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I had the pleasure of being able to review the Ultimate Editions of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and Chamber of Secrets.  When I first received them I was quite amazed at the packaging.  Each film has a book like cover in which all the contents are included and the cover is magnetized to help it stay closed. As a parent, this is greatly appreciated, as we know the kids have a hard time keeping things closed.

Inside the Sorcerer’s Stone package are two large cards with pictures of Harry Potter and Professor McGonagall, a digital copy of the film, and a small hard back photo book with many photos from the films, including some I’ve never seen before. There are also four discs.  Disc 1 is the theatrical version of the film, Disc 2 is the extended version, Discs 3 and 4 are special features.

I chose to watch Disc 2 so I could watch the film with the deleted scenes.  Now, I was pretty sure I had seen the deleted scenes before, but I was surprised at some of them. It was absolutely great to watch the entire film and not have to play a game to get to those deleted films as I did when the film was first released.

The deleted scenes are:

• Dudley’s new school uniform
• Petunia cracks eggs with letters inside
• Tube ride
• Kids leave girls’ bathroom
• Harry sits by fire in great hall
• Harry finds the Nicolas Flamel card
• Snape classroom (extended)

Disc 3 included an interactive game with Jim Dale (Harry Potter US version audio books) narrated. There are also 3D virtual tours of some of the sets, including Hogwarts and Hagrid’s Hut.

I was most impressed with Disc 4 which included Creating the World of Harry Potter Part 1: The Magic Begins. It starts out with an introduction of Dan Radcliffe (Harry Potter) who’s on the set at Privet Drive. This gives a glimpse into nearly each day of filming. I learned so much about the filming of these wonderful stories by watching this. It really made me feel part of the crew.  It includes interviews with many of the cast and crew. It also gives us a small look at the trio when they were first being considered for the parts.  I especially like when Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley) shows the wizard’s chess and he explains that the chess set isn’t working because the camera crew are muggles and ‘it doesn’t talk to muggles’.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

This package also included two cards, this time of Hagrid and Snape.  It also had a hard cover photo book that included many photos and concept art, including some from Deathly Hallows.

After having watched part I of Creating the World of Harry Potter, I could not wait to see what the second included.  The cast had grown in the second film and I wondered if there’d be interviews with some of the new actors.  This version showed many of the actors reading about their characters from the books – absolutely wonderful!! And this one doesn’t stop at Chamber of Secrets.  It continues to later films as well with Alfonso Cuaron in Prisoner of Azkaban. For this film, there are some very touching interviews, including with Gary Oldman (Sirius Black).  They keep going to Goblet of Fire with many interviews, including a portion with Rob Pattinson (Cedric Diggory) where Emma Watson is asking him what her name is, and he couldn’t remember. Emma admitted that when she first showed at the top of the stairs in her ball dress that she fell down the stairs in front of everyone at about the third step. It also includes Ralph Fiennes (Voldemort) reading from the book the part in which Voldemort becomes whole again in the graveyard.

In the Order of the Pheonix portion, it’s revealed that the Occlumency scene with Dan and Alan Rickman took 3 days to film.  Emma admits that she knows a lot about the Harry Potter books (called herself a Lexicon), but she then said that Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood) knows a bit more.  They also show part of Evanna’s screen test. This portion also contains another interview with Gary Oldman and an interview with Helena Bonham carter (Bellatrix Lestrange). There is also an interview with Natalia Tena (Nymphadora Tonks).  Imelda Staunton (Umbridge) makes fun of herself when she was told she would be perfect for the role of Umbridge, who is described as toad-like.

After this, they show a quick shot of Rupert and Emma on the set of Deathly Hallows. Rupert states he read all the books before the film except the last, which he admits he read rather late.  Emma, who calls herself a book purist, laughs at him and tells him he was the last person in the world – no, the universe – to read the book.

For the  Half-Blood Prince portion, they show Jessie Cave’s (Lavender Brown) screen test, which she did with Rupert.  Much of it was improvised and had her basically putting herself all over him.  She laid her head on his lap and Rupert looked quite spooked – very funny. Chris Columbus states that Alan Rickman did get the chance to speak with J.K. Rowling separately during the filming of the first film and she did definitely tell Alan something that no one else knew and that Alan based his performance off of what Jo told him.  It shows Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy) reading Draco’s introduction into the story in the book.  Later on the disc it shows the screen tests with the trio.

For those Potter enthusiasts, these Ultimate Editions are a must. I was absolutely enthralled with the interviews, the behind-the-scenes fun, and the seriousness that the Creating the World of Harry Potter discs showed. The packaging is beautiful and artistic, and the contents are brilliant. I truly cannot wait for the next ones.

Some of the features to be included on these editions include:

Sorcerer’s Stone (to include 5 discs):

Disc 3 (a few of the highlights)

• 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.

• 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.

Disc 4 (highlights)

• 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]

• Deleted Scenes

Chamber of Secrets (to include 5 discs):

Disc 3 (highlights)

• Deleted Scenes

• Lockhart’s Classroom

• Certificates – Have a look at Gilderoy Lockhart’s many achievements.

• Behind Hogwarts

• A Conversation with J.K. Rowling and Steve Kloves – The author and screenwriter detail how the books are brought to life, and the changes that happen in the process.

• Dumbledore’s Office

• Build a Scene – Building a scene as magnificent as Professor Dumbledore’s office takes more than wood, plaster, nails and paint. It takes imagination.

• Tour Dumbledore’s Office – Welcome to the self-guided tour of Professor Dumbledore’s office, one of the most fascinating rooms at Hogwarts.

• Interviews with Students, Professors and More

• Students – What would you ask the cast, if you could? Put yourself in the interview chair as the stars answer questions about making the film.

• Professors and More – Enjoy personal moments with the professors and others as they discuss their characters: Prof. Gilderoy Lockhart, Lucius Malfoy, Prof. Pomona Sprout, Molly Weasley, Arthur Weasley, Prof. Albus Dumbledore, Rubeus Hagrid, Prof. Severus Snape, Uncle Vernon Dursley, Aunt Petunia Dursley, Argus Filch, Prof. Minerva McGonagall.

• Activities

• The Chamber Challenge [Game]

• Tour the Chamber of Secrets – What are you doing here? This place isn’t safe. Begin your journey down the dark corridor for the self-guided tour of the Chamber of Secrets.

• The Forbidden Forest Challenge [Game]

• Colin’s Darkroom

• Tour Diagon Alley – Welcome to the self-guided tour of Diagon Alley, where you can find all your supplies for the school year. Explore the many shops, such as Flourish & Blotts and the Magical Menagerie.

• Spellcaster Knowledge Challenge [Game]

Disc 4 (highlights)

• Creating the World of Harry Potter, Part 2: Characters – Explore how the cast and creative team of directors and designers take the characters’ descriptions on the page to the actors’ performances on film. [NEW]

• Screen Tests of Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson [NEW]

See all of the features here!

You can pre-order the Blu-Ray versions in our Amazon store here and here, or the DVD versions here and here.

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