards send their children to Wizarding schools to learn the magical skills necessary to get along in the magical world. There is no educational equivalent to college or graduate school in the Wizarding world.

After graduation from their magical school, students are considered fully trained witches and wizards who are ready to take their places in the Wizarding World. It is possible for wizard parents to have children who are born with little or no magical ability at all (known as "Squibs").

Since one is either born a wizard or not, most wizards are unfamiliar with the Muggle world, and what they do know of the Muggle world is either inaccurate or patronizing.

Spoiler of Half-Blood Prince

2008-08-01T23:51:00.000-07:00

The record-breaking publication of Half-Blood Prince was accompanied by controversy.

The plot detail "Snape kills Dumbledore," along with a list of chapter titles, were leaked on the Usenet group alt.fan.harrypotter as early as July 14, 2005 — two days before the official release date.

In May 2005 bookmakers in the UK suspended bets on which main character would die in the book amid fears of insider knowledge. Weeks earlier, betting patterns on the website "Blue Square" recorded an unusual surge in bets originating in Bungay where, it was believed, the books were being printed at the time. A number of high value bets were made on the death of Albus Dumbledore. Betting was later reopened.

The United States changed version

2008-08-01T23:48:00.000-07:00

As with Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, the United States version of the novel has slightly changed text from the British version.

One particular section has been remarked upon, where the alteration makes the nature of Dumbledore's offer to Draco Malfoy before Snape kills Dumbledore in the Half-Blood Prince explicit.

The reason for the editing of the following text has not been explained on the author's webpage. The text can be found in chapter 27, "The Lightning-Struck Tower". The U.S. text was changed to match the UK version with the publication of the paperback edition. The parts added in the United States version have been highlighted in bold, below:

"[…] He told me to do it or he'll kill me. I've got no choice." "He cannot kill you if you are already dead. Come over to the right side Draco, and we can hide you more completely than you can possibly imagine. What is more, I can send members of the Order to your mother tonight to hide her likewise. Nobody would be surprised that you had died in your attempt to kill me — forgive me, but Lord Voldemort probably expects it. Nor would the Death Eaters be surprised that we had captured and killed your mother — it is what they would do themselves, after all. Your father is safe at the moment in Azkaban […]"

Intriguing bits of information from the book Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

2008-07-31T00:12:00.000-07:00

1. New Minister of Magic - Rufus Scrimgeour, almost certainly the Scrimgeour mentioned in OP as asking pointed questions of Tonks and Kingsley about Sirius Black. According to HBP, he was head of the Aurors, so it makes sense.

2. Spelling error in chapter 3? "The misty fug his breath had left on the window..." Should that be 'fog' or not? The word 'fug' is actually an informal British term meaning an airless, smoky, smelly atmosphere. Doesn't seem to fit, really.

3. Definite spelling error in chapter 1, on page 10, end of the 8th line: the word should be 'sight' but it's spelled 'site.'

4. The Rupert thing isn't a spelling error, it's supposed to be a bit of a joke, as if Slughorn can't remember Ron's name.

5. Romances galore:
Ron and Lavender Brown
Ron and Hermione
Ginny and Dean Thomas
Ginny and Harry
Hagrid and Olympe
Lupin and Tonks
Bill and Fleur (cute line: "I am good-looking enough for both of us, I theenk!")
Filch and Pince (now there's a pleasant pair)

6. Deaths galore:
Aragog
Amelia Bones
Emmeline Vance
Hannah Abbott's mom
Florean Fortescue
Gibbon the Death Eater
and then there's that other one

7. Neville's grandmother's name is Augusta Longbottom, and she brags about him in the paper!

8. Contradictory text: Dumbledore becomes Headmaster of Hogwarts ten years after the murder of the Riddles, which would be approximately 1955. That tallies with McGonagall becoming the Transfiguration teacher in 1956, as we are told in OP. However, this passage in PA18 makes no sense:
"Before the Wolfsbane Potion was discovered, however, I became a fully fledged monster once a month. It seemed impossible that I would be able to come to Hogwarts. Other parents weren't likely to want their children exposed to me.
"But then Dumbledore became Headmaster, and he was sympathetic. He said that as long as we took certain precautions, there was no reason I shouldn't come to school...."
Lupin wasn't born until about 1960, so his parents wouldn't be considering ways for him to attend Hogwarts until at least the mid-60s, possible later. It doesn't make sense to say that "then Dumbledore became Headmaster..." when he'd been that for a decade already. Lupin actually starts Hogwarts in approximately 1971.

