Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Widescreen Edition) (Harry Potter 4)

Amazon.com

The latest entry in the Harry Potter saga could be retitled Fast Times at Hogwarts, where finding a date to the winter ball is nearly as terrifying as worrying about Lord Voldemort's return. Thus, the young wizards' entry into puberty (and discovery of the opposite sex) opens up a rich mining field to balance out the dark content in the fourth movie (and the stories are only going to get darker). Mike Newell (Four Weddings and a Funeral) handily takes the directing reins and eases his young cast through awkward growth spurts into true young actors. Harry (Daniel Radcliffe, more sure of himself) has his first girl crush on fellow student Cho Chang (Katie Leung), and has his first big fight with best bud Ron (Rupert Grint). Meanwhile, Ron's underlying romantic tension with Hermione (Emma Watson) comes to a head over the winter ball, and when she makes one of those girl-into-woman Cinderella entrances, the boys' reactions indicate they've all crossed a threshold.

But don't worry, there's plenty of wizardry and action in Goblet of Fire. When the deadly Triwizard Tournament is hosted by Hogwarts, Harry finds his name mysteriously submitted (and chosen) to compete against wizards from two neighboring academies, as well as another Hogwarts student. The competition scenes are magnificently shot, with much-improved CGI effects (particularly the underwater challenge). And the climactic confrontation with Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes, in a brilliant bit of casting) is the most thrilling yet. Goblet, the first installment to get a PG-13 rating, contains some violence as well as disturbing images for kids and some barely shrouded references at sexual awakening (Harry's bath scene in particular). The 2 1/2-hour film, lean considering it came from a 734-page book, trims out subplots about house-elves (they're not missed) and gives little screen time to the standard crew of the other Potter films, but adds in more of Britain's finest actors to the cast, such as Brendan Gleeson as Mad-Eye Moody and Miranda Richardson as Rita Skeeter. Michael Gambon, in his second round as Professor Dumbledore, still hasn't brought audiences around to his interpretation of the role he took over after Richard Harris died, but it's a small smudge in an otherwise spotless adaptation. --Ellen A. Kim

Description

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.

Customer Reviews:

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Two-Disc Special Edition).......2007-09-13

When this movie was first released on DVD, I ended up with the single-disk edition. The two disk edition has great special features including "makings of" and behind the scenes, as well as deleted scenes. The "games" are difficult and challenging for any age level. This two-disk edition is well worth a couple of dollars extra over the single-disk edition!

Wide screen version is very DARK on non-HD TV.......2007-09-11

This movie is great, however, the picture is extremely dark on the widescreen version. It might be better viewed on a High-def television. Otherwise, I would choose the version that is formatted for regular tv.

Great book, great movie.......2007-09-10

I love the movie, just like I loved the book. The only small problem I have is with the actor who plays Dumbledore. He just doesn't fit the mental image I have for him. Other then that, I highly recommend it for people that have never seen the movie.

Harry Potter & Goblet of Fire (4).......2007-09-08

This one as all other's keeps you watching and waiting for what is next to come. If you haven't seen this one please see it. You are missing a wonderful set of movies and books if you don't enjoy these. Mine will be handed down to my grand children to enjoy over the years. I'm waiting for the other books to come out in movies and I'll buy those too. Then I'll have the complete set of books and movies to read and watch over and over.

The Book Is Better.......2007-09-07

if you read the book, you will hate this movie. the books has several, strong story lines. the movie had to be condensed so much so, that it was completely obvious what was cut out, and what wasn't.

go to the wikipedia website, and you can see a comparision of both the book and the movie.

the movie as a piece of art sucked as well. in the first half an hour, i honestly couldn't keep my eyes straight. everything was so fast, that you didn't see the characters faces for more than a second. it was also very choppy. take a look at the scene where ron and hermione are mad at each other during the yule ball. right after that they are walking out of the ball room, without harry. that 2 minutes of film is so incredibly choppy, you know somehting was cut out.

the deleted scenes don't help either. even if you burned the movie together, you'll still be lost.

for those who didn't read the book, you may like this as a movie. but honestly, there wasn't enough to hold your interest, except the scenes with mad eye moody. i though dumbldore couldn't get any worse than movie 3 - i was wrong. this guy is awful. he obviously didn't read the book either.

i have this dvd because i am a harry potter nut, and needed it in my collection. i didn't buy it though, until movie 5 came out in theatres just so i could compare them.

