The Riverview Theater is running a Harry Potter marathon this weekend in honor of the upcoming release of the FINAL film in the series. The first 3 movies played today, the remaining four play tomorrow. Due to the fact that I own all of the Harry Potter films, and have zero need to purchase tickets in order to watch them, I wasn't terribly crushed when it turned out I couldn't make it to the first or second today. However my stepson, Owen, and I are big fans of The Prisoner of Azkaban, so we rushed over and got to the theater just in time for the dinner scene at the top of the movie. We were forced to sit one behind the other as it was rather packed but it turned out to be just as easy to share our popcorn that way and we settled in for the movie.
The crowd was fairly young and vocal. But it has been my experience all along, and you can double check me on this here, that there is an unusually large amount of reverence for Harry Potter amongst the kinds of fans you'll find at a Harry Potter marathon (or midnight showing, for that matter). There was very little not-film-related chatter, but there was applause and laughter throughout. My favorite crowd reaction was for this. They went bonkers. A play might have needed to pause to let things calm down before moving on so people wouldn't miss anything, but really was there anyone present who hadn't seen the film before? Owen didn't think this was terribly polite but I love it when the emotion on screen is matched by the emotion in the theater. Maybe it is the performer in me, but isn't that the goal? Besides, most of the people there grew up with this crew, and who didn't know a bully they wanted to smack, but didn't, at some point? Get on with your bad self, Hermione!
Not sure I'm ready for this to end. At the same time I shiver with anticipation for the final installment. The final midnight opening, July 15th, will probably be the last time I'll feel this mix of adoration and ownership from every member of an audience in a movie theater. That is, unless there is another Firefly movie.
