Harry Potter: Ultimate Editions (2001-2011)

[Vashetti]

I'd be satisfied even if they put the standard Deleted Scenes back in.

I love the scene they removed from Goblet Of Fire where Snape and Karkaroff are arguing outside the Yule Ball, it gives more context to when Harry goes back inside and Hermione scoffs at him and says "Where've you been?!"

[megafan999]

Originally Posted by Jumpman

There's no guarantee that we'll extended cuts for films 3 through 8. I honestly wouldn't wait.

I mean, if the reports are true that WB went to Newell and Cuaron about extended cuts for films 3 and 4 and they passed, I don't see them changing their mind in the future.

As for Yates' films, I just get the feeling he's not into extended cuts either. And honestly, I want director involvement with extended cuts. I don't want studio extended cuts without the director's input.

They'll probabably release them eventualy with or without them, they didn't even called the first two "Director's Cuts" anyway.

[Vashetti]

Originally Posted by megafan999

They'll probabably release them eventualy with or without them, they didn't even called the first two "Director's Cuts" anyway.

Chris Columbus seemed delighted to be able to put back the footage in Philosopher's Stone and Chamber Of Secrets, so I would say they are the Director's Cuts.

Whereas Cauron and Newell were (apparently) asked for their Director's Cuts for Prisoner Of Azkaban and Goblet Of Fire but had none, as they considered the Theatrical versions as their final version.

And Yates did not have Director's Cuts of Order Of The Phoenix and Half-Blood Prince for the same reason, plus he seems to prefer shorter films.

Though I suspect he also didn't have time to go back and re-edit OOTP and HBP as he was well into production of Deathly Hallows Part One and Two when the fifth and sixth Ultimate Editions were due to be released.

[The Mad Kiwi]

Originally Posted by Stinky-Dinkins

3 and 4 were never meant to be "extended", from the get go, they were always seen as the "director's cuts." I don't even know if any serious amount of workable extended content even exists for them. Order of the Phoenix is missing portions important to the story as they were cut because of theatrical time constraints. These portions weren't just planned, they were filmed and finished and eventually cut (so if Warner can eventually use them as a selling point, and they can, they will.)

PoA didn't have very much cut out since it had a very lean script, but GoF had a great deal of footage excised. Here's what I know for sure was cut out:

* Death eater torturing Muggles at the Quidditch World Cup (Trailer)
* Hogwarts School Song (Blu-ray)
* Krum and Malfoy in the Great Hall (Promo Still)
* Fleur and Cho in the Great Hall (Promo Still)
* Fleur putting her name in the goblet (trailer, promo still)
* Extended Defense Against the Dark Arts class (Trailer, B-roll)
* Extended Sirius fireplace conversation (International Trailer)
* Hermione teaching Harry the Accio spell (Promo Still, Interviews)
* Extended Gryffindor dance lesson (B-roll)
* Durmstrang student inviting Hogwarts student to the Yule Ball (Blu-ray)
* Harry’s first attempt at asking Cho (Blu-ray)
* Flitwick introducing the band (Blu-ray)
* Harry overhearing Snape and Karkaroff at the Yule Ball (Blu-ray)
* Harry seeing Cho and Cedric at the Bridge (Promo Still)
* Harry opening the egg in the dormitory (Promo Still)
* Harry taking the egg to Bathroom (Promo Still)
* Moody and Harry post-second task (Blu-ray)
* Trio musing in the common room over Crouch's death (Blu-ray)
* Extended Dumbledore’s office post-pensieve (B-roll)
* Harry’s premonition pre-third task (Blu-ray)
* Extended graveyard sequence (B-roll footage; interviews)
* Priori Incantatem explanation (Trading Cards; Promo Still; International Trailer)
* Trio by a waterfall musing over Cedric's death (Trading Cards; Promo Stills)
* Extended closing scene (B-roll)

And I'm sure there's more than that, but that's what I've been able to spot via promo materials and documentaries. The added footage would certainly help give space between the second and third tasks which happen within 10 minutes of each other in the film. It seems like after OotP, GoF has had the most footage cut. I say "seems" because Chris Columbus confirmed that his initial cut of SS was 3.5 hours, but I have a feeling a lot of that was drawn out, unusable footage rather than fully cut sequences and lines.