Average customer rating:

Jane Austen movie
Persuaded to view....
Stays Fairly True to the Novel
Superb
Great classic

Persuasion (1995)
Starring: Amanda Root , Ciarán Hinds , Susan Fleetwood , Corin Redgrave , and Fiona Shaw
Director: Roger Michell
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00003JRCQ
Release Date: 2000-02-01

Amazon.com

Movie adaptations of Jane Austen's classic novels were all the rage (relatively speaking) in the mid-1990s. Clueless updated Austen's Emma, which was more conventionally adapted in another version (Emma) starring Gwyneth Paltrow. Emma was produced yet again, this time for British television, as were a celebrated miniseries of Pride and Prejudice and this splendid film of Austen's Persuasion. Persuasion is the story of a love that survives eight years of dormancy and the frustrating obstacles of class prejudice in 19th century England. Anne (Amanda Root) is captivated when she meets the dignified naval officer Capt. Wentworth (Ciarán Hinds), but she is advised to discourage his romantic overtures because he has no fortune. They meet again eight years later, but now Capt. Wentworth has become wealthy while Anne's father is in reduced circumstances in the wake of reckless extravagance. A series of circumstances ensue which prevent Anne and Wentworth from expressing their mutual and inevitable love. The film's success depends entirely on the subtle, superb performances of Root and Hinds. The film builds slowly, occasionally leaving you wondering if anything at all is going to happen. When it does, you realize how carefully crafted a film this is, and the final result is grandly rewarding. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Jane Austen movie.......2007-09-12

This movie is for anyone who loves Jane Austen. It is a lovely story of two people who love each other but were not allowed to be together. Highly recommended.

Persuaded to view...........2007-09-12

....And it was a fantastic rendition of the novel. As true and close as you can possibly get to Jane Austen's vision with the time restrictions of being a movie. I felt sorry for Ann in the beginning, angry with her in the middle, and cried tears of joy at the end. To unwillingly deny the love of her life and still deal with a family who under-appreciates her is proof of her character and strength. In so many ways you can connect to Anne Elliot and her sad life. I bought the film on DVD and it's always a favourite choice of mine on those rainy weekend mornings when I curl up on the couch in my pajamas with a hot cup of tea. It's an emotional rollercoaster as only Ms. Austen can create. If you loved the book, you will enjoy this movie immensly. I know I did.

Stays Fairly True to the Novel.......2007-08-29

Given the two-hour time constraint, I felt this movie stayed quite true to the novel on which it is based, much more so than the recent Pride and Prejudice with Keira Knightley. The actors and their acting were also much more attuned to the time period in which the story takes place. I would recommend this film even to diehard Jane Austen fans.

Superb.......2007-08-19

Nobody deserves this special treat, no one. It is simply too perfect, too wonderful, too beautiful. I feel that I have seen something I oughtn't to have seen, that I have intruded on something glorious and magnificent and therefore private. What a grandly conceived project, so sweet, so sour. One wants so much for it to continue and yet one yearns for the happy ending we know is coming. The acting is exquisite. The sets, the costumes! Artistic perfection is achievable, by God.

Great classic.......2007-07-30

I love this version of the Jane Austin novel. I have watched it over ten times to date and the only movie I prefer more is Pride and Prejudice the A&E version.

