Customer Reviews

Harry Potter Collection

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(15)

 

 

I bought this CD collection thinking it was the soundtrack music from the HP movies, but that is not the case. It is music from the Hollywood orchestra, and not directed by John Williams.
The music is not the same, but it has interesting variations (for instance, "Hagrid the Professor").
There are no Choral scores included (I really missed "Double Trouble"). This collection is nice if you don't buy it expecting it to sound EXACTLY like the musical scores in the movies.
I still listen to it even though I'm also buying the REAL soundtracks. I consider them much better.
John Williams and the London Symphony Orchestra have collaborated on movie scores together for about 20 years now, and I haven't found a better combination of talent.

got fooled...don't buy this - buy the real individual versions. This is digital...not orchestra.

Yeah... It may look like a great buy for the soundtracks to all three films, but things aren't always what they appear to be.

These are not the orchestral recordings that you heard in the films. Rather, they are some guy (okay, I assume... could be a girl) with a sequencer "performing" music from the films. Granted, the samples aren't horrible - though the brass sounds could use some work - but this is not what I thought I was paying for. From what little I was able to force myself to sit through, it wasn't horribly put together. It's just not actually the soundtrack. Very much of a rip-off. Unless you like spending $30 for a set of three Harry Potter labeled coasters. Then by all means, go ahead and get this. Otherwise, put out the extra money to collect the recordings of actual musicians performing this stuff. I think you'll find it to be money well spent.

I am in a very strange phase of my life where housecleaning can be done only to the rousing soundtracks of John Williams. With the dustballs and dog hair having mounted to overwhelming proportions, something new was called for. To this end I purchased what I thought was a complete set of all three Harry Potter soundtracks. Expecting the crisp, full sound of some philharmonic or another playing the complete William's compositions, I got instead an unpleasant, weirdly muted, boringly repetitive, disjointed disc. Hell if the stuff didn't sound like it was being played on synthesizer. A closer look at the package mentioned nothing of a philharmonic or symphony orchestra, just that the music, although written by John Williams, was "performed" by "Mask." Avoid this one like the plague. I was duped, and the dustballs will have to remain until I can avail myself of the real thing.

Another reviewer incorrectly stated that this was a orchestral rendition; this is not an orchestra at all, it is a guy and his synthesizers. (who apparently goes by the code name: MASK"

Don't waste your money

This is a digital reproduction of the wonderful music that John Williams composed. This company made this and stuck the title "Harry Potter" on it knowing well that people would buy it thinking it was a great deal for all three Harry Potter CDs.

This is one of those works that has been put together electronically. It's actually well done for what it is, but there are those moments where the music builds that just can't compare to a full orchestra. The tinny sound that you get from artificial reproduction, or keyboarding, comes through loud and clear. It was disturbing enough that I turned it off half way through the second disk.

If you want the full feeling that you had from hearing the music in the theater then spend the extra money for the real thing. It's not that much more, really. About $7 to $9 if you buy all three separately.

This is one of those cd sets you buy at a dollar store. you hope maybe you got a gem expecting to actually get the original score but instead all you get is a synthesised piece of crap! don't buy this just purchase the originals seperatly and used. it's cheaper used and you still get what you always wanted. The original soundtracks by John Williams.

I spent $20 on a crappy piece of work. Thease CD's suck! If yr looking 4 the JOHN WILLIAMS version, DON'T BUY THIS! it sounds like something u hear on yr cellphone. 4 some1 to sell this is low, since they know its a crappy piece of junk, and i learned the hard way that it wasn't worth my money

I think saying this CD set is "a piece of crap" is a little harsh considering the description says clearly that this is a digital remix of the original soundtrack and does NOT claim to be the orchestral version conducted by John Williams. It's actually quite a nice piece of digital music considering the price: all 3 movie soundtracks for the price of 1 orchestral version. Honestly, in some places I forgot it was digital because it really sounded like orchestral quality.

If you're expecting the full-orchestral-John-Williams-conducted version, then yes, you might be disappointed. Otherwise, take advantage of a surprisingly rich mix of digital music that may not be John Williams but gets the point across for a much lower price.