Search - Harry Potter Years 1-5 [Blu-ray] on Blu-ray

Special Features

Noha Elsewaify | New York, NY | 12/16/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I just received this today, and I wanted to post the Special Features listed on the back of this set in hopes that I can help others wishing to buy this.



The special features are listed by movie, so here goes:



*Year 1: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone



Additional Scenes . Capturing the Stone: Casting and Bringing the Novel to Life . Around the world multilanguage Clip . Ghosts of Hogwarts . Yearbook Character Clips . Lessons in Quidditch and What it takes to hatch a Dragon Egg



*Year 2: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets



Additional Scenes . Conversation with Author J.K. Rowling and Screenwriter Steve Kloves . Building a Scene: Moviemaking Magic . Visit Lockhart's Classroom to view his Certificates and Required Reading . Interviews with Students, Professors and More



*Year 3: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkapan



Additional Scenes . Creating the Vision: Director Alfonso Cuar'on, Author J.K. Rowling and others reflect . Conjuring a Scene: The On-set Magic of Cinematic Craftspeople . Shrunken Head Interviews with Heroes, Gryffindors, Slytherins, Teachers, Dursleys and Filmmakers . Choir Practice . Care of Magical Creatures



*Year 4: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire



Additional Scenes . Conversations with the Cast . Preparing for the Yule Ball . Reflections on the Fourth Film . Harry vs the Horntail: The First Task . Meet the Champions . In Too Deep: The Second Task . The Maze: The Third Task . He Who Must Not be Named



*Year 5: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

(SPECIAL FEATURES FOR OotP ARE IN HIGH DEFINITION)



Focus Points: Featurettes and Production Diaries . Additional Scenes . The Hidden Secrets of Harry Potter: Revisit the First 5 Movies for Clues . Trailing Tonks: Personal Film . Set Tour . Harry Potter: The Magic of Editing - Director David Yates and Editor Mark Day Show What a Difference a Good Edit Makes and Then Allow You to Edit a Scene



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Overall I'm very excited about this, even without any of the Special Features, you still get all five movies in Full High Definition

[1080p High Definition 16x9 2.4:1] for less than $90."

A little rought until you get to years 4 &5

m.g. | Midwest | 01/12/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I love the Harry Potter movies, so I really looked forward to getting them on Blu-ray. What I noticed immediately, was that years 1-3 really don't look particular sharp. Years 4 & 5, really do look amazing. The extras are set up a little odd, and really didn't do much for me.



I hope Harry Potter year 6 & 7 continue to look even better than their predicesors..."

Potter on Blu-ray? Bloody brilliant!!

K. Sparkuhl | Nampa, Idaho, USA | 01/18/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Packed in five slim-line Blu-ray cases and housed in an attractive box, this Harry Potter box set fits in nicely with my steadily growing Blu-ray collection. All the movies have been given the standard Blu-ray treatment: interactive menus, in-depth interviews and features, along with stunning, razor sharp images and crystal clear, Dolby Digital True-HD sound. It's the stuff that Blu-ray is known for and it's been put together quite nicely in this fabulous set. If you're a fan of Harry Potter, you already know the movies. But, if you already own a Blu-ray player or simply need an excuse to buy one, this is a great set to get you started in viewing movies in their true HD glory!"

Better picture and sound, fewer extras, no BD innovation

A. Dent | Minas Anor, GD | 08/02/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Briefly

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When I ordered the Years 1-5 Blu bundle I already had years 1-4 on DVD and year 5 on Blu. My expectations were to get significantly better picture quality and improved sound. These being at least for years 1-4 original DVD re-releases, I did not expect a lot of Blu 'special treatment'. My expectations, both the positive and the negative ones were generally met with a few disappointments on the special features treatment.



Physical delivery

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We get a small bundle. Each individual movie is delivered on one Blu disc inside a Blu slim case. There's nothing inside the case but the disc itself. The carton box lists the special features for each of the 5 movies on the back.



Video

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Movies are all presented on 1080p and a 2.4:1 aspect ratio. The picture quality is excellent even by Blu standards.



Sound

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Linear PCM 5.1 sounds amazing. It's a clear improvement over the DVD's Dolby 5.1 which is also available as the default audio option.



Special features

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This is where, surprisingly, the Blu edition offers 'less' than the DVD.



- All the DVD ROM features present on the DVD releases are missing. This is understandable and not unexpected. There are very few computers with Blu drives these days.

- All the 'interactive' features present on the DVD releases are missing. This is not understandable or expected because greater interactivity is one of Blu's selling points.

- All the other DVD features are present on the Blu releases but they are all unchanged - the same low resolution.

- No new special features were added to the Blu releases. Not even the invitation to access the movie's Web site wasn't translated into a hyperlink and there is no BD-Live.



Rating

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The bundle is definitely recommended to anyone who hasn't bought the Harry Potter movies on DVD already if one can't wait for 2 more years to get the complete 7-movie pack that MIGHT benefit from a special Blu facelift.



For someone like me, who already has the DVD copies, it was a 'maybe'. I took advantage of a deep discount opportunity at Amazon and I don't regret my purchase. I will probably try to resell my single 'Order of the Phoenix' Blu copy and the individual years 1-4 on DVD.



Overall, this bundle can't get the 5-star 'exceptional' rating but earns a solid 4 stars because, while the movies themselves are presented well, nothing special was done to add to the original DVD special features, to enhance the existing ones or to take advantage of any Blu-ray specific capabilities."