Average customer rating:

Sense and Sensability
Sense And Sensibility
IF YOU LIKE JANE AUSTEN MOVIES
A Social Commentary
Sense and Sensibility

Sense & Sensibility (Special Edition)
Starring: James Fleet , Tom Wilkinson , Harriet Walter , Kate Winslet , and Emma Thompson
Director: Ang Lee
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
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ASIN: 0800141660
Release Date: 1999-08-24

Amazon.com essential video

Emma Thompson scores a double bull's-eye with this marvelous adaptation of Jane Austen's novel. Not only does Thompson turn in a strong (and gently humorous) performance as one of the Dashwood sisters--the one with "sense"--she also wrote the witty, wise screenplay. Austen's tale of 19th-century manners and morals provides a large cast with a feast of possibilities, notably Kate Winslet, in her pre-Titanic flowering, as Thompson's deeply romantic sister. Winslet attracts the wooing of shy Alan Rickman (a nice change of pace from his bad-guy roles) and dashing Greg Wise, while Thompson must endure an incredibly roundabout courtship with Hugh Grant, here in fine and funny form. All of this is doled out with the usual eye-filling English countryside and handsome costumes, yet the film always seems to be about the careful interior lives of its characters. The director, an inspired choice, is Taiwan-born Ang Lee, who brings the same exquisite taste and discreet touch he displayed in his previous Asian films (such as Eat Drink Man Woman). Thompson's script won an Oscar, and 1995 was a fine year for Jane Austen all around: Persuasion was made into an excellent picture, and Emma became the spritzy high school comedy Clueless. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews:

Sense and Sensability.......2007-09-11

An amazing film at an amazing price. Product came in perfect shape except the plastic on the cover had been sliced (probably while opening the box).

Sense And Sensibility.......2007-09-09

If you are a fan of Jane Austin or like me, new admirer of her works, this is a great movie. It captures the romance and the atmosphere of this time and place. I really enjoyed the characters and the story.

IF YOU LIKE JANE AUSTEN MOVIES.......2007-09-06

I love Jane Austen, I love well-done 19th Century Brit Lit classic productions. The actors are fun...Emma Thompson, as always, is superb and Hugh Grant, of course, is the bad boy one just loves to hate. This movie is really multi-purpose: a great way to spend some time if you are home with the sniffles, a great escape on what might be the end of an all too modern day, or just cozy to watch curled up by the fire.

Definitely worth owning...sort of a "little black dress" DVD. ENJOY!

A Social Commentary.......2007-09-06

The worst thing a person can do is underestimate Jane Austen. Though it is true that her stories center on young women and their romantic struggles, her works are not mere romance novels. This film does a wonderful job of demonstrating that.

Emma Thompson is a wonderful actress and she really brings Elinor to life. At times she seems almost cold and unfeeling but she is actually a woman who keeps her own counsel and who is very aware of how society views young women. Better to be thought a cold woman than to make a mockery of herself in the eyes of others. Thompson is at her best in those brief moments when Elinor is alone, when she is gazing sadly at her sister while she plays pianoforte, when she is alone in her room and running her fingers over the monogram embroidered on a handkerchief. Elinor is actually quite a complex character, a woman who loves deeply and wholly but who is also very self and socially aware.

Her polar opposite is her sister Marianne and Kate Winslet is simply perfect in the role. She captures Marianne's youthful exuberance and the blissful lack of awareness that she has for what others think of her. In this day and age, such individuality would be encouraged but in Marianne's time it is seen as a fatal flaw, one that risks making her the target of ridicule of others. She follows her heart over her head, unlike Elinor. As the title indicate, Marianne is all sensibility while her sister is all sense.

Hugh Grant does a nice job of portraying the somewhat socially awkward and very shy Edward. He always looks uncomfortable in his skin and only seems to relax when he is with Elinor or when he is brushing up on his sword wielding skills with Margaret. Edward exemplifies the plight of the younger sons of the era, the need to please the family in order to maintain his position. This was not a time when going it alone was encouraged or even feasible. It is Edward's sense of honor and duty that are almost his undoing and, in some ways, his situation is no better than that of the women. Though he is ostensibly free to choose his profession, he is actually quite subject to the whims of his mother and his vicious social-climbing sister.

