Harry, Harry, Harry! All Potter, all the time…

… at least for the next seven hours. Actually, no; I only wish I could be utterly lost in Harry Potter land until 12:09, at which point I’ll be highly caffeinated and ready to (hopefully) enjoy Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. But reality will intrude. It does that. So annoying.

I don’t read reviews before seeing movies I know I’m reviewing, but sometimes tidbits of info slip through the cracks — which is to say, people post little things to Twitter. Like updates on Draco Malfoy’s attractiveness. I’m OK with knowing that. I don’t think it’s going to ruin anything for me. I’m also OK with knowing that The Oregonian likes the movie, and that The AV Club is a little more reserved (I only read the first sentence). Most of the buzz is good, which makes me happy, given that I was frustrated with the last movie, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

Actually, I still am frustrated with that movie, which missed the point of the book’s dramatic climax completely by having adults swoop in and whisk the youngsters out of danger. It was supposed to be dangerous. It was supposed to require that they do some of the work of saving themselves. It was supposed to set a darker stage. And it got safed up for a major motion picture audience.

Meh. I’m keeping my Potter spirits up with stories like the one about star Daniel Radcliffe giving a young reporter the interview of her life. I’m not going to wear a wizard costume tonight, but my failure to look the part doesn’t mean I’m any less excited. And I don’t plan on leaving my handkerchief at home.

The previous films in EW:
1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
2. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
3. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
4. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix