Customer Reviews

Harry Potter Years 1-3

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

I BOUGHT THE 3 CD COLLECTION OF THE HARRY POTTER SERIES.
THE DESCRIPTION SAID ALL THREE WERE "WIDE SCREEN"
WELL YEAR ONE AND TWO ARE, BUT YEAR THREE IS "FULL SCREEN"
VERY MISLEADING.
NOT WHAT I ORDERED.
TOO MUCH OF A BOTHER TO PAY TO SEND IT BACK FOR ONE MOVIE TO BE REPLACED.
AMAZON SHOULD SEND ME THE PROPER CD, OR HAVE THE SELLER CORRECT THIS MISTAKE THAT I ALREADY PAID FOR!
MISCHA

I understand that the box set happens to have two cardboard cases( years 1 and 2) and one plastic case (year 3).

My question is if it's the "WIDESCREEN" set why is year three the "fullscreen" version? Was it mispackaged? Has anyone else encountered this problem?

Don't spend money on a boxed set of the first three movies when eventually there will be a total of seven DVDS in the series. Obviously this isn't a good idea since the fourth movie was just released in theaters in November and there will be three more to come! If you want the boxed set, rent the first movies and wait until all seven DVDs have been released to have the compelete series.

I was looking for a new Harry Potter and the Chamber of secret when I stumbled across this. What an amazing value!!!!! It's got all the special features of the three movies and the actual feature film. What more can you ask for? The only thing is that it's actually the UK version: "Harry Potter and the philosopher's stone" not Sorcerer's stone. But it doesn't make much of a difference. Still a good buy and I ended up getting another one for my mother.

Ok I am 25 and I admit a huge Harry Potter Fan. Each movie is in its own package just like if you had bought them seperately. The year 3 is in a plastic case unlike the first 2 which were in cardboard. I did buy this box set mostly due to my year 1 and 2 were given to my 10 year old brother so I needed to buy them again. The Navy Exchange is horribly small here and I actually got the collection before my store even had them in. Plus it puts all the movies into 1 nice collection. Being that this is the first box set to be offered and knowing that more movies are coming I am thinking that years 4-6 will have a box set of their own untill they are put together. But being as the Star Wars movies never had a whole collection that is just my assumption. The movies are getting better and better. I only recommend buying this if 1> you are a collector or 2>like me don't have the first two for 1 reason or another.

I remember very clearly when Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone came out in theatres. I had seen the trailers and was already quoting the movie. I had not, however, read any of the books. My family were all great HP fans and so all wanted to see the movie but my little brother and I hadn't read the books but we couldn't be left home alone either. So after much begging my mom said we could go. I was blown away by the film, loved it to death. As soon as I got home I read the book. I was an instent Harry Potter fan. I read all the books and waited impatiently for the next film. But in reading the books (or rather just Sorerer's Stone mostly) I realized that the first movie was somewhat lacking, not that it's bad it was just missing something. On it's DVD releas I watched it many, many times. The main issue with this film is that the lead, Harry (played by Daniel Radcliffe) didn't have any acting training or experience before HP, so like any un-trained actor his performance could only be so good before it crossed into over-acting. Also the CGI for this film is not up to anyone's LOWEST standereds. The saving grace of the film for me was Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy), he gave a solid performance one would expect from an adult actor not a child actor.
...And then...BANG! Chamber of Secrets came out in theatres. But I was rather pessimistic regarding this film, not only was Sorerer, under close inspection, not as good as I had originally thought but Chamber was my favorite HP book. So I went into the theatre expecting crap but hoping for the best. Well, it wasn't the best but it wasn't crap either. Daniel was a bit better in Chamber but Rupert Grint (Ron) got lots worse. But the film was much better then Sorcerer, it had a darker feel and the CGI was much better (though the "sword fight", if you can even call it that, was horrible). Again my favorite thing about this film was Tom's performance as Draco.
So when Prisoner of Azkaban rolled around I was beyond nervous. Not only had they lost a cast member, changed directors, but this film introduced two of the dearest HP characters to my heart, and it would seem a lot of people's hearts; Remus Lupin, and Sirius Black. As far as I was conserned the movie was doomed. How wrong I was! Not only is Prisoner a good movie but it's the best, by far, of the Harry Potter films. For one thing the "Golden Years look" (as my friends and I call the first two movies' overly-sweetly-fantastical look) is GONE and hopefully for good. Daniel has become a real actor all of a sudden, giving a very good performance with only one weak scene near the middle of the movie. Rupert toned down his over acting a bit but still needs some major work. Emma Watson (Hermione) was always brilliant but stepped it up a notch for this film. But alas my saving grace, Tom, fell from said grace. I don't think it was so much his fault as the director's and screenwriter's for bringing cowardice into the character, Draco NOT a coward people! But then the part I was most nervous about, Sirius and Lupin. Sirius (Gary Oldman) is fantastic! And Lupin (I am so sorry I don't know the name of the actor *hits self with a lamp much like Dobby) was brilliant as well. All in all this is the best HP movie yet!
So the first two films are good enough not to totally upset HP fans but the third is near perfect (except for the fact that the location was changed, every time I watch the film I'm thinking "location, location, location" it's very distracting).

I love Harry Potter and having the first three movies together!!!Thanks amazon!!I think you're one of the best