The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Wield your wands people, Voldemort's back on Friday

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Thursday, Nov 18, 2010
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Wield your wands people, Voldemort's back on Friday

Staff Reporter

Part 1 of the series' finale releases in 21 theatres across city

Cult fiction:Bookings are open and multiplexes across the city are ready for the release of ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1'.

Bangalore: The muggles are going absolutely potty and not even the hullabaloo over its distribution could dampen the excitement over the most anticipated movie of the year.

The first part of the adaptation of JK Rowling's final book Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 will be released in 21 theatres across the city on Friday. In David Yates' celluloid adaptation of the seventh Potter adventure, Harry uncovers the legend of the “deathly hallows” and comes closer to his ultimate battle with his nemesis Lord Voldemort.

Bookings open

Potter fans can rest easy as bookings are open and multiplexes across the city are ready for the release of the movie (in 2D), notwithstanding the tiff between Warner Bros Entertainment Inc. and a Bangalore-based film distributor over its 3D version.

Warner Bros has entered into individual deals with almost all the top multiplexes and a few single screen theatres, said Daniel Dias, deputy managing director (theatricals), Warner Bros.

‘Owe the fans'

“We will release the movie this Friday and we, in fact, owe it to all the fans in the city, said Sridevi Rao, representative from Fame multiplex. The fact that the movie will not be released in 3D here (or anywhere in the world) will do nothing to curb the number of viewers, she added. “In fact if Warner Bros releases the movie later in 3D, the fans will come twice!”

Sources in Inox and Fun Cinemas said they were not even aware of the controversy over the Potter movie release.

The standoff between the two parties made news after the film distributor approached the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce alleging that Warner Bros had not “honoured” its contract to deliver a 3D version of the film. “This made no sense to us because Warner Bros had announced as early as October that the film would not be released in 3D as planned. So where is the question of us delivering them a 3D movie?” Mr. Dias said. The production house has not had any similar issues across the country with other distributors, he added. “They understand that if the film is not available in 3D globally, it just isn't available.”

Potter fans are thrilled: “I was eagerly waiting for it to release and will definitely watch it whether 2D or 3D,” said Vani Subramaniam, a student. Sneha Badrinath, a B.Com. student will check it out, first day first show.

“But I am a bit disappointed it will not be released in 3D… I guess I will just watch it again if it does!” she quipped.

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