Harry Potter - Whats the Difference?

[Trean]

So the Box Set of years 1-6 will be on sale via Amazon Gold Box tomorrow for $40. What is the difference between this box set and the various individual releases that are $10 a piece currently?

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by Trean

So the Box Set of years 1-6 will be on sale via Amazon Gold Box tomorrow for $40. What is the difference between this box set and the various individual releases that are $10 a piece currently?

When the first Box 1-5 Blu trunk came out, this was a few years before the big expensive 2-disk editions, and Years 1-3 were pretty much bare-bones single-disk Blu's, since the first DVD releases had skipped over bonus features. (And which ones they had were dumped over to a bonus disk on the Blu set.)

I'm guessing the Box 1-6 is a reissue of the Trunk without the textbook casing for Years 1-5, as the "expanded" 2-disk reissues of #3-4 haven't come out yet.
But not sure, though, they might have the 2-disks of #1-2.

[joltman]

The Years 1-6 set is a seven-disc set, meaning one disc each for films 1-5 and two-discs for 6, which means they are the same as the individual releases. So basically, you are getting the 6 releases in a box (and I think in slimmer cases)

[Veronica Mars]

Some posts claim transfers and audio differences exist between the stand alone versions and the ones in the box. Is this true?

Also, this is a HUGE money maker, so is there any opinion on whether they'll go back and remaster the earlier films for the FINAL box set that I'm sure will come out late next year?

I wish this was just a repacking of the first 6, like Amazon would do with Lost, because this box won't really look good/match with the last two films.

Then again $40. What to do, what to do? Help.

[whbinder]

Originally Posted by Veronica Mars

Some posts claim transfers and audio differences exist between the stand alone versions and the ones in the box. Is this true?

No. They are the same

Originally Posted by Veronica Mars

Also, this is a HUGE money maker, so is there any opinion on whether they'll go back and remaster the earlier films for the FINAL box set that I'm sure will come out late next year?

They have.

There are six basic Blu-ray releases of the first six films. You can get them seperately, or packaged together in a box. There is no difference.

There are also individual remastered "Ultimate Editions" that have remastered picture and sound. Those are not available in a box set at this time, but will likely be in the future.

[borninusa]

I thought the Ultimate Editions sported the same picture and sound as the previous versions, but had tons of the extra crap the other versions didnt have?

[Veronica Mars]

Originally Posted by whbinder

No. They are the same



They have.

There are six basic Blu-ray releases of the first six films. You can get them seperately, or packaged together in a box. There is no difference.

There are also individual remastered "Ultimate Editions" that have remastered picture and sound. Those are not available in a box set at this time, but will likely be in the future.

From what I've read, the Ultimate Editions are kind of disappointing, with only modest improvements and mostly nothing very good in the way of new extras.

If I pull the trigger on the boxset for $40, it would likely be a stop gap for the ultimate box set that will come out Christmas. I wonder if that set will include only the Ultimate Editions of all 8 films, thus having the best picture and best sound in one boxset or if the final boxset will just add the last two movies and the Ultimate Editions will always just be stand alones.

Anyone who's a big fan think it's better to wait until next Christmas for the final product or is the goldbox deal the way to go? I don't mind spending the money, but it's a bit of a bother to know it will be replaced in only a year AND the question of whether the final HP set will be the Ultimate Edition transfers at least.

I mean I bought Scream in 1080i because it was so inexpensive from Canada just to have the films to enjoy until we get a set in the US, but with HP there is no question a new deluxe set will be released next Christmas. I might have considered just keeping this set and just adding the last two movies, but with the slim cases, that's not an option for me either. So this $40 set is kind of like a 1 year rental. Ugh, still not sure if I want to do that.

Thanks.

[Trean]

On this site the Ultimate Edition review of the first one states that the video is very similar. The audio is not LPCM on the Ultimate Editions though but I don't know if having the HD codec produces a noticeably better sound for those that initially came out LPCM (and not DTS-HD or TrueHD).

[solarrdadd]

i'll just wait until next year as the final movie will be released and i am sure they are gonna have a complete series set by christmas 2011. so as much as i want to get the set that's available, i think i will just wait until then and buy the entire thing once and for (hopefully) all!

[Veronica Mars]

Originally Posted by solarrdadd

i'll just wait until next year as the final movie will be released and i am sure they are gonna have a complete series set by christmas 2011. so as much as i want to get the set that's available, i think i will just wait until then and buy the entire thing once and for (hopefully) all!

You're not helping me. I'm wanting someone to make the case for me to buy this set for $40.

I hate the feeling that I get when I'm this torn on whether to buy something.

