Product Details

• Actors: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Richard Harris, Maggie Smith
• Directors: Alfonso Cuarón, Chris Columbus
• Writers: J.K. Rowling, Steve Kloves
• Producers: Chris Columbus, Callum McDougall, Chris Carreras, David Barron
• Format: Anamorphic, Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 5.1)
• Subtitles: English, Spanish, French
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures
• DVD Release Date: November 23, 2004
• Run Time: 455 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (57 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0002TV2WO
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #84,820 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Harry Potter Years 1-3" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The filmed version of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, adapted from the wildly popular book by J.K. Rowling, stunningly brings to life Harry Potter's world of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The greatest strength of the film comes from its faithfulness to the novel, and this new cinematic world is filled with all the details of Rowling's imagination, thanks to exuberant sets, elaborate costumes, clever makeup and visual effects, and a crème de la crème cast, including Maggie Smith, Richard Harris, Alan Rickman, and more. Especially fine is the interplay between Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and his schoolmates Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson), as well as his protector, the looming Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane). The second-half adventure--involving the titular sorcerer's stone--doesn't translate perfectly from page to screen, ultimately because of the film's fidelity to the novel; this is a case of making a movie for the book's fans, as opposed to a transcending film. Writer Steve Kloves and director Chris Columbus keep the spooks in check, making this a true family film, and with its resourceful hero wide-eyed and ready, one can't wait for Harry's return.

First sequels are the true test of an enduring movie franchise, and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets passes with flying colors. Harry's second year at Hogwarts involves a darker, more malevolent tale (parents with younger children beware), beginning with the petrified bodies of several Hogwarts students and magical clues leading Harry, Ron, and Hermione to a 50-year-old mystery in the monster-laden Chamber of Secrets. House elves, squealing mandrakes, giant spiders, and venomous serpents populate this loyal adaptation (by director Chris Columbus and screenwriter Steve Kloves), and Kenneth Branagh delightfully tops the supreme supporting cast as the vainglorious charlatan Gilderoy Lockhart. At 161 minutes, the film suffers from lack of depth and uneven pacing, and John Williams's score mostly reprises established themes. The young, fast-growing cast offers ample compensation, however, as does the late Richard Harris in his final screen appearance as Professor Albus Dumbledore. Brimming with cleverness, wonderment, and big-budget splendor, Chamber honors the legacy of J.K. Rowling's novels.

Some movie-loving wizards must have cast a magic spell on Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, because it's another grand slam for the Harry Potter franchise. Demonstrating remarkable versatility after the arthouse success of Y Tu Mamá También, director Alfonso Cuarón proves a perfect choice to guide Harry, Hermione, and Ron into treacherous puberty as the now 13-year-old students at Hogwarts face a new and daunting challenge: Sirius Black (Gary Oldman) has escaped from Azkaban prison, and for reasons yet unknown (unless, of course, you've read J.K. Rowling's book, considered by many to be the best in the series), he's after Harry in a bid for revenge. This dark and dangerous mystery drives the action while Harry and his third-year classmates discover the flying hippogriff Buckbeak (a marvelous CGI creature), the benevolent but enigmatic Professor Lupin (David Thewlis), horrifying black-robed Dementors, sneaky Peter Pettigrew (Timothy Spall), and the wonderful advantage of having a Time-Turner just when you need one. The familiar Hogwarts staff returns in fine form (including the delightful Michael Gambon, replacing the late Richard Harris as Dumbledore, and Emma Thompson as the goggle-eyed Sybil Trelawney), and even Julie Christie joins this prestigious production for a brief but welcome cameo. Technically dazzling, fast-paced, and chock-full of Rowling's boundless imagination, The Prisoner of Azkaban is a Potter-movie classic. (Ages 8 and older)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

163 of 187 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not a good value, November 28, 2004

By 

A. M. Ponzo "book woman" (Cleveland, OH United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Harry Potter Years 1-3 (DVD)