I've been going mad trying to find an interview with Mike Newell I read back in 2006 or so where he voiced disdain over GoF because WB forced him to cut it down from 3 hours to 2.5. He was interviewed again recently (2010 or so) and said he had watched the film for the first time since its release and felt much happier about it. So WB may be telling the truth in regards to that. Even if they are, though, that doesn't excuse them from not giving us these scenes as supplements.

[BluRyan]

Hmmm... I'm happy with PoA not being extended, I'm happy with HBP not being extended, but seriously, I want a 3-hour version of GoF (because it needs it, if not only for pacing issues) as well as a MUCH longer version of OOTP. I seriously think the reason why OOTP didn't get an extended cut is just because David Yates was too busy working on DH:Part 2 and that WB just wanted to rush them out as fast as they can. I'm pretty sure that there will be an extended OOTP one day and I have my fingers crossed for GoF!

Also, I'm pretty glad the UK didn't get the Ultimate Edition's yet, just because of all the inconsistencies that may be remedied when they finally do come out. Like of course the lenticular covers that only started to appear with PoA, the lack of magnets, the slipcover becoming a slipcase, the removal of physical digital copy discs, the lack of extended editions, the special features DVD that was with the first 4 becoming part of the 2nd Blu-ray disc, the width of the boxes... I mean, seriously, why can't they maintain a level of consistency?!?! Oh, right, so they can re-release them down the road and squeeze even more pennies out of us!! Gotcha!

[Bk_Tan]

David Yates is a massive prick.

The reason why his films and the finale were so short is because he states that "films should be shorter than 150 minutes". What a douche. If you made classics with shorter runtimes, fine, but you didn't, so sticking by your stupid, rigid belief is idiotic.

What an arse.

[victorvondoom88]

Originally Posted by Bk_Tan

David Yates is a massive prick.

The reason why his films and the finale were so short is because he states that "films should be shorter than 150 minutes". What a douche. If you made classics with shorter runtimes, fine, but you didn't, so sticking by your stupid, rigid belief is idiotic.

What an arse.

I would say that is true in most cases for theatrical runs. But there is no reason there shouldn't be a extended cut on disc. They could even use seamless branching and you would have your choice of watching the theatrical or Extended cut.
If the fans want it and it adds something to the film there is no reason why they shouldn't give it to us. They already filmed the scenes anyway.

Oh and I'm not defending Yates in anyway.

[stobbart]

What do people think about the extended cuts of the first two films? Is it worth the purchase? Do they really add that much more to the film? I'm not talking about run-time but if the added material makes the movie a better film. Or would I be better just getting the regular release and watching those scenes in the extras section

[blu-ray_girl_fan]

Originally Posted by stobbart

What do people think about the extended cuts of the first two films? Is it worth the purchase? Do they really add that much more to the film? I'm not talking about run-time but if the added material makes the movie a better film. Or would I be better just getting the regular release and watching those scenes in the extras section

The extended cuts are nice, but they don't radically change the general experience of watching the first two movies. However, the new Blu-ray extras included with the first two movies are great. We get to see how the young kids (not just the three leads) were cast. The audition stuff for Lavender Brown is especially hilarious.

[Vashetti]

Originally Posted by stobbart

What do people think about the extended cuts of the first two films? Is it worth the purchase? Do they really add that much more to the film? I'm not talking about run-time but if the added material makes the movie a better film. Or would I be better just getting the regular release and watching those scenes in the extras section

Philosopher's Stone (Extended) has a nice early scene with Harry and Hagrid taking a train to London where Hagrid mentions that he would like a dragon, which gives more meaning later on when he actually acquires one.

There's also a hilarious scene where the Gryffindors are sat in the Great Hall worrying about final exams, when Harry realises he's known Nicolas Flamel's name all along, because he read the name on the back of the Dumbledore Chocolate Frog card he got on the train.

