This is a longer version of my cover story in this upcoming Sunday Calendar section of the Los Angeles Times. -- G.B.

There were inscriptions written above the entrance of the Temple of Apollo at the Oracle of Delphi, and the two most famous ones were cautionary words of wisdom: “Know thyself” and “Nothing too much.” Those bits of ancient advice are worth considering as two Hollywood studios hope to launch film franchises that use Greek mythology as the unlikely premise for popcorn entertainment.

“These are the stories that began storytelling in many ways,” director Louis Leterrier said a few months ago on the London set of his “Clash of the Titans,” the Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures epic that arrives in theaters in March with Sam Worthington as Perseus, Liam Neeson as Zeus and Ralph Fiennes as Hades. “These are tales of adventure that endure. These stories are who we are.”

True, which lives up to the “Know thyself” advice. But as for that second suggestion, the one calling for limits, well, Hollywood has never been known for moderation. “Clash of the Titans” arrives in theaters on the winged heels of “Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief,” which also has mighty Zeus (Sean Bean), the nefarious Hades (Steve Coogan) and the other gods of grand Olympus, although it brings them to modern-day Manhattan where they meet the title character, one of the most popular heroes at the bookstores in recent years with the bestselling young-reader novels of Rick Riordan. No surprise, the makers of both films are eyeing each other with some anxiety.

“You can’t ignore it,” said “Percy Jackson” director Chris Columbus while taking a break from post-production work in San Francisco on the film that opens Feb. 12 and, for Fox, has been circled as a potential “Harry Potter”-style multiple-film property. “They are two completely different pictures. But I’d be a liar if I said that I’m not fascinated by everything they’re doing. In today’s version of Hollywood, you have to be aware of everything else that’s going on around you. It’s just kind of foolish to put yourself in a bubble and pretend it’s not there.”

It’s interesting that, after so many years of futuristic tales, Hollywood is once again looking back to Greece and the Roman Empire for adventure tales and, in the cases of “Clash” and “Percy,” special-effects fantasies. Just as “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Chronicles of Narnia” were pulled from the bookshelf for their potential in this digital-effects era, Columbus said the thunderbolts of Zeus and the pits of Tartarus are camera-ready for the 21st century. “The world of Greek myth really hasn’t been dealt with, on screen, in a long time, at least not in terms of a big blockbuster motion picture,” Columbus said. “It’s exciting to think about. At least it is for me.”

 

 “Percy Jackson” stars 17-year-old Logan Lerman (“3:10 to Yuma”) as the title character, a troubled youngster who (like a certain boy-wizard) discovers he has a magical heritage and then teams with his young friends to fight the dark forces aligned against him. Columbus directed the first two “Potter” films and was brought in by Fox with hopes that magic lightning can strike twice. The choice of Lerman may not sit entirely well with devoted fans of the book series for the simple reason of age; in the books, Percy is 12 at the start of his adventure.

“Clash of the Titans” is a familiar brand name to fans from the 1981 movie of the same title and, like that film, this new model is more about an adrenaline adventure than meticulous scholarship. Leterrier (2008’s “The Incredible Hulk,” “Transporter 2”), for instance, was playing with the idea of presenting Pegasus as a black horse with webbed, bat-like wings instead of the iconic white steed with angelic feathers. He and his star, Worthington, have already discussed the possibilities of a sequel, and Warner Bros. has high hopes for the movie.

The films follow a surge in more traditional sword-and-sandal movies in recent years. The decade began with “Gladiator,” which won the Oscar for best picture, and it was followed in 2004 by both “Alexander” and “Troy.” It was the 2007 hit film “300,” though, that truly captured the attention of Hollywood executives with $456 million in worldwide box office off a $67-million budget.

The Zack Snyder film, the highest-grossing March release ever, was based on Frank Miller’s graphic novel about King Leonidas and his doomed army of Spartans; Miller is preparing a follow-up now titled “Xerxes,” which begins about 10 years before the events of “300,” and Snyder has expressed interest in it as a film property as well. “It’s the battle of Marathon through my lens,” Miller said Wednesday. “I’ve finished the plot and I’m getting started on the artwork.”

Miller said he is not surprised Greece is resurgent in Hollywood. “Every generation returns to ancient Greece because, well, the stories are so damn good,” said the artist, who also directed last year’s “The Spirit.” Miller said that during his research trips to Greece he realized that the myth and history overlap begins to blur, which adds to the storytelling allure. “The fact and the myth are inseparable and, believe me, when you go sailing for a while in the Aegean Sea, you start believing in Poseidon.”

The success of “300” was a likely inspiration for the new series “Spartacus: Blood and Sand,” which premieres Jan. 22 on Starz (it even co-stars Peter Mensah, whose character died memorably in “300” when he was kicked into a pit by Leonidis). The empire was last seen on a regular series in “Rome,” the HBO series that won seven Emmys during its 22-episode run and is now, according to star Kevin McKidd, ramping up for a feature with creator Bruno Heller (“The Mentalist”) finishing the screenplay.

McKidd, known to “Grey’s Anatomy” fans as Dr. Owen Hunt, is taking his experience in “Rome” to “Percy Jackson,” where he plays Poseidon, the estranged father of Percy.

“It’s a tricky thing in this movie,” the Scottish actor said. “I do modern times right now on ‘Grey’s,’ and on ‘Rome’ I played a character from antiquity. With this film, you have these gods who scale themselves down to walk the streets of modern Manhattan. But you think you have to play it differently because you have these classical texts. So how do you strike the balance? Chris Columbus helped us define it. These gods can be contemporary and act in a contemporary way. It’s a great thing because you can hit the ground running with emotion instead of putting on this classical mask as you would on stage.”

The classics of Greece never really left us, of course, when it comes to theater; just note the production of Euripides’ “Medea” with Annette Bening this year at UCLA’s Freud Playhouse. Other pop-culture ventures of the moment take the influence of Greece into unexpected directions. One of the most compelling comic books right now, for example, is Vertigo’s “Greek Street,” written by Peter Milligan, which transports Greek myths to contemporary London. The tales of Cassandra (called “Sandy” here) and Oedipus (now simply “Eddie”) play out in familiar rhythms but with a backdrop of Milligan’s gritty Soho.

Then there’s the acclaimed SyFy series “Battlestar Galactica,” which had plenty of references (there were characters called Apollo, Athena, Cassiopeia, etc.) and planets named after the Greek zodiac; the tales of the “Battlestar” universe continue on Jan. 22 with a spinoff series called “Caprica” and there are plans for a “Battlestar” feature film by Bryan Singer.

And Hollywood isn’t limiting its interests to the Greco-Roman gods. Marvel Studios and director Kenneth Branagh are just now getting underway with “Thor” (with Chris Hemsworth in the title role and Anthony Hopkins as the one-eyed Odin) based on the Norse god of thunder as imagined by Jack Kirby, Stan Lee, Walt Simonson and, more recently, J. Michael Straczynski in the pages of Marvel Comics. But are the old gods viable as entertainment to the young moviegoers who made the mecha-minded “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” the highest-grossing film of 2009?

On the set of “Clash,” star Worthington, still sweating from battle and picking at flecks of blood on his fingernails, dismissed the idea that ancient epics can’t be of-the-moment.

“Look at this world,” he said, nodding toward the set of the river Styx. “We’re not exactly going by the book. The armor we wear is very futuristic looking. It’s not dated to a period of time in a history book. This is a story with winged horses ... but what we’re doing, we have to have a modern take on it, to make it relevant to our audience. This isn’t like a Ridley Scott kind of thing, where every minute detail has to be an exact replica. We’re making a fun kind of romp.”