The most surprising and rewarding bits of casting lie with Alan Rickman as Colonel Brandon. His world weariness and deep sadness are visible in every line of Rickman's face. He has seen what society can do to a young woman determined to follow her passions as Marianne is and it has left a deep impression upon him. Though Elinor has a good grasp of the world, Brandon understands it even better and one of the finest scenes of the movie is the one in which he chides Elinor not to wish for her sister to become acquainted with the ways of the world.

Emma Thompson did a fine job of writing the screenplay for this movie, cutting out some of the less essential bits and lifting quite a bit of the dialogue directly from the text. Ang Lee's direction is lovely and his shots are framed with such care. Often his cast doesn't even need to speak, they simply need to observe and Lee does a wonderful job of capturing the characters' emotions in their quieter moments.

Sense and Sensibility.......2007-08-24

We love this movie. The acting in it is great and you'll come to love each character like an old friend. It is a movie we watch over an over again, enjoying it everytime.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Two-Disc Special Edition) (Harry Potter 4)

Average customer rating:

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Wide screen version is very DARK on non-HD TV
Great book, great movie
Harry Potter & Goblet of Fire (4)
The Book Is Better

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Two-Disc Special Edition) (Harry Potter 4)
Starring: Eric Sykes , Timothy Spall , David Tennant , Daniel Radcliffe , and Emma Watson (II)
Director: Mike Newell
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000E6EK3S
Release Date: 2006-03-07

Product Description

Amazon.com

The fourth entry in the Harry Potter saga could be retitled Fast Times at Hogwarts, where finding a date to the winter ball is nearly as terrifying as worrying about Lord Voldemort's return. Thus, the young wizards' entry into puberty (and discovery of the opposite sex) opens up a rich mining field to balance out the dark content in the fourth movie (and the stories are only going to get darker). Mike Newell (Four Weddings and a Funeral) handily takes the directing reins and eases his young cast through awkward growth spurts into true young actors. Harry (Daniel Radcliffe, more sure of himself) has his first girl crush on fellow student Cho Chang (Katie Leung), and has his first big fight with best bud Ron (Rupert Grint). Meanwhile, Ron's underlying romantic tension with Hermione (Emma Watson) comes to a head over the winter ball, and when she makes one of those girl-into-woman Cinderella entrances, the boys' reactions indicate they've all crossed a threshold.

On the DVD
The highlight of the two-disc set is a half-hour conversation with actors Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint. They discuss their reactions to the film and other topics with British writer Richard Curtis . Then they answer questions from contest-winning fans, such as what are their favorite kids' books (Watson bypasses the obvious answer in favor of Roald Dahl and Philip Pullman) and what scenes are they looking forward to in upcoming films. More routine extras include the "Reflections on the Fourth Film" featurette (14 min.), though it has comments from some of the other young cast members, and "Preparing for the Yule Ball" (9 min.). The 10 minutes of additional scenes are mostly skulking and skullduggery, plus a long musical number from the ball. The remaining material is grouped along the lines of the Triwizard Tournament, with behind-the-scenes looks at each of the competitions (about 22 min. total), two longer featurettes on He Who Must Not Be Named (11 min.) and the workday of the other contestants (Robert Pattinson, Stanislav Ianevski, and Clémence Poésy, 13 min.), and four games, playable with the directional arrows on the remote control, that can be frustrating to figure out. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews:

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Two-Disc Special Edition).......2007-09-13

Wide screen version is very DARK on non-HD TV.......2007-09-11

Great book, great movie.......2007-09-10

Harry Potter & Goblet of Fire (4).......2007-09-08

The Book Is Better.......2007-09-07

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Full Screen Edition) (Harry Potter 4)

Average customer rating:

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Wide screen version is very DARK on non-HD TV
Great book, great movie
Harry Potter & Goblet of Fire (4)
The Book Is Better

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Full Screen Edition) (Harry Potter 4)
Starring: Eric Sykes , Timothy Spall , David Tennant , Daniel Radcliffe , and Emma Watson (II)
Director: Mike Newell
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000E6EK38
Release Date: 2006-03-07

Amazon.com

Description

Customer Reviews:

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Two-Disc Special Edition).......2007-09-13

Wide screen version is very DARK on non-HD TV.......2007-09-11

Great book, great movie.......2007-09-10

Harry Potter & Goblet of Fire (4).......2007-09-08

The Book Is Better.......2007-09-07

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Two-Disc Special Edition) (Harry Potter 3)

Average customer rating:

Alfonso Cuaron's genius works with Harry Potter
All packaging correct, but wrong movie
As Awesome as Ever
Great !
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly...

