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‘Harry Potter’ first edition sells for smashing $471,000 | Lifestyle News

The book was published in the United States as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.

The Dallas-based auction house said only 500 copies with the specific binding were printed. The final price was more than six times the pre-sale estimate of $70,000. Previous auction prices for Harry Potter first editions have ranged from about $110,000 to $138,000.

“Not only is it the most expensive Harry Potter book ever sold, it’s the most expensive commercially published 20th-century work of fiction ever sold,” Heritage Auctions Executive Vice President Joe Maddalena said in a statement.

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The book was sold by an American collector and the name of the buyer was not released. British author J.K. Rowling went on to write six more books about the adventures of the orphaned boy wizard that have sold some 500 million copies worldwide in 80 languages, according to
U.S. publisher Scholastic. The books were turned into eight films which made $7.8 billion at the global box office.

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Explosives hurled at RSS office in Kannur; fingers point at CPM

Sources said that the office was attacked on the day after the death anniversary of Dhanaraj, CPM-DYFI leader in the locality who was murdered. Reportedly, over his murder too, the RSS office was set on fire then.

Broadway’s Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Will Celebrate Each Hogwarts House With a Special Performance

The Tony-winning Broadway production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will again celebrate the four Hogwarts houses with a special performance dedicated to each house.

For the uninitiated, Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw are the four living and learning communities for Hogwarts students, named after the wizarding school’s four founders. Ravenclaws will be celebrated March 23, Hufflepuffs on March 30, Slytherins on April 6, and Gryffindors on April 13 at the Lyric Theatre.

Ticket buyers will have access to a limited number of $79 orchestra and dress circle seats. The first 100 audience members who arrive early on each Wednesday evening will receive early admission to the theatre at 5:30 PM with access to concessions, the gift shop, and AR experiences. They will also receive a special gift and the opportunity to participate in the house pride costume contest. Tickets for these performances can be purchased by clicking here.

The newly condensed, one-part production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child opened December 7, 2021, at the Lyric Theatre following the COVID-19 pandemic. Previews began November 12.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child first opened on Broadway as a two-part experience April 22, 2018. The production would go on to be nominated for 10 Tony Awards, winning five, including Best Play.

Based on a new story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne, and John Tiffany, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is a play by Thorne, directed by Tiffany.

The production also features movement by Steven Hoggett, set by Christine Jones, costumes by Katrina Lindsay, music and arrangements by Imogen Heap, lighting by Neil Austin, sound by Gareth Fry, illusions and magic by Jamie Harrison, and music supervision and arrangements by Martin Lowe. U.S. casting is by Jim Carnahan.

<a href='http://www.movierental.com/link/potter'>Harry Potter</a> and the Cursed Child_Broadway_Production Photos_2021_James Romney and Brady Dalton Richards_HR

Check Out New Photos of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway

8 PHOTOS

<a href='http://www.movierental.com/link/potter'>Harry Potter</a> and the Cursed Child_Broadway_Production Photos_2021_David Abeles, Jenny Jules, and Nadia Brown_HR
<a href='http://www.movierental.com/link/potter'>Harry Potter</a> and the Cursed Child_Broadway_Production Photos_2021_Brady Dalton Richards and James Romney_HR
<a href='http://www.movierental.com/link/potter'>Harry Potter</a> and the Cursed Child_Broadway_Production Photos_2021_Brady Dalton Richards, Michela Cannon, and James Romney_HR
<a href='http://www.movierental.com/link/potter'>Harry Potter</a> and the Cursed Child_Broadway_Production Photos_2021_James Romney and Brady Dalton Richards_HR
<a href='http://www.movierental.com/link/potter'>Harry Potter</a> and the Cursed Child_Broadway_Production Photos_2021_James Romney, Brady Dalton Richards, and cast_HR
<a href='http://www.movierental.com/link/potter'>Harry Potter</a> and the Cursed Child_Broadway_Production Photos_2021_Brady Dalton Richards_HR
<a href='http://www.movierental.com/link/potter'>Harry Potter</a> and the Cursed Child_Broadway_Production Photos_2021_Lauren Nicole Cipoletti, Brady Dalton Richards, and James Romney_HR
<a href='http://www.movierental.com/link/potter'>Harry Potter</a> and the Cursed Child_Broadway_Production Photos_2021_Edward James Hyland_HR

VD Satheesan reminds CPM loyalists about VS connection at RSS event

Satheesan said that Vivekananda’s take on Hinduism and RSS’s Hindutva are different. “I have always opposed the views of RSS. Even if I have to quit politics, there will not be any truce with communalism,” he said.