The original “Clash” starred Harry Hamlin, Laurence Olivier and Burgess Meredith, but the most memorable performance was the stop-motion animation by effects pioneer Ray Harryhausen. Those effects look quaint now, but they captured the imagination of many youngsters, including an 8-year-old Leterrier in his native France. Leterrier was resistant to the idea of a remake, but he came around after considering the wide range of gods and creatures who were untapped in the first picture.

The new film, from the screenplay by Phil Hay and Matt Manfredi, follows the journey of Perseus, the son of Zeus and a human mother, as he becomes a reluctant volunteer in the building conflict between his father and Hades. The film, like the original, is an amalgam of different Greek myths, and, again, a centerpiece is the showdown with Medusa, the cursed creature with serpent-tresses.

This time Medusa’s lair has staircases and walls that run off in different directions, like an M.C. Escher madhouse, since she can slither up surfaces. “It’s amazing,” Leterrier bragged of the work by production designer Martin Laing. But will it be enough to set “Clash’s” Medusa apart from the one moviegoers will have already seen in “Percy Jackson”? Columbus smiled at the question.

“We’re a good, solid five weeks ahead of the release of ‘Clash,’ so we will have succeeded or failed at that point,” Columbus said. “I’m very, very confident about our characters, our performances and our creatures. And I’m telling you, when you see Uma Thurman as our Medusa — well, you’ve never seen anything like it. It’s pretty spectacular. It’s something you’ve never even dreamed of.”

Columbus said the competition — or, to use a more topical word, the clash — between Greek myth movies is both real and imagined. “In the end, each movie will be judged on what it puts up on the screen. There’s room for both to succeed.”

McKidd, who hopes to carry the trident in multiple “Percy Jackson” films, said that if both films do find glory there will be rejoicing in classrooms well beyond Hollywood. “The stories of Greek myth are very allegorical and, as a adult reading them, I see a lot of truth in them. They’re archetypal. But that’s not what I thought when I was young. Listen, I remember reading Greek myth and it was dry and arid. That was the class I always fell asleep in. Well, we’re keeping those kids from dozing off now.”

-- Geoff Boucher

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Daniel Radcliffe in "The Hobbit"? Star says thanks, but no thanks

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PHOTOS: At top, "Clash of the Titans" (Warner Bros.) Second photo, "Percy Jackson" cast (Fox). third image, artwork from "Greek Street" (Vertigo)

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE, PART ONE

Stressed about finding the perfect gift for that special Muggle, Trekkie, Twi-Hard, Jedi or Bat-fan in your life? Relax and read on: You've come to the perfect place at the perfect time, because this is the 2009 Hero Complex Holiday Gift Guide -- just think of us as a sort of retail Yoda guiding you through the complicated swamps of holiday shopping. "Buy or buy not. There is no browse..."

It's the perfect time to get your geek on, too. The fanboy culture is in full blossom at the box office and in pop culture beyond, and this holiday season there's a mountain of gifts and gadgets that speak to the Comic-Con constituency. Here are some of the most heroic:

"FRINGE: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON" ($60 for DVD, $80 for Blu-ray): "Fringe" may be the best sci-fi show on television right now, which is saying a lot considering the crowd of competitors. The series was impressive from its very start for its production values, casting and cerebral ambitions, but early on it was missing a certain something; I didn't stop watching and I'm glad I didn't because by the middle of the first season the show found its groove (in part by finding a defining rhythm that wasn't beholden to a rigid, single-episode procedural pace). Like "The X-Files" (yes, it's hard not to compare the two, considering the starting-point premise of FBI investigations into the paranormal), this show has an intricate and still-unfolding mythology. It's not too late to jump on board, especially with this polished Warner Home Video collection of the entire first season on seven discs with extended scenes, loads of commentary, featurettes on special effects and the science of the show, a "Deciphering the Scene" feature for true "Fringe" students, a gag reel and more. The Blu-ray is worth the extra money, the features are even better and the show's cinematic approach lives up   to the format.You can find it at retailers everywhere or directly from Warner Home Video. Want to read more about the show? Check out the Hero Complex visit to the Vancouver set.

TAUNTAUN SLEEPING BAG:

($100) This may be the best nerd gift of the year. Originally made as a one-of-a-kind prototype for an April Fool's Day spoof, the sleeping bag is an irresistible bit of "Star Wars" that takes us all back to the icy slopes of Hoth, where frosty Luke Skywalker was saved by his quick-thinking pal Han Solo, who was resourceful enough to eviscerate a dead tauntaun (think of a cranky snow camel crossed with a llama) and show the desert-planet kid inside to keep warm. Hmmmmm, cozy! This sleeping bag is made of polyester and it won't save you from hypothermia on the frozen tundra (it's not for outdoor use) but it's a crackerjack gift and even has a lightsaber zipper so you can slice your furry friend open just like Han did. For sale exclusively at ThinkGeek.

"THE HUNTER" GRAPHIC NOVEL: ($25)  Here's one of the best graphic novels of the year and a killer gift -- Darwyn Cooke's sublime adaptation of the hard-boiled antihero created by Richard Stark (the pen name of the late, great Donald Westlake). The handsome book boasts Cooke’s spare and stylized artwork (think somewhere between the vintage cool of “Mad Men” and the storytelling flair of Milton Caniff’s “Steve Canyon” comic strips), and the 144-page tale from IDW Publishing is a meticulously faithful adaptation of the 1962 novel of the same name that introduced the scowling Parker. Available through most book merchants or directly from IDW. You can read more about this great book in the Hero Complex feature on Cooke and his mission to bring Westlake's classic character alive in a new way.

"TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY" LIMITED EDITION: We don't know if "Avatar" will live up to its billing as "a game-changer" for special effects, but director James Cameron already pulled that feat off once with "T2"  and its then-startling quicksilver CG effects. I'm a bigger fan of the first movie in the franchise (better story and none of Ed Furlong's petulance) but this limited-edition packaging ($115) of the sequel is too sweet to ignore with the 14-inch, skinless, glowing-eyeball bust of the T-800 that even makes sound effects. This six-disc (!) definitive packaging comes with every "T2" featurette and extra to date, including the Skynet Blu-ray edition of the film. That's fine, but did I mention that the metal skull makes noises and its eyes glow? Cool. This package was just released by Lionsgate in May so there's a good chance that fans you are shopping for may not have seen it before. A great gift, too, for any old college friends who now work in the Schwarzenegger administration who are spending Christmas in Sacramento for the last time. You can find it for sale at a variety of merchants.  

HERMIONE'S EARRINGS, STARFLEET CUFF LINKS and "THE DARK KNIGHT" MONEY CLIP : If you're looking for a sly, understated gift for "Harry Potter" fans (you know, something that doesn't scream "Muggle!") consider these graceful earrings of sterling silver and pink crystals ($59) fashioned as an homage to the ones worn by actress Emma Watson on screen. You can find them at the Warner Brothers shop along with a staggering array of wizard merch. In the same low-key vein, for fanboys who don't want to loudly broadcast their obsessions, there are some nifty Starfleet cuff links ($65) that are crafted from enamel and plated silver and have a bullet back closure; you can find them (as well as a Klingon counterpart product) at Cufflinks.com. We also like the folding, magnetic Batarang money clip ($39) from the Noble Collection that would fit the sleek sensibilities of Bruce Wayne but might be too small for the wad of spending cash he keeps in his utility belt.