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Two-Disc Special Edition) (Harry Potter 3)
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe , Richard Griffiths , Pam Ferris , Fiona Shaw , and Harry Melling
Director: Alfonso Cuarón
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005JMAH
Release Date: 2004-11-23

Amazon.com

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 School of Witchcraft and Wizardry 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 (the fast-growing Daniel Radcliffe) and his third-year Hogwarts 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 (loyally adapted by ace screenwriter Steve Kloves), The Prisoner of Azkaban is a Potter-movie classic. --Jeff Shannon

Description

In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, 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 Cuaron 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.

DVD Features:
3D Animated Menus
Challenges:Three great interactive challenges! Test your memory with "Magic You May Have Missed", help Crookshanks "Catch Scabbers", and go on an unexpected quest with Sir Cadogan.
DVD ROM Features:Wizard Trading Cards.Hogwarts Timeline.
Deleted Scenes:A selection of mystifying exclusive never-before-seen footage
Featurette:Conjuring a Scene - an in-depth look at the making of key scenes from the filmMeet the animal trainers from the movie in Care of Magical Creatures.
Interviews:Raucous interviews with the cast lead by Johnny Vaughan and the Shrunken HeadCreating the Vision - a revealing interview with J.K. Rowling and the filmmakers.
Other:Self-guided iPIX tours into Honeydukes and Professor Lupin's Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. Choir Practice - sing-along with the Hogwarts choir.Hogwarts Portrait Gallery - get a closer look at the various portraits lining the walls of Hogwarts castle. Electronic Arts game preview.
Theatrical Trailer:Harry Potter 1, Harry Potter 2, Harry Potter 3

Customer Reviews:

Alfonso Cuaron's genius works with Harry Potter.......2007-09-06

I enjoyed the first two Harry Potter movies that Chris Columbus directed, but this movie blew those two out of the water completely. Director Alfonso Cuaron transformed the entire series with this movie, making it darker, more artistic, and overall a better movie-watching experience than the other Potter films. A lot of fans are annoyed because of all the differences between the movie and the book, but I think the changes were done in a manner that truly makes Prisoner of Azkaban the best film out of the 5 we've seen so far.

All packaging correct, but wrong movie.......2007-09-05

I purchased the first 4 Harry Potter movies, of which this was one. My review would be positive with one huge exception. The movie that actually appeared when I pressed was The Polar Express. The product arrived quickly. The packaging was in excellent condition. And for my part, my payment was prompt. It's just too bad that quality control missed this one.

As Awesome as Ever.......2007-08-28

This is a replacement DVD for one that was lost several years ago. I had forgotten how good this movie is. Definitely a classis to have in the DVD library.

Great !.......2007-08-27

This 3rd movie is a great addition to the collection ! I wasn't a huge fan but made me consider buying the other released movies soon !

