AN: Just something I really thought some of you might want to know. I don't mean to cause any controversy. I just read it myself and it caused myself to wake up. Just thought you guys might want to inform yourselves like I did.
2 Pottermania
Here's a
few more fast facts:
• The legendary Warner Brothers, Inc. has
committed to producing a full-length Harry Potter movie to coincide
with each of the seven books. Two have been released so far, grossing
about $3.8 billion (including DVD and video sales), with the next
film slated to air June 2004.
• sold over one million
DVDs of the second movie in only one day. Before the release of the
fifth book, it received advance payments for 1.3 million copies. The
world's largest online bookseller, Amazon has made more money from
Potter products than from any other line, ever.
• In June of
1999, Sorcerer's Stone became #1 on The New York Times, Wall Street
Journal, and USA Today bestsellers listsat the same time. By
September, book three was not only #1 on The Wall Street Journal
list, but books one and two carried the #2 and #3 slots, a first in
U.S. publishing history.
• Harry Potter books have not only
been incorporated into the U.S. public school curriculum (with
teachers manuals and discussion guides), but they have also spawned a
vast, multi-million dollar line of Potter merchandise, which includes
games, puzzles, posters, toys, clocks, shirts, hats, costumes,
eye-glasses, towels, blankets, playing cards, markers, pens, lunch
boxes, bookmarks, jelly beans, etc. etc. etc.
Get the picture?
Potter Poweras a retail phenomenon and cultural force in the
21st centuryis staggering.
What's it all about anyway?
Why has Harry Potter become "as addicting as chocolate" (The
Denver Post), especially to kids? Is it all harmless fun, or is there
legitimate cause for concern among parents and educators? Beyond
this, from a spiritual perspective, can humanity's all-time
bestselling volume not Harry Potter , but the Holy Bible
provide any penetrating insights into Pottermania? Let's find out.