[whbinder]

Originally Posted by borninusa

I thought the Ultimate Editions sported the same picture and sound as the previous versions, but had tons of the extra crap the other versions didnt have?

Nope. They are new transfers and have optional extended cuts of the film

Originally Posted by Veronica Mars

From what I've read, the Ultimate Editions are kind of disappointing, with only modest improvements and mostly nothing very good in the way of new extras.

This is essentially true. The image is better, but not significantly so.

Originally Posted by Veronica Mars

If I pull the trigger on the boxset for $40, it would likely be a stop gap for the ultimate box set that will come out Christmas. I wonder if that set will include only the Ultimate Editions of all 8 films, thus having the best picture and best sound in one boxset or if the final boxset will just add the last two movies and the Ultimate Editions will always just be stand alones.

Keep in mind, Warner hasn't officially announced any such set. Let alone one for this Christmas. It's logical to assume that the eight Ultimate Editions will be packaged together in one box, but there's nothing to say they will be any different.

Essentially, you can buy the box set now which contains the existing regular releases for slightly cheaper.

OR

You can wait a year and there will likely be a similar box set which contains the ultimate editions and will cost more.

Since the extras and longer cuts don't seem of interest to you. And the upgrade in picture quality is minimal. I see nothing in any upcoming box set that would be worth the extra cost to you.

Of course, Warner may release a complete set down the road that contains all of the films remastered. And Paramount may re-release the Star Trek films and Sony may re-release Jame Bond films. But such projects are not even in the planning stages at this time.

[Veronica Mars]

Originally Posted by whbinder

Nope. They are new transfers and have optional extended cuts of the film



This is essentially true. The image is better, but not significantly so.



Keep in mind, Warner hasn't officially announced any such set. Let alone one for this Christmas. It's logical to assume that the eight Ultimate Editions will be packaged together in one box, but there's nothing to say they will be any different.

Essentially, you can buy the box set now which contains the existing regular releases for slightly cheaper.

OR

You can wait a year and there will likely be a similar box set which contains the ultimate editions and will cost more.

Since the extras and longer cuts don't seem of interest to you. And the upgrade in picture quality is minimal. I see nothing in any upcoming box set that would be worth the extra cost to you.

Of course, Warner may release a complete set down the road that contains all of the films remastered. And Paramount may re-release the Star Trek films and Sony may re-release Jame Bond films. But such projects are not even in the planning stages at this time.

I wrote NEXT Christmas. And this isn't as much of a "they might" as those other sets. HP is fresh on people's minds and a special box set is about as much of a lock as there can be.

I guessed on Lost and got burned. Ultimately, the complete set was a bunch of crap and not that special. It's the same thing here. I just think a final box, when they know most people have the movies already is likely to have a special disc of features or the ultimate editions or something really good to entice people to buy the box and not just the last film.

Sure, there might not anything special, but even if I get this cheaper box, then to finish my collection, I have a box of 6 and two stand alone releases that don't really match. Making the decision a tougher one than you seem to think. The box set of all the films will come out and it will be enticing and I won't even be able to sell this box off as the 7th movie will be out and this set will be appealing to people who will pay $5.

I wouldn't have hesitated if the box had regular cases and not the slim ones.

[Josh5890]

I'd consider waiting on a UE box set next fall but Star Wars is coming out, the EE of the LOTR's is rumored to be coming out next fall and other movies are on the rumor mill for next fall. I can only save so much money.

[DVan8504]

Originally Posted by whbinder

Nope. They are new transfers and have optional extended cuts of the film

None of them have a new video transfer, and only the first two have extra footage.


Ultimate HP1
Video: "The Sorcerer's Stone may have received Ultimate Edition packaging, but its 1080p/VC-1 transfer is strikingly similar (if not identical) to the video presentation featured on Warner's 2007 Blu-ray release."

Ultimate HP2
Video: "For better or worse, Warner's 1080p/VC-1 Chamber of Secrets transfer appears to be identical to the high definition transfer minted for the film's 2007 Blu-ray release."

Ultimate HP3
Video: "While the latest release of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban conjures up the same 1080p/VC-1 transfer that left fans breathless in 2007"
Extras: "the 3-disc Ultimate Edition of Prisoner of Azkaban doesn't feature a Director's Cut or extended version of the film"


Ultimate HP4
Video: "The Ultimate Edition of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire recycles the same 1080p/VC-1 transfer minted for its 2007 Blu-ray release"
Extras: "doesn't offer a Director's Cut or extended version of the film either"

[lyn]

Originally Posted by Veronica Mars

You're not helping me. I'm wanting someone to make the case for me to buy this set for $40.

