Harry Potter Ultimate Editions Coming

[Disneykid]

Well, all I have to say is it's about freaking time! I've known about this for a little while but didn't think to post it until today.

Amazon currently has Ultimate Editions of both Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (DVD and Blu-ray) and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (DVD and Blu-ray) available for pre-order.

Now when these first showed up, my thought was, "Oh, nice. They finally give us editions with meaty bonus features. I think I'll still wait until we get extended editions of all the films in one lavish boxed set, though." But then, the MPAA classified a new extended cut of Sorcerer's Stone (type in "Sorcerer's Stone" on mpaa.org to see the listing. It won't let me link to it here).

What remains to be seen is whether these Ultimate Editions on Amazon will, in fact, be extended cuts, or they'll just be the theatrical ones with more supplements, with extended versions coming at a later time. I'd like to think both versions are one and the same, and if they are, I'll snatch those suckers up on day one.

What's frustrating, though, is that unlike the BBFC, the MPAA doesn't disclose running times. So I have no idea how much longer the new Sorcerer's Stone is. I'm hoping and praying they add more than just the DVD deleted scenes back in (ala ABC Family) since there was much more cut that we've seen in trailers, TV spots, B-roll footage, and promo pics, such as:

* Extended letters montage with Harry being locked out of the kitchen while Vernon burns them on the stove (B-roll footage)

* Extended explanation about Voldemort by Hagrid (B-roll)

* Extended introductory speech by McGonagall (B-roll)

* Hermione telling Ron, "He's rather disagreeable, isn't he?" in reference to Draco (TV Spot)

* Harry and Ron reacting more surprisingly to Dumbledore's third floor corridor line, or perhaps a different line (trailer 2)

* The character of Peeves the Poltergeist, played by Rik Mayall (Interviews)

* Neville asking Hermione to kiss Trevor good night, and her responding with a death glare (Interview)

* Extended troll sequence (interviews, shot of Hermione peeking out from rubble in trailer 2)

* Dumbledore telling Harry what he sees in the Mirror of Erised (B-Roll Footage)

* Harry and Ron seeing the Gryffindor points hourglass siginifcantly lowered after being caught by McGonnagall. (Promo still)

* Extended chess match (the camera spins around Harry in trailer 2; Ron cheers in trailer 3)

* Extended confrontation between Harry and Quirrell (Test screenings)

And there are some other things I've heard of (like the Dursleys escaping to a hotel before they escape to the shack) which may or may not be true since I haven't heard any backup sources for those. Either way, we're talking about 20 minutes or so of footage out there, only 7 of which is shown on the DVD as bonus material. I'm hoping all of this and more gets added.

As for Chamber of Secrets, this is the only Harry Potter film to have all of its deleted scenes shown. The ABC Family cut is, essentially, the full extended version. It even adds a few shots and lines that aren't on the DVD (a shot of Harry exiting the Borgin and Burkes coffin which links two separate DVD deleted scenes together; Dumbledore dismissing Harry and Ron from Snape's office so they can rejoin the feast).

The only thing missing is the audio of Harry saying "the crowing of the rooster can kill it" when reading the basilisk explanation. If I remember correctly, the theatrical version overdubs that line with "spiders flee before it" even though Harry already says that a few seconds earlier. The ABC Family cut doesn't restore that line.

Hopefully the following films will also have extended editions. Out of all them, Order of the Phoenix needs it the most. It had a whopping 45 minutes' worth of footage cut.

[Escapay]

Since only the first two have Amazon.com pre-orders, and covers up, perhaps they are being released every several months to build up to the seventh film(s) in theatres.

1 & 2 could come out this winter (along with the theatrical version of 6).

3 & 4 could come out next spring (2010).

5 & 6 next fall (2010) at the same time that 7.1 hits theatres.

Then 7.1 could get the extended edition in the spring 2011 before 7.2 is in theatres.

And a great big boxset of all 7 films (with 7.1 and 7.2 integrated into one film, or simply extended editions of both, though I'd prefer the former) by Christmas 2011.

albert

[PeterPanfan]

I am elated by this news, and will definitely be picking them up the first day of their release!

[disneyboy20022]

While I i will pick up the Blu ray of this....just to have to it watch and since I have a hi def screen...might as well.....But as far as box sets go I'll take my chances and get the movies via ala a big fat juicy box set....though it will be tempting to get one this year...although my bank account will remind me wait because I am broke

[DisneyFreak5282]

I have the first two films on VHS and the third film on DVD, and I wanted to pick up the 2 disc deluxe editions of films 4 and 5, but now I'm thinking I'll hold off on those (or buy them, since I like having the theatrical cut of a film on DVD as well as its extended/unrated edition DVD, if one is released). Perhaps I'll wait until the big box with all 7 (well, technically 8 since 7 is going to be 2 films), and by then I should have a Blu-Ray player... but that box set might be a bit pricey.

[PatrickvD]

everytime I read "Sorcerer's" Stone I just shudder.

