Lumos! Potter fans light up valley theaters for final movie
They're off to see the wizard -- but not the one from Oz.
At one minute after midnight, the witching hour became the wizarding hour as legions of "Harry Potter" fans headed for Hogwarts, thronging Southern Nevada theaters for "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows -- Part 2," the eighth and final movie based on J.K. Rowling's blockbuster books.
Some 12 hours before its theatrical debut, the movie -- with a reported $25 million in advance ticket sales -- took aim at "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" as Hollywood's all-time midnight box-office champ.
Across Southern Nevada, more than two dozen multiplexes reported sold-out shows, with fans booking seats as late -- make that as early -- as 3 a.m.
"A lot of folks in Las Vegas will be experiencing an emotional catharsis," said Harry Medved of Fandango, an online ticketing service that serves the majority of Southern Nevada's multiplexes. "Some people will be crying because they're saying a final farewell to characters they love -- and some will be crying because they won't be able to get tickets."
Reserved seating and digital projection made it easier for local theater managers to add shows for fans eager to catch the final confrontation between young wizard Harry and his villainous nemesis, Lord Voldemort.
Many moviegoers dressed for the occasion in everything from Potter T-shirts to school uniforms matching those Harry and his classmates wear at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Despite summer temperatures, nursing student Noleen Hadap , 21, sported a gray sweater, black skirt, white shirt and gray knee socks -- along with a school tie, striped scarlet and gold, representing Gryffindor , Harry's house at Hogwarts.
Hadap lined up to see the movie at Rave Motion Pictures' Town Square multiplex about 4:30 p.m., but "I've been waiting for this since I was 10 years old," she said.
Ahead of her in line: fellow Potter fans Melissa Rubel and Makay Walker, both 18, who snagged first-in-line bragging rights at Town Square by arriving at 2:45 p.m., toting take-out drinks and food to sustain them during their wait.
For those without costumes, Rave had a limited supply of 3-D glasses in the shape of Harry Potter's own owlishly round spectacles to help audiences get into the spirit of the occasion.
With a decade separating Harry Potter's first and last cinematic adventures, many moviegoers have grown up alongside the movie's stars, who began the series as children and end it as young adults.
"What was amazing to me was to see how the kids have grown up," said Beverly Haverman , who attended a preview screening at Town Square earlier this week, accompanied by her daughter Renee -- and Renee's children Megan, 17, and Robert, 15.
"I cried," Renee admitted, adding "I'm so sad" to see the series end. "They did such a fabulous job."
To prepare for the Potter finale, nursing student Jeremy Pinzon , 23, watched the seven previous Harry Potter movies on DVD the day before seeing the big-screen finale.
"I started at 8 a.m. and ended at 7 p.m.," he said. "I want to finish the whole saga."
For theaters, what promises to be a record-breaking run began with a long, busy night.
"Nobody's gotten any sleep," said Greg Brewton , general manager at Rave Town Square. "And tomorrow will be even busier."
To perk up ushers, snack bar attendants and other theater employees, "we brought in a case of Red Bull," he said. Plus "pizza -- and, hopefully, a little magic."
Contact movie critic Carol Cling at ccling@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0272.
