Product Description
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Prepare for the Final Battle!
Harry Potter Years 1 - 7: Part 1 Giftset includes:
Year 1 HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER’S STONE BONUSES: Additional
Scenes • Capturing the Stone: A Conversation with the Filmmakers
• Around the World Multilanguage Clip • Character Clips • Lessons
in Quidditch and a Tour of Hagrid’s Hut
Year 2 HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS BONUSES:
Additional Scenes • Conversation with Author J.K. Rowling and
Screenwriter Steve Kloves • Dumbledore’s Office: Build a Scene •
Visit Lockhart’s Classroom • Interviews with Students and
Professors
Year 3 HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN BONUSES:
Additional Scenes • Creating a Vision with the Director, Author
and Others • Conjuring a Scene: On-Set Craftspeople Wizardry •
Shrunken Head Interviews • Choir Practice • Care of Magical
Creatures
Year 4 HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE BONUSES: Additional
Scenes • Cast and Crew Interviews • Preparing for the Yule Ball •
Triwizard Tournament Challenges, Including Harry Vs. the
Horntail, In Too Deep and The Maze
Year 5 HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX BONUSES:
Additional Scenes • Focus Points: Featurettes and Production
Diaries • Trailing Tonks on a Personal Set Tour • Harry Potter:
The Magic of Editing
Year 6 HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE (2-DISCS) BONUSES:
Warner Bros. Maximum Movie Mode: Interviews and Trivia Track
Focus Points • Additional Scenes • The Cast Close-Up • J.K.
Rowling: A Year in the Life Profile
Year 7 HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS - PART 1 BONUSES:
Prepare for the Final Battle Interactive Journey • The Seven
Harrys Hilariously Recreated by Daniel Radcliffe • Play Golf,
Recall the Past Decade and Look to the Future Career Moves with
Rupert Grint, Tom Felton and James and Oliver Phelps • Additional
Scenes
MAIN FEATURES* 1080p High Definition 16x9 2.4:1. DTS-HD MA:
English 5.1 (Movie 7); Dolby TrueHD: English 5.1 (Movie 6); PCM:
English 5.1 (Movies 1-5); Dolby Digital: English 5.1, Français
5.1 (Except Movie 1), Espanol 5.1. Subtitles – English SDH,
Français (Except Movie 1) & Español.
SPECIAL FEATURES* May not be in High Definition; Audio &
subtitles may vary.
.com
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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Here's an event movie that holds up to being an event. This
filmed version of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, adapted
from the wildly popular book by J.K. Rowling, stunningly brings
to life Harry Potter's world of Hogwarts, the school for young
witches and wizards. The greatest strength of the film comes from
its faithfulness to the novel, and this new cinematic world is
filled with all the details of Rowling's imagination, thanks to
exuberant sets, elaborate costumes, clever makeup and visual
effects, and a crème de la crème cast, including Maggie Smith,
Richard Harris, Alan Rickman, and more. Especially fine is the
interplay between Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and his schoolmates
Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson), as well as his
protector, the looming Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane). The second-half
adventure--involving the titular sorcerer's stone--doesn't
translate perfectly from page to screen, ultimately because of
the film's fidelity to the novel; this is a case of making a
movie for the book's fans, as sed to a transcending film.
Writer Steve Kloves and director Chris Columbus keep the spooks
in check, making this a true family film, and with its
resourceful hero wide-eyed and ready, one can't wait for Harry's
return. Ages 8 and up. --Doug Thomas
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
First sequels are the true test of an enduring movie franchise,
and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets passes with flying
colors. Expanding upon the lavish sets, special effects, and
grand adventure of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Harry's
second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
involves a darker, more malevolent tale (parents with younger
children beware), beginning with the petrified bodies of several
Hogwarts students and magical clues leading Harry (Daniel
Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert Grint), and Hermione (Emma Watson) to a
50-year-old mystery in the monster-laden Chamber of Secrets.
House elves, squealing mandrakes, giant spiders, and venomous
serpents populate this loyal adaptation (by Sorcerer's Stone
director Chris Columbus and screenwriter Steve Kloves), and
Kenneth Branagh delightfully tops the supreme supporting cast as
the vainglorious charlatan Gilderoy Lockhart (be sure to view
past the credits for a visual punchline at Lockhart's expense).
At 161 minutes, the film suffers from lack of depth and uneven
pacing, and John Williams' score mostly reprises established
themes. The young, fast-growing cast offers ample compensation,
however, as does the late Richard Harris in his final screen
appearance as Professor Albus Dumbledore. Brimming with
cleverness, wonderment, and big-budget splendor, Chamber honors
the legacy of J.K. Rowling's novels. --Jeff Shannon
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Some movie-loving wizards must have cast a magic spell on Harry
Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, because it's another grand
slam for the Harry Potter franchise. Demonstrating remarkable
versatility after the arthouse success of Y Tu Mamá También,
director Alfonso Cuarón proves a perfect choice to guide Harry,
Hermione, and Ron into treacherous puberty as the now 13-year-old
students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry face a new
and daunting challenge: Sirius Black (Gary Oldman) has escaped
from Azkaban prison, and for reasons yet unknown (unless, of
course, you've read J.K. Rowling's book, considered by many to be
the best in the series), he's after Harry in a bid for revenge.
