Harry Potter Exhibition Report

In the absence of broomsticks, Floo powder, and portkeys, devoted Harry Potter fans made their way to Harry Potter: The Exhibition at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. I was one of the many muggles who had the chance to visit the exhibit in its opening weekend.

The exhibit, which opened on April 30, was designed and created by Warner Bros. and Exhibitgroup/Giltspur. It features more than 200 costumes and props from the Harry Potter films, arranged in settings designed to immerse visitors in the world of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. There are nine staging areas in all, including the Gryffindor dormitory (bookend-ed by talking portraits), various classrooms, the Hogwarts grounds, the Dark Forces, Hagrid’s Hut, and the Great Hall. Guests can also partake in several hands-on activities, such as throwing a quaffle, pulling a mandrake (no earmuffs required) in the Herbology greenhouse, or sitting in Hagrid’s enormous leather chair.

The breadth of the exhibit is exceptional, likely to be the closest any Potter fan will get to Hogwarts, and its attention to detail is incredible. There are so many small items on display that visitors might have to hunt for their favorites. The Golden Snitch used in Quidditch matches is here, its wings spread. The Time-Turner used by Harry and Hermione in Prisoner of Azkaban is in a case. The Monster Book of Monsters is on a shelf in Hagrid's hut and has minutely detailed teeth and claws. The Sorcerer's Stone from the first film, potion ingredients from Potions Master Severus Snape's classroom, Latin inscriptions on the Marauder's Map, and Gilderoy Lockhart's Defense Against the Dark Arts exam are among the other beloved treasures that one might miss if swiftly strolling on to the next set. (Be sure to listen carefully too; you may just hear He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named’s voice hovering over you in the Dark Forces section.)

As I walked out of the exhibit and began thinking about my blog post, I dreaded the idea of picking a handful of items and deeming them as “my favorite parts.” Alas, as is the case with any exhibit like this, I have formulated my list of favorite items (in no particular order) from the exhibition:

The Pre-Show: One of my favorite parts of the exhibit was actually outside of it. The exhibit begins with a pre-show, led by a cheery witch in Hogwarts robes who gathers the crowd (dubbed “first years”) in front of the Sorting Hat. The hat assigns a couple of the new students (sadly, this is for kids only) to one of the Hogwarts houses. The first years then move into a room with eight video screens featuring the movie posters from each of the six films, with two spots open for the Deathly Hallows posters. The screens then show clips from the movies as music from the soundtracks plays. A wall rises to reveal a life-sized Hogwarts Express, surrounded by billowing fog. I actually got goose bumps and tears in my eyes during the pre-show, so prepare yourself.

Wands: Nearly all of the characters have their wands on display here, including Dumbledore’s (the Elder Wand!) and Voldemort's. The wands are featured in key spots throughout the exhibit, so a keen eye is required to spot all of them.

The Marauder's Map: The actual physical map is as notable and brilliant as the story of the Marauders who created it. Potter fans should pay particular attention to its intricate detail – even without the moving footsteps and names.

Remus Lupin’s robes: There are many robes on display at the exhibit, but I was particularly moved by Professor Lupin’s. They are quite worn out and faded, and speak to the care that the filmmakers put into representing the character who wore them. You really get a sense of how difficult it was for Lupin, a kind and gentle force with limited means, to live the life of a werewolf.

Quidditch gear: Harry's Nimbus 2000, Draco's Nimbus 2001, the Golden Snitch, items from the World Cup, Quidditch magazines, and broom repair kits all greet you in the Quidditch Pitch section of the exhibit. The padded and vividly colored Quidditch robes of Cedric Diggory, Oliver Wood, and Harry himself stand out, as does a display of various trophies, each with chiseled names of former Quidditch Captains - again drawing your eye to each tiny detail. Fans can also see Victor Krum’s uniform from the Quidditch World Cup on display.

The Yule Ball/Great Hall: Massive double doors, flanked by numerous educational decrees, lead you into this most magical space – the Great Hall. The gorgeously detailed dress robes and gowns worn by Harry, Ron, Hermione (absolutely beautiful!), Krum, Cho, and Cedric line the left wall. The elaborate table settings from the Yule Ball serve as the backdrop to the gowns.

