Deathly Hallows: Part 2 among the top 10 most-pirated films of 2011!

Here are the 10 most pirated movies of 2011, along with the number of times each was illegally downloaded, according to valid information provided by TorrentFreak:

"Pirating", as it is widely called by now,
is simply the act of illegally downloading
 something, such as a movie, song, TV show,
through the internet, or a website which specializes in pirating music or video.

 This year, in 2011, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 made the list.
This list shows the top 10 most-pirated movies this year,
as well as the number of times they were pirated and illegally downloaded.

1. "Fast Five" (Universal): 9.3 million
2. "The Hangover Part II" (Warner Bros. / Legendary): 8.8 million
3. "Thor" (Marvel/Paramount): 8.3 million
4. "Source Code" (Summit / Vendome): 7.9 million
5. "I Am Number Four" (DreamWorks / Disney): 7.7 million
6. "Sucker Punch" (Warner Bros. / Legendary): 7.2 million
7. "127 Hours" (Fox Searchlight): 6.9 million
8. "Rango" (Paramount): 6.5 million
9. "The King's Speech" (Weinstein Co.): 6.3 million
10. "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2" (Warner Bros.): 6 million

This is interesting, because the Blu-Ray and DVD versions of Deathly Hallows: Part 2
sold so well, it caused an overall rise in DVD and Blu-Ray sales.

If this is indeed true, why have there been over 6 million illegal downloads of the film?

Harry Potter DVDs to no longer be available in stores starting today!

As of today, December 29, 2011,
all eight of the Harry Potter films
will be discontinued by Warner Bros.

This means that, starting today,
Warner Bros. will no longer produce
copies of the films for stores to sell.

W.B. will no longer produce more DVDs
and Blu-Ray disks for people to buy.

If you wish to buy the films before all copies are sold out,
please do so quickly, for it is uncertain how long the films will be available.

It is possible that, in years to come, the Harry Potter films will re-appear
in some sort of special collector's edition, like the upcoming box set titled:
"Harry Potter: The Definitive Edition" which is due out sometime in 2012.

And any and all digital retailers selling or renting the film online
will not be affected by this sudden marketing change.
All legal online retailers selling or renting the Harry Potter films will not be affected.

But for now, the future of the Harry Potter films is uncertain.

Quidditch coming to London 2012 Olympic Games!

For those of you who enjoy the rapidly
growing sport of quidditch, here is news
that you do not want to miss.

According to an announcement by Alex Benepe,
who is the CEO and President of the  
International Quidditch Association,
Quidditch is coming to the 2012 Olympic Games!

This Quidditch is a real-life adaption of the
Harry Potter based sport, and it will apparently be
appearing at the Olympic Games next year.


Here's mostly what we know so far, thanks to Benepe's announcement:
“In summer 2012 the IQA will organize an expo match in London during the Olympics.
The IQA is currently assessing venues, working with media contacts, and reaching out
to local teams,” said Alex Benepe. “At minimum, the IQA will organize a UK vs. US match,
and may bring additional European teams.”

New Deathly Hallows: Part 2 Oscar marketing poster released!

Just yesterday, a new poster of
Deathly Hallows: Part 2 was released,
as a means of promoting the film for
the upcoming Oscar Awards in February.

Warner Bros. is now trying to have the film
nominated in at least four categories:

*Best Picture
*Best Director
*Best Adapted Screenplay
*Best Cinematography

Although it may indeed be unlikely that
the film will win in all four categories,
Deathly Hallows: Part 2 will likely walk out
with at least one Oscar Award.

Now it's time for some speculation as to what WILL happen at the Oscars.
  

Here's my guess:

• Best Picture
• Best Director
• Best Adapted Screenplay (Win)
• Best Cinematography (Win)

In just weeks, we'll see the shortened list of nominated films in all the categories,
which will give us all a better idea as to what competition Deathly Hallows: Part 2 will face.

Pottermore.com recieves updates, comments now allowed!

We have received good information that
Pottermore.com, the much-anticipated
Harry Potter themed virtual experience
designed by author J.K. Rowling,
has just underwent significant updates,
which future Pottermore visitors will
benefit from.


Here is the description by Pottermore Insider, the official Pottermore blog.

"We have been working on a number of site enhancements during this time.
Once again, you may not immediately notice the differences,
as some of the important work we have just completed focuses on site performance.

However, you’ll now see some changes in the way notifications work,
including a more streamlined dashboard and a refined owl messaging system.

Help us test our changes by brewing potions, uploading drawings, adding comments,
and interacting with the Moments and features, so that we can monitor the changes
and observe how the site performs."

So, to summarize this post, here is a list of the confirmed additions/changes:

• Pottermore members can now comment from inside Pottermore itself.
• Improved messaging system.
• Pottermore users will now be able to upload fan art.
• Better interaction with Book Moments and features.

By now, these new, or improved, features will have gone live on Pottermore.com .
Pottermore does not yet have a public release date.

LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 game cutscenes now online!

Looking for a holiday gift for a Harry Potter fan?

One of the top recommended Harry Potter gift ideas this year is
the latest, (and one of the greatest,) Harry Potter video game,
LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7.

This is a video containing cutscenes from the game,
all from year 7 of the game, the game containing years 5-7.

LEGO split the movies into "Years", hence, years 5-7 here,
which is a continuation of LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4.

This video really is a good representation of the game,
and if the game is half as good as the cutscenes in it,
then LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 will be well worth the money spent.

On a scale of 1 to 10, I would rank it as an 8.
A good gift for a true Harry Potter fan, or a gamer in general.

Enjoy the video!
(I sure did.)

Deathly Hallows: Part 2 nominated for a Visual Effects Oscar award!

It was just announced online that
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
has been nominated for the Visual Effects Oscar
award, along with 14 other films.

Here is a list of the announced competition
that it will have to defeat in order to win:


Captain America: The First Avenger, Cowboys & Aliens, Hugo,
Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,
Real Steel, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, Sucker Punch, Super 8, Thor,
The Tree of Life, and X-Men: First Class.

Next month, the list will be shortened to just the top 10.
Two weeks later, it will be shortened again to the top 5.

If Deathly Hallows: Part 2 makes it into the top 5,
it will make it into the official Oscar Awards ceremony,
where the winning film will be presented with the Visual Effects award.

Deathly Hallows: Part 2 is likely to be nominated in several categories,
in response to the aggressive marketing campaign Warner Bros. will likely set up,
in order for Deathly Hallows: Part 2 to win at least one award.

Next February, we will all see if their attempt proves to be successful.

Universal to add L.A. Harry Potter theme park, expand HP theme park in Orlando!

It has now been officially confirmed that

Warner Bros. and Universal will be continuing

their partnership, and will be adding new things

for all Harry Potter fans to enjoy, such as another

"Wizarding World of Harry Potter" theme park

in L.A., as well as expanding the Orlando, Florida

"Wizarding World of Harry Potter" location.

This was the press release issued yesterday:



"Warner Bros. Entertainment and Universal Parks and Resorts today
announced a partnership to bring The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
– the enormously popular themed entertainment environment which debuted
in Orlando in June 2010 – to Universal Studios Hollywood.
The two companies also announced their plans to significantly expand
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood
will be as impressive as what has been created in Orlando
– and is expected to transform tourism in Los Angeles for decades to come.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood will be created
with the same commitment to authenticity and the same level of talent and resources
as its Orlando counterpart. 

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort opened in June 2010
Specific details of its expansion will be announced over time.

"The announcement of our partnership with Universal to bring
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter to Hollywood and expand
what already exists in Orlando is probably the best holiday gift
we could give to the legions of Harry Potter fans worldwide,"
said Barry Meyer, Chairman & CEO, Warner Bros.

"Everyone involved with these projects is committed to continuing the enchantment
of J.K. Rowling’s masterful books as they were brought to life on screen in our eight films
and dedicated to extending the magic of the experience for generations of fans to come."

This announcement may indeed "bring back the old crowd", as the phrase is,
and may bring both new and old Harry Potter fans back to the WWoHP theme park.
Which is the bigger newstory? The Orlando WWoHP expansion,
or the newly announced L.A. addition? You decide!