This dark and dangerous mystery drives the action while Harry
(the fast-growing Daniel Radcliffe) and his third-year Hogwarts
classmates discover the flying hippogriff Buckbeak (a marvelous
CGI creature), the benevolent but enigmatic Professor Lupin
(David Thewlis), horrifying black-robed Dementors, sneaky Peter
Pettigrew (Timothy Spall), and the wonderful advantage of having
a Time-Turner just when you need one. The familiar Hogwarts staff
returns in fine form (including the delightful Michael Gambon,
replacing the late Richard Harris as Dumbledore, and Emma
Thompson as the goggle-eyed Sybil Trelawney), and even Julie
Christie joins this prestigious production for a brief but
welcome cameo. Technically dazzling, fast-paced, and chock-full
of Rowling's boundless imagination (loyally adapted by ace
screenwriter Steve Kloves), The Prisoner of Azkaban is a
Potter-movie classic. --Jeff Shannon
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
The latest entry in the Harry Potter saga could be retitled Fast
Times at Hogwarts, where finding a date to the winter ball is
nearly as terrifying as worrying about Lord Voldemort's return.
Thus, the young wizards' entry into puberty (and discovery of the
site sex) opens up a rich mining field to balance out the
dark content in the fourth movie (and the stories are only going
to get darker). Mike Newell (Four Weddings and a Funeral) handily
takes the directing reins and eases his young cast through
awkward growth spurts into true young actors. Harry (Daniel
Radcliffe, more sure of himself) has his first girl crush on
fellow student Cho Chang (Katie Leung), and has his first big
fight with best bud Ron (Rupert Grint). Meanwhile, Ron's
underlying romantic tension with Hermione (Emma Watson) comes to
a head over the winter ball, and when she makes one of those
girl-into-woman Cinderella entrances, the boys' reactions
indicate they've all crossed a threshold.
But don't worry, there's plenty of wizardry and action in Goblet
of Fire. When the deadly Triwizard Tournament is hosted by
Hogwarts, Harry finds his name mysteriously submitted (and
chosen) to compete against wizards from two neighboring
academies, as well as another Hogwarts student. The competition
scenes are magnificently , with much-improved CGI effects
(particularly the underwater challenge). And the climactic
confrontation with Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes, in a brilliant
bit of casting) is the most thrilling yet. Goblet, the first
installment to get a PG-13 rating, contains some violence as well
as disturbing images for kids and some barely shrouded references
at sexual awakening (Harry's bath scene in particular). The 2
1/2-hour film, lean considering it came from a 734-page book,
trims out subplots about house-elves (they're not missed) and
gives little screen time to the standard crew of the other Potter
films, but adds in more of Britain's finest actors to the cast,
such as Brendan Gleeson as Mad-Eye Moody and Miranda Richardson
as Rita Skeeter. Michael Gambon, in his second round as Professor
Dumbledore, still hasn't brought audiences around to his
interpretation of the role he took over after Richard Harris
died, but it's a small smudge in an otherwise spotless
adaptation. --Ellen A. Kim
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Alas! The fifth Harry Potter film has arrived. The time is long
past that this can be considered a simple "children's"
series--though children and adults alike will enjoy it immensely.
Starting off from the dark and tragic ending of the fourth film,
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix begins in a somber and
angst-filled tone that carries through the entire 138 minutes
(the shortest of any HP movie despite being adapted from the
longest book). Hopes of winning the Quidditch Cup have been
replaced by woes like government corruption, distorted media
spin, and the casualties of war. As the themes have matured, so
have the primary characters' acting abilities. Ron (Rupert
Grint), Hermione (Emma Watson), and especially Harry (Daniel
Radcliffe) are more convincing than ever--in roles that are more
demanding. Harry is deeply traumatized from having witnessed
Cedric Diggory's murder, but he will soon find that this was just
another chapter in the continuing loss he will endure. Lord
Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) has returned and, in an attempt to
conceal this catastrophe from the wizarding public, the Ministry
of Magic has teamed up with the wizard newspaper The Daily
Prophet to smear young Potter and wise Dumbledore (Michael
Gambon)--seemingly the only two people in the public eye who
believe the Dark Lord has returned. With no one else to stand
against the wicked Death Eaters, the Hogwarts headmaster is
forced to revive his secret anti-Voldemort society, the Order of
the Phoenix. This welcomes back characters like Mad-Eye Moody
(Brendan Gleeson), kind Remus Lupin (David Thewlis), herly
Sirius Black (Gary Oldman), and insidious Severus Snape (Alan
Rickman), and introduces a short list of intriguing new faces. In
the meantime, a semi-psychotic bureaucrat from the Ministry
(brilliantly portrayed by Imelda Staunton) has seized power at
Hogwarts, and Harry is forced to form a secret society of his
own--lest the other young wizards at his school be left
ill-equipped to defend themselves in the looming war between good
and evil. In addition, Harry is filled with an inexplicable rage
that only his Godher Sirius seems to be able to understand.