I was very disappointed in this boxed set. The movies, of course, are great but this boxed set was a big rip off. The only reason I didn't return it was because I promised someone my original copies of the first two movies. I already own the first two Harry Potter movies in their beautiful cardboard slipcovers. I was expecting this boxed set to have some continuity. Instead all they did was put the third movie (in a plastic case!) in a fancy box with the first two movies in their original (cardboard!) packaging. If you already own the first two movies do not waste your money buying this set. Just buy the third movie. You can always find your own box to put them in. If you want a boxed set, wait five or six years until all of the movies are released and buy it then. Maybe the packaging will be better. Yes Wolf, the third movie is in a plastic slip case not the nicer cardboard slipcase.

16 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great movies, poor boxed set, September 19, 2005

By 

Scott - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Harry Potter Years 1-3 (DVD)

This review refers to the 6-Disc boxed set. I was disappointed to find out that literally all this is is the original three movies combined and put into a box with some Harry Potter scenes on the outside of it. I didn't expect them to actually create new DVDs, however they could have at least done something new with the packaging to enhance it. The first two movies are in cardboard DVD cases, and the third is in a regular plastic DVD case, which looks wierd. Also, after some use the cardboard cases fell apart. The glue that held the clear plastic piece that actually holds the DVD came off and the plastic piece fell off on both of the first two movies. I had to tape it back on.

I gave it three stars because the movies are great, but the collection is poorly done and a waste of money. At least they could have thrown in a 10 page pamphlet or something to go along with it. I would wait until a few more movies come out and someone does a better box set. Although if you want to own all three movies, this is pretty much the same as buying them separately.

31 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Scenes have been omitted, January 8, 2005

By 

Mark T "Mark T" (Dallas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Harry Potter Years 1-3 (DVD)

I truly love the Harry Potter series. My wife and I devoured the first five books and we take a day off from work to see the movies on opening day. For Christmas, my wife got me the "First 3 years" DVD box set. As we were watching each movie, but especially the third, we kept getting the feeling that something was missing. At first I thought I was losing my mind, but, from some clues in the Prisoner of Azkaban, we figured out that certain scenes- some particularly pivotal- have been left off the box set. Never mind the cardboard vs. plastic casing, leaving scenes out from the theatrical run is the antithesis of a DVD release where, allegedly, more scenes should be added.

The omitted scenes I know for certain are:

1. Sir Nicholas's party. In the DVD, there is a scene of ghostly knights charging through The Great Hall, but with no follow-up scene(s) to explain this action. What should come next, which was part of the theatrical release but was deleted for this box set, was a scene showing the knights entering Sir Nicholas's death-day party. Then, there are more scenes of Harry, Ron, and Hermione at the party, the only "mortals" to attend. They are baffled by some of the strange food and depressed by the atmosphere, so they decide to leave. Sir Nicholas thanks them personally for coming on their way out. I can distinctly see in my mind's eye John Cleese making some kind of feeble toast and then later on dejectedly bidding farwell to the Hogwarts kids.

2. There are some black and white flashback scenes of Harry's parents (at least his dad, from what I recall) poking fun at an obviously loner-type Snape, during their days as students at Hogwarts. This scene explains much of the animosity Snape has for Harry. At least one other main character (Sirius Black, I think, or maybe Lupin) appears in these flashback scenes. Again, I vividly remember the black and white look of these scenes, and the students (Harry's parents, etc.) sitting beneath a tree. These scenes are so crucial! Why would the filmmakers omit them?!

I'm really disappointed in the choice to omit these scenes. While the Sir Nicholas scenes aren't integral to the plot, it doesn't make sense to leave them off the DVD box set. And certainly, cutting the flashback scenes of Harry's parents on the DVD box set is just inexcusable, particularly considering the extra freedoms available with DVD releases.

What were they thinking?

Has anyone else noticed this? Please let me know in your review. Thanks so much.