Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban / Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire 4K Ultra
review by Bobby Blakey
There are few franchise that were as big as the wizarding world of Harry Potter. It has not only spawned a new series of films, but an entire section of Universal Studios theme park and merchandise. Now Warner Bros. is rereleasing the first four films in the series on 4K Ultra, but does it offer any magic that will take it to the next level?
The next two we checked out were years 3 & 4 with the Prizoner of Azkaban and Goblet of Fire. I could go into the films themselves, but at this point most people that are interested have already checked them out. The shrot version is that I really love the third chapter of the Harry Potter franchise. Prisoner of Azkaban offers up a darker story and the addition of Gary Oldman is pure magic making easily the best film of the entire series. Azkaban is yet another great entry into the franchise that got me eager for the next chapter, but sadly it didn’t quite offer up the film I had hoped for. Goblet of Fire is fine, but this is where the franchise starting going downhill on some levels for me. Goblet is a decent movie that does offer up more action with the games in full swing, but there was just something that felt off to me, but even a bad chapter of the Harry Potter franchise is better than most others.
These new releases add so much to the already beauty to these films as well as cause a bit of some bumps here and there. Visually there are some of the older CGI moments that are unsurprisingly dated and this higher quality scan of the films enhance them, but also show some of their flaws. For me this made it all the better allowing it to be what it is and maintaining what made it so magical when it was first released. The 4K really takes the look of these films to the next level with adding so much more depth to the overall experience which I would have never thought possible with these films as is.
The biggest addition outside of the inclusion of the films on 4K Ultra, Blu-ray and DVD they both offer up bonus content including a feature length documentary series, “Creating the World of Harry Potter”. These two feature Part 3: Creatures and Part 4: Sound & Music that takes fans on an impressive behind the scenes journey to bring this magical epic world to the big screen.
In addition to finally releasing these chapters of the franchise on 4K, they have also released the last four entries on 4K earlier this year. The eight films are available for the first time in 4K HDR as a set, in the Harry Potter 8-Film Collection on Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack. Additionally, the Wizarding World 9-Film Collection, which includes all eight Harry Potter films as well as Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is now available on Blu-ray and DVD.
Step back into the wizarding world of Harry Potter and grab your copy of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire available now on 4K Ultra from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.