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Winter of the Wizards

© Rachel Lindley

Traditionally, wintertime is the time for hard-hitting Oscar buzz worthy movies. Movies that make us think, reflect on the human condition and watch actors and actresses stretch their acting chops. Movies like the already buzz worth films Ali, I am Sam and The Shipping News just to name a few.

Therefore the big budget films were usually reserved for summertime. But not his year.

With the recently huge success of kid oriented Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and one of the most anticipated fantasy films in the past few years, Fellowship of the Ring, the first in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, the winter time blues will be nonexistent for 2001.

Harry Potter's advance ticket sales were reportedly in the high thousands but it's reign as the box office fantasy film may not be for long. Reports from Jam! Showbiz say that advance tickets in Denmark, Sweden and Norway have already surpassed the 200,000 mark and that was just as of November 21! Last Wednesday I bought my advance tickets and I noticed there are select theaters offering the option around the US as well. I'm pretty sure the advance ticket sales have already skyrocketed.

Which isn't surprising considering the wave of highly anticipated summer films that didn't deliver. Lara Croft: Tomb Raider promised to bring the popular video game to life, but suffered from bad story and characterization ultimately falling into strictly eye candy category. Planet of the Apes served as Tim Burton's "reimagining" and while it was visually nice to look at, the story left behind the morals and the heart of the original 1968 film version and the book.

Some may believe that Fellowship and Harry Potter may fall into this trap. Surprisingly, many are skeptical. On the outside both films are big budget movies that can draw legions of audiences from young child to their families. Harry Potter has already proven this and it is likely that LOTR will as well. Based on the popular trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien, fans have been following the film from its beginnings when Peter Jackson was announced as director to the speculation that Kate Winslet would play Arwen. Normally, fantasy wouldn't have its chance in the spotlight especially with as big a budget as the two films. Since they already have a built in fan base due to its literary counterparts and well respected directors.

Nevertheless, December 19th is just around the corner. Fans of Tolkien's beloved classics will be awaiting the final tally to see if it will be the biggest film of the year. And that should be enough to keep the winter season pretty jolly.