Harry Potter Years 1-5 Limited Edition Gift Set (Sorcerers Stone/ Chamber of Secrets/ Prisoner of Azkaban/ Goblet of Fire/ Order of the Phoenix) [Blu-ray] Reviews

• Buy the stand-alone blu-ray disks...

  
  By A2OS3TIVAKUAHG on 2007-12-20
  This set is bizarre and seems thrown together from an odds & ends bin of spare parts. Inside the exterior "trunk", the disks come in two different sizes of folding cases that do not at all resemble a product family. You're really stuck storing all of the disks in this case forever because none of the disks has sufficient labeling to be on the shelf by themselves.
  
  For uniformities sake, I'd much have preferred to buy the 5 blu-ray disks individually- especially knowing that another three movies will have to be purchased to complete this "set" in the future.
  
  

• A Pretty Good Boxed Set That Should Have Been Great

  
  By A2JCGI5QI9FIBD on 2007-12-15
  I would have loved to give this one a five star rating but I would be in denial to do so. First of all let me say for better or for worse I really enjoy all five of the Harry Potter movies. Sure I wish the last two films were longer but realistically it's impossible to convert a 700 plus page book into a movie that's two hours and change.
  
  For the most part the movies here look spectacular. For the most part. "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" looks really good. But for the price of a BD movie it should look a lot better. The rest of the catalogue looks terrific however, especially Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
  
  As others have stated the packaging is rather cumbersome. I would have preferred the movies be in their regular blue cases as opposed to the cases that are different sizes. Still, I am sure most collectors will be happy with this set. Although it's not perfect, this set will probably make any Harry Potter fan fortunate enough to own a Blu Ray player happy.
  
  
  
  

• I'm Just Wild About Harry

  
  By A3KKM0T1KY42HA on 2008-02-01
  Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Chamber of Secrets, Prisoner of Azkaban, Goblet of Fire & Order of the Phoenix were all at minimum very good. Certainly Socerer's Stone, Chamber and Goblet of Fire are as 5-star as it gets. Azkaban was relatively slow compared to the others, and the most recent, Order of the Phoenix, was also a bit drawn out, but still great.
  
  The A-list actors giving A-list performances goes on and on in this series of films....You have Richard Harris (GRHS) who was flawlessly and un-noticably (no disrespect intended) replaced by Michael Gambon; Miranda Richardson, Gary Oldman, there's Alan Rickman doing his best Jeremy Irons imitation, Ralph Fiennes, John Hurt, Shirley Henderson, John Cleese and of course Robbie Coltrane as Hagrid. I know I'm forgetting more, but you get the idea.
  
  Sorcerer's Stone and Chamber were brilliantly led by the direction of Veteran Chris Columbus (Home Alone and tons more). And the cast of these films?...How often do three unknowns (Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter, Emma Watson as Hermione Granger and Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley) walk into overnight stardom? Not very often. But these three sure did. And it's well deserved. Their characters are well acted and believable; not bad for a bunch of preteens whose debuts now seem so long ago.
  
  Azkaban was really good and certainly an integral part of the Harry Potter progression of stories. But Azkaban was the first hand-off of the director baton from Columbus to the short resumed, mostly-foreign-film-guy Alfonso Cuarón (prior to Children of Men). Columbus still had oversight as a producer to Azkaban, so perhaps Cuarón felt intimidated by Columbus' brilliance in Sorcerer's Stone and Chamber...or perhaps Cuarón just held back from doing his own thing. Be that as it may, the change in "direction" really showed through. And Cuarón was gone for Goblet.
  
  Goblet comes in with three changes in direction: 1) The director change from Cuarón back to another vet in Mike Newell (Donnie Brasco), 2) The exit of Columbus oversight, and 3) A shift from...shall we say...a more famlyish Harry Potter to a more dark Harry Potter (the way it was intended!). And this did not go un-noticed by the MPAA.
  
  The Dirctor's Chair went back to a relatively inexperieced Daid Yates for Order of the Phoenix, but Yates stayed the course started by Newell and kept the darkness (and the PG-13) in.
  
  It must be tough to make a PG movie these days; it's hard to believe that the MPAA took the Potter series from a PG rating to a PG-13 rating starting with Goblet. Kids 13 and under can see uglier violence and hear more profanity at school recess and at the local playground than they do in Harry Potter movies. How is it that a movie like Goblet without a curse-word or graphic act of violence (by today's standards anyway) gets thrown into the same category as, for example, Alien Vs. Predator, that does indeed not only have profanity, but strong violence? Ludicrous. But I won't get started on how unfair the MPAA is and how neurotically insane the pressure is from certain groups on the MPAA to "protect" our youth.
  
