YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — They know chapter and verse about the characters and their personas, such as Snape’s murky tendencies toward good and evil and Hermione’s growing crush on Ron despite his bumblings when it comes to making magic.
They even have predictions about how it all will end — a great tragedy with Ron dying, a great victory with Voldemort gone for good. Harry, they think, will survive no matter what.
“’Cause hardly anyone dies in their own movie,” said Leeza Jones, 11, who will be in the sixth grade. It’s hard to argue with logic like that.
These kids at Yokota Air Base won’t be anywhere near a bookstore on Saturday, when the final installment of the Harry Potter series goes on sale. Instead, they are anxiously awaiting the showing of “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix,” the fifth movie in the series that has its first Yokota screening at 7 p.m. Friday.
“I can’t wait till the movie comes out,” said Leeza at the East Youth Center on Thursday afternoon. “I’ll be there two hours early.”
The Army, Air Force and Navy post exchanges are geared up for the book release on Saturday. The store at Yongsan Garrison in South Korea will have 900 books on hand, according to a spokesman from AAFES.
It’s no wonder. The first Harry Potter book has sold 325 million copies worldwide in the past decade, and midnight unveilings of the subsequent books created a tradition of children standing in long lines dressed in crooked glasses and black capes.
But Leeza and other kids at Yokota said last week they’ve barely cracked open a Harry Potter book. Instead, they are addicted to the movies and their special effects — flying Quidditch players diving for the golden snitch at top speeds, portrait subjects trapped in frames who grumble and sing opera.
“It had, like, more detail, with all the action,” Nickolis Johnson, 9, a future fifth-grader, said of the films. He said he’s planning to see the new movie the first week it is out.
Codi Hogue, 12, said she’s trying to get through the sixth book, even though she never read the previous five. But she really, really wants to see the movie.
“I heard there’s a new teacher — in pink,” the seventh-grader said with a slight shudder. “I heard she’s scary. Her whole classroom’s all pink.”
These kids do read, just not Harry Potter books. Some said they were into Lemony Snicket and his series of unfortunate events.
They also like comic books. Nickolis said his favorite is Archie. He did try Harry Potter, he said, starting the first book but never finishing it.
When it comes to the seventh and final installment, Nick acknowledged it might be good for one thing.
“I just want to get the book and look at the end,” he said.
Potter fodderSome of the events in Japan surrounding the release of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” the final book in the series, and the first screenings of “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix,” the fifth movie. For additional events and movie times, check with base stores and theaters.
Camp Zama
MovieJuly 27 at 5 p.m.
Yokosuka Naval Base NEXWednesday: 5 p.m., coloring contest deadline for ages 4 to 17.Friday: 4 p.m., contest winners posted on the doors of the NEX; prizes include the new Harry Potter book and NEX gift cards.Saturday: 7 a.m., NEX opens to sell book. Before Saturday, customers can pre-pay for the book and pick it up on the release date.Movie Sunday at 1 p.m.
Misawa Air Base Main PXNow through Thursday, dress up in a Harry Potter-related costume and get your picture taken at the reception desk.Friday: Costume judging; prizes include copies of the new book and gift cards.6:30 a.m., mall opens8 a.m., Bookmark opens; those in costume will receive a 10 percent discount.
Naval Air Facility Atsugi NEXSaturday: 10 a.m., NEX opensPrior to Saturday, customers can pre-pay for the book and pick it up on the release date.
Sasebo Naval Base NEXSaturday: 10 a.m., NEX opensPrior to Saturday, customers can pre-pay for the book and pick it up on the release date.Movie Friday at 6 p.m.