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly..........2007-08-26

My favorite BOOK of the series and my LEAST favorite movie of the series so far. I know movies can't always follow the books they're based on EXACTLY-- however, this movie left out some pretty important stuff. Not only that, but things were added to the movie that were not in the book. So here's the good, the bad and the ugly about "Prisoner of Azkaban"...
First-- the good: It's not a bad movie. The acting's good overall. There's a lot of action and a good storyline with a couple of twists and turns toward the end. The scenery is beautiful and you see a lot more of the grounds surrounding Hogwarts than in previous movies...and there's a beautiful scene of Harry's ride on the hippogriff. If you've not read the books but you've seen movies 1 and 2 (or at least know the Harry Potter basics), I think you'll enjoy yourself even if you don't know what the heck is going on all the time. (It IS the third of a series so you DO need to know something of the first two to really know what's going on.)
Now-- the bad: If you really liked the first 2 movies, there are some major changes in this one that are hard to get used to. First, many of the sets are completely different. Now Hagrid's hut is far away from the castle across a long bridge and down a steep hill... and the Whomping Willow (that nearly destroyed the Weasleys' car in movie 2) is out in the forest-- not near the school. (These sets are also used in movies 4 and 5.) Also, many of the faces of other students you're used to seeing in the background (like Susan Bones, Lee Jordan, Oliver Wood) have been replaced by new unfamiliar actors-- some with speaking parts but you can't identify them with characters in the book. (Neville, Dean, and Sean are there, but there's a strange unidentified boy running around with Draco.) Then there's Dumbledore... When Mr. Harris died, they understandably had to find a relacement. But Mr. Gambon plays a much different Dumbledore than Mr. Harris did. He's not bad-- just different. He looks different, dresses differently, moves around quicker and just doesn't have that powerful calm presence that is associated with the character and which Mr. Harris achieved so well. Also, it's a little weird that Professor Flitwick, who was portrayed in the last movies as an old grey haired wizard, is now much younger with short black hair and a moustache! Some people enjoyed the "new look" of the movie... others (including myself) didn't.
Okay-- now for the ugly: For those who've read and enjoyed Book 3, I think you'll be anywhere from 'somewhat' to 'severely' disappointed. There are (of course) a lot of nitpicky things I could mention (like Lupin's moustache, or dementors flying instead of floating above the ground, etc.), but there are some major problems. First, there are things that are not in the book but came right out of the director's head:
1. Talking shrunken heads (with Jamaican accents for some reason) that seem to be everywhere.
2. Tom, who tends the Leaky Cauldron and is described as stooped and toothless in the book, is now bald with a hump and a limp and acts like some freakish Igor in an old Frankenstein movie.
3. Then there's the infamous first seconds of the movie where Harry is using his wand to practice magic at the Dursley's-- which I don't have to tell anyone who's familiar with the books OR the previous movies is a BIG no-no! Considering the penalty Harry receives in Book 5 for using his wand outside of school... well, let's just say that a little research would have gone a long way.
4. Then there's the "Fat Lady"... It isn't the film time that was wasted having the Fat Lady refuse the students entrance to the Gryffindor common room until she could break a wine glass with her voice that's the problem... it's the fact that the SECRET entrance to Gryffindor Tower is (according to Cuaron) right off the main staircase where everyone can see it!!
5. And even though the hippogriff in the movie is as it's described in the book, the other important magical beast towards the end of the movie is absolutely NOTHING like JKR described him (and it would have been a lot scarier if he he had been)!
And now it gets REAL ugly: Without giving away the ending or twists in the story-- key important bits of information that are revealed in Book 3 are left out! For instance, the Marauder's Map is given to Harry, but its origin and inventors are never mentioned. Sirius Black escapes from Azkaban, but how he was able to do it is never revealed. No mention is made of what James Potter (Harry's dad) and his friends were doing while at Hogwarts or why. The reason for the Shrieking Shack and the Whomping Willow is never explained. Why Harry's patronus manifests as a stag is also never explained (even though it does appear as such in the movie). Such information would have given this movie more depth and is one of the reasons the book is so popular. It gave a peek into the life of Harry's dad and broadened Harry's world a little. Without James Potter and his friends doing what they did all those years ago, all the events in Book 3 never would have happened and Harry's third year at Hogwarts would have been as boring as my 8th grade year in Junior High. Why none of this was included is beyond me. Had it been, it would have been a much better movie.
**My recommendations: If you want depth and explanation and a good background story that ties everything together... get the book and read it. If you just want a good action/adventure movie that you can watch with the kids and not be completely bored out of your mind... get the DVD.
**Parental note: This movie is rated PG for violence (monsters and ghouly dementors and such) and may be a bit too scary for the little ones.