Universal Studios to announce L.A. Harry Potter theme park on Tuesday!

 The Los Angeles Times has just reported that:

 "Executives from Universal Studios and
Warner Bros. will unveil, and, for the first time,
publicly discuss their plans to build the
Wizarding World of Harry Potter attraction
at Universal Studios Hollywood,
during a late-morning news conference."


"Universal announced the event, stating in an email that it would be
"hosting a Butterbeer toast to celebrate a very special announcement."

Could this be, in fact, a release date for the unconfirmed L.A. HP theme park?
We'll report on this story again when the official announcement is made on Tuesday.

Harry Potter theme park set to be constructed in Universal Studios Hollywood?

 According to a post by the Washington Post,
 plans are currently underway for a second
 Harry Potter theme park to be built sometime
in the near future, and an official announcement
is expected to be made soon.

 According to the article:
 "The owner of Universal Studios will announce
before year’s end that it will build a version
of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at its
Universal Studios Hollywood theme park."

So for all you U.S. west coast Harry Potter fans, you won't have to travel
all the way to Orlando, Florida in order to experience the magic.

If an announcement is to be made by December 31st this year,
it can probably be likely that the park won't open until at least summer 2013.

As of now, as usual, this has not been officially confirmed,
but if major websites such as the Washington Post is covering the story,
then rest assured that, unless plans go wrong, a second HP theme park
will be on its way to California within the next few years.

Harry Potter wins two awards at BAFTA awards ceremony

At the recently held Children's BAFTA awards,
Harry Potter won twice, gaining the
"Best Feature Film" and "Kid's Vote for Best Film"
awards.

Warwick Davis accepted the awards on behalf
of the HP film crew, saying:



"Harry Potter is part of popular culture. The series is going to
leave a legacy for generations of children to enjoy.

Look at Star Wars; the original movies are 30 years old,
but we talk about them as though they were released recently.
The Harry Potter films will be the same."

Warwick does raise an interesting point with this statement,
because the question burning in everyone's minds is:
Is this indeed the end of an era?

Or will Harry Potter live on, as a cultural monument,
a phenomenon, for future generations to enjoy?

Such a question can only be answered in time.

JK Rowling makes public statement concerning media harassment

Harry Potter book author J.K. Rowling has now
begun to question the media's right to invade
the privacy of others, and whether such cases
should be allowed in the future.

She outlines many instances of the media
invading her privacy, but more importantly:
the media stalking her two young children.

In one instance, when a reporter,
in an attempt to get ahold of J.K. Rowling,
tracks down her daughter's school,
and sneaks a letter into her schoolbag.

Another, more revolting situation, when OK! Magazine published
pictures of her 8-year old daughter when the family was on vacation in Mauritius.

The pictures were circulated around all corners of the internet,
despite a Press Complaints Commission, which ruled against it.
The illegality of it seemed to increase the popularity of the photos.

Is J.K. Rowling right about media harrassment? Should it be stopped?
Does the public have the right to stalk celebraties? I don't think so.

The law prevents non-press people from stalking each other,
so why should we go easy on the press?
Why doesn't the press have to follow these rules?

To see the video, go to:
http://video.theaustralian.com.au/2170553062/Rowling-under-siege-by-UK-media

Harry Potter films to no longer be included in Movies on Demand?

 According to a news article just posted
by fellow HP fansite snitchseeker.com,
the Harry Potter movie series may still
be available via Movies on Demand,
at least until January 4th,
when they are taken off the digital shelves.

 We had already heard that digital versions of all the Harry Potter films
would NOT be affected by the DVDs and Blu-Rays being discontinued.

According to the snitchseeker.com article,
"Time Warner Cable Digital TV customers can now experience a collection
of Harry Potter films right from the comfort of their homes on Movies On Demand.

Watch Harry's journey through wizardry from the beginning and watch
the latest film in the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2.

The collection also includes bonus behind-the-scenes featurettes
from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 at no additional cost.
The Harry Potter category will be available now through January 4, 2012
and includes the following films and extras:

• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2: Gringotts *Extra*
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows -Part 2: Neville *Extra*

These films are available to order On Demand in Standard and High Definition format."