  I will indeed finish by saying that the first five Harry Potter releases combined have grossed close to $3,000,000,000 (that's a three BILLION dollars) because they're excellent movies that kids can watch too. So stick that in your pipe and smoke it, MPAA.
  
  If you somehow missed these movies, I hope that my long-winded review has encouraged you to add them to your cart. I can't wait for the upcoming 2008 continuation of the Harry Potter series with Half-Blood Prince and finally Deathly Hallows announced for 2010.
  
  
  

• Great films finally in HD, very odd packaging

  
  By A2BN6QV6VI2D6Y on 2007-12-11
  When Harry Potter was finally announced in both HD-DVD and Blu-Ray I did a silent yelp for joy. The package arrived today and so far the films all look gorgeous. My only quibble, which kept this from 5 stars is the really odd packaging. The value of the set is there, around $20 a film, but it is such an odd shape I'm not sure where to store it. Inside of the trunk are the films, the DVD's resemble books and are different sizes, again quite odd. Visually the set is appealing, but in all practicality it would be better off as regular discs. Shave $20 off the price and package it like the superb Die Hard set and we would have a winner.
  
  

• Better check your set...

  
  By A3976U6NL9LT5D on 2007-12-12
  because I just received mine and it was missing Episode 5- Order of the Phoenix!!!!!!
  
  
• A must have
  By A2Z8A2XNL6YP3D on 2007-12-11
  This set is a must have for any collector of either Harry Potter or Blu-rays. These sets contain the first five years of Harry Potter as never seen before, on blu-ray disk, collector cards in an envelope identical to the one Harry received in the first movie, a fun game DVD, a soundtrack, an amazing beautiful bookmark set and a lot more packed in an amazing chest looking box. This box set would make a great present to a loved one or to oneself, and it be enjoyed for years to come, like never before on the exceptional Blu-ray format.
  
  
• weird packaging
  By A53A7RGE3E0KM on 2007-12-19
  My husband and I pre-ordered this collection and boy, were we surprised when we opened the box! I was expecting the discs to be in regular cases but they are instead in cases of differing sizes, meant to resemble books. This is interesting but not particularly practical as the cases can not be closed properly and when laid flat the cover sticks up a bit. It's a pity also that the bonus DVD is not in blu-ray.
  That being said however, the picture quality apprears excellent (as I expected) from the quick look I had at the first one, and the movie started playing right away (a a bonus if, like me you hate waiting for all the initial junk about copyright etc that usually comes on first). Pressing the menu button showed that there is indeed more than just the movie on the disc, the are deleted scenes and all the other fun stuff of the special editions.
  So overall, I would recommend it as a good buy. I think though that using the same artwork from these cases, on regular sized plastic cases that can be closed, would be better.
  
  
• I will wait
  By A1IUWVPO5O1F6A on 2007-11-16
  No doubt it is great present to all HP fans, but I will personally wait until year 1-7 Limited Edition will be available.
  
  
• Can't Wait!
  By A8729HVO6N2X2 on 2007-11-28
  even though I plan on purchasing this, I agree with Cpt Roland Jarvis about extended cuts of the films, since the TV cuts of the first two films and 'Prisoner of Azkaban' were indeed extended cuts - uh why Warners, couldn't you included both cuts of the films??? Oh well, maybe when all seven films are rereleased in some uberbox set, we'll get the longer cuts as a bonus.
  
  
• I would go 2.5 but i rounded up.
  By A1KNBDVZ4WAWE9 on 2007-12-13
  I was really looking forward to this release as I am a huge BD fan. When it finally came though I was a little let down. First the Sorcerers Stone looks more like an upscaled DVD then a real Blu-ray (BD). As you progress in the series the quality gets better but it starts kinda bad. By the time you reach Order of the Phoenix its as it should be with BD. Couple that with a very awkward box and you get a very average box set. Im still wrestling with how i want to display this odd shaped box.
  
  
• go the other route?
  By A1R3DNON4W0QI5 on 2007-12-15
  i struggled with the "HD-DVD or BLU RAY" debate with this one for a while, and decided to go BLU. the picture on this is fantastic, and the extras, while i haven't dove into those yet, seem ok too. there are a few neat tokens with this set, being the game (haven't played, the bookmarks (which are COOL) and trading cards (yawn!). my main quibble, as i'm sure a few have said before me, is the packaging. when i opened this sucker up, i was disapointed as hell. year 1 & 2 are cd-size cases, and 3-5 are just blank cardboard cases making it so you HAVE to keep them in the rather unattractive box. unless the extra crap that comes with it matters to you, i'd say just buy up all the movies individually here on amazon for (i think) the same price for a more attractive display on the shelf, because, and i don't know about you guys, but this huge clunker sitting on my shelf stands out, in a "GOOD CRAP" kind of way. if that doesn't matter to you in the least, well, go for it. like i said...the bookmarks are cool!
  
