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• Unused Scenes

• Creating the Vision Featurette

• Shrunken Head Interviews

• Conjuring a Scene Featurette

• Choir Practice

• Care of Magical Creatures Featurette

Special Feature Rating:

The third story in the series serves up a few laughs at the outset, as Harry's abusive step- parents, Petunia and Vernon Dursley (Fiona Shaw and Richard Griffiths), continue to harass him. Vernon's sister Marge insults Harry to the point where his wizardry instincts take over and he inflates his step-aunt with hot air. The effects, as she expands into a round ball, floats out the door and into the sky, are quite remarkable (and the effects only get better throughout the film). Buttons fly off the lady's dress as she expands and her reaction is played perfectly. The comic relief ends as Harry is berated for this mishap. He insists it is the lady's own fault for insulting him, and as maligned teenagers are wont to do, he packs up his belongings and runs away from the Dursley's house. As Harry sets his chest down in front of a suburban park, a fearsome beast appears to be watching him from the bushes--a figure that will figure prominently into the plot.

Harry must quickly figure out how to meet up with his friends and mentors. Unlike in the other films, including Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry is transported by the magical, triple-decker Knight Bus. As the vehicle meanders at supersonic speeds through busy streets, we are treated to more humor and effects from Cuarón. As the bus averts non-magical vehicles, the sheer thrill of this segue represents the very peak of the Potter series. While en route, the young wizard learns that Sirius Black (Gary Oldman), a convicted murderer said to be in league with Lord Voldemort, has escaped from prison. The Knight Bus drops Harry off in a bed-and-breakfast called the Leaky Cauldron where he is reunited with his friends.

The conflict soon materializes when Harry is told that Black played a role in the death of his parents. The prisoner may have escaped to finish him off. Just as daunting are the Dementors-- supernatural, flying beings that are looking for Sirius but also attack Harry during a quidditch match and menace him later. Much of the plot centers on Remus J. Lupin, Professor for Defense Against the Dark Arts and Rubeus Hagrid, Professor for Care of Magical Creatures. The theme of lycanthropy play a key role in the story. Harry learns that people are not who they seem to be, and he must find Sirius before it is too late.

Story Rating:

The video is of the quality seen in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix--that is to say, nearly reference quality. Unfortunately, while the graphics are gorgeous, the CGI effectively flattens the picture. While the depth of many scenes is admirable, several of the night scenes appear two dimensional. Contrast, black level, resolution and color hue are excellent. The detail is pure eye- candy--especially in daytime landscape shots, such as when Harry and his friends are hiding in the pumpkin patch on the outskirts of Hogwarts. CGI effects, such as the Dementors and the breakneck ride of the Knight Bus, are also very impressive. No motion artifacts or excessive noise was observed.

Picture Rating:

The audio too is near reference quality, which only makes one wonder how impressive it could have been with higher-bitrate PCM. Voices and musical arrangements are full and clear, the soundstage is immersive and apt sonic cues are delegated to the appropriate speakers for a powerful home theater experience. The audio production values are admirable. Sound effects really hit their mark with more impact than previous Potter films. The rumble and squeal of the bus ride is a good example. So, too, is the quidditch match, in which a whole array of sonic cues barrage the ears, from the flying balls that tweak the tweeters to Harry's Nimbus 2000 broomstick that rumbles the subwoofer.

Sound Rating:

Overall Rating:

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