What do you think? Will any of you plan on watching the Harry Potter films
through the Movies on Demand service before they are taken down?
I guess again in this case, it goes to show that "It all ends here."
Or at least, this marks the beginning of the end.

Review: LEGO Harry Potter Years 5-7

Due to the excitement surrounding the latest
HP videogame, LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7,
here is a review of the game, composed by
people who have played the game.

Reviews are courtesy of gamestop.com users.

JPFR said: "There are some nice 
new features LEGO put into this game,
such as not going back to the Leaky Cauldron 
after each mission. 

Instead you get to stay at Hogwarts 
and explore more of the grounds.

As you progress through the movies,  you will become aware 
of the details throughout Hogwarts' Castle. 

Exploring the grounds you'll notice it is the same map 
used in the Year 1 - 4 version of the game. 

Some locations are no longer available, with new areas added instead."


JPFR rated LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 a 7 out of 10.


Gamers65 made this review on the Nintendo DS game version:
"This is a very good LEGO game. The graphics are improving 
and that makes most of us very happy :) 

Although I noticed some levels were left out in this version 
it is very good not to mention the silly cutscenes. 
And the final battle in Deathly Hallows Part 2 is EPIC!!! 
LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 for the PSP is a MUST HAVE LEGO game."

Gamers65 graded LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 a 9 out of 10. 


LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 is available in stores now.

PhoenixCast to review HP7 Part 2 Blu-Ray & DVDs! Send in YOUR comments!

Starting now, all of our viewers can send in any Harry Potter related
questions and/or comments, and they may be read on a future episode
of PhoenixCast, our Harry Potter podcast.

All comments, unless inappropriate, will be included.

We want to hear YOUR thoughts, YOUR opinions, and YOUR ideas.

Act now! Use this link to go to the official PhoenixCast blog,
and post your question or comment NOW!
http://phoenixcastblog.blogspot.com/

Your screen name, if your post is chosen may also be featured
on the PhoenixCast blog, under "Listener of the Month."

To claim your spot as "Listener of the Month," go comment now!

Pottermore.com info page now available to view on our blog!

In preparation of Pottermore.com, information that will be helpful to fans
about Pottermore can now be found via link on our main page,
directly under our monthly book quote.

So if any of you aren't yet quite up to speed with all the constant
PotterMore related news, don't worry, you can find out the basics of Pottermore,
all on one page, without having to search the blog to find everything.

You can find it on the main page, or you can go to the page through this link:
http://order-of-the-phoenix-blog.blogspot.com/search/label/PotterMore

More Pottermore newstories will be added to the page over time,
so there will be reason for going to the page more then once.

PotterMore does not yet have a premiere date,
but is expected to premiere online soon.

Deathly Hallows: Part 2/PlayStation 3 bundle to be released next week!

It was just officially announced by PlayStation Blog
that they will be re-releasing PlayStation 3 in a
all-new special Harry Potter themed combo pack,
including two copies of Deathly Hallows: Part 2,
one 2-D version, and one 3-D version of the film.

Many other features are included in this offer,
so read on!

(This was the description leaked online
by PlayStation Blog.)

"We’re happy to introduce a brand new PS3 bundle to coincide with
the recent release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 on Blu-ray.

The Harry Potter 3D Experience Movie Pack PS3 bundle will be available
starting this week for $249.99 (MSRP) and includes a 160GB PS3 system,
a copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 Blu-ray Disc
(both the 3D and 2D versions included), and you will also receive a voucher
to download Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

As a special bonus, you will also get a 30 day free trial for PlayStation Plus, 
which gives you access to free PSN games, great discounts, and exclusive content."

If you're looking at buying a PlayStation 3 anyway, take advantage of this offer!
(If you don't plan on using a PlayStation 3, then don't buy! This costs $249.99!)

HP8 deleted scenes review

For those of you who have not yet bought the latest Harry Potter film on DVD or Blu-Ray,
definitely be sure not to waste your time consuming the deleted scenes that are included.

