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AUGUST 19, 2008 at 8:10 PM
Posted by CHEESER
Source: Warner Bros.
Alan Horn, president of Warner Bros., has issued a statement for fans in direct response to criticism of the company's choice to delay the release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince until next July.
He says:
Many of you have written to me to express your disappointment in our moving Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince to Summer 2009.
Please be assured that we share your love for Harry Potter and would certainly never do anything to hurt any of the films. Over the past 10 years, we have nurtured and protected each film, and the integrity of the books upon which they are based, to the best of our ability.
The decision to move Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was not taken lightly, and was never intended to upset our Harry Potter fans. We know you have built this series into what it is, and we thank you for your ongoing enthusiasm and support.
If I may offer a silver lining: there would have been a two-year gap between Half-Blood Prince and the much-anticipated first part of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, which opens in November 2010.
So although we have to wait a little longer for Half-Blood Prince, the wait from that film until Deathly Hallows will be less than 18 months. I am sorry to have disappointed you now, but if you hold on a little longer, I believe it will be worth the wait.Alan Horn
President, Chief Operating Officer
Warner Bros.
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Lady of Godric's Hollow
Points: 5292
GodricsGirl says:
Blah blah blah!
This has already been said. I'm still not happy. But what else can we do?
Posted Aug 20, 2008 at 5:42 PM EST
Silly Squib
Points: 3741
Mat Madcat says:
I'm sure we can all practice a little patience, and wait a bit longer. After all, its only a movie. Life will go one regardless of when the next Harry Potter flick graces the screen.
Posted Aug 20, 2008 at 6:16 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1819
zues says:
We can wait another year to watch the movie, the point is that we don't want to.
Posted Aug 20, 2008 at 6:26 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 1
Nani anela says:
Its mean and if they hadn't pushed HBP back i would never want this, but i hope the movie leaks on the internet! For putting us threw an unnecessary wait, so that they can make more money! As much as i want to see the movie i will NOT! go the first week it comes out in July 2009. Me and my friends have decided that they will not get our money after having us wait so long for no reason! I have spread it out on my myspace and blogs and hopefully people will follow in boycotting the movie the first week! See how WB FEELS about them apples!
Posted Aug 20, 2008 at 6:48 PM EST
The Keeper of Time
Points: 2604
krisie says:
Oh whatever! He is just playing the nice guy so we don't get angry. Does he think that this is going to make it up to us ? The movie is finished so why make us wait!!!
Posted Aug 21, 2008 at 1:02 AM EST
Head Girl
Points: 495
ayashe says:
I think it was taken very lightly, or it obviously wouldn't have only taken them a week to decide to move back the film and they wouldn't have done it just three months before the movie was supposed to come out. There was no point in moving it from November to July. It's not going to get any more people going to see it in July than November, the same people who would have seen it November would go in July. The movie being moved in July isn't going to magically make more people decide to go see it.
I am so sick of being treated like crap by Warner Bros, who are probably worse to their series fans than any other studio. I'll wait until it comes out on DVD and rent it. I'm done with this.
Posted Aug 21, 2008 at 1:13 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1384
Luna! says:
I had a feeling they were going for that sort of angle. In which case I must say that I agree and at least we won't have to wait for ages for Deathly Hallows part one.
So on the whole, suffer a little, gain a little.
Posted Aug 21, 2008 at 1:25 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1862
Bright Eyes says:
Still, letting us know the date, and then changing it by six months is FAR worse than just telling us it was going to be 2009. Hanging a carrot in front of our noses, then whisking it away. Not cool, and a lot of angry fans.
Posted Aug 21, 2008 at 2:15 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2855
HarriPotter says:
Hey Horn, why don't you just pour some more salt on huh? Seriously, not helping--yourself or your company's image. He should just keep his mouth shut, and at the very least consider an early 2009 release.
Posted Aug 21, 2008 at 2:45 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2860
mad_eye muggle says:
Well.....if that's their intentions,its better if they didn't tell as they would release it on Nov. this year and make as hope and stuff.Ah.......the waitting makes me crazy.
Posted Aug 21, 2008 at 3:08 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 1
GossipPrincess says:
quote:
Oinque says:
Tell the sponsors of WB TV shows like Gossip Girl and Two and a Half Men that you'll be boycotting their products until WB smartens up.
Um, Gossip Girl is produced by the CW network, not WB. Or is it the same company? Anyways, I agree with everyone here. The WB is being really mean and unfair to Harry Potter fans. We've all been looking forward to seeing this movie and now they're pushing back the release date. It's completely ridiculous. One thing is for certain. They won't be getting MY money when the movie finally opens because I WON'T be going. I'd rather wait for the DVD and borrow it from the movie store. The WB doesn't deserve to have anymore money. After all, haven't they got enough with their other films, like the Dark Knight?
