UK cinema enjoys ticket sales boom April 18, 2002 [ ananova ] reports:

The boom is largely due to the success of the Harry Potter and the Lord Of The Rings films.

The Cinema Advertising Association predicts ticket sales will reach 164 million in 2002.

That's five per cent more than last year's 156 million.

According to www.screendaily.com, the outlook for the UK's box office looks especially good this year because of the number of sequels being released.

They include Harry Potter And The Chamber of Secrets; Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers; Star Wars Episode 2: Attack Of The Clones and the new James Bond film, Die Another Day.

Visit HP Movie Locations April 13, 2002 [ ananova ] reports:

A new website has been launched offering film fans the chance to visit movie locations by rail.

The site features more than 100 classic movie locations, and encourages travellers to use the railways to visit them.

The locations includes settings from Goldeneye, Gladiator, Brief Encounter, Harry Potter and Bridget Jones's Diary.

[ www.reeltorail.co.uk ] has been launched by the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC).

It was launched by Pierce Brosnan's stunt double, Douglas James.

A spokesman said: "Reel to Rail offers you the chance to retrace the steps of your favourite film stars.

"Using the UK's extensive rail network gives you access to Britain's top film locations. With on-line ticketing and travel advice available anytime, you can put your feet up and look forward to a fuss-free ride."

The website features Film Finder and Travel Planner services to allow film fans to track down the locations where their favourite scenes were shot, and plan their rail journeys accordingly.

The locations featured on the website include the Nene Valley railway, the setting for the famous train-top chase in Goldeneye.

They also include Alnwick Castle, which was transformed into Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone, and Snowshill in Gloucestershire, which was used in Bridget Jones' Diary

New HP "I Spy" Game! April 5, 2002 [ play the game ]

The [ game ] is called Harry's Dream and is really fun. You know how it works... you search for the objects described in the little poem thing. It comes from the Harry's World website, which has a lot of fun games. I'll add more of the i spy things soon. :)

HP nominated for US kids awards April 3, 2002 [ ananova ] reports:

Harry Potter and Britney Spears are among the nominees for this year's US Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards.

The boy wizard is up for three awards while Britney is nominated in two categories.

The Harry Potter series is nominated for the Favourite Book award, the film is up for Favourite Movie, and the computer game is also nominated.

Other Favourite Movie nominees are Shrek, Dr Doolittle 2 and Rush Hour 2.

Eddie Murphy, Jackie Chan, Chris Tucker and Brendan Fraser are nominated for Favourite Male Movie Star while Jennifer Lopez, Julie Andrews, Raven Symone and Reese Witherspoon will fight it out for the female award.

Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears, Pink and Janet Jackson are the nominees for Favourite Female Singer and Lil' Bow Wow, Aaron Carter, Lil' Romeo and Usher are up for Favourite Male Singer.

The full list of nominees can be seen at nick.com and the winners will be announced on April 20.

HP Music enters hall of fame April 3, 2002 [ ananova ] reports:

The music from the Harry Potter film is the highest new entry in the Classic FM Hall Of Fame.

John Williams' soundtrack to the film entered the annual list at number 81.

Howard Shore's Lord Of The Rings soundtrack came in 50 places behind, despite picking up an Oscar for Best Film Score.

More than a quarter of a million people cast their votes for the annual countdown, which was topped for the second year running by Rachmaninov's piano concerto No.2 in C minor.

The music is best known for its inclusion in the enduring romantic classic movie Brief Encounter.

Runner-up was Bruch's violin concerto No.1 in G minor for a second year. It had topped the list for five consecutive years until Rachmaninov claimed the crown last year.

Darren Henley, managing editor of Classic FM, said: "The Harry Potter and Lord of The Rings soundtracks have been huge hits with kids. These blockbuster films are turning a new generation to classical music."

British composers Vaughan Williams and Elgar took third and fourth places. They also clinched places seven and nine respectively.

Mozart was the composer with most entries in the top 300 with 22 entries. Elgar is the most popular Brit with 10 entries.

Top 10:

1 - Rachmaninov - Piano Concerto No.2 in C minor
2 - Bruch - Violin Concerto No.1 in G minor
3 - Vaughan Williams - The Lark Ascending
4 - Elgar - Cello Concerto in E minor
5 - Mozart - Clarinet Concerto in A
6 - Beethoven - Piano Concerto No.5 in E flat (The Emperor)
7 - Vaughan Williams - Fantasia On A Theme by Tallis
8 - Beethoven - Symphony No.6 (Pastoral)
9 - Elgar - Enigma Variations
10 - Barber - Adagio for Strings

Guess who was too lazy to make an April Fools trick?! April 1, 2002 [ Site Related ]

Me! .... April Fools! Ok, that was just about the sorriest joke ever. Eh, well, waygd? HP news is so slow lately. There is like nothing going on. They need to start up some controversy or something!

Maybe I should just make up news? That WOULD be entertaining.

Hmmm.... ideas. I guess it would be neat to highlight a section of the site every once in a while. Any ideas? [ Email me ]

Oh, and don't forgot to check out last month's news.

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