Muggles throughout East Lansing are anxious to get their hands on golden eggs and take their turn dancing in the Yule Ball.
Unfortunately for the non-wizard folks, they'll have to wait till tomorrow to live vicariously through the 14-year-old wizard Harry Potter as he takes the big screen, an "eckeltricity" wonder that the likes of Arthur Weasley could only dream about.
This magical world will be brought to life in "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," the fourth installment of the ever-popular series of novels by author J. K. Rowling.
"Excitement has been building," NCG Eastwood Cinemas promotions manager Pat O'Boyle said. "We have midnight showings and we're having some radio stations to do remote broadcasts."
Many other movie theaters in the Lansing area also have midnight shows scheduled. Jason Sanders, operations manager at Celebration Cinema in Lansing, said midnight shows have sold out and the IMAX shows for Friday were close to selling out as of Monday.
No one knows how the newest movie will fare compared to the others. Gary Hoppenstand, a professor in American Studies specializing in pop culture, said "subsequent films tend to drop off."
Hoppenstand, however, thinks "Goblet of Fire" will be one of the top films of the holiday season "if the moment is right and people are willing to re-engage with Harry Potter."
Microbiology and molecular genetics junior Erica Lehotzky said she's had her tickets for the midnight show for about three weeks. She said she enjoys the Harry Potter movies because they allow her to see the books come to life.
"It's a completely different world," she said. "The movies are good. It would be cool if they could be a little longer."
According to the Internet Movie Database, www.imdb.com, the film's length was heavily debated among the movie's creators, and there was consideration for making two separate movies. In the end, new director Mike Newell decided to stick with one film running 157 minutes, which is similar in length to the other films.
Newell is the first British director in the movie series and follows the work of Chris Columbus and Alfonso Cuarón. Columbus, an American, directed "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" (2001) and "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" (2002). Cuarón, who is Mexican, directed "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" (2004).
"For the first time you're going to have … a U.K. person doing it," Hoppenstand said.
"What J. K. Rowling is exploring is the British school system," he said. "Being raised in that kind of environment, it'll be interesting if he adds a new dimension."
Rowling herself hails from the United Kingdom.
Hoppenstand said Columbus did a good job in the first two movies bringing the characters to the screen and had the most faithful interpretations of the novels.
"It's quite a talent to do a faithful rendition of a popular book," he said, adding that Columbus received criticism for copying the books too closely.
When Cuarón directed the third movie, "he did a broader interpretation" and created "more of an adult-oriented film," he said.
However, not all fans were as thrilled with the new style of direction. Rebecca Wood, an education junior, said one of the many things she disliked was the changes made to the set.
"Movies are never what people imagine from books," she said.
Lehotzky said she agrees the third movie cut out much of the novel and strayed from the plot.
"Hopefully the British director will keep it closer to the story," she said.
Hoppenstand said the fourth novel is a pivotal book and thinks it will be "one of the better films in the series."
Along with people "queueing" up for tickets, local bookstores are seeing an increase in Harry Potter-related product sales. Amanda Snook, promotions coordinator at Schuler Books & Music in Eastwood Towne Center, said all of the company's stores have displays encouraging people to catch up or re-read before the movie.
"I've noticed people coming in and asking about it," she said of the fourth book. "It's popped onto the top of our sales list recently."
Lynn Schense, assistant store manager of the East Lansing Barnes & Noble, said the upcoming movie also has affected the store's sales.
"Movies will always create a surge in sales, especially something as big as Harry Potter," she said.
Lehotzky said one of the reasons she likes the movies is because of the choice of actors. "I think they did a great job casting," she said.
Cast newcomer Ralph Fiennes will play Lord Voldemort, also known by fearful wizards as "He Who Must Not Be Named." Fiennes is most known for his roles in "The English Patient" (1996), "Schindler's List" (1993) and recently "The Constant Gardener" (2005).
Fiennes joins the series' cast of renowned actors such as Maggie Smith (Minerva McGonagall), Alan Rickman (Severus Snape) and Emma Thompson (Sybil Trelawney), as well as Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), Emma Watson (Hermione Granger) and Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley), who had their breakout roles in the Harry Potter movies.
Combining famous actors, the first PG-13 rating in the series and more magical events in the new movie, Sanders said he expects a mix of people to come — some who will dress up in costume.
"There is a diverse crowd for sure, and we're hoping for the most diverse crowd possible," he said.
There's no doubt Harry Potter books and movies appeal to a wide range of audiences, from children to college students and adults — causing a sensation equal to those caused by "reporter" Rita Skeeter. Hoppenstand said this is because they're timeless.
"There's a joy involved in engaging with the films," he said. "I feel like a child."
Staff writer Ryan McCormick contributed to this report
Jacqueline WayneGuite can be reached at waynegui@msu.edu.