9. Contradictory text : In Goblet, Harry runs up the marble staircase toward the second floor to go to Dumbledore's office. If he were just going to the top of the stairs, it would be to the first floor, since that's what's at the top of the stairs (the entrance hall and great hall are on the ground floor). In this book, Dumbledore's office entrance is clearly on the seventh floor.

10. Dumbledore's favorite flavor of jam is raspberry

11. The editor of the Daily Prophet is Barnabas Cuffe

12. Who is R.A.B.? My guess: Regulus Black.

13. Why did Dumbledore trust Snape? A bit of speculation -
Did Snape take an Unbreakable Vow saying he'd never betray Dumbledore? If so, who was the Bonder? Aberforth, maybe?

And Snape, after more or less being tricked into vowing to kill Dumbledore, went to the Headmaster and explained the predicament he was in. One of the two of them had to die, and Dumbledore quickly realized it would make more sense for it to be him than Snape. So they planned for Dumbledore to spend the year getting Harry up to speed while Snape kept Draco under control, then Snape killed Dumbledore. At the last moment, Snape almost couldn't do it and Dumbledore had to tell him "Severus, please..." Now Snape has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is Voldemort's best and most wonderful supporter, and is therefore in the best possible position to help the side of good.

HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE (2008) Synopsis

2008-07-31T00:04:00.000-07:00

Voldemort is tightening his grip on both the Muggle and wizarding worlds and Hogwarts is no longer the safe haven it once was.

Harry suspects that dangers may even lie within the castle, but Dumbledore is more intent upon preparing him for the final battle that he knows is fast approaching. Together they work to find the key to unlock Voldemort's defenses. Dumbledore recruits his old friend and colleague, the well-connected Professor Horace Slughorn, whom he believes holds crucial information.

Meanwhile, Harry finds himself more and more drawn to Ginny, but so is Dean Thomas. Lavender Brown has decided that Ron is the one for her, only she hadn't counted on Romilda Vane's chocolates! And then there's Hermione, simpering with jealously but determined not to show her feelings. As romance blossoms, one student remains aloof. He is determined to make his mark, albeit a dark one.

The war against Voldemort is not going well, even Muggle governments are noticing. Ron scans the obituary pages of the Daily Prophet, looking for familiar names. Dumbledore is absent from Hogwarts for long stretches of time, and the Order of the Phoenix has already suffered losses.

As in all wars, life goes on. Sixth-year students learn to Apparate - and lose a few eyebrows in the process. The Weasley twins expand their business. Classes are never straightforward, though Harry receives some extraordinary help from the mysterious Half-Blood Prince.

Harry will search for the full and complex story of the boy who became Lord Voldemort - and thereby find what may be his only vulnerability.

Analysing some Harry Potter & The Half Blood Prince pictures

2008-07-30T23:54:00.000-07:00

Ron Weasley doesn’t look at all comfortable in the Quidditch uniform. Ron plays keeper — but Quidditch is back for one film only, since what happens at Hogwarts isn’t really of importance in “Deathly Hallows” until the end.

The 3D Spectrespecs don't look at all flattering for Evanna Lynch as Luna Lovegood(the radish earrings she’s sporting were made by the actress herself).

Cast of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

2008-07-30T23:48:00.000-07:00

Rating: NR
Genre: Action/Adventure, SciFi/Fantasy
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Release Date: November 21, 2008
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Tom Felton, Christian Coulson
Plot Summary: Young wizards Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger are facing new challenges and dangers in the wake of Lord Voldemort's return

What Does The Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince Trailer Mean?

2008-07-30T22:18:00.000-07:00

The new trailer for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince has been released? Just what does it mean?

David Yates and crew have decided to focus on telling Voldemort’s story. It doesn't give away much. In fact, aside from Dumbledore, Harry, and three brief shots Ron, McGonagall and Ginny, none of our favorite characters are shown — not Hermione, not new Potions master Horace Slughorn, not Hagrid or Draco, and not even Severus Snape, the Half-Blood Prince himself.

The trailer doesn't show you any part of the story - only the past of a young orphaned wizard. Colours are monchrome and it sets a forbidding dark, ominous, foreboding tone. It isn't even a trailer, its a teaser!

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince releases on Nov 21st 2008. The film will be simultaneously released in regular theatres and IMAX 3-D.

Hope to see a full length trailer of Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince soon.