Harry Potter Premier Draws Rave Reviews

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, part 1, which premiered at midnight Thursday into Friday played on numerous screens and drew costumed fans to Danbury from Southbury, New Fairfield, Ridgefield and Danbury itself.

The film, scheduled to show at 12:05 a.m., actually started on many screens at 12:15 a.m., letting out at 2:40 a.m.

"It exceeded my expectations," said Kate Shannon of Danbury, a Danbury High School freshman, who saw it with three of her friends from school on purpose, only to discover two more once they arrived at Loew's. "Most of it was right from the book."

That is always a question that arises when turning a book into a movie. How faithful will the film makers be to the original.

Madeline Mucci, one of Kate's freshman buddies, said her experience was that the movie was very similar to the book.

"I felt like I'd already seen the film, because it came out just like I imagined it," Mucci said.

In this film, the three main characters, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley and Harry Potter, do not go to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as they have in each of the previous six books. They set out on a quest to destroy the horcruxes Lord Voldermort has hidden around the world that preserve his soul to make him immortal. At the same time, evil wizards are hunting Harry and his friends to capture and kill them.

"It kept me on edge the whole time. It was very suspenseful," said Melissa Pisciotta, a freshman at DHS with Mucci and Shannon.

While the movie was the main event, dozens of people arrived for the show dressed up in various outfits from the Harry Potter series either as specific characters or with some wizard theme.

Of particular note was Diane Turner, who bore a remarkable resemblance to Luna Lovegood, sometimes referred to in the books and movies as "Luny" Lovegood, who arrived with her father, as Albus Dumbledore, headmaster of Hogwarts, with a fairly substantial wig and beard.

"She couldn't stop laughing when I came home dressed like this tonight," Grant Turner said. Mr. Turner did not identify himself as "Grant" Turner, but Dobby the House Elf (apparently a friend of Diane's from Ridgefield, who goes as Nicole Rioseco, when not in Elf costume,) and Angelina Johnson (Griffyndor Quiddach captain) who avoided further identification, said his name was Grant, but it may be an inside joke among friends.

The friends are all members of the Ridgefield High School girl's soccer team, and the deal was if they were going to the premier last night, costume was required.

Diane Turner said she has been waiting for this film long enough.

"Like my whole life," she said.