'Harry Potter 5' Coming Two Days Early -- Adjust Your Calendars!

Considering the massive pre-sales of the final Harry Potter book, I imagine that many boy wizard fans out there adjust their calendars according to the release date of the movies as well. I know in Toronto, tons of tiny tots and old fogies alike, many clad in their pajamas, wait in line and impatiently crowd in to see the latest Potter in a special midnight showing. The latest installment, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, was supposed to come out on Friday the 13th in July. Now, I'm not sure why, but Warner Bros. has bumped the film's release date up two days -- to Wednesday, the 11th. Great news for those suffering the turmoil of impatience, but what's the point?

The only rationale I can think of is that the company wanted the film to start screening a week after the July 4th release of The Transformers -- not that a few days will make much of a difference. Or, the company is really superstitious? It certainly isn't to coincide with the Deathly Hallows release date, although the book will now come out a round 10 days after the film. I'm sure nothing will stand in the way of eager Harry Potter fans, especially not the looming day of work or summer activities, but is it really a good idea? I imagine that a lot of people make a long weekend out of the deal -- whether to see a midnight screening, get in bed at 4 AM and then not have to be up for work in the morning, or to take eager kids or their own anxious butts to a matinee the next day. Oh well! Hopefully it will do nothing to hurt the next installment, which I have to say is the only blockbuster that has adequately held my attention and anxiety. Does this interfere with your plans for Potter patronage?