Harry Potter: Ultimate Editions

Extras, schmextras! Extended versions I like, but HP1 is only longer by 7 minutes and HP2 by 13 minutes. I'll pass.

I always felt these films were a HUGE lost opportunity. I understand the limitations of theatrical running time, but why not film all (or most) of each book and then offer a real extended edition on DVD/Bluray that is not just handful of crap scenes that, frankly, belong on the cutting room floor.

There could have been, for example, a 2 1/2 hour version for theatrical release that would then be the first DVD/Bluray release. Followed then with a 4 hour extended edition - still double dipping, but al least bringing some real extra value to viewers. I think this is essentially what Peter Jackson did with the LoTR trilogy. Not too many people seem to prefer the shorter theatrical editions.

Ah well, I guess vision is in short supply these days in hollywood - Knight Rider Series III anyone! (Of course, I felt this way about re-imagining Battlestar Galactica, and that turned into one of the best shows in TV history.)

I'm just going to wait til all the movies have been released, and the big giant accordion style box set comes out...cause that's all that's left for them to do.... the triple dip when all is said and done...

Boo to another shameless cash grab

No thanks! My HD DVD versions still work beautifully and for pennies on the dollar!

Mark

Does anyone know what audio will be on these ..Dolby True or DTS MA?

These have been available through Amazon Pre-order for over a month.
However, there is no release dates as of yet.

+1

i'm not sure there's 4 hours worth of material in the first 3 harry potter books; for instance hp1 the book is ~75,000 words the fellowship of the ring was something like ~175,000

fotr got a theatrical run time of 2:58 (983 wpm) minutes and 3:28 (841 wpm) minutes extended
hp1 got a theatrical of 2:32 (493 wpm) minutes and 2:39 (471 wpm) extended

tolkein of course was a verbose bastard, so a lot of his was not related to the plot (poems, long descriptions, etc...), but there are whole sections of the lotr are missing and not even inserted in to the extended editions. i don't recall much being left out of hp1 or 2, it wasn't really until the third one where things started to get left out. now once you hit 4 and 5 (haven't seen 6 yet) both those feel like cliff notes versions of the films.

oh and fwiw i actually prefer the shorter versions of lotr except for the first one.

thehdroom.com is reporting DTS-MA 5.1 for these. Interesting.

Yeah, I'd like to know too. Didn't the original Blu-rays have PCM?

I don't care about anything except seeing the deleted scenes with Rik Mayall from the first film.

The MSRP is giving me a migraine but I've been waiting for these for years; so much of the deleted footage actually improves the film, such as including Ron's previously missing apology-of-sorts to Hermione for being so rude to her and causing her to run off to the troll-attacked bathroom. I never really forgive Ron for his attitude, and the chaos to which it helps contribute, in the theatrical cut.

Yes, they had both PCM 5.1 and Legacy Dolby 5.1.

Well if it weren't for all that chaos, they would've never became friends. So, it all worked out.

+1

Hah-hah!! Bless you, Sir. HD-DVD 4-EVA!! (But not really... )

I havent seen any of HP movies. I plan to see/blind buy them but will wait for the inevitable complete release with all movies and all extras....may take a couple of years of dips and double dips releases, but I can wait.

After purchasing the special edition school trunk/book/whatever version I feel that this is a bit of a rip but eh no biggie I guess. I'm happy with my current versions.

DISC 1: Theatrical Version
DISC 2: Extended Version with 7 Minutes of Footage Not Shown in Theatres.
DISC 3:
- Diagon Alley
- Tour the Gryffindor Common Room, Harry's Room and the Great Hall - Welcome to the self-guided tour of Hogwarts, home of witches and wizards in training, and take in the sights.
- Classrooms:
- Defense Against the Dark Arts; Spells and Charms; Potions; Transfiguration; Third Floor Corridor; Deleted Scenes.
- Sorting Hat
- Library
- Gallery of Art & Architecture
- Hogwarts Yearbook
- Guide to Ghosts - Discover the many marvelous and mysterious ghosts of Hogwarts.
- Hogwarts Grounds
- Quaffle and Bludger - Get a lesson from Oliver Wood on how to play Quidditch.
- Tour Hagrid's Hut - Welcome to the self-guided tour of Hagrid's Hut, home of Rubeus Hagrid, the Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts, and his faithful companion, Fang.
- Extra Credit
- Interview - Capturing the Stone: A Conversation with the Filmmakers - Director Chris Columbus, Producer David Heyman, Screenwriter
Steve Kloves and Production Designer Stuart Craig talk about casting and bringing the novel to life.
DISC 4:
- Introduction by Daniel Radcliffe - An introduction to the many special features for the Harry Potter films [NEW]
- Creating the World of Harry Potter, Part 1: The Magic Begins - Discover the story of how one vision for the Harry Potter films came together out of limitless possibilities to create the visual world we have come to know and love. [NEW]
- A Glimpse Into the World of Harry Potter 2001 International TV Special
- Deleted Scenes
- Trailers and TV Spots
DISC 5
- Digital Copy of Theatrical Film
- In-Movie Experience with Director Chris Columbus: An interactive viewer experience where the entire film is examined; includes PiP, Storyboard Comparisons, Still Galleries (Blu-ray only)
- WB Maximum Movie Mode picture-in-picture programming, cast walk-ons, focus points, graphics and more. (Blu-ray only)
- BD Live with access to worldwide events, special guest participants, community features and more. (Blu-ray only)



Wow. They need a whole 2nd disc for an additional seven minutes of footage? Haven't they heard of seamless branching? Sounds like a ploy to have a higher MSRP by calling it a 5 disc set. One is a lame digital copy too. balls....

I'll wait for reviews for this one, but I'm slightly interested.

Same here. I LOVE the films but c'mon already with these different editions.

What really bugs me about these double (and sometimes triple) dips on HD is how many titles there are out there that many of us want but they haven't been released yet! Where's Alien/Aliens, Back to the Future Trilogy, Cleopatra, and Dances with Wolves? There are hundreds of other titles that need to be released on Blu before we get yet another version of Harry Potter!

Mark

EXACTLY, Mark. And you know eventually there will be the uber duber deluxe box when all the films are finished. And I just hate this digital copy extra disc crap that we keep having no option to opt out of, (save for I think Wall-E and a few others)

http://www.collider.com/2009/09/18/h...mate-editions/

Information on the Blu Ray with back coverart....DTS-HD Master Audio.

+2

You know, the more I think about this, the more I bet we'll get the Ultimate Editions of PRISONER OF AZKABAN and GOBLET OF FIRE when THE DEATHLY HALLOWS I comes out, then the Ultimate Editions of THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX and THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE when THE DEATHLY HALLOWS 2 is released.

Ah! But then when will the ultimate editions of Deathly Hallows 1 & 2 come out?

LOL! Yeah, probably.