'Order of the Phoenix' - High-Def Digest review

[jed]

Just posted Peter's review of 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.' He found the film itself something of a disappointment, but Harry Potter fans need not worry -- this Blu-ray disc still earns raves from our prickly Mr Bracke for its exceptional video and audio.

Full review here:
http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/1121...hephoenix.html

[nelll]

I will have to rent both version of the movie. One to check the PCM audio and the HD DVD version of the film to check the additional extras. Sounds like fun to me.

[crazzeto]

Originally Posted by jed

Just posted Peter's review of 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.' He found the film itself something of a disappointment, but Harry Potter fans need not worry -- this Blu-ray disc still earns raves from our prickly Mr Bracke for its exceptional video and audio.

Full review here:
http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/1121...hephoenix.html

Any word on when there might be an HD-DVD review? I'm particularly curious about the SF's.

[Jackietreehorn]

Wow...I wasn't at all expecting a five star video transfer. I was expecting in the four range. Definitely makes me more excited for my copy to arrive next week.

[limelight_df]

http://forums.highdefdigest.com/show...110#post495110

[Hitman]

WTF? For supplements blu-ray edition only scores a half point higher, when all of the supplements are in high definition and includes a 44 minute TV feature... wtf?

[GhostofJarJar]

Well it's evident that the Supplements aren't that great, HD or not.

[messin18]

Since i ordered this from Warner i have little to no hope of getting it anytime soon.

I have not receive 2001 or a clock work orange. 2 Months later still "back ordered"

I have no received best of blu-ray action. 1 month later still "back ordered"

I have not received Omego Man. 1 week later "back ordered"

SO what hope do i really have in getting this movie?

I may just cancel it and pay more to get it from Amazon. I think this has to be my most exciteing HD moment... GEtting the entire HP set.

[makingmusic476]

He addressed my one complaint about the movie...it's the longest book yet the shortest movie? What the hell?

In my opinion, every book from 4 on should've gotten the LotR treatment. Screw the casuals, give me a 3 1/2 to 4 hour film. Hell, even the LotR novels didn't come close to 800 pages, yet they got far more screen time than the HP films. Peter Jackson actually cared about the world and subplots with that series.

The last HP movie that felt truly complete, imo, was the Prisoner of Azkaban. Both 4 and 5, like he said, skipped too much, and felt like they were just hitting the vital plot points to move the story along. They weren't really movies in and of themselves. I felt like they were just action scene after action scene, giving us little sense of the world that Rowling has created. While visually exciting, they were real let downs, imo.

Of course, they're still great compared to other movies, simply because they're HP. I'm actually picking up 5 from Best Buy, high prices or not, just so I can get it on day 1.

[hi-def-fanboy]

Originally Posted by makingmusic476

He addressed my one complaint about the movie...it's the longest book yet the shortest movie? What the hell?

In my opinion, every book from 4 on should've gotten the LotR treatment. Screw the casuals, give me a 3 1/2 to 4 hour film. Hell, even the LotR novels didn't come close to 800 pages, yet they got far more screen time than the HP films. Peter Jackson actually cared about the world and subplots with that series.

The last HP movie that felt truly complete, imo, was the Prisoner of Azkaban. Both 4 and 5, like he said, skipped too much, and felt like they were just hitting the vital plot points to move the story along. They weren't really movies in and of themselves. I felt like they were just action scene after action scene, giving us little sense of the world that Rowling has created. While visually exciting, they were real let downs, imo.

Of course, they're still great compared to other movies, simply because they're HP. I'm actually picking up 5 from Best Buy, high prices or not, just so I can get it on day 1.

I've been saying that also. A special edition with an extra 40 or so mins would make a huge difference.
Still a huge release and on my top of my list is all 5 of them.

[makingmusic476]

Originally Posted by hi-def-fanboy

I've been saying that also. A special edition with an extra 40 or so mins would make a huge difference.
Still a huge release and on my top of my list is all 5 of them.

I'm getting all five eventually. I didn't see the point of an incomplete box set, so I decided to get hem individually. I'm getting 5 when it comes out, talked my sisters into getting me 3&4 for me for Christmas, and I'll pick up 1/2 (and some other stuff) with the of the myriad of Best Buy gift cards I'll inevitably get for Christmas.

[taygan315]

I may have to get this after all. The film was putting me to sleep in the theaters. Maybe I will enjoy and understand it more watching it at home??

[HD Guru]

Originally Posted by Hitman

WTF? For supplements blu-ray edition only scores a half point higher, when all of the supplements are in high definition and includes a 44 minute TV feature... wtf?

I'm glad I"m not the only one that found this....peculiar to say the least.
A massive disparity with so much MORE high definition content appears to have gone completely missing from this review, unless that whopping 1/2 star is where it's noted.

[ScoBro828]

I've never been a huge fan of the supplement packages that Warner has put together for the Harry Potter films on DVD. They've always seemed malnourished, missing many of the features now standard to most home video releases (such as filmmaker commentaries and in-depth making-of featurettes). Sadly, the standard package of extras shared between the DVD and this Blu-ray version of 'Order of the Phoenix' continues this trend, delivering a pretty slim assortment. Supplements = 1.5 stars

this is also where the two next-gen editions begin to vary, with some obvious (and some not so obvious) differences between the HD DVD/DVD combo and the Blu-ray. The biggest is that these features are formatted in only 480p/i/MPEG-2 video on the HD DVD, while the Blu-ray enjoys full 1080p/VC-1 encoding. Also missing from this HD DVD edition is a 44-minute TV special that appears on both the Blu-ray and standard-def DVD versions. Supplements = 1 star

Once again the two next-gen editions of 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix' differ when it comes to high-def supplements. This time, the HD DVD version gets the edge, exclusively featuring one of Warner's In-Movie Experience picture-in-picture video commentaries, plus additional web-enabled features. Blu-ray fans needn't despair, however, as Warner has still granted this disc with some exclusive content you won't find on the standard DVD. HD extras = 2 stars

Had the HD DVD only included the above extras, it would have been satisfying enough. But there are also a trio of additional web-enabled features that further distinguish 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix' as truly cutting-edge when it comes tonext-gen interactivity. HD extras = 4.5 stars

Judging from the review and grades assigned it's obvious that the reviewer values Extras over Suppliments so is it really that much of a surprise that Live Community Screening got 2.5 stars while HD content only half a star? (although as the reviewer admits he never even tried it out)

[Cameltown]

Thanks Peter for this review.

I note that the Blu-ray doesn't just have "French" as an option, but has French (dubbed in Quebec) and French (Parisian). This is quite important for French speakers from France, to give an example this would be the equivalent for Americans having a foreign film dubbed in English but with Scottish accents !

I can't post a link to the back cover details, but an image is available at dvdempire.com

Could the info be updated?