Originally published November 12, 2010
Wingardium Leviosa. Avada Kedavra. Muggles. Mudbloods.
Even the most fervent Harry Potter haters probably have a general idea as to what those words mean. Those on the opposite end of the spectrum could easily give a full definition, complete with pronunciation, as to what each means, various uses of them throughout the series and in the case of spells, the proper hand motions that accompany them.
The college-aged generation is one, as a whole, that has been enveloped in the wizarding world of Harry Potter, but even those outside of it have been swept up into the tornado of hype that has surrounded the films and books.
With the first part of the “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” the seventh and final movie, being released Nov. 19, a lot has been written in recent months about the end of the “Potter” movies and how viewers have witnessed the main characters grow up before their eyes.
But the actors weren’t the only ones growing up. In grade school when the books came out, college students, the ones who first picked up the books in their original release and stowed away under the covers to devour each page and finish before dawn, have progressed along with their favorite characters and watching it all play out on the big screen brings the end of one enchanting era.
For fans young and old, there’s nothing like a good old fashioned midnight movie to get you in the Potter spirit.
Like with most movies, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” will be shown at midnight at both Grand Prairie Rave 18 and Willow Knolls 14 theaters, but for a show of this magnitude, simply playing it at midnight won’t be enough.
Currently, both theaters have tickets for purchase online, though they will cost slightly more than usual since the student discount isn’t offered online ($8.00 for Willow Knolls, $9.00 for Rave and both have an extra $1.00 service charge).
At Willow Knolls, tickets for the 12:01 a.m. show run like normal, with a student ticket at $5.25. Manager Jarod Lukehart said tickets are selling fast.
“At the moment, we only have one [theater showing the movie], but we’ll probably interlock more as it gets closer,” Lukehart said. “We won’t know if we get more until a couple days before. We’re actually almost sold out of the one theater already.”
Manager Bobby Welt at Rave is seeing similar results.
“We’re just doing a midnight showing,” Welt said, “but we’re definitely planning on having more than one theater.”
Though a new computer system only allowed Rave to start selling tickets a couple nights ago, they are still selling well.
While neither theater is running any special promotions to coincide with the film’s release, Lukehart said that doesn’t stop the customers from getting into Harry Potter mode.
“People dress up,” he said. “Usually a good fourth of the customers come dressed for special events like this.”
Even if dressing up is reserved solely for Halloween, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1” will be the start of a beautiful send-off, and though it may be void of a Quidditch game or any happy moments in the Great Hall, seeing Harry, Ron and Hermoine battle Voldemort one last time will be worth every Galleon you spend.