Harry Potter Return to Hogwarts teaser: The reunion special promises an enchanting, emotional experience

The teaser shows different actors receiving their invitation letters wrapped in an envelope similar to the letters sent to Hogwarts students. We see Robbie Coltrane (Hagrid) and Mark Williams (Arthur Weasley) boarding the Hogwarts Express, the train that travels from London’s King’s Cross Station to Hogsmeade station near Hogwarts.

A lot of cast and crew members from the movies are in the list of attendees. Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Tom Felton, Helena Bonham Carter, Gary Oldman, Ralph Fiennes and Chris Columbus among others are in the list.

A name conspicuous by its absence is JK Rowling. The author has been mired in controversy over her alleged transphobic comments on social media and on her website, and clearly Warner Bros and HBO Max wanted to avoid all potential brouhaha.

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The special likely will not be scripted and will follow the model of the recent Friends reunion, which featured conversations, tidbits, anecdotes and new revelations.

Harry Potter movies were both critical and commercial success and helped Rowling become one of the most successful authors ever. With 500 million copies reportedly sold worldwide, Harry Potter remains the highest-selling book series in history.

It told the story of a boy called Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe), whose parents died protecting him from the Dark Lord Voldemort, a powerful practitioner of dark magical arts.

As Harry Potter grows up, he learns that magic not only exists but is taught in schools around the world and wizards and witches live a parallel life away from the prying eyes of non-magical people, who are called muggles. Harry is invited to one such school called Hogwarts, which is situated somewhere in Scottish highlands.

At Hogwarts, Harry makes friends, and also enemies due to his heritage, and fulfills the prophecy that he will be responsible for the end of Voldemort and his Death Eaters (as his followers were called).

Animated Adventure ‘My Sweet Monster’ English-Language Trailer

Animated Adventure ‘My Sweet Monster’ English-Language Trailer

by
March 8, 2022
Source: YouTube

My Sweet Monster Trailer

“What do you see in her? She has no horns, no fur.” Lionsgate has revealed a trailer for an animated movie titled My Sweet Monster, made in Russia but being released in the US with an English-language voice cast. And guess who they got for the voice?! Yeah it’s Pauly Shore (!!) back AGAIN in an animated movie – he’s also voicing Pinocchio in the Pinocchio: A True Story movie. This must’ve been a package deal, there’s no other way to explain it. I mean, come on?! In this next movie, the story is about Princess Barbara – who is secretly in love with Prince Edward. But when the sneaky post clerk Weasel demands that the king to marry him to Barbara, she flees. A sweet monster named Bogey does everything in his might to help Barbara save the kingdom. Sounds strange and extremely derivative. The voice cast also includes Hilary Duff and Jon Heder. This looks especially cheesy and entirely unoriginal, but I am sure young kids will enjoy it anyway.

Here’s the US trailer (+ poster) for Glukhushin Volkov’s My Sweet Monster, from YouTube:

My Sweet Monster Poster

On her wedding day, rebellious Princess Barbara flees the kingdom to escape from evil postman Bundy, who wants to marry her to seize power. She’s rescued by Bogey, the odd but lovable king of the wilderness. Bundy plots to rob the forest’s supply of Spark, a magical life-giving elixir. Only Bogey, Barbara, and their bouncy friend Bunny can stop him – but can they face Bundy’s vicious army of giant, robotic rats? “The whole family will enjoy this magical, musical adventure.” My Sweet Monster, originally known as “Бука. Моё любимое чудище” in Russian, is co-directed Russian filmmakers Viktor Glukhushin (MULT v kino. Vypusk No. 101) Maksim Volkov (Sheep Wolves, Sadko) making their first film together. The screenplay is by Aleksandr Arkhipov, Dmitriy Novoselov, Melanie Simka, Mychal Simka, Maksim Volkov. Lionsgate debuts My Sweet Monster direct-to-VOD / dvd in the US starting April 12th, 2022 this spring.

Find more posts: Animation, Foreign Film, To Watch, Trailer

Hogwarts Legacy’s UI may have been hidden in the game’s State of Play reveal | VGC

UI elements from Hogwarts Legacy may have been spotted in a blink and you’ll miss it flash frame from the game’s State of Play presentation.

The Sony event took place in March and was used to showcase over 14 minutes of Hogwarts Legacy PS5 gameplay, which is viewable below.

As posted to the r/HarryPotterGame subreddit, menu elements appear for as little as a few frames. The image below, which has been brightened to highlight them, shows off four spells and what could possibly be a mini-map in the top left corner.