The exhibition certainly exceed my expectations. It was exciting and grandly theatrical, inspirational and moving, and, dare I say, even magical. The exhibit quite convincingly shows us how the filmmakers brought this beloved series to the big screen and, more importantly, communicates the great deal of care that was devoted to ensuring the books were represented in the purest of fashions and with J.K. Rowling’s original vision fully intact. This exhibit embodies the magic of a story that has left an unprecedented mark on our culture and it is a must see for any Harry Potter fan. It'll have you saying "Galloping Gargoyles" from the moment you step foot in it!

PHOTO GALLERY

Hogwarts Now Open to Muggles!

The wait is almost over, my muggle friends! Harry Potter: The Exhibition will premiere tomorrow! I have two new treats to share with you today. First, USA Today has an inside look at the exhibit, including three new photos of the displays. The second is a Museum of Science and Industry Podcast. It features an interview with Eddie Newquist of ExhibitGroup who talks about the creation of this world-premiere exhibit.

There have been special advance tours of the exhibit going on all week at MSI, and, as a result, many reports have surfaced online with an inside look similar to the USA Today article. They all seem to be fairly consistent and quite detailed. Also, every one I have seen has given high marks to the exhibit (no surprise!), calling it a must-see for any Harry Potter fan. I've read through all of these advance reports and have reached the point where I can no longer wait to go! It's going to be amazing! AMAZING! Here's what I'm looking forward to:

The Hogwarts Express. "The 10,000-square-foot exhibit space features eight video screens showing clips from the movies as music from the soundtracks plays. A wall rises to reveal a life-sized train: Hogwarts Express, surrounded by billowing fog." I've gotten chills and goosebumps every time I've read about this entrance to the exhibit. I'm sure I'll feel just like Harry did when he stepped onto Platform Nine and Three Quarters!

Mandrakes and Quidditch. "A sign on a gardening bench says "please pull," inviting visitors to tug on a baby mandrake...Visitors can plop down in an enormous chair in the hut occupied by Hagrid, the half-giant groundskeeper at Hogwarts. They can toss a Quaffle...through three metal rings." If anything will make you feel like you're really in Hogwarts, this is it! I hear you can also get sorted by the Sorting Hat into your favorite Hogwarts House!

Diagon Alley. "The exhibit funnels visitors into Diagon Alley, a wizards' shopping destination in the movies and a gift shop for Muggles here. Wands, snow globes and T-shirts seem destined to fly out the door as speedily as a Nimbus 2000 flying broom." I plan on spending both time and money (Galleons not accepted) here! Yeepee! The hardest part is going to be deciding what to buy and what to leave behind!

Final "Half Blood Prince" Trailer Released

This has been quite an exciting week for Harry Potter fans. First, a cleaned up version of the international trailer for Half Blood Prince surfaced online last weekend. Then, a few days ago, Warner Brothers announced that it would be moving up the release of the sixth film by two days (now July 15). And, yesterday, we found out that the Epilogue from Deathly Hallows will be shot for the final film, and that they will be using the original Potter cast, not older look-alike actors.

Nothing, however, beats this - the new extended, and final, trailer for Half Blood Prince. It's certainly a treat! The best trailer yet, in my opinion! It confirms what I already knew: I'm seeing this opening night! The real question is how many times am I going to see it?! Yup, the new trailer is that good.

Most of you know that this is my favorite book in the series. After I read it, one of my first thoughts was that it would make a fantastic movie. The stark imagery in the book, especially in those passages with Harry and Dumbledore in the cave, is enough to make your mind dizzy with thoughts about how this would finally be represented on film. To my absolute delight, it seems like they have done a fantastic job based on what we are seeing in these trailers, especially this latest one. We see a lot more of the cave in this trailer, more of Draco and Bellatrix, and Snape! I almost fell off my chair when he muttered "It's over" in that tone that only Alan Rickman can so perfectly deliver. We also get a completely haunting view of Katie Bell suspended in the air after being cursed by the necklace. Wow. The film looks absolutely amazing y'all! *squeal* I cannot wait!

One more piece of news for you before you start watching the trailer... MTV will be airing an extended look at the film with commentary from producer David Heyman in its summer-movie preview next week! So, be sure to look for that!

They Tease!