I'll take the extended cut of Philosopher's Stone please. Anyway, is it true that there are two different versions of the film? I've read that in the American cut the trio refers to it as the sorcerer's stone while everywhere else it is simply the philosopher's stone.

Not sure if that is true. Just curious.

[SpringHeelJack]

Makes me glad I didn't buy the Blu-ray versions...

[Disneykid]

everytime I read "Sorcerer's" Stone I just shudder.

I'll take the extended cut of Philosopher's Stone please. Anyway, is it true that there are two different versions of the film? I've read that in the American cut the trio refers to it as the sorcerer's stone while everywhere else it is simply the philosopher's stone.

Not sure if that is true. Just curious.

Yeah, the American cut of the film has the actors saying "Sorcerer's Stone" instead of "Philosopher's Stone." For the most part, this is handled through dubbing (like when Hagrid's door shuts in front of the trio), but other times where the characters say it on screen, it's done via alternate takes. I haven't seen the "Philosopher's" takes, myself, but supposedly the takes that say "Sorcerer's" are actually better. I'd love for both versions to be available via seamless branching on the BD so I can judge for myself.

[Barbossa]

The other day I was thinking about picking up some Harry Potter movies at Walmart, but since these extended editions are coming out, I think I'll wait until the last movie comes out in 2011 and see what they'll release then.

[dvdjunkie]

Escapay wrote:

5 & 6 next fall (2010) at the same time that 7.1 hits theatres.

Nice try Scaps on the timeline, but "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" Part One doesn't hit theaters until November 2011, with Part Two, November of 2012.

[SpringHeelJack]

Actually, November 2010 is part one, and July 2011 (methinks) is part the second.

[Escapay]

Warner announced November 19 2010 for Part 1 and July 15, 2011 for Part 2.

albert

[Just Myself]

Scaps is right on this one. And if these "Ultimate Editions" aren't the extended cuts, what's the point of buying them?

Cheers,
JM

[Disneykid]

So it seems like not only are the Ultimate Editions containing extended cuts of the films, but they'll also have the theatrical ones, as well, according to this German site (translated).

I always found it funny that if the UEs are extended, why don't the covers mention that fact. If both theatrical and extended versions are available in each set, that may be why. It also mentions a November release coinciding with Half-Blood Prince's debut (which falls in line with Albert's proposed schedule), and that they'll be about 15 minutes longer a piece, which sounds about right. I expect a full press release from WB probably within the next two weeks at this rate. I'm dying to know what special features will be included. David Heyman already confirmed that Daniel Radcliffe's original screen test will be on the first film's set.

[magicalwands]

It's so exciting that the DVD gets FOUR discs! It feels like Harry Potter is finally getting the "LOTR Treatment"!

Fifteen minutes is not that much though. Maybe an hour extra worth of footage is too high of an expectation.

The covers are okay. I wish they were more artsy!

-Why is WB picking out one specific feature to put on the cover? Is it going to be the only feature?
-Should I wait until all seven films are released to get the giant box-set?
-Will the November release of Half-Blood Prince get an Ultimate Edition release?

[Disneykid]

It IS strange that the covers choose to highlight one feature when there'll supposedly be much more. Then again, it seems as though the covers have changed slightly since Amazon posted them. A recent WB newsletter shows both covers at an angle, and the bottom banners of each contain more text than what Amazon shows:



Unfortunately, I can't make out what it says above and below the main bonus title. The covers, even the Blu-ray one, look rather thick. Considering how fond WB is of physical goodies, perhaps the "Creating the..." features are actually booklets rather than video features. It would certainly make sense since these look to be about the same size as the Casablanca: Ultimate Collector's Edition.

[SpringHeelJack]

I like the different color scheme for each movie (at least each movie so far... they could still screw it up), but man... I still don't like that cover art.

[magicalwands]

It's weird that the main bonus on the bottom of each over both state, "Creating the World of Harry Potter." It's weird because the first set of covers stated "Creating the World" and "Creating the Characters" respectively for films one and two.

Loving the speculation, so I signed up for the Harry Potter Newsletter!

[DisneyLuver]

It's weird that the main bonus on the bottom of each over both state, "Creating the World of Harry Potter." It's weird because the first set of covers stated "Creating the World" and "Creating the Characters" respectively for films one and two.

Loving the speculation, so I signed up for the Harry Potter Newsletter!

Ya, that's what I thought was weird, the whole 'Creating the World of Harry Potter'.
This is getting me really excited. The BluRay does seem really, really thick for what it is.
And how do people know it's 4-discs?!

Oooh, and where can I sign up for the Harry Potter Newsletter?

[Disneykid]

And how do people know it's 4-discs?!

The German site I linked to earlier on this page says that the DVDs will be 4-disc sets while the BDs will be 2-discs. Obviously, for the moment, this only applies to the European releases, but I doubt there'll be much difference between that and the American ones. Since both packages look awfully thick for 4 (and especially 2)-disc sets, that's why I'm predicting some sort of physical goodies will be included, like little hardcover books.