Average customer rating:

Wow!
Holiday ... Celebrate
Good movie!
It's like George Lucas directed this skunk.
Pleasant Surprise!

The Holiday
Starring: Cameron Diaz , Kate Winslet , Jude Law , Jack Black , and Eli Wallach
Director: Nancy Meyers
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000MQC9H4
Release Date: 2007-03-13

Amazon.com

As a pleasant dose of holiday cheer, The Holiday is a lovable love story with all the Christmas trimmings. In the capable hands of writer-director Nancy Meyers (making her first romantic comedy since Something's Gotta Give), it all begins when two successful yet unhappy women connect through a home-swapping website, and decide to trade houses for the Christmas holiday in a mutual effort to forget their man troubles. Iris (Kate Winslet) is a London-based journalist who lives in a picture-postcard cottage in Surrey, and Amanda (Cameron Diaz) owns a movie-trailer production company (leading her to cutely imagine most of her life as a "coming attraction") and lives in a posh mansion in Beverly Hills. Iris is heartbroken from unrequited love with a cad of a colleague (Rufus Sewell), and Amanda has just broken up with her cheating boyfriend (Edward Burns), so their home-swapping offers mutual downtime to reassess their love lives. This being a Nancy Meyers movie (where everything is fabulously decorated and romantic wish-fulfillment is virtually guaranteed), Amanda hooks up with Iris's charming brother Graham (Jude Law), and Iris is unexpectedly smitten with Miles (Jack Black), a super-nice film composer on the downside of a failing relationship. --Jeff Shannon

Extras from The Holiday

First Look Featurette
high bandwidth

Film Clip: "Sushi for Two"
high bandwidth

Film Clip: "Oh Brother"
high bandwidth

Stills from The Holiday (click for larger image)

Beyond The Holiday on Amazon.com

On Blu-ray
CD Soundtrack
The Films of Nancy Meyers

Customer Reviews:

Wow!.......2007-09-09

Great plot, wonderful actors, and I do hope to see a sequel or something similar. It is defiantly worth keeping!

Holiday ... Celebrate.......2007-08-24

Madonna sang once "holiday, celebrate, if you took a holiday, some time to celebrate, it would be ..it would be so nice." Holiday is more than nice, it is superb romantic comedy, about two modern ladies who do the geographic cure by swapping houses to get over broken hearts.

Iris is a London journalist who is in love with Jasper, a selfish columnist who is engaged but wants to have his cake and eat it too. Amanda is a Hollywood trailer producer who just ended yet another relationship with her cheating semi live-in boyfriend. When the two women connect on a house swap site to get away from it all they find themselves in unexpected romances.

Once they arrive at their polar opposite locations love finds them. Iris connects with film score composer Miles whose as decent as Jasper is awful. Iris also befriends a legendary Hollywood writer named Arthur who tells her to be the leading lady by having her watch movie of strong women characters.

Amanda falls head over heels with Iris' brother Graham whose nursing his own broken heart after being left a widowed single father. As they live two different lives the ladies find parts of themselves that had gone missing a long time ago.

A similar movie with an almost identical plot line is Tara Road starring Andie MacDowell.

Tara Road (2005)

Good movie!.......2007-08-19

I thought this movie was wonderful. Although, I have to mention that it made a bigger impact on me after the second viewing. I thought the 4 main characters played their roles wonderfully. I'd have to say that this movie is now roaming towards the top of my favorite list!

It's like George Lucas directed this skunk........2007-08-15

What can a red-blooded, married American male say about "The Holiday"? What started out as perhaps an interesting plot idea - two people switch houses and find happiness in each other's lives - quickly took a left turn. My wife sticks this thing into the DVD player and about two minutes later I was already beaten down by the corny dialogue and terrible wooden acting. Now, I can appreciate a good chick-flick as much as the next guy. I kinda like "Father of the Bride", "Legally Blonde", even "Sleepless in Seattle". But this thing stinks to high heaven.