We are just hours away from the debut of the final film trailer for Half-Blood Prince! As a preview to tonight, Warner Brothers has released a new photo. What a tease! In it you can see Hermione, Luna, Neville, and Lavender cheering on the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Woo Hoo!

New article, new photos, new trailer! Oh my!

USA Today released a new article (includes a gallery with a few new photos) on the Half Blood Prince film, including a bit of news concerning tonight's trailer (8:00pm CST release). It will in fact be the final trailer for the film, and will hit theaters on May 1 in front of Ghosts of Girlfriends Past. Director David Yates had this to say:

"Once you're hooked into these stories, it's really difficult to let go. The audience has grown up with these characters. I think that gives them a very special relationship. I can't think of any other movie franchise that has had that. They started out at 10 or 11, and now they're 18 and 19."

Yates was responding to the issue of whether or not the remaining three Potter films will still be a draw to audiences - especially since the series is now over and we already know who lives, who dies and who ends up with whom in the end. It should be no surprise that the film makers dismiss the very idea that Harry Potter might start losing its appeal, right? I mean, they have the most to lose if it does. I can say with the utmost confidence; however, that the loss of appeal will never be an issue when it comes to Harry Potter. It just won't. Period. There is serious truth to what Yates said in the quote above, that the audience has grown up with these characters and that we have a special relationship with the material. For most of us, we literally grew up with these characters; Harry Potter has consumed a large chunk of my reading habit for over a decade now - it's my standard bar for all fictional literature, actually. The films simply add a visual component to this admiration, and the notion that we wouldn't go to the movie theatres to check these movies out - especially the final three - is ludicrous. Simply rubbish.

I wave my fist and yell "curses" to those in the media who keep feeding this foolish chatter. Such toss pots!

July 15, 2009!

The release date for Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince has been moved again....but this time to an earlier day! The film will now be released on Wednesday, July 15th, instead of the previously scheduled July 17th date.

The Associated Press ran an article this morning with a quote from the Head of Distribution at Warner Brothers, Dan Fellman. He explains why they moved the date to two days earlier:

“That gives the movie a head-start on the weekend during what's shaping up as a highly competitive summer season for Hollywood, which has major franchise films opening virtually every week.

"Every day the kids are out of school in summer is just like an extra Saturday," Fellman said.

Well, I’m certainly not complaining. After already pushing the release back by nearly 8 months, every little bit counts. Each day where we don’t have to wait is a treasure. Just last night, after the news broke, I went to my computer so I could Twitter about the date change. I happen to have a Half Blood Prince countdown widget on my desktop and glanced over at it while I was working. I noticed the clock read “93 days,” but, in fact, it’s 91 days now…well, it’ll be 90 days by the time you read this! What a difference two days makes! It really does people! Woo hoo!

Oh, and you know what else I'm not complaining about? A new Half Blood Prince movie trailer that is scheduled to be released TOMORROW, April 16, at 8:00pm CST, that's what! So, mark your calendars, set your alarms, and be ready to hit that refresh button :-)

100 Days

100 days. That's all that stands between us and Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.

I often find that the final 100 days leading up to anything is a fleeting block of time. It goes by faster that you can say "Quidditch!" In these final months, we are bound to get more photos, posters, sneak peeks, merchandise announcements, and, perhaps, a final trailer that will fill our time and feed our collective curiosity and excitement. (Those of us in Chicago get an extra treat - the Harry Potter Exhibition will be opening here on April 30th, and it will feature props from the upcoming film!). With the summer movie season about to start in a little less than a month (and soon, summer itself), the remaining time is bound to go by even faster ("Wolverine," anyone? "Angels and Demons," perhaps? What about "Terminator Salvation" or the new Johnny Depp flick?). Potter fans can also relish in the fact that the month leading up to the film will feature Half Blood Prince press junket festivities, which will include interviews, more behind the scenes footage, magazine and news stories, premieres, etc... oh my!

So, all in all, 100 days isn't so bad, right? It's certainly not as bad as how we felt after the postponement was announced last Fall. Alas, some of you may disagree, and think a 100 days is way to long and absolutely unbearable. Well, as you ponder this seemingly endless wait for the film, enjoy the most recent Half Blood Prince trailer and the Warner Brothers "First Look" at the film. Others can enjoy these videos as well, I suppose!

Mischief Managed!