Harry Potter and the SECOND Delay

Not to worry, all my fellow Potter phobes, the theatrical release for the long-awaited “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” still remains July 15th, but those planning on experiencing the sixth installment in IMAX 3-D will have to wait two extra weeks to do so.  This time, if you’re looking for someone to blame, take it out on Michael Bay and those darn Transformers.

This two week delay is the result of IMAX Corp. previously agreeing to let Paramount have an entire month where they can show the big-budget “Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen” on IMAX screens.  Since this agreement was made back when “Half-Blood Prince” was still scheduled to hit the market in November 2008, and due to the fact that that month-long window overlaps into Harry’s new July 15th release, Warner Brothers graciously acquiesced by moving Harry’s 4th IMAX debut to the 29th.

However, if you live in either New York or Los Angeles, you’re in luck, because Harry’s sixth big-screen adventure will still premiere on two IMAX screens in those cities on July 15th.  Everyone else…well, you get the point by now.

At least WB didn’t mess around with the theatrical release again.  But personally, I think Harry Potter trumps Optimus Prime any day of the week, and that view seems to be solidified by the fact that “Prince” contains 12 minutes of 3-D awesomeness.  Awesomeness only available through the IMAX screenings.  Even though “TF 2″ was partially filmed with IMAX cameras, they still weren’t 3-D cameras, were they?

So while Harry Potter may return to work is magic in theatres on July 15th, he won’t be able to cast his spell over IMAX screens until two weeks later.  Hey, at least it’s not another 8-month delay.