This film, though not as frightening as its predecessor, earns
its PG-13 rating mostly because of the ever-darkening tone. As
always, the loyal fans of J.K. Rowling's books will suffer huge
cuts from the original plot and character developments, but make
no mistake: this is a good movie. --Jordan Thompson
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
The sixth installment of the Harry Potter series begins right
where The Order of the Phoenix left off. The wizarding world is
rocked by the news that "He Who Must Not Be Named" has truly
returned, and the audience finally knows that Harry is "the
Chosen One"--the only wizard who can defeat Lord Voldemort in the
end. Dark forces loom around every corner, and now regularly
attempt to penetrate the protected walls of Hogwarts School. This
is no longer the fun and fascinating world of magic from the
first few books—it's dark, dangerous, and y. Harry (Daniel
Radcliffe) suspects Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton) to be a new Death
Eater recruit on a special mission for the Dark Lord. In the
meantime, Professor Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) seems to have
finally removed the shroud of secrecy from Harry about the dark
path that lies ahead, and instead provides private lessons to get
him prepared. It's in these intriguing scenes that the dark past
of Tom Riddle (a.k.a. Voldemort) is finally revealed. The actors
cast as the different young versions of Riddle (Hero
Fiennes-Tiffin and Frank Dillane) do an eerily fantastic job of
portraying the villain as a child. While the previous movies'
many new characters could be slightly overwhelming, only one new
key character is introduced this time: Professor Horace Slughorn
(with a spot-on performance by Jim Broadbent). Within his mind he
holds a key secret in the battle to defeat the Dark Lord, and
Harry is tasked by Dumbledore to uncover a memory about
Voldemort's darkest weapon--the Horcrux. Despite the long list of
distractions, Harry, Ron (Rupert Grint), and Hermione (Emma
Watson) still try to focus on being teenagers, and audiences will
enjoy the budding awkward romances. All of the actors have
developed nicely, giving their most convincing performances to
date.
More dramatic and significant things go down in this movie than
any of its predecessors, and the stakes are higher than ever. The
creators have been tasked with a practically impossible
challenge, as fans of the beloved J.K. Rowling book series
desperately want the movies to capture the magic of the books as
closely as possible. Alas, the point at which one accepts that
these two mediums are very different is the point at which one
can truly enjoy these brilliant adaptations. Harry Potter and the
Half-Blood Prince is no exception: it may be the best film yet.
For those who have not read the book, nail-biting entertainment
is guaranteed. For those who have, the movie does it justice. The
key dramatic scenes, including the cave and the shocking twist in
the final chapter, are executed very well. It does a perfect job
of setting up the two-part grand finale that is to follow.
--Jordan Thompson
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part I
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part I is a brooding,
slower-paced film than its predecessors, the result of being just
one half of the final story (the last book in the series was
split into two movies, released in theaters eight months apart).
Because the penultimate film is all buildup before the final
showdown between the teen wizard and the evil Voldemort (which
does not occur until The Deathly Hallows, Part II), Part I is a
road-trip movie, a heist film, a lot of exposition, and more
weight on its three young leads, who up until now were
sufficiently supported by a revolving door of British thesps
throughout the series. Now that all the action takes place
outside Hogwarts--no more Potions classes, Gryffindor ves, or
Quidditch matches--Daniel Radcliffe (Harry), Emma Watson
(Hermione), and Rupert Grint (Ron) shoulder the film almost
entirely on their own. After a near-al ambush by Voldemort's
Death Eaters, the three embark on a quest to find and destroy the
remaining five horcruxes (objects that store pieces of
Voldemort's soul). Fortunately, as the story gets more grave--and
parents should be warned, there are some scenes too frightening
or adult for young children--so does the intensity. David Yates,
who directed the Harry Potter films Order of the Phoenix and The
Half-Blood Prince, drags the second half a little, but right
along with some of the slower moments are some touching surprises
(Harry leading Hermione in a dance, the return of Dobby in a
totally non-annoying way). Deathly Hallows, Part I will be the
most confusing for those not familiar with the Potter lore,
particularly in the shorthand way characters and terminology
weave in and out. For the rest of us, though, watching these
characters over the last decade and saying farewell to a few
faces makes it all bittersweet that the end is near (indeed, an
early scene in which Hermione casts a spell that makes her Muggle
parents forget her existence, in case she doesn't return, is
particularly emotional). Despite its challenges, Deathly Hallows,
Part I succeeds in what it's most meant to do: whet your appetite
for the grand conclusion to the Harry Potter series. --Ellen A.
Kim