HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN and HARRY POTTER THE GOBLET OF FIRE Ultimate Editions Blu-ray Review

Warner Bros has released the Ultimate Editions of both HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN and HARRY POTTER THE GOBLET OF FIRE on DVD and Blu-ray on October 19 and they are filled with tons of goodies.

I am personally a huge Harry Potter fan and it’s probably one of the few movies I always end up buying on DVD (now Blu-ray). But even if you already own the two movies (either on DVD or Blu-ray), let’s face it, you wouldn’t buy either of those Ultimate Editions only for the movie, but mostly for all the features it comes with.

Each Ultimate Edition features a new chapter of “Creating the World of Harry Potter,” an 8-hour documentary series with never-before-seen footage, intriguing stories and the definitive insider look behind the films. The first two Chapters of the documentary are featured on the previous Ultimate Editions of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Each Chapter is an hour long and gives you an inside look at

Each Blu-ray Ultimate Edition contains 3 discs. The first one is the movie in HD of course, which is that much nicer to watch. The other two disc includes special features. If you are a Harry Potter fan and love watching and finding out as much as you can about the movies and how they were created. You’re going to love watching every single minute of it. I personally enjoy special features for only some movies and even then, they are sometimes not that interesting, but I found myself really enjoying everything.

I especially loved the new chapters of “Creating the World of Harry Potter,” it really is a complete look at the movies, but also the phenomenon that is Harry Potter. I found it fascinating.

The only thing that I didn’t like about the Special Features disc is that it was a bit hard to navigate. When you click on an option you’re not really sure what it will lead you to. Although that is not a problem on the third disc containing the “Creating the World of Harry Potter.” But that’s really minor.

But that’s not all, in addition to the movies, and all the special features, the Ultimate Editions also include some great collectibles, such as a collectible character cards, 40+ pages books that include movie stills, productions sketches, concept paintings and behind-the-scenes insight.

And finally to top it all off, each Ultimate Edition comes with a bonus Digital Copy of the film. I never used to care, but nowadays with iPhones and iPad, I love being able to carry the Harry Potter movies in my pocket. It’s so handy if you end up having to wait somewhere and don’t have anything to do, just start playing that Harry Potter movie. You never think about it, but you’ll see how glad you will be to have it when you do need it.

Overall, I had lots of fun not only watching the movies once again in HD, which I loved, but going through the special features was like taking a new trip in the Harry Potter world, which I know fans will appreciate. It feels like sometimes special editions are put together and released just to make a quick buck, but these Harry Potter Ultimate Editions are actually worth buying becomes of everything they include.

You can buy Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Ultimate Edition on Blu-ray on Amazon here and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Ultimate Edition on Blu-ray on Amazon here.

And to end, here is more information about each Blu-ray.

HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN Ultimate Edition Blu-ray

Synopsis: Winner of the BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) Award for Best Feature Film (2004) and Teen Choice Award for Best Movie Action/Adventure, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban begins when Harry, Ron and Hermione, now teenagers, return for their third year at Hogwarts, where they are forced to face escaped prisoner, Sirius Black, who poses a great threat to Harry. Harry and his friends spend their third year learning how to handle a half-horse half-eagle Hippogriff, repel shape-shifting Boggarts and master the art of Divination. They also visit the wizarding village of Hogsmeade and the Shrieking Shack, which is considered the most haunted building in Britain. In addition to these new experiences, Harry must overcome the threats of the soul-sucking Dementors, outsmart a dangerous werewolf and finally deal with the truth about Sirius Black and his relationship to Harry and his parents. With his best friends, Harry masters advanced magic, crosses the barriers of time and changes the course of more than one life. Directed by Alfonso Cuarón and based on J.K. Rowling’s third book, this wondrous spellbinder soars with laughs, and the kind of breathless surprise only found in a Harry Potter adventure.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Ultimate Edition Contents:

• Disc 1: The Movie
• Disc 2: ALL NEW Special Features: Creating the World of Harry Potter Part 3: Creatures and featurette – Tour Nick Dudman’s Creature Shop
• Disc 3: Additional Special Features: Featurettes – Creating the Vision: an interview with J.K. Rowling and the filmmakers, Conjuring a Scene: Creating Buckbeak and the Dementors for the screen; Additional Scenes and more

Creating the World of Harry Potter Part 3: Creatures
Never-before-seen footage of the Creature Shop! Explore never revealed concept drawings, interviews with creators who describe the quest to create real creatures with emotional power to move the adventure forward. Go behind the scenes with Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson as they interact with a marvelous menagerie from magnificent Buckbeak to malevolent Dementors. Watch creatures develop from page to sketch to model to screen. Discover how actors are transformed from humans to rats and werewolves. Witness Voldemort’s evolution from grotesque, infant-like creature to the Darkest Force of all.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Ultimate Edition
Languages: English, French, Spanish
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
Running time: 141 mins
Rating: PG

HARRY POTTER THE GOBLET OF FIRE Ultimate Edition Blu-ray

Synopsis: When Harry Potter’s name emerges from the Goblet of Fire, he becomes a competitor in a grueling battle for glory among three wizarding schools – the Triwizard Tournament. But since Harry never submitted his name for the Tournament, who did? Now Harry must confront a deadly dragon, fierce water demons and an enchanted maze only to find himself in the cruel grasp of He Who Must Not Be Named. In this fourth film adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, everything changes as Harry, Ron and Hermione leave childhood forever and take on challenges greater than anything they could have imagined. Winner of the Teen Choice Award for Best Movie Drama (2006).

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Ultimate Edition Contents:

• Disc 1: The Movie
• Disc 2: ALL NEW Special Feature: Creating the World of Harry Potter Part 4: Sound & Music
• Disc 3: Additional Special Features: Featurettes – Preparing for the Yule Ball; conversations with the Cast; Reflections on the Fourth Film; and more

Creating the World of Harry Potter Part 4: Sound & Music
For the first time, discover how musical themes for Harry, Hedwig, Luna and Lord Voldemort define each character’s identity. Learn how sound effects experts create the crunch of footsteps on snow and the whoosh of a flying broomstick. Visit recording studios and see how each composer brings his orchestral vision to the films. Plunge into fun as Daniel gets the sound of underwater. Feel the magic as music is added to a scene, intensifying the emotion and steering the story.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Ultimate Edition
Languages: English, French, Spanish
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
Running time: 157 mins
Rating: PG-13