Posted Aug 21, 2008 at 6:56 AM EST
Auror
Points: 3656
Anastasia Popovick says:
OOH! What is he gonna say!!?!?! Are they gonna move it back to Nov 21?!?!?! Kyle
Yeah...like he said!
Ladee...daadee...daa...
Posted Aug 21, 2008 at 7:31 AM EST
Kathe Mera Kalimera
Points: 7720
dominor says:
Alan Horn, you better make these last movie worth it..
Posted Aug 21, 2008 at 8:06 AM EST
Witch
Points: 819
accio_kim says:
It's still disappointing news, no matter what.
And I am not happy with the decision to split the 7th book into a movie (although I know most of you are really excited about that).
I've lost my faith in the HP movie franchise...
Posted Aug 21, 2008 at 8:10 AM EST
Kathe Mera Kalimera
Points: 7720
dominor says:
On second thought, i don't believe a word he said, i say we give them hell! Keep emailing Alan!! That ought to show him not to mess with us..
Posted Aug 21, 2008 at 8:10 AM EST
Points: 3
jade26 says:
the comment i have about this is i dont see how this will help there profits by releasing during a time when there arent any other blockbuster movies going on at that time.
HARRY POTTER IS SUCH A GREAT SERIES YOU CAN PLAY IT ANYTIME OF THE YEAR AND IT STILL BE THE MOVIE OF THE YEAR..
AS FAR AS THE SHORTER GAP BETWEEN THE FIRST PART OF THE 7TH MOVIE... WELL WE STILL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL NOVEMBER 2010. PROBLEM WITH THEM MOVING THE MOVIE TO IS THEY MOVED IT FROM THE BUSIEST TIME FOR MOVIES TO A BUSIER TIME FOR RUNNING AROUND AND PLAYING.WHO WANTS TO BE CRAMPED IN A THEATER ON BEAUTIFUL SUMMER DAYS AND NIGHTS. PLUS IF THE MOVIE WAS RELEASED AT THEATERS IN NOVEMBER THEN THEY COULD ALSO GET A QUICK RELEASE OF THE DVD BEFORE CHRISTMAS ...MY THEORY IS PROFITS WOULD BE MUCH HIGHER DURING THIS TIME FRAME BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE LITTLE MORE FLUENT WITH THERE MONEY DURING THE HOLIDAYS....JUST SOME THOUGHTS...ALTHOUGH AS MUCH COMPLAINING AS WE WILL DO WE WILL STILL GO SEE WHEN IT DOES GET RELEASED..THATS THE REAL MAGIC THAT THIS FILM HAS ON ALL OF US....THANKS
Posted Aug 21, 2008 at 12:59 PM EST
Keeper of the Faeries
Points: 5239
juliebug04 says:
Well, I still think they're all schmucks...
Cheesy apology...
Posted Aug 21, 2008 at 1:18 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 77
Polyglot Mcmurduck says:
What is all the media saying about this? Surely they are receiving myriad letters from outraged fans. I would like to know if there is any legal action people could take against the WB Studios, because like a previous poster stated, it does seem somewhat like false advertisement; and even though the studios do own the rights to the screen play and the film itself, doesn't a company that makes a promise have to deliver on goods? I'm no legal scholar, but I feel like there are a few laws broken in this date-shifting ploy. One last thought, though, isn't it stunts like these that outrage writers, because they receive proceeds from movies; and aren't they being underpaid by beaurocrats(SP?) such as Alan Horn? Well, boycott on my fellow Harry Potter fanatics, boycott on!
Posted Aug 21, 2008 at 1:30 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 496
Duran Vegrandis says:
I don't appreciate that he's addressing us as spoiled, disappointed children. WB's rash and poorly thought-out decision had far worse effects for other people. The disappointment of fans who will have to wait a bit longer before spending their $10 on a movie ticket is the least of their worries. If their language is big money, I'll speak their language.
Because of WB's poor planning and last-minute decision, IMAX theaters now don't have a big-name movie for the holiday season. The company primarily plays educational type films (anything from dolphins to dinosaurs), and only a few big-budget mainstream films specially format for IMAX screens. You can actually count the number of mainstream money-making IMAX films for this year on one hand: Dark Knight, Kung Fu Panda, and Half-Blood Prince. Oh wait, scratch that last one. Look at that WB, you've cut down IMAX's projected annual income by at least 25%. If that's not grounds for a lawsuit, I don't know what is.
