Harry Potter - DVD Box Set (Years 1 to 6)

Also Available on Blu-Ray

Harry Potter
Blu Ray Box Set (Years 1 to 6)

RRP: £49.99

Best Price: £14.95

The Harry Potter phenomenon shows no signs of abating as we fast approach the release of the last instalment, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (to be released in two parts, partly for commercial reasons no doubt, but also to tie up a myriad of loose ends). This DVD box sets collects all six of Harry Potter’s movie outings thus far and is the perfect way to re-familiarise yourself with the story in anticipation for its ending.

For anyone who doesn’t know (and I think by this point you would have had to have tried very hard not to know, so kudos to you) Harry Potter is J.K. Rowling’s wildly successful story of an ordinary boy, or more accurately a ‘muggle’, who suddenly discovers he is a wizard and is to attend Hogwarts School for Wizardry. Through the course of these six films, a whole other world of magic, running parallel to our own, is ingeniously revealed. From quite childish and playful beginnings, a dark story unfolds, where Harry learns his parents were killed by the dark wizard Voldemort, and he becomes key to defeating him.

True to the books, the first two film’s The Philosopher’s Stone and The Chamber of Secrets, are very much children’s entertainment, directed by the famously saccharine Chris Colombus, and with infamously cloying acting from the child stars (Daniel Radcliffe as Harry, and Rupert Grint and Emma Watson as his friend’s Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger). The sense of adventure and otherworldliness will still be loved by kids though, even if might grate for cynical Mum and Dad.

As the books got darker, and better, so did the films that followed. Alfonso Cuaron’s Prisoner of Azkaban is still the series highlight. His use of cinematographic muted grey’s and blues, rather than the garish colours of the Columbus efforts, befits the oppressive atmosphere of intrigue and betrayal in the developing story, as Harry and his friends (with thankfully improving acting skills) face bigger and more nefarious dangers. This style has been used since by third director Mike Newell on Goblet of Fire and by David Yates on Order of the Phoenix, The Half-Blood Prince and the upcoming Deathly Hallows.

Whilst the atmosphere and look of the later films has darkened, the comedy and entertainment provided by the characters, and simply stunning action and fight sequences, have ensured it remains great entertainment. With this better balance has come some great casting, with the likes of Gary Oldman, Ralph Feinnes, Timothy Spall, David Thewlis, Michael Gambon, Julie Walters and many more hamming it up (in a good way!).

As far as all-round entertainment goes, you really can’t go far wrong with this great value for money collection, just in time to whet your appetite for the finale!