Madonna & Lourdes, AP Photo Credit
Harry Potter fans lucky enough to attend the world premiere included Madonna and her nine year-old daughter, Lourdes, as well as German supermodel and actress Claudia Schiffer, Claudia's British film director husband (and Guy Ritchie's best man at his wedding to Madonna) Matthew Vaughn, actress Kate Beckinsale and actor Rob Lowe.
The Confessions on a Dance Floor pop music singer, dancer and actress confessed that she has not read any of the Harry Potter books to-date. However, as of last night, she has now watched all four of the films with her daughter.
When Lourdes was asked if she preferred Rowling's books or her mom's books, she responded diplomatically, "I like both."
Matthew Vaughn & Claudia Schiffer
British film producer Matthew Vaughn and his wife, German supermodel Claudia Schiffer, were two of the lucky few to be invited to the VIP screening. Schiffer also attended the "Harry Potter III" premiere last year.
Scene & Be Seen
Rupert Grint (aka "Ron")
Velvet was the most popular material of the night. Velvet in red, green, black, purple. And velvet in teal.
While Daniel Radcliffe came to the premiere dressed in green velvet tails, Rupert Grint wore a teal velvet jacket. Actor Robert Pattinson wore a red wine-colored velvet jacket. And the Material Girl chose purple velvet pants to go with her purple jacket and purple boots.
Emma Watson chose a vintage 1920s embroidered white chiffon gown, a white headband and sequined gold slippers. The gown was found at a shop in Notting Hill. Previously, it belonged to a 1920s screen goddess.
For the aftershow party at the Natural History Museum in South Kensington, Emma wore black.
Eighteen year-old Scottish-Asian actress Katie Leung wore a gorgeous Matthew Williamson dress to the premiere.
Kate Beckinsale and Daughter, Lilly Sheen
Meanwhile, British actress Kate Beckinsale and her daughter looked "rugged elegant" stunning wearing all black.
The material used for Kate's pant suit? None other than black velvet.
HPIV's Fear Factor
In England, the "Harry Potter IV" film has a PG12 rating, which means that children under twelve must be accompanied by an adult.
The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) decided it contained "moderate fantasy violence, threat and horror".
In the U.S., the film will be released on November 18th with a PG-13 rating.
The MPAA rating will hopefully encourage parents with children under thirteen to consider whether their child is mature enough to handle Newell's interpretation of Rowling's fantasy violence and frightening images.
Director Mike Newell (far left) & "Goblet" Cast at Press Conference
Rowling's first British director, Mike Newell -- Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994), Donnie Brasco (1997) starring Al Pacino and Johnny Depp and Mona Lisa Smile (2003) -- said:
Children should be frightened.
I remember being frightened when I was six or seven by my dad reading me Treasure Island.
You've got to be frightened.
You need it.
Newell has 2 hour and 40 minutes to succeed.
Rather than splitting Rowling's 734-page book into two films, Steve Kloves, who adapted the first three books for film, was asked to create one two and a half-hour movie from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
Harry Potter Fans Rain Magic on Stars
In London on Sunday, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson & Daniel Radcliffe were in awe of the crowd who came out to celebrate the premiere.
Dan said:
It's amazing to be able to get that reaction with just a wave, it's bizarre.
But it's fantastic, these are like the hardcore fans - they've waited out here in the rain for so long and they don't get to see the film, they just wait to see everyone come in.
I have so much respect for everyone that's here. It's amazing!
"I'm just ecstatically happy!", he added.
Over 7,000 fans came from throughout the U.K. and as far as the U.S. and Argentina. Some of them waited 24 hours to get a glimpse of their Harry Potter heroes.
'We were up waiting all night,' Mareike Schulz of Eisenach in the German state of Thuringia told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.
Katie Leung & Daniel Radcliffe at the London Premiere
Noticeably missing was J.K. Rowling, the creator of the Harry Potter series.
Wizard News reported that Dr. Neil Murray, an anesthetist and GP, who married J.K. in 2001, was taken ill recently and is recovering at the couple's Edinburgh home after an operation for appendicitis.
Rowling chose to miss the premiere in favor of taking care of her husband.
Producer David Heyman spoke on behalf of Rowling at the premiere. He told the media that Rowling is very proud of the film and that she is satisfied with the way it captures the spirit of the book she wrote.
Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire was the fastest-selling book in history on the first weekend of its publication in July 2000.
The cost of Rowling's fourth film created by Warner Bros.?
Less than $200 million including a $50 million print and advertising budget.
In the U.S. alone, the first film Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, which was directed by Chris Columbus, grossed over $300 million. The second film, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, also directed by Columbus, grossed nearly $262 million in the U.S. And Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, which was directed by Alfonso Cuaron, grossed almost $250 million.
Worldwide, the films of the first two books grossed more than $1.7 billion.
In the fourth film, screenplay writer Steve Kloves does a masterful job bringing Lord Voldemort to life. Ralph Fiennes plays the role of the evil Lord Voldemort in J.K. Rowling's fourth fantasy film.
Hogwart's Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge, who is played by Robert Hardy, said the reason Harry Potter is so popular comes down to a simple five-letter word.
"M-A-G-I-C," he said with a magical smile.
Hardy added:
Magic works for everyone.
The world is full of magic.
You are full of magic; I'm full of magic.
That's why people love Harry Potter and that's why I love it too.
That's one of the many reasons we love J.K. Rowling's stories.
On November 18th, Tim and I have promised to take both our seven and ten year-old to the fourth Harry Potter film. He and I have decided to go to an earlier screening in the morning while the girls are at school. This way, when the girls watch Goblet of Fire on Friday night, we will be able to know when to shield their eyes (our seven year-old's especially).
We did this with Harry Potter III and it worked quite well.
Our ten year-old daughter, who has read Harry Potter IV fifteen times, said the other day:
I can't wait to see what the Goblet of Fire looks like.
I suppose Harry's new director, Mike Newell will have a different interpretation of the goblet than I do.
In the trailer, Mad-Eye Moody looks a lot different than what I imagined.
For trailers of the new film, please go to Warner Bros.' official Harry Potter site:
http://HarryPotter.WarnerBros.com
Inspire & Be Inspired.
Here's to healthy, adventuresome, soulful, "creating Tri-Wizard Tournament win-win" living!
~ Jennifer Carolyn King, Rugged Elegance, LLC
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