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Jonathan Powell

MOVIE FANS in Hong Kong are mystified as to why they will be the second last audience in Asia to see the movie Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone. The film opens tomorrow in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

The young British wizard is hugely popular in the SAR, but because of distributor Warner Bros.' marketing strategy the film, which has the British title Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone, will not open here until December 20.

Movie-goers in Singapore and Malaysia face no such frustrations, as they will be able to see it from November 22.

Potter followers in Taiwan are luckier still - they can see it from Saturday.

Unfortunately, fans in India will not get to see the film until April next year.

A representative from Warner Bros.' Hong Kong office said they were 'unauthorised' to give an explanation for the delayed release date in the SAR, suggesting we ask the head office in Los Angeles directly.

However, the decision makers in California were unavailable for comment.

The most likely reason for the delay is to capture the school holiday market, as most students in the SAR finish classes on December 21 to take their Christmas and New Year break. By then, Harry Potter fever may have reached boiling point and everyone will flock to the movie.

However, students in other Asian countries also have a Christmas holiday, but that has not delayed their chance of seeing one of the most anticipated movies of the year.

Just like the sorcery theme of the movie it is promoting, Warner Bros.' Hong Kong marketing strategy is shrouded in secrecy.

Some of Harry Potter's most loyal fans at the Scott English Centre, in Causeway Bay, expressed their frustration about having to wait to see the film.

'It is unfair - why do we have to wait longer? We should be able to watch it now,' said Alex Tang Yau-shing, 11.

'It is sad because I want to see it now,' said Wu Wing-kong, 12, adding that he would probably try and watch it on a pirated VCD instead.

Others were not that bothered, as long as they will be able to see the film eventually. 'I don't care; I'm happy I can see it next month,' said seven-year-old Tom Wong Ming-hong.

'It will be good to see it at Christmas,' added Anthea Lung Hau-lam, 12.

The film is expected to be a huge hit - the only question is just how huge. The screen count is often seen as a gauge of how big a movie will be. In the UK, where 500 is considered a big release, the film will show on 1,000 theatre screens.

The US$125 million (HK$975 million) movie is being marketed on an unprecedented scale.

The overwhelming promotion campaign includes cinema and Web trailers, TV adverts, posters, adverts in magazines and newspapers, and a deal with Coca-Cola which will promote specially branded Harry Potter soft drinks. Then there is the inevitable merchandise blizzard.

Warner Bros. has the right to produce four Harry Potter movies. Pre-production has already started on the second film, Harry Potter And The Chamber of Secrets.



The long wait