-- Geoff Boucher

READ PART TWO RIGHT HERE AND PART THREE RIGHT HERE

READ the 2008 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

Here at the Hero Complex, we've circled "Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief" as a project to watch next year, so we'll be bringing you lots of coverage of its odyssey as a Hollywood venture. Today, Rachel Abramowitz has a report on the similarities between two magical youngsters, one named Percy and the other named Harry.  -- Geoff Boucher

In February, moviegoers will get a chance to meet a character who is already a titan of the bookshelves: Percy Jackson, the rebellious 12-year-old hero of Rick Riordan's bestselling novels, who discovers that he is the demigod son of the Greek sea god Poseidon. But will newcomers to the saga find themselves thinking of a certain boy wizard who discovered his own supernatural heritage within the walls of Hogwarts?

The first Riordan novel, "Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief," was published four years ago, but it remains a hot gift for youngsters this holiday season. It starts off the tale of young Percy, a kid with a flair for sarcasm, getting in trouble and bouncing among schools. He also has been diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia and has a somewhat defeated attitude about his future. It turns out, though, that his brain is wired differently because of his secret heritage: In this story, the Greek gods are alive and well and living on Mt. Olympus, which is now located on the 600th floor of the Empire State Building.

Instead of Hogwarts, this boy hero is shuttled off to Camp Half Blood on Long Island, where he communes with other young demigods. Once there, he’s wrongly accused of stealing the thunderbolt of Zeus, and if he doesn't find it, there will be a bloodbath among the famously quarrelsome clan of immortals. In the odyssey that follows, Percy discovers his own powers and faces down a bevy of beasties from Greek mythology. The studio executives working with the film are prepared for comparisons to "Potter," but they say they're confident that this adventure hero has plenty of his own unique magic to offer.

“We found it was a fresh arena," says Fox 2000 President Elizabeth Gabler, whose division is releasing the film. “It also deals with a lot of issues that kids and young people go through. Self-realization, breaking with the family, becoming more independent, finding out what your parents are, feeling a bit like an outcast and making yourself strong. There’s also an element of this which is a monster movie. The [kids] come up against Medusa, the Hydra, the Minotaur, Hades – people who are wild and extreme.”

Young Logan Lerman plays Percy, while Kevin McKidd ("Rome," "Grey's Anatomy") stars as Poseidon. The cast also includes Uma Thurman ("Kill Bill," "Pulp Fiction") as Medusa and Sean Bean ("The Lord of the Rings" films, "Troy") as Zeus, the king of the gods. The centaur Chiron, played by former James Bond star Pierce Brosnan, runs the activities at Camp Half Blood. Catherine Keener ("Capote," "Being John Malkovich") plays Percy’s mortal mom, Sally, whom he must rescue from the clutches of Hades, played by Steve Coogan, whom many moviegoers will remember as Octavius in the popular "Night of the Museum" films.

As the trailer makes clear, this film is directed by Chris Columbus, the director of the first two "Harry Potter" films and a producer of the third. Gabler said Columbus first heard about the books from his kids and then approached the studio, which owned the rights.

“He of all people was aware that there are some similarities to 'Harry Potter,' " Gabler said. "Who better than Chris to keep it away from that. He’s very sensitive to not repeat what they did in those films, and to bringing out the best of what these stories can be.”

-- Rachel Abramowitz

Chris Columbus feels pride watching his old "Potter" stars from afar

Hollywood looks to "Percy Jackson" and others to fill "Herry Potter" gap

Dan Radcliffe in "The Hobbit"? Star says thanks, but no thanks

Which celebrity intimidates Emma Watson? You may be surprised

Dumbledore diss? Michael Gambon sees "no point" in reading Rowling

Daniel Radcliffe talks about life after Hogwarts

"The Hobbit" is just the beginning of the del Toro Decade

Is "Pirates of Caribbean" franchise a sinking ship?

 

 

It's been a long time since director Chris Columbus was the cinematic headmaster at Hogwarts but he said it's been a joy to watch Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint graduate to bigger and better things.

"My biggest pride is seeing the pictures now, and watching the three of them from a distance, and seeing them do an entire scene in one shot," said the director of the first two "Harry Potter" films, which were released in 2001 and 2002. "Seriously, I know that sounds funny, but in the old days -- and, you know, the old days meaning eight years ago -- and in that first picture in particular, it’s filled with cuts because they couldn’t really get beyond the first line without either looking into the camera, laughing or looking at the lights."

I was talking to Columbus recently about his next film, "Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief," which is the adaptation of a series of novels about a young boy with an outsider spirit who discovers he has a magical heritage and then must fight against powerful foes with the help of his friends. Yes, it does sound a bit familiar, doesn't it?

"I know, I know, it’s the inevitable question on this picture," Columbus said with a chuckle. "We obviously would be fools not to hope for the same type of audience." He went on to explain the many differences between "Percy" and "Harry" but you can read about all of that in our coming-soon coverage of the "Lightning Thief" and its considerable aspirations. Today I'm focused instead on Columbus and his Hogwarts legacy.

The first two films are about to be front-and-center again too. On Dec. 8, two lavish new home-video collections hit stores: "Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone" Ultimate Edition and "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" Ultimate Edition, which arrive with a bundle of extras, including never-before-seen screen tests of the cast members and the first two installments of the new eight-part documentary "Creating the World of Harry Potter."

Columbus launched a franchise that has, in less than a decade, accounted for more than $5.3 billion in worldwide box-office, not to mention the billions more made at retail and through licensing deals. Columbus isn't hailed as a founding father by many fans, though; as the franchise has grown darker, more stylized and better-acted (if only due to the maturation of its young stars), the perception is that the Columbus films have not aged all that well. To me, they do feel overly quaint now and, at some wincing moments, have the soft-glow aura of a Hallmark commercial. I'm sure that sort of appraisal will sound a bit unfair to Columbus and his supporters -- they weren't trying to make "Let the Right One In" after all, it was a film for kids and about kids.

I remember earlier this year, "Potter" franchise producer David Heyman told me the best way to frame those first two films is to judge them by their pioneering impact, not as rivals to their sequels. "Chris Columbus was the exact right director for those films," he said, noting that Columbus is "unrivaled" in his ability to work with young children as stars. Indeed, Columbus may not have the storytelling chops of current "Potter" director David Yates but part of his job on the first two films was making sure his young stars were kept safe in the eye of the storm.

"Having done the 'Home Alone' pictures, I realized that we needed to start casting kids based on their families and the security that their families could give them at this particular time in their lives -- that was particularly the case with the "Potter" kids, who were about to become three of the most famous kids in the world," Columbus said. "So David Heyman and I made sort of a pact that we were gonna cast the families as well as the kids.  And in interviewing Dan’s family and Rupert’s family and Emma’s family, they surrounded themselves with a really solid group of people. Their parents were very supportive, their parents were there for them all the time."

I told Columbus that the most amazing thing about the "Potter" stars may be how level-headed and thoughtful the trio are in the face of fame that has now lasted for half of their lifetimes. There's not a Britney in the bunch, I told Columbus and he agreed.

"There wasn’t this obsession for fame," the 51-year-old director said. "It all sort of happened -- particularly with Daniel Radcliffe -- reluctantly. With  the other two kids it seemed accidentally – they weren’t expecting it.  And I think as a result of that, because they had that sense of support from us at the beginning, and from their parents throughout, they’ve really turned into terrific adults.  And that being said, they’ve also turned into terrific actors, you know. "

Debate, if you will, the quality of Columbus as a director but don't doubt for a minute his value to the franchise that is now a towering part of Hollywood history. "Boy, I’m telling you, to see them grow as actors and actually having the opportunity to see Dan in [the stage play] 'Equus'…I was just really, really impressed. It was the feeling of a proud parent."

