That 3D version of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1” that was never released theatrically will make its worldwide debut on Blu-ray 3D.
But you’ll have to buy a specific Sony 3D product to get it and the Blu-ray version of the final chapter in the series.
Warner Home Video has announced the Nov. 11 release of the standard 2D Blu-ray version of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2,” but there is no mention of any 3D edition as yet.
Meanwhile, Sony has announced that beginning on the same date, both movies will be available as part of a “Harry Potter 3D Experience” with the purchase of Sony’s BDP-S780 Blu-ray 3D Disc player or BDV-E580 Blu-ray 3D home theater system. The Potter 3D titles will be bundled with two pairs of Sony active-shutter 3D glasses, TDG-BR250/DBL, as a “3D starter kit.”
Both chapters of “Deathly Hallows” were to have been released theatrically in 3D, but just weeks before “Chapter 1” was to premiere in late 2010, Warner Bros. scrubbed the 3D showings of the movie due to dissatisfaction with the quality of the 3D conversion. Warner had recently taken a public beating for its hurried and unsatisfying 3D conversion of “Clash of the Titans.” “Chapter 2” was released as planned in 3D since there were many more months to get it right before it premiered last summer.
Sources say the studio has spent millions of dollars re-doing the 3D for “Chapter 1” even though it will only be on Blu-ray 3D for now. “Chapter 1” has much less action and many more scenes of the Potter trio standing and talking. But James Cameron said last week that such dramatic scenes often benefit more from the added impact of 3D than action sequences.
Warner’s traditional 2D Blu-ray release of “Chapter 2” will be a combo pack with a retail price of $35.99 that includes the Blu-ray version, a standard DVD version, and an UltraViolet digital copy. It will not be available at rental kiosks or by subscription until Dec. 9.
Special features on the “Chapter 2” Blu-ray include:
• Maximum Movie Mode pop-up picture-in-picture during the movie hosted by Matthew Long (Neville Longbottom) and other cast members (80 minutes).
• A Conversation with JK Rowling and Daniel Radcliffe on bringing Potter to life, the last decade of films and how their lives have changed by the fame that they’ve both experienced.
• The Goblins of Gringotts, hosted by Warwick Davis.
• The Women of Harry Potter.
• WB Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter
• Deleted Scenes
— by Scott Hettrick