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• Best Movies of our time
  By A1QAXMCL33BFPZ on 2007-12-10
  OK i know it will be great to own all 7 movies as a set, but who can wait?, i am buying this set tomorrow when it get released, and i will buy another set when all 7 movies get released to, then ill give this as a gift to someone
  thats how much Harry Potter movies mean to me
  oh by the way i also own the first 4 movies on DVD but i guess they have to find a new home now :)
  
  
• Could be better
  By A2CED6NUNXEMG on 2007-12-11
  the movies are great but the x-tra stuff is a wast and their are two more movies to the set. The first bonus discs is a game the next is all the extras to every movie (one disc and not in hi def) buy the single disc and save some money and it will look like a set when all the movies are done.
  
  
• Sorcerer's Stone Doesn't play
  By A30X750M8V1XXW on 2007-12-22
  I was so excited to get this set on Hi Def. Well, the first film S.S. doesn't play at all. My player makes a clicking noise and won't read the disc. The rest work fine but I also noticed that C.O.S. looks like it isn't HD. The box's fastener was all bent up and didn't lock in that well. The velcro "book belt" was glued to the top dvd and couldn't be removed without tearing off the surface of the cover.
  
  I got a replacement because of the disc on (S.S.) not playing and once again it DOESN'T PLAY! I'm giving up asking for another 3rd replacement so i'll just buy the individual blu-ray disc. You'd think that a Limited Collectors Edition would have better quality assurance but whatever. Too many things are made out of the country and are poorly made and or have lead paint in them. I don't want to pay good money for junk or to get poisoned.
  
  
• Incomplete set
  By A2LLW9UCR3VHFO on 2008-01-08
  Um, whoever is wasting your money on a 'limited edition' set of 5 of the 7 Harry Potter movies is a stupid moron & should have their money taken away & managed by someone else. What are you gonna do when all 7 are released & the last 2 don't fit in this box? Please spare us the torture. This is like buying a 'limited edition' of Star Wars featuring episodes IV & V only. Lame, lame, lame. Buy the individual titles separately in my opinion. Limited edition my foot! The reason it's a limited edition is because when the 6th movie is released on dvd they'll make a 6 film 'limited edition' set to replace this current one. They can too, because of the morons out there who fund this junk by buying it up. Well, have another nice day.
  
  
• Would hope they would "extend" the movies
  By ADZ18FUDH34T1 on 2007-10-30
  Of course, I have not yet seen this series in Blu-Ray and look forward to it.
  However, I do wish the Harry Potter "people" would splice the missing scenes back into the movie as a "directors cut" or "extended addition" as they would add so much.
  Are your reading this RJ?
  smiles
  
  
• And what will hapen whit 6 and 7 then?
  By A37V6T69IVMQD on 2007-12-01
  OK, lets say I buy this 1-5 edition... ¿What will I do with 6 & 7 when released?
  Honestly, I would wait for the real "COMPLETE" collection.
  i consider this collection something like absurd.
  I voted for 4 stars because all 5 films are great, 5 is not THAT good, and thats why only 4 stars are on my vote.
  
  
• wow
  By A3GHMKWPKI6KF2 on 2007-12-11
  the best movies i ever seen they have the best PQ and AQ alot better than the one on HD-DUD.
  
  
• Do Not Buy You Will End Up Returning IT
  By A1PPE8RW3VSWMK on 2007-12-20
  BEWARE Disk four was a mistake and they put a HDDVD instead of a bluray in the box. DO NOT BUY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  
  
• Magic in a trunk....
  By A3K1Y2A0RY91AS on 2008-01-20
  This little trunk is just amazingly wonderful. For a child or adult who has a true childhood love for the films will appreciate this set. Teh disks are paxkaged as if in your own hogwarts trunk ready to hurry of to London and hope on the Hogwarts Express. The earlier moves were not able to be quite as crisp as you would hope for on Blu-Ray, but I was sure it was limitation in the filming quality that prevented this, however the last movie is amazing stunning, a dark move over all but things really do pop with the Blu-ray quality. I have heard some complain about the packaging, but I love the charm of it. It also came with some cards and some very nice book mark. This would be an outstanding gift for any Potter fan.
  
  
• Good Blu Ray set
  By A2T9PMYA9YHWS2 on 2008-01-20
  Not a bad collection. The first couple of movies don't quite have the true High-Def look, but still better than watching standard DVD! Go Blu Ray... HD DVD is goin' down!
  