-- Geoff Boucher

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PHOTO: Rupert Grint, Daniel Radcliffe and Chris Columbus on the set of the first "Potter" film (Warner Bros.) 

Our sister blog Culture Monster has an update on the Dan Radcliffe's stage plans. Here's an excerpt:

As fans of the "Harry Potter" films will surely attest, Daniel Radcliffe, who created the on-screen role of the young wizard, has those "cool, clear eyes of a seeker of wisdom and truth."

That's also a refrain from "I Believe in You," the hit song from "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying." Citing unnamed sources, Variety reports that Radcliffe is going to kick the tires on the role in an upcoming reading for a possible revival of the satire on corporate striving that opened on Broadway in 1961. 

If a production comes to fruition and he takes the role of Finch, Radcliffe would be making his musical debut as a window-washer who rises to company top dog with the help of his trusty talking self-help book, whose title is the same as the play's.

Big business as farce? Never say that theater producer-types don't try to feed off the zeitgeist. Radcliffe earned critical huzzahs on stage in 2007 and 2008, starring as the stable boy in London and Broadway revivals of Peter Shaffer's psychological drama, "Equus"...

THERE'S MORE, READ THE REST 

-- Mike Boehm

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VOTE: Which film might get Oscar nom? "Up," "Trek" or "Potter"?

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Earlier this year, author J.K. Rowling was given one of France's highest honors when she was inducted into the Legion of Honor by French President Nicolas Sarkozy at the Elysee presidential palace. No surprise, I suppose, considering the fact that Rowling's beloved "Harry Potter" books have sold more than 400 million copies and been translated into 67 languages -- not to mention the history-making film adaptations, which collectively have gone north of $5.3 billion in worldwide box office.

Turns out, according to a new book by a speechwriter during the Bush administration, there was talk of honoring the British author with the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom a few years ago but the idea was a non-starter in the White House. The former administration had decision-makers who spoke up to "actually object to giving the author J.K. Rowling a presidential medal because the Harry Potter books encouraged witchcraft," writes Matthew Latimer, author of "Speech-less: Tales of a White House Survivor."

Hmm. They gave the same medal to James Cagney and John Wayne without fear of gunfire in the streets, and Charlton Heston got one despite his mixed messages on creationism vs. evolution (sure, he made great Bible movies, but what about that talking-ape film?). My first thought was that Rowling didn't merit the award for the simple reason that, well, it was too big of an honor -- but, really, is she provably less deserving than previous honorees Julia Child, Rita Moreno or NASCAR driver Richard Petty?

Many supporters celebrate Rowling's philanthropy and point out that her works have energized young readers in dynamic fashion in an era when parents had given up hope that their youngsters would willingly set aside video games and television remotes so they could plow through a 759-page tome such as "Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows." Will she still be honored with the Medal of Freedom? The late Ted Kennedy, who was viewed as Voldemort by the GOP, was passed over for the medal during the Bush administration but got it from the next occupant of the White House. Should Rowling be another second-chance candidate?

Take a look at the list of previous Medal of Freedom winners and leave a comment below with your opinion.

-- Geoff Boucher

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STILL WANT MORE?  All "HARRY POTTER" coverage at Hero Complex

 

 

  

Alohomora! The secret is now unlocked as to when Universal Studios Orlando will open the attraction the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, though the specificity of spring 2010 doesn't help a whole lot in terms of planning the family vacation.

Our travel blog was one of the many to announce it earlier in the week, and they've also included a lot about the attractions, food and shops that will be making their way to the Islands of Adventure's recreation of Hogsmeade village.

A more explanatory video was later released, with some of the artistic minds behind "Harry Potter" discussing the new attraction. Tom Felton, Draco Malfoy himself, stopped in to do the honors of making the announcement.

-- Jevon Phillips

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READ THEM ALL: A gallery of our 'Half-Blood Prince' interviews

WANT MORE?  "HARRY POTTER" on Hero Complex

EXCLUSIVE 

Who will star as Bilbo Baggins in "The Hobbit"? You can cross one name off the list: Daniel Radcliffe, of "Harry Potter" fame, says he has no interest in any new project with "any wizards in it."

"I'd have to say, 'Thanks but no thanks,' not that anyone has asked me," the 20-year-old actor told me last week in England. "Honestly, I don't think they would want me anyway, it's just too close. Whatever I do next, I don't think there will be any wizards in it!"

Radcliffe is now at work on the seventh and eighth films in the "Potter" franchise, and by the 2011 release of the last film in the series, he will have spent more than a decade inhabiting the role of the orphaned boy wizard. The sixth "Potter" film, released in the U.S. on July 15, is closing in on $830 million in worldwide box office. The collective franchise is now north of $5.3 billion in global box office.

Radcliffe is one of several names that has popped up again and again as fans chew on the casting challenge for "The Hobbit," the two-film companion piece to the massively successful "Lord of the Rings" franchise. Oscar-winning "Rings" director Peter Jackson is back as a producer this time, and Guillermo del Toro ("Pan's Labyrinth," "Hellboy") is in as director. "The Hobbit" is planned as a $300-million project with releases in 2011 and 2012.

In a recent reader poll here at the Hero Complex, there were more than 5,700 votes cast, and Radcliffe came in third behind James McAvoy ("Atonement") and David Tennant ("Doctor Who") as the best choice to play the itinerant Bilbo. Radcliffe says he casts his own ballot for Scottish actor McAvoy. 

"James McAvoy is fantastic. I think he should play it. I've done the fantasy-film thing. Actually, so has he, with the 'Chronicles of Narnia,' of course. But I've done it for longer. He can take over. I'm done. I don't think anybody involved in that would want me to, either."

-- Geoff Boucher

Photo: Warner Bros.

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Here's a kooky tidbit from our sister blog, the Dish Rag, which specializes in Hollywood gossip...

Emma Watson, who plays Hermoine a talented young Muggle-born witch in the "Harry Potter" series, has a real witch hiding in her family tree.

According to Ancestry.com, English records show Watson’s distant relative was Joan Playle of Essex County, England, a 16th-century English woman convicted of witchcraft in 1592.

Details are sketchy -- naturally -- and Playle’s conviction remain a mystery. She was unmarried, which often led to witchcraft accusations. During the Elizabethan era, poor, homely, old, widowed single women were often declared to be witches.

But Playle was not executed.and was instead excommunicated from the Church of England. She was one of only 270 known individuals accused of and tried for witchcraft in all of England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Research also revealed Playle was convicted in the parish of Great Waltham in Essex County, a town approximately 50 miles northeast of London and about 100 miles from Oxfordshire, where Watson grew up...

THERE'S MORE...READ THE REST

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On the "Half-Blood" set: A chat with Jim Broadbent

PHOTO CREDIT: Warner Bros.

Special makeup designer Nick Dudman had to scramble to complete the look of the werewolf Death Eater Fenrir Greyback in "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince." "They didn't select [actor Dave Legeno] until quite late, and we didn't have a lot of time," Dudman explained. Luckily, this wasn't some two-bit indie production; this was a big-budget Warner Bros. blockbuster, with the resources to go with it. "We had about 10 people on just that one character," Dudman said. "We can take the time to pay attention to detail." For Greyback, Dudman's team spent seven months stockpiling a supply of multi-piece silicone makeup to be applied to the actor's head and chest, with each bit of goat hair individually punched into the makeup. "You can't use wig lace, because it will show," Dudman said. "It has to be done by hand." It took about 5 1/2 days to apply the hairs for one set of makeup that would be used for only one day of shooting. Dudman had no way around it. "The makeup removal process would always result in the silicone pieces being destroyed."

