The 2-hour film is the first in the series to earn a PG-13 rating.
LEWISTON – Even after talking snakes, sharp-toothed octopus creatures and an evil wizard’s slimy re-animation, 7-year-old Evan Leclair slurped his soda and smiled. It’s only Harry Potter.
“I wasn’t scared,” Evan said, fidgeting in place after watching the fourth movie in the popular series, “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.”
Perhaps he was a little bit scared.
During some of the more shocking moments of the film – the first in the series to earn a PG-13 rating – the boy hid his face against his mom’s collar.
He won’t be alone.
The latest chronicle of author J.K. Rowling’s “Boy Who lived” is tougher than the series’ other films, darker and more visceral.
“It’s special effects weren’t so much fun,” said Liz Leclair, moments after she left the theater. “It was a lot more intense.”
Among the crowds who attended the movie’s opening day Friday, filling afternoon screenings at the Flagship Cinemas in Lewiston, no one walked out. And demand seemed as high as ever.
Evening shows were nearly sold out by 3 p.m. And crowds were expected all weekend.
“We expect to sell out every night,” theater worker James Grenier said. About 400 people attended a special midnight screening the night before. Many were students from Bates College.
On Friday afternoon, however, moviegoers included moms and dads and children.
John Cook of Lewiston attended the 12:30 p.m. show with Violet Tanguay and her three boys: Dylan, 16, Daniel, 12, and David, who turns 11 today.
They seemed unbothered by the the boosted action and jolts. And they all seemed to like the appearance of Harry’s arch enemy, Lord Voldemort.
Noseless, malignant and portrayed by Ralph Fiennes – the same actor who portrayed the murderous Nazi leader in “Schindler’s List” – Voldemort tries to kill Harry.
As they talked about the villain, Daniel and David Tanguay wrinkled their own noses and breathlessly recalled the slits through which he breathed.
Cook said he never worried that the material might be too mature for the boys.
“I have a 3-year-old daughter who would be right into this,” he said.
For some, the scare may be the real appeal.
Trevor Shephard and Tim Doyon, both 11, arrived 30 minutes early for a midafternoon show. Neither were worried about the added frights. Both said they knew the three previous movies well and had read each of the six books.
Escorted by an adult, the pair didn’t worry about the rating or its implications.
“I can’t wait,” Doyon said.
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