  
• Loved the extras
  By A39E5KARF0AV3O on 2008-01-20
  I found that, given the extras included with the movies, that this was a really good value, especially as a gift, and especially considering that it was blu-ray and not just DVD. Harry Potter on blu-ray looks spectacular, of course.
  
  
• Excellent quality and good price
  By A1TDUGTM3GXAGN on 2008-01-25
  I bought ther Harry Potter Gift Set Blu-ray for my son as a birthday present. He has truly enjoyed it and has nothing but great comments about the set.Harry Potter Years 1-5 Limited Edition Gift Set (Sorcerers Stone/ Chamber of Secrets/ Prisoner of Azkaban/ Goblet of Fire/ Order of the Phoenix) [Blu-ray]
  
  
• Excellent graphics with lots of extras
  By A11UH8U8POEVGD on 2008-02-11
  The Harry Potter collection was already great, but HD brings it to a whole new level. This was an excellent buy. Not only did the Blu-ray DVDs have fantastic definition, but the package came with lots of extras. this was a great selection for some of the first DVDs purchased for our new blu-ray player.
  
  
• Good packaging, alright movies.
  By A1M8IBC8QXW9NQ on 2008-02-11
  I'd never seen any of the Harry Potter movies before I got this box set, I just never gave them a chance. But I had money to waste to I gave this a try.
  
  Sorcerer's Stone - 6 out of 10
  Chamber of Secrets - 7 out of 10
  Prisoner of Azkaban - 8 out of 10
  Goblet of Fire - 8 out of 10
  Order of the Pheonix - 7 out of 10
  
  I thought it was 2 pretty good movies and 3 mediocre, forgettable movies. If it were standard box set packaging, I'd give this series 3 stars, but I like the little suitcase packaging, it's well made, so that bumps it up to 4 stars.
  
  
• Enter your world of mystery and the accessories are fun as well, A+++++++++++++++
  By A1UPPEL9HNGNFI on 2008-02-13
  I have been a huge Harry Potter fan since i was younger, love to read. When i saw this hogwarts chest with full Blu Ray Disc collection i needed it lol. It has memoribilia and little collectibles indside and keeps you a part of the magical world of Harry Potter, Awesome.
  
  
• Common Sense
  By A18L3ENKQCK2IE on 2008-02-13
  I just seems natural to purchase this 5 pack now, if you are at all intending to own the complete Harry Potter works on blu-ray. The hideous, semi-transparent blue cases are replaced with beautifully designed, paper cases that were custom made for this set. Who cares if it won't match the further 2 years? At least you'll have a partial set that is a work of art compared to what sits individually on the shelf. When you add in all of the bonus items (the book marks are stunning), it's a no-brainer.
  
  (and in case you hadn't noticed, it's the EXACT same price! - as of Feb 2008)
  
  
• harry potter years 1-5 limited edition gift set
  By AEA3419POYDUX on 2008-02-15
  unbelievable remastering of each disc, multi region will play on any blu-ray region player or playsation 3 worth every cent, a terrific set.
  
  
• Best movies ever
  By A3UEZFAHH900C0 on 2008-03-14
  I absolutely love these movies. And they are even better on our recently purchased 61" 1080p Panasonic!!!!!!! People complain about the packaging of these movies, but they are meant to be set up in the trunk, not displayed out and alone. It's a pretty neat set up!!!!!!!
  
  
• Nice if you have to have a boxed set
  By A2SQGC708613E4 on 2008-09-15
  Disclaimer: I do not own this set. I looked at it closely at a friend's house.
  
  First of all, the good stuff: Beautiful transfer to Blu-Ray, with gorgeous sound. A very visible improvement over the standard DVD release.
  
  Now the bad stuff: Apparently some HD DVD discs were inadvertently shipped in the early boxes. No doubt WB will tidy that up. In the meantime, it would make sense to open the box where you buy it and check before you go home, explaining to the clerk why you are doing so.
  
  The box is an imitation of HP's trunk. Nice, I guess, if you are a True Believer and go for that sort of thing. The innards are cheesy and if you don't want to keep the trunk you'll have to round up some Blu-Ray cases or end up with odd-sized little thingies on your DVD rack.
  
  I agree with the reviewer who pegged this as an impulse buy. Might as well pick up the individually packed movies as this can be done for the same total cost. That is, if you can choke back the tears at not getting the bookmarks and trading cards..... Then you can buy the 7-disc set in a couple of years and give it to your fave fanboy/girl.
  
  Five stars for the quality of the images and sound. One star for pandering to the gotta-haveits.
  
  

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