-- Patrick Kevin Day

"Potter" producer David Heyman reflects on the magical journey and shares a photo of a special moment: When Harry met pally...

Like a proud father, David Heyman, the producer of the “Harry Potter” films, reached for a box of photographs when a visitor asked him about the young stars of the history-making franchise.

“They are not my own children, obviously, but they are like nephews and nieces or perhaps godchildren, and I feel really protective of them,” Heyman said as he sat in his office at the converted aviation factory here that serves as the movie set for the “Potter” series. “Here, look at this one — this is a photo taken the day the boys met. No one’s really seen this before. They were taking a little walk together to get know one another...”

The black-and-white snapshot showed “Potter” stars Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint as chubby-cheeked adolescents strolling side by side, their eyes cast down to their shadows. Heyman took the photo in 2000. Much has happened since then. Those meek boys are now world-famous young men, and their sixth film together, “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” has, since its Wednesday opening, racked up more than $400 million worldwide.

For those keeping track, that puts the saga of the Hogwarts School at a staggering $4.87 billion in lifetime box office.

At the very center of the franchise is the erudite Heyman, the 47-year-old London native who has been the architect of the franchise from Day One. On the set in Watford, outside London, Heyman has been the steady steward for a massive franchise that has employed four different directors but chugged along with a remarkable lack of friction or frenzy, as least by all outward appearances.

That’s not to say the going has been entirely smooth. Heyman, who prides himself on his affinity for “Potter” fans, found himself with a muggle revolt last year when Warner Bros. abruptly postponed “Half-Blood Prince” for eight months to better position the film in the marketplace. He agreed with the logic and praises Warners as a partner but added: “I won’t kid you. My heart sank when they came to me with the idea.”

Heyman and company have also struggled mightily to keep the large cast intact and their paydays manageable in a franchise that makes a mountain of money but also fills entire valleys with the fortune spent on salaries, effects and marketing.

Over two interviews — one last year on the movie set and one last week in Santa Monica — the producer explained that his success has been keyed by keeping the veteran “Potter” crew largely intact and somewhat sequestered on the Watford set, which, he says “remains a place of pride but no ego, more like an academy, which it plays on screen.”

He also enjoyed the kind of luck that makes you believe in magic.

Heyman had studied art history at Harvard, and after stints in L.A. and New York he was back in London with a plan: “I wanted to make films based on books. I’m passionate about books, and you need passion in this business because it can be brutal.”

In late 1997, a copy of “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” (its title would be tweaked for its U.S. release) came through the office and was quickly banished to the shelf for low-priority prospects. A secretary happened to pluck it from the pile and took it home for a weekend. Her favorable review got Heyman to look past “the rubbish title.” He fell in love with the book and snatched up the rights.
Fast-forward to the summer of 2000. J.K. Rowling’s books were a sensation and Heyman was seven months into his increasingly anxious search for a lead actor.

“One night, looking for a break, I went to the theater with Steve Kloves, the screenwriter who has written five of the six films. There sitting behind me was this boy with these big blue eyes. It was Dan Radcliffe. I remember my first impressions: He was curious and funny and so energetic. There was real generosity too, and sweetness. But at the same time he was really voracious and with hunger for knowledge of whatever kind.”

He coaxed the youngster’s parents into bringing him by for an audition. “I watched that audition tape recently — we’ll be putting it on one of the DVD releases — and I barely recognized him.”

The casting of Radcliffe as Harry, Grint as Ron Weasley and Emma Watson as Hermione Granger is especially impressive  in hindsight. The trio’s selection was arguably one of the best show-business decisions over the past decade, considering the instant risks and eventual rewards. Critics are praising their acting in this latest film as a leap forward for each of them, and, more than that, they have shown admirable grace and steadiness in the face of teen superstardom. In other words, there wasn’t a Britney in the bunch.

“I know they all will have great success in whatever they choose to do,” Heyman said at his Watford office, putting away his photo collection. “Emma is astonishingly bright. She is radiant and relaxed. Dan is extremely focused on his acting, and I have the fortune too to read his poetry and short stories, and there are some major poets who have written the most glowing, supportive things about his work. And Rupert — Rupert is the most natural comedian of the bunch. I think that he is like an old person in a young person’s body. He is a wonderful eccentric, a distinct original.”

This week, the “Potter” crew will hit Day 100 of the planned 250-day shoot for “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” the series finale that will be released as two films.

Heyman said it’s too soon to contemplate the end of it all, especially considering the afterlife of franchises of this magnitude. Outside his office were blueprints of the “Harry Potter” theme park, which is scheduled to open in Orlando next year and has Heyman and “Potter” production designer Stuart Craig on board. There’s also a museum tour of props and costumes planned and years’ worth of home-video repackaging projects to consider, he noted with a chuckle.

Yet Heyman is also looking beyond Hogwarts. He’s excited to adapt British novelist Mark Haddon’s quirky “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time,” with Kloves on board to script and direct. Heyman is also developing the film future of Paddington Bear, who last year celebrated his 50th anniversary as a gentle institution of the British bookshelf.

The “Potter” franchise will be a hard act to follow. Heyman said he measures his life by the franchise; he got married while filming the fourth, for instance, and his son was born during the making of the sixth. But like an academy, seasons pass and graduations come.

“This place is like going off to school,” he said of the cavernous Watford site, which houses high-tech movie gear in a somewhat moldering old fortress. “It even smells like school. There’s concrete stairs; it smells a little bit bad, like a dormitory. The school is falling apart a bit; three people have been hired full time to patch the roof. The set may fall apart the day we’re done with it, and maybe that’s the way it should be.”

-- Geoff Boucher

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Rupert Grint explains the pain of love ... and quidditch

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STILL WANT MORE?  All "HARRY POTTER" coverage at Hero Complex

Photo of Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint in 2000 by David Heyman. David Heyman portrait by Murray Close/Warner Bros. All other images: Warner Bros.

"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" is the biggest movie in the land. It brought in $58 million on its opening day and seems to be pleasing most critics as well. If you've been reading the Hero Complex in recent weeks, you know just everything you can know about the sixth movie in this most magical of franchises.

And if you are just now joining us, here's a look at intense countdown coverage -- click on any face below to read our exclusive interview with that cast member or creator. There's actually more than just these (like our look at composer Nicolas Hooper's contributions or the conversation with costume whiz Jany Temime) but you get the idea. It's been a great success for us and we've been thrilled with your reponse and comments.

But we're not done yet...this Monday we will have something very special to show you -- a behind-the-scenes bit of 'Potter" magic that you will not want to miss.   

Thank again from Denise Martin, Jevon Phillips and myself. -- Geoff Boucher

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STILL WANT MORE?  All "HARRY POTTER" coverage at Hero Complex

Images courtesy of Warner Bros.

Last night we brought you a dispatch from the midnight openings of the sixth "Harry Potter" film, now here are photos from the witching-hour screenings that broke box-office records...

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It's here! “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” has arrived and today our Denise Martin finishes off our daily "Potter" countdown (but not our ongoing Hogwarts coverage, of course). Her interview subject? Here's a hint: He is a key figure and an especially conflicted wizard in the new film.

After years of playing the petulant platinum-blond pest Draco Malfoy, actor Tom Felton couldn't wait to get his hands on the script for the series’ sixth film, a sort of coming out party for the aspiring Death Eater. And with good reason. There's plenty for Draco to wrestle with in this edition. With his father, Lucius Malfoy, stuck in Azkaban, young Draco is tapped by Voldemort to use the Unforgivable Curse on the school's headmaster, Albus Dumbledore. And while Felton’s alter ego has been eager to carry out some dark doings in the past, when the big moment arrives Draco instead comes up against the conscience he never knew he had.

