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Harry Potter Ultimate Edition videos

Liam — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:07:33 +0000

With every Harry Potter movie Warner Bros. make there is an ever-growing pile of footage piling up on the cutting room floor, so after 9 years of accumulation they’ve decided to add it all onto the end of the previously released movies, and sell it.

The first two of these Ultimate Editions are obviously Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, which will be released next month alongside the release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. They are now available to pre-order from Amazon:

Sorcerer’s Stone: DVD | Blu-ray

Chamber of Secrets: DVD | Blu-ray

Along with new scenes the Ultimate Editions will also show never before seen footage from behind the scenes, and the videos below show how Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint got their lead roles in the biggest movie franchise of all time.

I’m actually the same age as these guys, so it’s been cool to see them grow up with me (or me with them). Anyway, here’s a trailer for the whole Ultimate Edition series:

While I’m please Warner Bros. have done this, I’m a bit confused as to what to do with the Half-Blood Prince DVD. Do I buy it next month, or so I wait months, possible another year, for the Ultimate Edition? Warner Bros. aren’t getting twice the money from me!

In related Harry Potter news, Deathly Hallows Part I will be released in exactly 1 year.

Harry Potter expected to overtake Bond to become top grossing franchise

Liam — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 00:42:10 +0000

With the Harry Potter franchise earning crazy amounts of money in the region of $800 – $950 million per film you’d expect it to give other franchises a run for their money (pun intended) in terms of ‘highest grossing franchise ever’. It’s taken a few years but it looks like Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince will be the film that tips the franchise over the $5 billion worldwide mark, overtaking the Bond franchise in the process and taking the highest grossing movie franchise in the history of ever crown.

From Variety:

The five previous “Harry Potter” pics have grossed $4.48 billion at the worldwide box office. That still trails the roughly $5 billion grossed by the James Bond film franchise (not accounting for inflation), but the boy wizard is expected to overtake agent 007 within the month.
The sixth installment, grossed a record-breaking $22.2 million in midnight releases unspooling in 3,003 theaters at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday. That more than beat the $18 million midnight record set last summer by Warners’ “The Dark Knight.”

Everyone expects Half-Blood Prince to make big numbers, however it seems the lack of anything Potter related over the past 2 years (no book, no film) has caused anticipation to sky rocket, which could cause it to start breaking a few records. Warner Bros. still have two movies and another $2 billion to go, but they will have to start planning ahead. After 2011 their cash cow will be gone (in terms of movie releases anyway, I expect them to milk the franchise with DVDs, box sets, extended editions and all that jazz for years to come).

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince International Teaser Trailer

Liam — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 18:13:12 +0000

As the title suggests, an international teaser trailer for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince has appeared online, which you can watch below.

As Harry begins his sixth year at Hogwarts, Lord Voldemort wreaks havoc throughout Britain, and the pressure to defeat him grows stronger. Using an old Potions book which previously belonged to the “Half-Blood Prince,” Harry is able to increase his magical knowledge and prepare for battle. First, however, he must help Dumbledore discover the secret to Voldemort’s quest for immortality — the location of his Horcruxes. But the quest for the Horcruxes and the resulting battle at Hogwarts produce a tragic outcome — leading Harry to believe he must head out on his own to conquer the Dark Lord.

Edit: If the player above does not work you can watch it below:

Warner Bros Suing Over ‘Hari Puttar’ Film

Liam — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 00:10:47 +0000

Warner Bros. have filed a lawsuit against Mirchi Movies in Mumbai as they feel the title of its upcoming movie, Hari Puttar – A Comedy of Terrors, is a tad too similar to its Harry Potter franchise.

“We have recently commenced proceedings against parties involved in the production and distribution of a movie entitled ‘Hari Puttar,’ ” London-based Warners spokeswoman Deborah Lincoln told The Hollywood Reporter. “Warner Bros. values and protects intellectual property rights. However, it is our policy not to discuss publicly the details of any ongoing litigation.”
“Since the case is sub-judice we can’t comment as of now,” Mirchi Movies CEO Munish Purii said Friday. “However, we registered the ‘Hari Puttar’ title in 2005 and it’s unfortunate that Warner has chosen to file a case so close to our film’s release. In my opinion, I don’t think our title has any similarity or links with ‘Harry Potter.’ “

I don’t see how a relatively small comedy film all the way in India will have an impact on Warner Bros’ billion dollar franchise. However, having having read ‘Hari Puttar’ out loud three times it does sound a lot like ‘Harry Potter’.

[The Hollywood Reporter]

We Are A Step Closer To Seeing Harry Potters Invisibility Cloak

Liam — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 21:44:16 +0000

According to the BBC, scientists say they are a step closer to developing materials that could render people invisible, just like the invisible cloak in the Harry Potter movies.

Researchers at the University of California in Berkeley have developed a material that can bend light around 3D objects making them “disappear”. The materials do not occur naturally but have been created on a nano scale, measured in billionths of a metre. The team says the principles could one day be scaled up to make invisibility cloaks large enough to hide people.
“In order to have the ‘Harry Potter’ effect, you just need to find the right materials for the visible wavelengths,” says Prof Hess, “and it’s absolutely thrilling to see we’re on the right track.”