Hogwarts Legacy’s UI may have been hidden in the game’s State of Play reveal

While it’s likely that these HUD elements are temporary placeholders, it does give some indication of the spells that players could have at their disposal in the game.

Based on the image and in the context of the clip, it’s possible that the four spells the character has access to are Accio (which brings things to the user, as depicted by the blue icon), Wingardium Leviosa (which causes objects to levitate, as depicted by the gold icon), Lumos (which illuminates the environment around the caster, as depicted by the grey icon), and Expelliarmus, which is used by the player in the seconds following this image in the video.

Hogwarts Legacy is an open-world action RPG set in the world first introduced in the Harry Potter books.

Due to be published under Warner’s Portkey Games label, it was originally scheduled to be released in 2021 for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One and PC.

However, last year Warner delayed the game’s release window to 2022. It recently reiterated plans to release Hogwarts Legacy this year (including a previously unannounced Switch version), along with WB Games Montreal’s Gotham Knights, which will arrive in October.

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South Jersey/Philly things to do: Harry Potter, theater, concerts

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The Hogwarts Houses gallery sets the foundation for the exhibition experience, allowing guests the opportunity to experience more personalized moments with the house they select during their preregistration. While guests may gravitate towards one house this gallery allows visitors to experience all of the Hogwarts houses in a celebratory hall featuring an iconic Sorting Hat Photo Experience while surrounded by freshly designed house crests on meticulously created stained glass windows.

In this nearly 2,000-square-foot gallery, fans will discover house facts, snap interactive portraits with the Sorting Hat, engage with select costumes and props, and connect with beloved characters and story moments through activated prop displays. 

<a href='http://www.movierental.com/link/potter'>Harry Potter</a>: The Exhibition opens Feb. 18 at The Franklin Institute. A Hogwarts Houses gallery will be featured, including this area with a newly designed Ravenclaw crest.

They will learn about the legendary houses and their distinctive characteristics and continue their own exhibition experience through personalized digital activation moments.

The exhibit runs from Feb. 18 through Sept. 18. Daytime hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and evening hours are from 5 to 8 p.m.

Tickets are $30 to $59.

The institute is at 222 N. 20th St., in Philadelphia. 

Masks are required for all guests ages 3 and older regardless of vaccination status. Proof of vaccination is not required to visit The Franklin Institute. Proof of vaccination will be required to enter The Eatery.

For tickets or information, call (215) 448-1200 or visit fi.edu. 

For exhibit information, visit www.HarryPotterExhibition.com.  

Chocolate Wine Weekend planned at Valenzano Winery

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‘Nope’ is Jordan Peele’s latest No. 1 film at the box office

“Nope,” Jordan Peele’s third movie, opened to an estimated $44 million this weekend in North America, according to Universal Pictures.

The science-fiction film, which stars Daniel Kaluuya as a Hollywood horse wrangler dealing with some extra-terrestrial problems, was expected to make around $50 million this weekend, according to initial projections.

It is Peele’s third film in a row to open at No. 1 at the North American box office and the biggest domestic opening for an original script since 2019’s “Us,” Peele’s last film, according to the studio.

Despite its plot being shrouded in mystery, “Nope” was one of the most anticipated movies of the year, so its opening is bit lackluster. However, it is still solid considering that the film is rated R, isn’t tied to a Blockbuster brand or sequel and had a relatively modest production budget of $68 million.

The opening for “Nope” tops Peele’s first film, “Get Out,” which made $33 million in 2017, but falls short of “Us,” which blew past expectations three years ago, opening to roughly $70 million — more than tripling its $20 million production budget in a single weekend. Both films eventually made $255 million worldwide.

Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer and Brandon Perea in 'Nope.'

‘Nope’ puts Jordan Peele’s quirky spin on an alien-invasion thriller

This isn’t a spectacular opening the way “Us” was, but the film could have legs considering it has good reviews with a 83% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes.

“When it comes to Jordan Peele, it’s not so much about the opening weekend as much as it’s about building that word of mouth,” Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore

(SCOR)
, told CNN Business. “His movies are in it for the long haul.”

Dergarabedian also noted that there’s really no competition in the weeks to come, which may be good news for ticket sales going forward.

Why “Nope” didn’t make more could be due to myriad reasons. For starters, Peele’s films — while entertaining — are reliably cerebral. That could leave some audiences perplexed rather than pleased, which explains the film’s “B” CinemaScore.

Also, the marketing around “Nope” was deeply cryptic and that may have led to more people being wary of diving in this weekend. This is especially the case right now as inflation is soaring and audiences are being careful with how they spend their money.

All in all, the opening of “Nope” was in the range of projections and will go down as another win for Peele and Universal.