Felton, who was heading off to get his hair dyed blond during our chat, told Hero Complex all about growing up Draco, facing off with Michael Gambon’s Dumbledore, and what he and star Daniel Radcliffe really talk about on set.

DM: This is the major film in Draco’s story. There‘s some coming of age for him here. What were your thoughts going into it?

TF: Very excited, but I also got a little bit anxious, and slightly worried, about what to do and whether or not I could do it. I had many meetings with David Yates and Mike [Gambon] to discuss it, and they really encouraged me to really try and excel with the character. It’s what any actor wants when it comes to trying to sink your teeth into a character, and we really do reveal more of Draco’s emotions. He’s always been slightly two-dimensional in previous years, and this time you really see lots of sides of him.

DM: How so?

TF: You see a much harder and much more violent side, his hate is much stronger. But there’s also an immensely vulnerable side to him too. Hopefully you empathize with him by the end, a little bit.

DM: In the book, all is revealed, more or less, in his showdown with Dumbledore. Does his back story play out the same way in the film?

TF: Draco starts off very determined, very hard, and very up for it, so to speak. But definitely, toward the end, that crumbles. That whole façade. You really feel that weaker side of him, the young boy that he is. He’s acting like a man, he’s being the father of a house while his dad’s in prison, so he really feels like he’s got to step up his game, but unfortunately he’s not quite as solid as he thought. It’s a more gradual crumbling in the film.

DM: As you were nervous at the outset, did director David Yates say anything particularly helpful?

TF: He was very keen to mention all the things I should be feeling and thinking instead of  leaving me too much on my own. We played around with it. If I get any praise out of it, it’s on account of his direction and his vision. He’s so encouraging of all of us really, and I think it really makes a difference. As it went on, I got a lot more confident and less panicky.

DM: What do you remember about shooting that climactic scene on the Astronomy Tower?

TF: It was intense!  When we shot it I was surrounded by the cream of British actors [Alan Rickman and Helena Bonham Carter were present, as was the Dublin-born Gambon], and the scene itself is very intense. There’s lots of shouting, screaming and tears. We had good fun with that one. It was the scene I was most looking forward to.

DM: What was working with Gambon like?

TF: I was obviously very scared about having a one-on-one scene with him. But early on we met up and we got on really well. He’s a character beyond character, anyone will tell you that. He’s got more stories than an encyclopedia and he’s a wealth of knowledge and comedy. It’s just a joy to be around him. Every time there was a break, I would take it as a good opportunity to have a cup of tea with him, asking questions and stuff like that.

DM: His Dumbledore is a lot more intense than in the books, isn’t he?

TF: Yeah, I was slightly afraid that he was going to be cold or stone-faced. But he’s far from it. Honestly, he’s like an 18-year-old and he loves it.

DM: Is it fair to say this film is the darkest Potter film yet?

TF: It is, but I don’t think it’s just that. It happens in every film, people say it's getting so dark. But this one also gets funnier and more romantic. Also, the nature of the film is more adult, so it’s only right for the dark side to correspond to the good. I don’t think it’s just dark, that’s just one of its many features.

DM: You’re about to start shooting “Deathly Hallows” -- excited or sad?

TF: Excited.

Dan, Emma [Watson] and Rupert [Grint] have been hard at work for the past month or two.I’m actually going in tomorrow to get the bonnet dyed. I’m looking forward to getting blond again.

DM: You’re more recognizable that way, though.

TF: I know. I’m panicking about that part.

DM: Has it started to hit you that this is it?

TF: Very much so. It’s a very daunting time for all of us. Every year we finish and we know we’ll come back for more. After this one, it will be a goodbye for a while. It is quite exciting as well. There are other things to look forward to, and I know we’ll all be happy in a way because we’ve seen the story all the way through. It’s quite a big deal doing the next two movies though. They’re not short films. There’s a lot of work to be done. It’s going to be well over a year of work.

DM: What has kept you willing to return for all the movies?

TF: It’s always been fun. That’s the main thing. It’s not really an arduous process. Also, I love the idea of looking back at it in 10 or 20 years and knowing you were a part of it all. I couldn’t bear to leave it, especially now when we’re so close to finishing.

DM: Where does “Half-Blood Prince” fit in for you? Where do you rank it?

TF: It’s my personal favorite -- I don’t know whether or not I’m being biased though because Draco’s featured in it. But there’s something about the story that’s very human and relatable in many respects, lots of love in the air at Hogwarts, lots of boys and girls kissing. It’s about growing up.

DM: What will you miss most?

TF: The whole cast and crew. It’s a great atmosphere when we’re all there together on set. I suppose we won't have that again. I’m sure we’ll keep in touch, but we won’t all be under the same roof. I got on very well with young Daniel. We’re both cricket fans so there’s plenty of cricket chat going on between the pair of us. There’s no one I don’t get along with. We all click rather well.

DM: Have you lined up any post-Potter plans?

TF: I have a couple of film projects in the run. “In Between the Waves” is a film I’m hoping to do next spring. It’s about two boys, two keen surfers who travel around Europe on a mad surfing road trip. I used to skateboard, and I’ve been snowboarding, and I’ve been told that if I can do those, I’ll be all right. But I’ve never been on a surfboard.

DM: I understand you sing as well. Any plans to record?

TF: I have done a bit of recording and the songs are available on iTunes, and I’ve got some nice comments. It’s something I enjoy doing, but I’m not looking for a singing career any time soon. As long as one person gets enjoyment out of it, I’m happy to make it available.

DM: Worried about being typecast as an evil Draco-type from now on?

TF: That question comes up a lot. I think it’s pretty crazy to say you’ve been typecast at the age of 20 before you’ve even really started getting going. I think with young Mr. [Robert] Pattinson’s success, I think it pretty much gives us the green light to say there’s life after Harry Potter. It’s just a matter of who wants it and who will work for it.

-- Denise Martin

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Remember those Harry Potter fans who said they would boycott the sixth movie because Warner Bros. delayed its release to make more money? Yeah, right, good luck with that. "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" has arrived and our Yvonne Villarreal was out there among the muggles and brought back this report.

 

PHOTO GALLERY: SEE THE FANS AT MIDNIGHT SCREENINGS

They didn't just want to see a movie, they wanted to live it -- and wear it. Some of the muggles came in maroon-striped scarves and school-uniform neckties; others donned capes and stuffed pillows under their shirts to give them the girth of a plump wizard. They came in wigs, gray sweaters (despite the stifling heat), tube socks and, oh yes, wire-rimmed glasses. Lots and lots of wire-rimmed glasses.

The witching-hour spectacle played out at theaters across the Southland as hundreds of Harry Potter fans stayed up late so they could be among the first to see the sixth film in the most magical of Hollywood franchises. The film sold out more than 4,500 midnight shows and was looking to break the records for a Wednesday opening.

“I’ve been waiting for this day for months,” said Naomi Gonzales, 21, of Sylmar, who purchased tickets for the 12:55 a.m. showing at Universal CityWalk with her cousin. “There was no way I was going to wait. Midnight was the only option. Who needs sleep? Harry Potter is my caffeine.”

At the AMC CityWalk Stadium, all six showings were sold out. The two midnight showings at Mann Theatres in Hollywood? Sold out. That was the story far and wide; At one point, Fandango was selling eight tickets per second, according to the website.

Camille Soroudi, 18, and her friends London and Gaby came to the 12:15 show at CityWalk in their Hogwarts uniform.

“It better lives up to the book,” said Soroudi, who with her friends started a Harry Potter club at their high school when they were students there. “I don’t want it to be like ‘Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.’ If you’re going to bring the book to the big screen, do it right. They should have brought [director] Chris Columbus back.”