Moving on...to HP Fan Trips, who were/are selling vacation packages to New York, which included seeing both Equus and Half-Blood Prince. According to their website, they've sold out of packages. Not only that, all those people paid a non-refundable deposit of $150. I don't think families with small children are going to want to go anymore if the only event they'll get to see is Daniel Radcliffe naked with a horse fetish. I'd bet my paycheck those children were really going for the Harry Potter related activities. Yet more money wasted.
In even more dire straits are the devoted fans who saved up thousands of dollars to attend the London premiere in November. I don't even have to explain how depressing being in that situation is.
Alan Horn, do not condescend to us, do not patronize us, and do not assume that giving "silver linings" or hi-res pictures will soothe whatever anger we feel. Though we've made the Harry Potter franchise what it is, you obviously don't care, so don't pretend to. If all you care about is what's flowing into your pockets, you've certainly made a profitable decision to move the Harry Potter film from the fall to July of next year, the middle of peak movie season. But keep in mind, by trying to line your pockets with a little more cash, you've robbed countless others of their hard-earned money.
I, for one, don't think boycotting Half-Blood Prince altogether would be effective, and I do want to see the movie. I'll probably wait a couple of weeks after opening weekend though. However, I have NO PROBLEM avoiding all the other Warner Brothers related entertainment.
Here's a list of Warner Brothers Records artists:
http://warnerbrosrecords.com/artists
Here's the link to the official Warner Brothers site:
http://www.warnerbros.com/
You can find a list of all the movies and TV shows they make.
Posted Aug 21, 2008 at 2:15 PM EST
Head Auror
Points: 6993
Nimbus Girl says:
"Silver lining" uh huh...sure....
Yeah a shorter gap between HPB and the first part of DH is nice, but I don't see it as a "silver lining"...
Posted Aug 21, 2008 at 2:56 PM EST
Chief Brain Washer
Points: 2875
Chogiiiirl says:
Whatever... I'm still mad, and it's entirely about money, no matter how they try to paint it.
Posted Aug 21, 2008 at 6:34 PM EST
Student
Points: 247
Starlight Ollivander says:
You know what? They made Germany wait for The Dark Knight until this week. I had a weekend date with a couple of friends to go see it on its opening weekend (I'm a little too busy to go during the week and movies in Germany paradoxically release on Thursdays... yeah, I went HUH?!? too!), but I've canceled (so did my friends once I explained the HBP situation to them). Guess what, WB? That's a whopping 17 tickets not sold plus all the revenue lost from your rather weird international release strategy for such a major movie.
I'm still very angry on behalf of others (and myself. Though I am not quite enamored with the movies, they were something to look forward to), but that anger is switching towards apathy. OK, so I'll not go and see the rest of the Potter movies in a theater. S'not like I don't have enough other things to do...
I guess that's easier said than done for a fan, but for me unforeseen disappointments and quirks of fate have always led to looking towards something entirely different- I'll just get a summer job, stay busy and think of the TWO books I'm going to buy with the money I'd have spent on the film.
Positive thinking might help he boycott strategy!
And finally: Re-reading Mr. Horn's statement he made us seem like illiterate apes. Text analysis is not something they think us fans capable of. Their loss, I guess.
Posted Aug 21, 2008 at 7:21 PM EST
Squib
Points: 173
R2krw says:
Speaking of illiterate apes, it seems WB is who they are all working for. Bull crap to the whole thing! That's what I say. It seems November 21 was threatening HBP and so therefore they needed to protect the film because after all they wouldn't want to do anything to hurt it. Your mammy! I hope this movie gets leaked onto the internet.
Posted Aug 21, 2008 at 8:45 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 335
HarryPotter731 says:
Actually, this made me angrier about the situation. He didn't even address any of the issues the fans brought up. All he said was sorry, but at least there won't be a 2 year gap between HBP and DH. I had already accepted that gap, but was not expecting a 2 year gap between Order and HBP. Nothing but poor excuses.
Posted Aug 21, 2008 at 9:52 PM EST
Prof. Alfred W. Mandoore
Points: 2445
JAYSTARR says:
Not good...If they delay to put the Half Blood Prince until March of 2009, there better be a very good reason. Because millions of HP Fans will be truly upset.
Posted Aug 21, 2008 at 10:20 PM EST
Witch
Points: 605
Sahara says:
That response to Harry Potter fans is total inadequate. Mr. Alan Horn cannot believe that his cavalier disregard of the fans upset was going to be accepted by us. He has just managed to make the majority of us madder. Ohhhhhh how my blood boils just thinking about it. I wish I could cast Ginny's infamous bat bogey hex on Mr. Horn!
Posted Aug 22, 2008 at 12:57 AM EST
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