This all sounds cool but what about the murderers, rapists and child snatchers who will probably use this to carry out their evil plans. Will the scientists create a cool new technology or a threat to society?

Robbie Coltrane Wanted In New Zealand

Liam — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 17:47:30 +0000

According to the BBC, Robbie Coltrane, best known for playing Hagrid is the Harry Potter movies and will be seen in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, is being used on a wanted poster by police trying to catch a 16 year old burglar in New Zealand.

“Robbie Coltrane is not the burglar, but imagine him aged 16 with lank greasy hair and you have the picture,” the poster says.
“Because of the Children and Young Persons Act 1989 Police cannot show you a picture of the 16-year-old burglar operating in your neighbourhood.
“He is 16-years-old, lives locally, travels by bicycle and burgles houses in your street.
“He will break windows to gain entry and ransack the property targeting electronic items, cash and jewellery,” it adds.

Coltrane’s agent in London was unable to comment on the poster and said the actor was currently out of the country. However, I bet his first reaction is….WTF!?

J.K. Rowling Talks About Harry Potter Regret

Liam — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:09:32 +0000

J.K. Rowling recently spoke to the BBC about her regret that she never told her mother about Harry Potter before she died.

“I started writing Harry six months before she died. That’s obviously a real regret, because I never told her I was even writing it. She never knew anything about Harry Potter at all.”

The success of Harry Potter has made Rowling the first and only billionaire author so far. The books have sold more than 375 million copies worldwide and the films have made $1,411,122,875 so far with 2 (possibly 3) more to go.

Moral of the story: Always tell your loved ones that you are working on something that will make you richer than The Queen of England before it’s too late!

Harry Potter Prequel?

Liam — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 19:59:15 +0000

J.K. Rowling has written and is auctioning off for charity an 800-word prequel to the fabulous Harry Potter series!

WTF?

Yes, unfortunately I DID say an 800-word prequel, not an 800-page prequel. (Sorry to everyone who just had a mild heart-attack!) And it’s squeezed onto the front and back of an A5 sheet of paper (slightly bigger than a postcard). Jo was asked to take part in the charity event, which will benefit the writers’ association English PEN and Dyslexia Action charities, along with twelve other authors and illustrators.

The short story will be viewable online and at the Waterstones stores (UK) starting tomorrow, June 11. All postcards will be featured in a book, which is available for pre-order here.

Does this mean that Jo has a prequel in mind for us? Alas, no. She finished off the short story with the words “From the prequel I am not working on — but that was fun!” Damn!

(Preview from Jo’s card, featuring the above mentioned last line! Click on the pic for a larger view.)

At least we still have three more movies to look forward to, as well as a Harry Potter Encyclopedia (written by Jo, once THIS is all over!). Principle photography on Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is finally over, and post-production work – including editing and CGI work – is well under way! Stay tuned for the HBP trailer, which should be online in the coming month (hopefully)!

New Pic From Half-Blood Prince

Liam — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 16:32:03 +0000

Already high on the news that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be split into two movies, HP fans now have a new picture from upcoming Half-Blood Prince to salivate over!

(Click on the pic for the image in high resolution!)

Steve Kloves Talks “Deathly Hallows”

Liam — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 00:32:43 +0000

In a recent email to The Baltimore Sun, screenwriter Steve Kloves (who adapted all of the Harry Potter movies, except for Order of the Phoenix) discusses the decision behind the recently announced split of Deathly Hallows into two movies, and what it means to him.

“Years ago,” he writes, “we briefly — and seriously — considered doing Goblet of Fire as two films. So this concept is not altogether new. As for Deathly Hallows, I intuited — almost from the first moments I began reading it and certainly once I’d finished — that to realize the story in a single film was going to be a tall order. Others in ‘the group’ felt similarly. So the idea of two films began to get kicked around as early as late summer of 2007. We didn’t take it lightly. But ultimately everyone felt that despite the challenges it would present, it was the most sound creative decision. I’m sure some will think we’re crazy. My wife looked at me cross-eyed when I first mentioned it. But I’m really excited about it because it should allow us to stretch a bit with the characters and give them the proper send-off. The story is highly emotional and those moments deserve time to breathe. And, personally, I feel we owe it to Jo — in order to preserve the integrity of the work — and the fans — for their loyalty all these years — to give them the best and most complete experience possible. I’d love to do it in three parts!”

He also noted that working with director David Yates on currently filming Half-Blood Prince “was a brilliant experience, so this should be a treat!”

I’ve always enjoyed Kloves’s scripts, and am looking forward to seeing what he will do with DH. Personally, I was all behind them splitting GoF into two movies as well, because they concentrated WAY too much on the action and not on the characters, but what do I know. I’m really glad they decided to do this!

As much as I liked what David Yates did with OOTP, I was still kind of hoping Peter Jackson wanted the job…!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 will be released in November of 2010, while Deathly Hallows: Part 2 will come out in May of 2011.

What do you guys think?