The sixth installment in the Potter franchise, shot over an eight-year span, is directed by David Yates, who did the previous film and is at work on the final two. If initial ticket sales are any indication, the latest installment is on track to match or exceed "Order of the Phoenix,” which finished with a worldwide box-office total of $938 million.

Potter-mania via cyberspace didn’t end with online ticket purchasing.  Fans of the boy wizard and his sidekicks have made “Harry Potter” a top 10 “trending topic” on Twitter since July 13.  As midnight neared Tuesday, many “tweets” buzzed with anticipation.

Around 6 p.m. PST, “Erickaholic” wrote, “Waiting in line for the harry potter premierrr :)”

“Bamberella” wrote, “Harry Potter tonight . . . not an avid book reader but fan enough to go to the midnight showing. Boo ya!”

Others, like “PhantomWho,” planned to tweet their thoughts of the movie as they watched it. 

And many expressed their plans to watch Harry, his sidekick Ron and brainy gal pal Hermione more than once.

“Are you kidding?” said Lauren Poissant, 19, of Long Beach, who came dressed as Rubeus Hagrid and lugged along an egg (made of papier-mache) housing the baby dragon Norbert. “I’m definitely going to see it more than once. It’s just that kind of movie.”

-- Yvonne Villarreal

Which celebrity intimidates Emma Watson? You may be surprised

Dumbledore diss? Michael Gambon sees "no point" in reading Rowling

Daniel Radcliffe talks about life after Hogwarts

VOTE: Which film might get Oscar nom? "Up," "Trek" or "Potter"?

Rupert Grint explains the pain of love . . . and quidditch

Jessie Cave spills about scaring, smooching Rupert Grint

QUIZ: How well do you know the halls of Hogwarts?

Getting to know the real-life Weasley boys

SCOOP: David Yates reveals where he will split "Deathly Hallows"

STILL WANT MORE?  All "HARRY POTTER" coverage at Hero Complex

Photo credits: Warner Bros.

Across the country, muggles are getting ready for the midnight arrival of "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," the sixth film in the history-making wizard saga. Everyone is excited to walk in -- but how will they feel after the credits roll? Kenneth Turan, the lead film critic for the Los Angeles Times, has seen the film -- here's an excerpt from his review.

"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" is being described as an excursion into the dark side for this venerable series, but don't let the chatter fool you. Now in its sixth episode shot over an eight-year span, with two more features still to come, this one-of-a-kind film cycle has become as comfortable and reliable as an old shoe, providing a degree of dependability that's becoming increasingly rare.

As directed by David Yates, who did the previous film and is on tap for the final two, "Half-Blood Prince" demonstrates the ways that the Potter pictures have become the modern exemplars of establishment moviemaking. We don't turn to these films for thrilling or original cinema, we look for a level of craft, consistency and, most of all, fidelity to the originals -- all of which we get.

Yes, the Death Eaters in thrall to Lord Voldemort, "the most dangerous dark wizard of all time," are on the march and threatening Hogwarts and all it stands for, but those who've read the books know how all that plays out. It's not chills or suspense audiences are asking for here, but respectful familiarity.

It's only the phenomenal success of the books that has made all this possible, that has ensured a loyal audience for each film, an audience that has invested so much emotion, not to mention time, in the ongoing Potter saga that skipping an episode is out of the question. That's a kind of brand loyalty that's all but gone out of style.

That investment of time also means we've been watching the film's trio of youthful principals -- Daniel Radcliffe as Harry, Rupert Grint as sidekick Ron Weasley and Emma Watson as brainy Hermione Granger -- grow up on screen since 2001. They've become as familiar as family members, and "Half-Blood Prince" trades on that connection to keep us involved when things get slow.

This bond is especially necessary in those sections of the film in which the Hogwarts gang goes through the agonies of teenage romantic attachment. Is Harry getting serious about Ginny Weasley (Bonnie Wright)? Will Ron be too busy with Lavender Brown (Jessie Cave) to care? Or to so much as notice that his pal Hermione is pining away just for him? It's not clear who suffers more here, the kids navigating this "High School Confidential" universe or audiences having to endure it with them.

Fortunately, there's more to "Half-Blood Prince" than youthful heartache...

READ THE REST

-- Kenneth Turan

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Jessie Cave spills about scaring, smooching Rupert Grint

SCOOP: David Yates reveals where he will split "Deathly Hallows"

QUIZ: How well do you know the halls of Hogwarts?

STILL WANT MORE?  All "HARRY POTTER" coverage at Hero Complex

CREDITS: Images courtesy of Warner Bros

The end is near. Muggles everywhere have waited for months (and months ... and months ...) for "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," and now it's so close they can feel it. Our own countdown to the film is finishing strong with Wednesday's interview with Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy) and today's strong feature on the headmaster himself, Michael Gambon, written by our "Potter" specialist Denise Martin:

Michael Gambon has played Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore for five years but he hasn't been setting a good example for his students when it comes to finishing their homework: The beloved old wizard hasn't cracked a single one of J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter" novels.

The choice not to read Rowling’s book series, he explains, is deliberate and he points out that costars Ralph Fiennes and Alan Rickman haven’t taken up the books either.

“You’d get upset about all the scenes it's missing from the book, wouldn‘t you?” Gambon said via phone from New York, where he was promoting the opening this Wednesday of the sixth "Potter" film. “No point in reading the books because you’re playing with [screenwriter] Steve Kloves’ words.”

And Kloves, along with director David Yates, have demanded an intense Dumbledore, who in the fourth film physically shook Harry when the boy wizard's name wound up in the "Goblet of Fire." It’s a characterization that isn’t as pronounced in the book -- Dumbledore doesn’t yank and jostle his star student, for starters -- and it upset many "Potter" fans.

In fact, many riled-up muggles also took to the Internet after the third film to complain that Gambon didn’t have the same kindly grandfather aura that they came to expect in the books and in the first two films when the role was portrayed by the late Richard Harris.

 Since joining the Potter cast in the third movie, “Harry Potter  and the Prisoner of Azkaban,” Gambon has fashioned Dumbledore into a tougher patriarch, an urgent and mysterious force in the midst of impending  war. Less cuddly, this Dumbledore is clearly presented as a formidable opponent to Potter’s snake-faced nemesis, Voldemort.

And though Harris (who died in London at age 72 in 2002) had a twinkling gentleness, Gambon’s Dumbledore is a wry observer with crackling wit when it comes to the misadventures of his pupils.

In “Half-Blood Prince,” for instance, Ron Weasley’s girlfriend Lavender Brown goes wailing past the headmaster after she loses her red-headed beau to Hermione Granger. The old wizard, with a smirking tone, muses, “Oh, to be young and to feel love’s keen sting.”

The 68-year-old Irish actor, with an illustrious 40-year stage career, is deeply respected by the young cast members. The franchise's title star, Daniel Radcliffe, for instance, said he was bringing his full powers to an especially emotional moment in the film. (WARNING: If you haven't read the books, you'll be wanting to skip this next paragraph due to a key revelation.)

“Dumbledore dies and I had to do a scene lamenting over his body,” Radcliffe explained to U.K. tabloid The Daily Mirror. “Michael is the most respected actor I have ever worked with so I had to really pull out the stops to convey the emotion.But after the fourth take, I looked down and saw that he had dozed off. I had to prod him to wake up. So much for impressing someone with your skills!”

The teacher may doze, but the students dare not drift off. That's the message both on-camera and off-camera, according to Gambon, who has made more than five dozen films, among them "The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover," "Gosford Park" and "Sleepy Hollow."