Chamber Of Secrets (Extended) is much better. It features an earlier introduction for Lucius Malfoy and Draco in Borgin and Burkes (in Knocturn Alley) which is a superbly sinister scene, which gives much greater context with the whole "Mudblood" business later on, and the purging of them at Hogwarts.

There's also lots of new scenes of Harry questioning who he is after it is revealed that he can speak Parseltongue, as well as a creepy scene of some Hufflepuffs discussing in detail if Harry is the Heir of Slytherin.

[stobbart]

After thinking about it I think I will end up getting the first two ultimate editions.

[Stinky-Dinkins]

They're good. I mean, they hardly add anything comparable to the LotR EE's for example (which is almost a different experience entirely,) but between them it's about 20 mins of extra stuff. If you're in the US and you want the "Ultimate" Ultimate of the 1st you could get the Canadian Ultimate edition. That's the one playable in NA machines with the "original" title intact (Philosopher's rather than Sorcerer's). It's only a couple scenes that are different between them (the takes where they say "Philosopher's" rather than "Sorcerer's" stone,) but if you're being anal I guess it's worth considering. That's the one I have, don't overpay for it though. It often pops up on Amazon.ca (sold by Amazon) for the same price as the NA version (Amazon.ca stops selling it for periods of months and 3rd party sellers start charging absurd amounts, ignore that shit.)

If you're going to get anything I'd get the 1st two Ultimates. They're at least slightly extended so in that respect they're worth it. Can't say the same for the rest.

[stobbart]

Originally Posted by Stinky-Dinkins

They're good. I mean, they hardly add anything comparable to the LotR EE's for example (which is almost a different experience entirely,) but between them it's about 20 mins of extra stuff. If you're in the US and you want the "Ultimate" Ultimate of the 1st you could get the Canadian Ultimate edition. That's the one playable in NA machines with the "original" title intact (Philosopher's rather than Sorcerer's). It's only a couple scenes that are different between them (the takes where they say "Philosopher's" rather than "Sorcerer's" stone,) but if you're being anal I guess it's worth considering. That's the one I have, don't overpay for it though. It often pops up on Amazon.ca (sold by Amazon) for the same price as the NA version (Amazon.ca stops selling it for periods of months and 3rd party sellers start charging absurd amounts, ignore that shit.)

If you're going to get anything I'd get the 1st two Ultimates. They're at least slightly extended so in that respect they're worth it. Can't say the same for the rest.

Oh man, very tempted to pick that one up, it would be very fun to have when showing people.

[Stinky-Dinkins]

Originally Posted by stobbart

Oh man, very tempted to pick that one up, it would be very fun to have when showing people.

Yeah, if you're on Amazon.ca and you see it sold by Amazon go for it man. If they don't have it in stock (and they often won't for months at a time) don't go for it unless the 3rd party's price is reasonable. That shit will be ridiculous sometimes, secondary sellers on Amazon are likely to gauge. Wait for it to come back in stock by Amazon officially.

[stobbart]

Originally Posted by Stinky-Dinkins

Yeah, if you're on Amazon.ca and you see it sold by Amazon go for it man. If they don't have it in stock (and they often won't for months at a time) don't go for it unless the 3rd party's price is reasonable. That shit will be ridiculous sometimes, secondary sellers on Amazon are likely to gauge. Wait for it to come back in stock by Amazon officially.

They have one in stock for about $50 shipped. Don't know if that's really worth it though. I was looking to pick these up for about $20

[blu-ray_girl_fan]

Considering the current exchange rate between American and Canadian dollars, you're going to be taking a big hit if you buy now from Amazon.ca.

[Warbler]

anyone have any idea when they will release ultimate editions of the final 2 movies?

[thelittleprince]

Originally Posted by Warbler

anyone have any idea when they will release ultimate editions of the final 2 movies?

Most likely next summer. Looking forward to an Ultimate box set!

[Blu-Benny]

Originally Posted by thelittleprince

Most likely next summer. Looking forward to an Ultimate box set!

i'm hoping for x-mas time this year but i can see WB releasing the regular blu this year and early next year releasing the UE's.

[Warbler]

I'm hoping for Christmas too.