Lots of news from Rhiannon: Potter Matches Phantom Menace – from Fox News. Rowling Battles Self for Book Charts Domination – from Reuters. JK Rowling takes to the hills – she’s bought a house, apparently. Long-term ‘Harry’ expectations high – from CNN. Harry Potter magic enthralls Wall Street – from TheAge.com. Studios scour children’s books …read more!

Great article from the LA Times about critics who bash the movie. One has to wonder if this unified front is not more revelatory of the monolithic nature of movie criticism than of the merits of the movie. Clearly, none of the critics was sitting next to a child, inner or outer, while watching it …read more!

Thanks to a reader for more confirmation of Daniel Radcliffe’s appearance on Regis and Kelly Live. TVGuide.com says so too.

It continues…you wanted Sean Biggerstaff, you got ‘im. The Sean Biggerstaff Fan Club on Yahoo has received 100 new members each day since the movie opened, according to reader Rachel. As of July it had seven.

Have it on good authority that Friday will be Daniel Radcliffe’s appearance on Live with Regis and Kelly – obviously not so live, since they’re filming CoS…. Check your local listings then set your TiVo…or VCR…or alarm clock… 🙂

Pirate copies of the Harry Potter movie in Asia: According to Bloomberg News, bootleg video discs of the movie, due for its Asian release in Malaysia and Singapore on Thursday, are selling for $1.20 to $1.30. Low-grade copies filmed in movie theaters with pocket digital video cameras arrived in Malaysia’s capital Sunday and in China’s …read more!

Los Angeles Times sports columnist Mike Penner looked deep into his crystal ball and tells us the fascinating story of Quidditch from the year 2028 – must read 🙂 In late 2002, Nike bought out Nimbus and undersold rival manufacturer Firebolt by its use of cheap child labor in southeastern Asia. When Tiger Woods proved …read more!

Actress Nicole Kidman tells reporters that she’d love a chance for even a cameo in the upcoming [Harry Potter movies]. Not for the money, but for her children – as in, her children. “If I could get them on the set, I’d be super mom.” (from the Post-Dispatch)

Jubilant Warner Bros. executives reported that “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” – playing on an unprecedented 8,200 screens in 3,672 U.S. locations – had far surpassed the $72.1 three-day opening record set in 1997 by “The Lost World: Jurassic Park.” “There were 15 possible industry records and every one of them was shattered,” Dan …read more!

A crush for the older set is emerging from the movie – the Harry Potter for Grown Ups-Movie list is abuzz with swoons. And it’s all for Sean Biggerstaff, a.k.a. Oliver Wood. The Snitch put up a good page of his pics. Daniel, Rupert, we love you – but Sean’s, well, not 12. 🙂