'HARRY POTTER': EPISODE I - A NEW HOPE? A LONG TIME AGO, IN A MOVIE BLOCKBUSTER FAR, FAR AWAY ...

Byline: Sharon Kaplan

With the trailers for both ``Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone'' and ``Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones'' showing before ``Monsters, Inc.'' this weekend, it occurred to us that the characters in the two epics are oddly similar. Here are some parallels:

Luke Skywalker: Doesn't know his parents, raised by aunt and uncle who never tell him who he really is. Is consummate hero, battling the Dark Side regardless of the consequences and often confronting Darth Vader face to face to aid the rebel forces in their fight against the Empire. In Luke's battle with Vader, his hand is sliced off leaving him with a mechanical hand, very much like Vader who is part human, part machine.

Harry Potter: Doesn't know his parents, raised by aunt and uncle who never tell him about who he really is. Heroic Harry will jump head first regardless of the consequences and go head to head with Lord Voldemort to save the wizarding world and his friends from danger. Voldemort's first attempt to kill Harry when he was a baby left Harry with a lighting-bolt scar on his forehead and a few of Voldemort's powers.

Han Solo: Wisecracking, reluctant hero who fights along with Luke and Leia to save the galaxy from the Empire's clutches. Han Solo is masterful behind the controls of the Millennium Falcon and with it he gets the trio out of a lot of jams. Has the hots for Princess Leia.

Ron Weasley: Wisecracking best friend who fights alongside Harry and Hermione to save the wizarding world from the possible return to power of Lord Voldemort. He is masterful at wizard chess and said skill gets the trio out of a jam. Has hots for Hermione, but is too young to realize it.

Princess Leia:

Princess Leia: Highly educated young woman who helped save the galaxy from the Empire's control. Always has a cool head and often gets Luke and Han Solo out of danger with the many skills she acquired at some of the best galactic learning institutions. Ends up falling in love with Han Solo even though she originally thought he was a jerk.

Hermione Granger: Extremely smart young girl who knows every charm, every potion and every historical footnote in wizarding history. Her skills and logical nature have gotten Harry and Ron out of more tight spots than you can shake a wand at. Hermione will almost certainly grow up to marry Ron, even though currently she thinks he's just a stupid boy.

Darth Vader

Darth Vader: Born Anakin Skywalker, the young boy was to become a great Jedi Knight. He succumbed to the Dark Side and underwent a transformation to eventually become Darth Vader, master of the Dark Side of the Force. In the original ``Star Wars'' movie, you find that mortal enemy is the benevolent Obi Wan ``Ben'' Kenobi, once his teacher.

Lord Voldemort: Born Tom Riddle, the young boy was considered to be the best student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and had the potential to be the greatest wizard of all time. His thirst for power made him succumb to the Dark Side to become the evil Lord Voldemort and amass a legion of followers. The only wizard Voldemort fears is the benevolent Albus Dumbledore, once his teacher.

Obi Wan Kenobi

Obi Wan Kenobi: One of the most accomplished of the Jedi Knights, Obi Wan was entrusted to take over the tutelage of Anakin Skywalker. He always appears at the appropriate times to act as a spiritual guide in Luke's quest.

Albus Dumbledore: Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry who, as a teacher, taught Tom Riddle. He always appears at the appropriate times to act as Harry's moral center.

Chewbacca

Chewbacca: Extremely large and hairy co-pilot.

Hagrid: Extremely large and hairy gamekeeper.

Galaxy of English stars to brighten film's premiere

LONDON - A veritable who's-who of British thespians who made appearances in ``Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone'' are scheduled to be at the film's premiere here today.

You've likely heard about the actors inhabiting the major roles. Robbie Coltrane plays Hagrid, a gentle giant who befriends Harry when he comes Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry but is the joint's worst secret-keeper.

Alan Rickman, with a powder-white face and long black hair, is Snape, the sinister potions professor who has it in for Harry. Richard Harris stars as Dumbledore, the wise, impressive headmaster of Hogwarts, and Maggie Smith appears as Professor McGonagall, who teaches transfiguration and herself enjoys morphing into cats.

Harry, of course, is portrayed by Daniel Radcliffe, who starred in the BBC production of another British literary treasure, ``David Copperfield.''

You might have even heard that John Cleese turns up as Nearly Headless Nick, but you'll be disappointed: He scarcely rates a minute of screen time. More face-time is promised in future films.

Here are the other folks you'll be seeing:

Richard Griffiths (``Sleepy Hollow,'' ``Chariots of Fire'' and ``Gandhi,'' to name just a few of his films) portrays Harry's piggish lout of an uncle, Vernon Dursley. Fiona Shaw is Vernon's equally horrid wife, Petunia; she starred as Christie Brown's nurse/wife in ``My Left Foot.'' The versatile John Hurt (``The Elephant Man,'' ``The Hit,'' ``Midnight Express'' and scads of others) has a bit part as Mr. Ollivander, the fellow who sells Harry his magic wand.

Julie Walters, nominated for Oscars for both ``Billy Elliot'' and ``Educating Rita,'' appears as Mrs. Weasley, the put-upon mother of Harry's best friend, Ron. Warwick Davis, who plays the diminutive Flitwick, was an Ewok in ``Return of the Jedi,'' the title character in ``Leprechaun'' and more creatures in ``Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace.''

- David Kronke

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(13) Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe, left), Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson).