Harry Potter Ultimate Editions Coming

[SpringHeelJack]

Mmm. I hope the bonus features are better when I actually see them on my TV. OOTP was pretty much a waste of a second disc to me, and given I liked this movie more, I want to see it get a decent release. Unless they're just holding back now.

[Escapay]

Is the JK Rowling documentary the one that aired on TV near Christmas?

It's likely the 2007 documentary from ITV (which may have aired on TV near Christmas, I never saw it).

OOTP was pretty much a waste of a second disc to me

Ditto.

The Target-exclusive bonus disc was a good consolation prize, though. It was some of the "Focus Points" featurettes from the Blu-Ray/HD-DVD release, but under the label "Building the Magic: The Sets of Harry Potter".

albert

[azul017]

I hope all 7 films will have commentaries by the cast/director/JK Rowling/Producers.

I'm sure that Chris Columbus, Mike Newell and David Yates will do commentaries for PS/SS, COS, GOF, OOTP, HBP and DH p.1&2. Columbus has done commentaries for most of his filmography; Newell has done the same as well, and Yates did a commentary for Girl in the Cafe.

The thing is, even with the audience growing up like the main trio, Warner Brothers still treats this franchise like it was made for little kids. This is a serious cash cow, and again I wouldn't be surprised to see WB milking the franchise even more than Sony does with a few of their properties (Black Hawk Down, Spider-Man, etc.).

[DisneyLuver]

Sweet, we have the extras now!
I hope an official press release for HBP and the Extended/Ultimate versions of the films follows in the next few days!
I actually wish there were more bonus features. Why the hell are they treating these films like crap when they're some of the highest grossing films... ever?! Gah, WB.
The only meaty bonus feature is the "Close Up With the Cast of Harry Potter" feature, which is likely an interview with the trio. That's great, but really, no behind-the-scenes featurette?!
But again, I understand this isn't all the bonus features. They better include a nice and long behind-the-scenes making-of documentary and a commentary with a trio [that they probably won't ].

Oh, and I'm glad "J.K. Rowling: A Year in the Life" made it in.

[Disneykid]

I don't feel like looking up the Half-Blood Prince thread, but these were passed by BBFC and I'm surprised no one's posted about it yet

I was waiting for a press release so I could have a release date and cover art to go with the BBFC listings in its own thread. That didn't stop me from making this thread, though, so maybe I'm just using completeness as an excuse for laziness...

Anyway, I think at this point, WB is purposely holding back for the inevitable Ultimate Edition. David Heyman said not much was cut from Half-Blood Prince, but I don't see room in these listings for deleted trailer bits like, "I don't need luck; I'm with Dumbledore" or Snape's "It's over." If we're getting about six and a half minutes of cut footage, then the extended cut of HBP will probably only be about 10 minutes longer all together, if at that. I guess we'll find out next year.

[ajmrowland]

The JK Rowling documentary is the one that's aired on ABC.

[jrboy]

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Title: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe
Released: 8th December 2009
SRP: Prices TBC

Further Details:
Warner Home Video has announced 1-disc DVD, 2-disc DVD, and 3-disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo releases of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince for the 8th December. The full disc specs have yet to be revealed I'm afraid, but we'll bring you further details very shortly. Stay tuned.

dvdactive.com

[azul017]

*sigh*

Looks like HBP is a victim of the Warners 2-Disc Digital Copy Edition syndrome. Which means that like the other ones, all the extras will be on the first disc and the second disc will be a frisb-- er, portable iTunes/WMP copy for the computer.

But anything could happen.

[Mason_Ireton]

No there's gon'na be Bonus feat. Order Of The Phoenix had a digital copy on Disc 1 along with a few bonus feats and a 2nd disc with bonus feats.

[SpringHeelJack]

No there's gon'na be Bonus feat. Order Of The Phoenix had a digital copy on Disc 1 along with a few bonus feats and a 2nd disc with bonus feats.

"Order of the Phoenix" had the digital copy on disc two, and very little else of substance. This doesn't bode well. Maybe I'll just hold off the future extended super deluxe release this time...

[PeterPanfan]

Why do they always make the 1-disc covers superior to the 2-discs?

[azul017]

"Order of the Phoenix" had the digital copy on disc two, and very little else of substance. This doesn't bode well. Maybe I'll just hold off the future extended super deluxe release this time...

The Dark Knight had more bonus material on Disc Two than OOTP did, but it wasn't much either. I think, if you still want the movie, just buy the single-disc edition.

[jrboy]

Here's more big news... Warner Home Video has set Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince for DVD and Blu-ray Disc release on 12/8. There will be a single-disc DVD (SRP $28.99) and 2-disc DVD ($34.99 - with Digital Copy) and a Blu-ray combo pack that includes DVD and Digital Copy versions ($35.99). Extras will include a pair of behind-the-scenes documentaries, including one on author J.K. Rowling's work writing the final book in the series, 2 short featurettes on the cast, deleted scenes and a look at Universal Orlando's new Harry Potter-themed attraction. Here's what the cover art for the two DVD versions will look like (Warner hasn't released the final BD cover yet)...

That same day, Warner is also releasing a pair of titles we've known about for a while now, but we finally have more details - new DVD and Blu-ray Ultimate Editions of the first two Harry Potter films, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (SRP $39.92 each on DVD and $49.99 on Blu-ray) Each will include both theatrical and "extended" versions of the films, 48-page photo books, new cast introductions, screen-test footage, all-new featurettes, Digital Copy versions and many (of not all) of the extras from the previous versions as well. You'll also get new In Movie Experiences and Maximum Movie Mode options on the Blu-ray versions featuring director Chris Columbus, complete with PIP video, photos and artwork. Here's a look at the Blu-ray & DVD box covers - note that these are large, oversized box sets, not standard cases...

[azul017]

A bit more about the Ultimate Editions (from Leaky and Video Business):

"Ultimate Editions of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, priced at $39.92 on DVD and $49.99 on Blu-ray, will each include five hours of special features, theatrical and extended versions of the film, a 48-page photo book and other collectibles. Among the special features will be screen tests, new featurettes with the cast and filmmakers and the first two one-hour installments of a new comprehensive documentary about the making of the movie franchise. Called Creating the World of Harry Potter, the eight-hour documentary will have one hour on each Ultimate Edition. Sorcerer's Stone will contain Creating the World of Harry Potter Part 1: The Magic Begins and Chamber of Secrets will have Part 2: Characters."

UPDATE: Home Media Magazine also points out: "Both DVD and Blu-ray offerings of the ultimate editions will include digital copies, and the Blu-ray versions will include In-Movie Experience modes with director Chris Columbus, which includes picture-in-picture, storyboard comparisons and still galleries, as well as Warner’s Maximum Movie Mode option."

--

I take it that each movie will get the 3-disc treatment. It's a shame we're not getting Ultimate Editions of 3-5 right now with 1 & 2. But the sets seem neat.

[azul017]

Why do they always make the 1-disc covers superior to the 2-discs?

I personally think both DVD covers for HBP look great. They aren't fudged up like the OOTP DVD/HD/Blu releases.

I'm partial to the single-disc and will probably get that, if the finalized list of extras on the 2-disc edition aren't enticing enough to spend more $$.

[Disneykid]

Video Business.com also gives a bit more info:

"Ultimate Editions of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, priced at $39.92 on DVD and $49.99 on Blu-ray, will each include five hours of special features, theatrical and extended versions of the film, a 48-page photo book and other collectibles. Among the special features will be screen tests, new featurettes with the cast and filmmakers and the first two one-hour installments of a new comprehensive documentary about the making of the movie franchise. Called Creating the World of Harry Potter, the eight-hour documentary will have one hour on each Ultimate Edition. Sorcerer's Stone will contain Creating the World of Harry Potter Part 1: The Magic Begins and Chamber of Secrets will have Part 2: Characters."

So both Albert and I were right about the Creating the World features: they're both documentaries (his idea) and hardcover books (mine). The "eight-hour documentary" format is interesting. With one hour per film release, that confirms that Deathly Hallows will have an Ultimate Edition(s?) as well. Hopefully both parts of the film itself will be contained in one UE so that we have seven packages lined together on the shelf ala the books. I wonder if each documentary segment will be a general documentary that focuses on one aspect of the entire series (like Albert's suggestion) or if they're just going to focus on one aspect per film (which I think would greatly short-change other production aspects fans would want to know about). Maybe they won't focus on any singular aspect at all and instead will end up being general "making ofs" devoted to each installment (which I think I'd prefer in the long run).

I'm pretty sure the "five hours" of supplements for each film includes Maximum Movie Mode. Since the extended editions will be a little closer to three hours (CoS moreso than SS), that leaves about two hours of supplements on disc two of each. With one hour of that devoted to the eight-part "Creating the World," that means each release will have about an hour's worth of isolated featurettes. Considering how much Maximum Movie Mode will cover (interviews, commentary, galleries), I'm cool with just an hour's worth of set-apart featurettes (which hopefully includes trailers and TV spots).

As for Half-Blood Prince, which I admit I'm less excited about since we all know an UE is one the way, I'm not too crazy with either cover, but do prefer the 2-disc one. I never liked the film's theatrical poster. It somehow managed to be both boring and aesthetically unpleasing. It's tied with Chamber of Secrets as my least favorite domestic poster in the series. Speaking of which, how much would it rock if Drew Struzan did a poster for Deathly Hallows to bookend the series? His Sorcerer's Stone poster is still my favorite one done, yet, for this franchise.

[SpringHeelJack]

I love the glossy of Snape in the deluxe set. What a sexy beast. And that inner packaging looks a lot less craptacular than the outer art.

I still wish I weren't paying for a digital disc I will never use, but there you have it. I just wish I knew what wasn't being ported over to the extended releases.

It would be nice to have Struzy back for the last movie, but after they didn't use the COS art, it seems unlikely. Which is a shame, because it looks better than what ended up on the DVD, even with the slightly goofy stars:

[azul017]

I found the press release for these two Deluxe Editions, and truth be told -- the extras ain't that impressive.

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/forum/t ... itions-dvd

If you don't want to read all that text, here's the breakdown on the sets:

- Both will be five disc sets (the fifth being the disposable digital copy)
- Disc One for both movies will hold the theatrical cuts
- Disc Two are the extended cuts
- Disc Three will hold all the bonus content ported over from the first releases (deleted scenes, interactive games, etc.)
- Disc Four will have the brand-new bonus material (Chamber will have the trio's screen tests) plus trailers and TV spots

I think I'll wait until Warners gives these the Batman Anthology treatment. Even the Blu-ray editions don't seem that impressive.

[SpringHeelJack]

This is pretty close to the Batman Anthology treatment, frankly. What was there that you'd want here?

I will say that in this day of seamless branching, splitting up two versions on to two discs seems like a waste, but there you have it.

[Disneykid]

Woah woah woah...it's saying that Sorcerer's Stone will only be 7 minutes longer and that additional deleted scenes will be on disc four. I thought this would be a full extended cut, not an ABC Family cut with just the old deleted scenes put back in. So that means stuff like Peeves and the hourglass scene will be accessed as special features? That's annoying, to say the least...What does this mean for future installments? And yes, I agree that it's a waste to put each cut on its own disc when they can be handled on one via seamless branching.

The press releases seem to indicate that Albert's theory of each documentary segment focusing on one element for the entire series is correct. I wonder if they'll thrown in Deathly Hallows bits in these. I also have to say: yay for trailers and TV spots!

Oh, and don't underestimate the Maximum Movie Mode and In-Movie Experiences. Both are going to hold a ton of info. The In-Movie Experience's clips are little featurettes that branch off during the feature and can be accessed separately (as "Focus Points"). The Dark Knight and Watchmen each had about an hour of these, so I expect the same for each Harry Potter film. The Maximum Movie Mode will essentially be a 2.5-3 hour presentation of Columbus visual commentary, stills, and interviews (think of Walt's Story Meetings on Bambi's DVD). I think all that's pretty substantial.