Every one of the main actors was as bad as Jake Lloyd in "The Phantom Menace" (Yipee!), and Diaz was especially atrocious. I can only assume that George Lucas had some hand in this, since Winslet, Law, and Black are usually really fun to watch. Maybe they suffer because of the ridonkulous lines they had to deliver. It's like watching a Sweet Valley High book played out on film.

Go spend your money on something better than this. Like a junior-high production of "Death of a Salesman".

Pleasant Surprise!.......2007-08-06

I watched "The Holiday", not expecting much, but I found myself just loving this flick! It was so entertaining that I didn't want it to end. And it's just as good on the second and third viewings. A fun and lighthearted movie with a terrific cast, all!

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Two-Disc Special Edition) (Harry Potter 1)

Average customer rating:

On Edge of my seat!
Harry begins.
VERY GOOD MOVIE!!!!!!!
Awesome
My first introduction

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Two-Disc Special Edition) (Harry Potter 1)
Starring: Robbie Coltrane , Warwick Davis , Richard Griffiths , Ian Hart , and John Hurt
Director: Chris Columbus
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Accessories:

LEGO Creator Harry Potter

ASIN: B00003CXI1
Release Date: 2002-05-28

Product Description

The beloved book about a young wizard named Harry became a huge hit as a big screen feature and now makes its debut as deluxe DVD. In the film Daniel Radcliffe portrays the young orphan who gets invited to attend the exclusive Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, after years of living with his horrible aunt and uncle. At school he discovers his true heritage as the son of a witch and wizard, and faces a daunting force of evil. Get ready for fun, adventure, and action with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.

Special Features Include:

Never-before-seen-footage.

A 360 degree tour of Hogwarts controlled by the viewer's remote.

New interviews with the director and producer.

Learn how to play Quidditch.

Catch a Snitch with your remote.

Have a wand choose you at Ollivander's Wands.

Meet the ghosts who live at Hogwarts.

Cast a spell over a scene in eight languages.

Create potions.

Face challenges to reveal the secret in the Mirror of Erised.

Transfigure objects.

DVD ROM Includes:

Get sorted by the Sorting hat.

Collect wizard trading card.

Receive owl emails.

Lots of game demos...and more!

System Requirements:
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Richard Harris, and John Cleese.
Directed By: Chris Columbus.
Running Time: 152 Min., Color.
This film is presented in "Widescreen" format.
Copyright 2002 Warner Home Video.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com essential video

Here's an event movie that holds up to being an event. This 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, the school for young witches and wizards. 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. Ages 8 and up. --Doug Thomas

Customer Reviews:

On Edge of my seat!.......2007-09-08

This was such a wonderful movie for my grand kids and me too! We all loved it so much. It was fast paced to keep the little ones watching and great effects. It was enjoyed by all.

Harry begins........2007-08-31

This is the first in the series and introduces all the main characters. Excellent quality dvd.

VERY GOOD MOVIE!!!!!!!.......2007-08-31

THIS HARRY POTTER MOVIE IS AS GOOD AS THE REST OF THE MOVIES. MYSELF I RATHER READ THE BOOKS FIRST THEN WATCH THE MOVIE. I RECOMMEND ANYONE WHO LIKES HARRY POTTER TO BUY ALL THE DVD'S.

Awesome.......2007-08-29

This product was way beyond my expectation. There were no damages. The movie was in excellent condition. Just great!!!!

My first introduction.......2007-08-28

I have not read the HP books, although I intend to now. This first movie was an excellent introduction and I loved the harry and his friends for their fresh acting. There is a real 'magic' to this movie.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Widescreen Edition) (Harry Potter 2)

Average customer rating:

Harry Potter 2 Chamber of Secrets
Harry in the Chamber.
Better than the first
Harry Potter's great
A series of incidents without any real storytelling

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Widescreen Edition) (Harry Potter 2)
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe , Rupert Grint , Emma Watson (II) , Richard Griffiths , and Fiona Shaw
Director: Chris Columbus
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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