Hogwarts must have one high tuition

The sixth Harry Potter film, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, premiered today in theaters. But you already knew that (it reportedly earned about $22.2 million today, selling out in multiple cinemas and setting a midnight showing record). Chances are good you probably already saw it, even if you don't want to tell anyone you dressed up as Dumbledore and sat in the back.

Hogwarts Castle, Harry Potter LEGO set, selling
on Amazon.com for wha? $388.88?!
Yeah, OK. Do you take Monopoly money?

With every popular book series comes the movie series comes the horde of merchandise to entice the wee ones and the fun-loving adults. As much as I'd love to purchase this Lego set for, um, my younger brother, well, recession or no, that's just a bit too much for what essentially is a toy that he likely won't even be taking out of the box.

Are there better, and possibly more amusing, alternatives? Well, first, if you haven't done so already, purchase the book series! Trust me on this. If you're even marginally mildly entertained by the movies and you decide you'll deign yourself to read maybe just a few chapters of the first book, it'll only be a matter of moments before you're bleary-eyed and not eating as you try to rush through the pages of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — the seventh and final book in Ms. Rowling's series. And if not for you, get them for the child in your life, who will thank you for it. After all, who doesn't want to encourage tots to read? For your page-turning pleasure, a box set might be your best bet should you want to purchase all seven; Barnes & Noble offers an online discount for the set. Compare and pick what's best for you.

Barnes & Noble also is selling the Harry Potter film DVDs for up to 30 percent through the end of July. A bargain, yes, for them, but Target also has an equally good — if not better, in some locations — bargain on the movies should you miss the sale or wish to go elsewhere.

Now, for toys. Skipping right over that nauseatingly expensive LEGO set, other products include a Harry Potter-themed Clue game, Scene It? game and other assorted playtime goodies.

Anyway, go see the movie. We'll discuss. :)