“He’s got to be a bit scary," Gambon said of his Dumbledore. "All headmasters should be a bit scary, shouldn’t they? A top wizard like him would be intimidating. And ultimately, he’s protecting Harry. Essentially, I play myself. A little Irish, a little scary. That’s what I’m like in real life.”

(WARNING: Here comes that same spoiler again, if you haven't read the books, skip the next three paragraphs.) 

Gambon said he wasn’t terribly emotional upon learning of Dumbledore’s death, and he viewed it a bit as an Obi-Wan Kenobi sorta-kinda death. “Wizards can’t die, can they? They’re always a bit there.”

Still, he said his demise is the film’s most powerful scene. Atop Hogwarts’ Astronomy Tower, Dumbledore is confronted by a determined Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton), the Voldemort disciple who has been tasked with killing the headmaster. The youngster's confidence is shaken when it’s time to do the dark deed. “He goads Draco," Gambon said of his character. "He knows he isn‘t going to do it."

The faithfully rendered moment will be more potent to fans of the books who know that Dumbledore is, in fact, aware of the plot. Disarmed but calm, his beseeching eyes plead with his torn collaborator Severus Snape (Alan Rickman) not to save his life but to end it, unbeknown to Harry. Says Gambon: "He knows what’s what. He invites it. It’s quite good how he dies. I’ve died in quite a few plays and films, I’m always dying, and this one is good.” (In the film, there is one MAJOR departure from the book concerning the orchestration of this climactic scene, but we'll leave that surprise alone.)

The actor says the enormity of the "Potter" phenomenon hit him again recently at the London premiere of “Half-Blood Prince,” where more than 4,000 kids turned up to get a glimpse of the magical cast. Gambon called it both heartwarming and bittersweet.

“I was really moved by the number of children there. It was raining and everyone was drenched, some of them had been there for hours. You feel responsible for them in a way. All their books and pieces of paper for autographs were all wet, the pens wouldn’t work. It was so sad. It makes you realize how big this thing is.”

The filming of the final Harry Potter movies, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” is underway but Gambon's contributions aren't scheduled until February. He says that makes it feel as if the end is still far away for him, but he has already begun to reflect on the experience.

“It’s been," he said, "a real privilege." 

Watching stars Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint grow up has been especially fun. “They’ve become worldly, wise and strong actors. That’s been nice to see. You can say things to them now that you couldn’t say to them then.”

Like what? “Oh I don’t know. I dare not say,” he said, chuckling. Should we assume the worst? “Yes,” he answered with a cryptic bit of sass. How very Dumbledore.

-- Denise Martin

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Photos: Warner Brothers

Only a few days left until "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" hits theaters at midnight Wednesday (one minute after 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, people!).  Many may be dusting off their Ravenclaw scarves and watching movie marathons to get hyped up, but the specter of the swine flu could have made the film's launch a much more somber event. Emma Watson and Rupert Grint had filmed their kissing scene for "Deathly Hallows" prior to the announcement, but neither seems particularly shaken up by the incident when discussing it in this video.  Yeah, they say that now ...

-- Keeping the spirit alive until the last moments, Hero Complex's Geoff Boucher will be having a chat with "Potter" producer David Heyman at the Apple Store (1248 Third Street Promenade) in Santa Monica on Monday night at 7. If you stop by, say "Hi!"

-- A few weeks later, more Potter fun can be had even after the film's release -- in the magical realm of San Diego at Comic-Con International. There are a couple of panels of note to spotlight, and both seem to basically ask: What's next for Harry Potter fans?

Thursday (July 23) at 3:30 p.m. is the Evolution of Fantasy panel in Room 3. The group will talk about the next "big thing" since Harry Potter and Twilight, etc., are over in book form. Panelists Jacqueline Carey (Naamah's Kiss), Lynn Flewelling (Shadows Return), Patrick Rothfuss (The Name Of The Wind), Thomas Sniegoski (The Fallen), Greg Van Eekhout (Norse Code), and Cindy Pon (Silver Phoenix: Beyond the Kingdom of Xia) answer questions posed by moderator Lev Grossman (The Magicians).

Then Sunday (July 26) at 2 p.m. is the Muggles, Wizards, Tentpoles, and Fans in the World of "Harry Potter" panel in Room 32AB. Panel members Leslie Combemale (ArtInsights Gallery, official/exclusive HP art supplier), Henry Jenkins (USC, author of Convergence Culture), Melissa Anelli (webmaster, The Leaky Cauldron, author of Harry: A History), Gwendolyn Grace (president emeritus, HP Educational Fanon), Lev Grossman (Time magazine book reviewer, author of The Magicians), and Heidi Tandy (webmaster, Fiction Alley) will get into the latest Harry Potter issues. The session will be moderated by Potter Headmaster (their words, not mine!) Eric Bowling.

-- Jevon Phillips

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"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" is due in theaters July 15, but do you remember anything from the story? We're only four years, two films and one book since the fantasy thrill-ride hit stores shelves the summer of 2005. Not sure? Then take our quiz and find out whether you're ready for the theater or need to hit the crib notes.

Take our 'Half Blood Prince' trivia quiz!

-- Emily Christianson

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Photo: Warner Brothers

The countdown continues! "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" is just five days away...

Think back over the last 10 years and consider this question: "What was the best decision made by anyone, anywhere in show biz?" You won't need a Sorting Hat to divine the answer, in my opinion, if you consider the risks and eventual rewards of one colossal decision: picking the star wizards of Hollywood's Hogwarts.

Go back a decade and consider the final casting decision on the three youngsters who would star in the "Harry Potter" franchise. If you consider how many options the producers had -- thousands, literally -- and the profound possibilities of failure that came with a misstep. Then consider the staggering box-office success that followed and the grace exhibited by these actors who have grown up in front of us all.

They are the faces of the most intense single-decade franchise in Hollywood history. Not only have they grown as actors, they have been steady as young adults, proving themselves to be centered, charming and smart in the face of glaring fame and blaring success.

In other words, there wasn't a Britney in the bunch.

This Monday night, that's going to be the first topic I bring up with David Heyman, the "Harry Potter" producer who will join me at the Apple Store (1248 Third Street Promenade) in Santa Monica for an event that promises to be fun and revealing. We'll have a conversation and then take questions from the audience. I did a very similar event at the same site with McG before the release of "Terminator Salvation" and it was a great success and, I'm told, very satisfying for the people who joined us. It's completely free and the Apple Store staff sets up chairs and a microphone and do the thing up right.

I met Heyman during my visit to the "Half-Blood Prince" set in England and he is as engaging as he is successful, and if you join us you can expect to hear some memorable behind-the-scenes tales from the Hogwarts set.

Apple has some fun stuff for "Potter" fans far and wide, as well. On iTunes, you can find never-before-seen footage from the new film, available as a free download, and a new "Half-Blood Prince" app with videos, posters, character information and other goodies. Here's the description from Warner Bros and Apple:

"Fans can interact with an authentic recreation of Dumbledore’s Pensieve – a device that allows them to view memories by unlocking  Memory Vials to explore the vast assortment of official film content that appears in the Pensieve including: videos, posters, character information; and much more. They can insert themselves and their friends into a Wanted Poster or the Daily Prophet by using the iPhone camera or uploading a photo from their album on to an iPod touch."

Fans will also be looking for hints about the film in the exclusive podcast titled “Being Me Has Its Privileges,” from the upcoming theatrical release, hosted by Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley) and Emma Watson (Hermione Granger).

See you Monday and, please, do come up and introduce yourself afterward. I love meeting the Hero Complex faithful.

-- Geoff Boucher

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