I hate the feeling that I get when I'm this torn on whether to buy something.

Whenever I feel like that I just buy it anyway, then I just convice myself that I did the right thing.

[aggienader08]

Originally Posted by whbinder

Nope. They are new transfers and have optional extended cuts of the film



This is essentially true. The image is better, but not significantly so.



Keep in mind, Warner hasn't officially announced any such set. Let alone one for this Christmas. It's logical to assume that the eight Ultimate Editions will be packaged together in one box, but there's nothing to say they will be any different.

Essentially, you can buy the box set now which contains the existing regular releases for slightly cheaper.

OR

You can wait a year and there will likely be a similar box set which contains the ultimate editions and will cost more.

Since the extras and longer cuts don't seem of interest to you. And the upgrade in picture quality is minimal. I see nothing in any upcoming box set that would be worth the extra cost to you.

Of course, Warner may release a complete set down the road that contains all of the films remastered. And Paramount may re-release the Star Trek films and Sony may re-release Jame Bond films. But such projects are not even in the planning stages at this time.

Never in my life have I ever seen a more misleading and ill-informed post. The UCEs contain the exact transfers aside from a DTS-HD MA track.

What makes you think that Paramount is going to re-release the Star Trek films and Sony re-release the Bond films? Wow..just wow...

[ccfixx]

Originally Posted by aggienader08

What makes you think that Paramount is going to re-release the Star Trek films and Sony re-release the Bond films? Wow..just wow...

Why would you think that they wouldn't, aggie, when it's a known fact that studios re-release these same franchises multiple times on the same format? I don't think anyone is saying that they're going to be re-released within the next year or two, but somewhere down the road it's bound to happen.

On DVD, the Star Trek films were released as single-disc editions as early as 1998, two-disc editions as early as 2002, and again on DVD in 2009. Also, the two-disc edition were released individually and in a couple of box sets.

The same can be said for the James Bond series on DVD, as well. Those were all released individually, in volumes, and in bigger box sets.

It's inevitable that it will happen, don't you think?

CC

[aggienader08]

Originally Posted by ccfixx

Why would you think that they wouldn't, aggie, when it's a known fact that studios re-release these same franchises multiple times on the same format? I don't think anyone is saying that they're going to be re-released within the next year or two, but somewhere down the road it's bound to happen.

On DVD, the Star Trek films were released as single-disc editions as early as 1998, two-disc editions as early as 2002, and again on DVD in 2009. Also, the two-disc edition were released individually and in a couple of box sets.

The same can be said for the James Bond series on DVD, as well. Those were all released individually, in volumes, and in bigger box sets.

It's inevitable that it will happen, don't you think?

CC

I'm not debating that fact. Yes, everything gets re-released at some point. I have no doubt that the Star Trek I, IV, and VI or whichever will be available in Director's Cuts, but I'm commenting on his careless and blatant speculation, stating it as fact, because he is simply misleading others in the thread. It's simply way too early and no announcements or rumors have even been hinted at. Whbinder is stating that as if Star Trek and Bond will be re-released in the coming year. Yes! Everything will receive a re-release, but that's like saying the Cubs will win a World Series someday in the future. Nobody knows when, not even the Cubs themselves.

It also bugs me when people chime in with flat out false info. regarding a re-release. In this case the simple fact is that the HP UCEs are the same transfers as the 2007 releases. The transfers are not improvements in VQ over the 2007 blu-ray releases.

[whbinder]

Originally Posted by aggienader08

What makes you think that Paramount is going to re-release the Star Trek films and Sony re-release the Bond films? Wow..just wow...

I don't think that. That's my point.

If someone wants to pass up a current box set for a box set which may possibly come out in the future. That's cool. That's their prerogative. I just think they should be aware that no such box set has been announced.

Originally Posted by aggienader08

It's simply way too early and no announcements or rumors have even been hinted at.

Exactly. I'm sorry that there was a miscommunication between us. But that was my original point.

As to the remastering. I was incorrect, and I apologize on that point.

[5seconds]

Well, I'm in it for the movies, and I just bought the 1-6 set. In Canada, Amazon still sells it for $85, which is just stupid, so I thought $40 isn't too bad! I will just add 7 and 8 next year.

I'm even happier now knowing that the video and audio is the same as the new editions (Is the DTS-HD MA track actually any differet? I assumed the LPCM track was essentially an uncompressed version of whatever the DTS track will decode into. Does the DTS track represent a higher bitrate? And does this higher bitrate equal an audible difference?)