Several of the deleted scenes that were supposed to be included on the DVD/Blu-Ray disks
failed to make it, such as the "why do you live" moment between Harry and Voldemort,
where Voldemort grabs Harry's face to ask him this simple question, to which Harry replies:
"Because I have something worth living for."

We've heard from the director that this scene was cut from the film before it entered theaters,
but would later be on the Blu-Rays and DVDs. So, where is it? And why wasn't it on the DVD?

All of the deleted scenes in Deathly Hallows: Part 2 have,
as always, felt out-of-place and unsatisfying when watched.

On a ratings scale of 1 to 10, I would rank all the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 deleted scenes a 5.
Although they are pointless and distracting, the scene with Aberforth was interesting to see
in its original, unedited form. The others provided little value in watching.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 can be bought in stores now.

Update: You can now watch the deleted scenes here, thanks to YouTube.

LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 released today!

As of today, Harry Potter fans can now buy
the latest LEGO Harry Potter video game,
LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7.

With over 200 playable characters,
and three full films to play your way through,
LEGO Harry Potter is a great game to play.

If its predecessor, LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
was anything to go by, this game will be
challenging, fun to play, and humorous in nature.

Be warned though: Years 1-4 proved itself to be
challenging, so don't go buying it  if you think
it'll be a nice, easy-to-play family game.

LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 is now available to purchase at most retail stores.

LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 PC demo released online!

As of this past Tuesday, the official LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 PC demo
has been online and available to download straight to your PC.

Unfortunately, the game demo for LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 will NOT
be available to download to MAC computers.

The game demo has been avaliable to Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 users
for quite some time, so why has it taken so long to release a PC demo?
LEGO has not commented on why the PC demo has been withheld for so long.

To download the PC demo to your computer, use this link to go to the webpage.
http://videogames.lego.com/en-us/harrypotter57/DEMODownload/Content/Default.aspx
LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 is due out in stores tomorrow, November 11, 2011.

Warner Bros debuts two sneak peeks from Deathly Hallows Part 2 Blu-Ray!

In preparation for the final Harry Potter film being released for Blu-Ray,
two sneak peeks at two of the special features available only on the Blu-Ray
version of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.

The first sneak peek is from one of the Blu-Ray exclusives, Maximum Movie Mode.


Next is a sneak peek of "The Women of Harry Potter", another Blu-Ray exclusive.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 enters stores on November 11th.

New LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 game pics released!

These all-new game pictures from
LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 were
released online only a few days ago,
and will give gamers a general idea
of the game itself.

 LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7

will be released in U.S. stores on

November 11th, in about 2 weeks.

These game snapshots were launched

across the internet, with these pics

given to us by worthplaying.com .

 The CGI animation in the game is
created with the latest technology,
so the LEGO videogames continue

to look and feel better over the years.

One feature that will be in the game,

that players couldn't experience before

is the ability to explore, and venture into

iconic areas like platform 9 3/4, Diagon Alley,

Hogwarts Castle, and more.

So if you feel like just exploring, instead of

completing game objectives, you now can.

You can enlarge these in-game pictures
by simply clicking on them.

LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7

will be released in the U.S. on November 11th.

You can pre-order the game on amazon.com here:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_4_17/179-9707232-0636133?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=lego+harry+potter+years+5-7&sprefix=lego+harry+potter

Pottermore.com not released for Halloween!

It is now November 1st, and one day after the suspected release date
for J.K. Rowling's latest project, the much anticipated Pottermore.com .
So where is it?

Although the October 31st release date was only a guess,
J.K. Rowling has made no statement about when Pottermore
would go live over the internet.

Beta testing for Pottermore is expected to end shortly,
so that the Pottermore staff could get ready for the grand opening
On the bright side: It looks like Pottermore will be released in November,
because beta testing will be ending sometime soon, the only question is: When?

LEGO releases new Harry Potter spoof video!

LEGO.com is celebrating holloween this year by releasing an all-new official
LEGO Harry Potter spoof video, featuring a not-so-scary Lord Voldemort.

It shows Voldemort fooling around in front of a familiar mirror,
trying on a fake hair wig, making goofy faces, and other silly things,
until being caught by Bellatrix Lestrange.

You can watch this very funny video below.
LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 is slated for release on November 11th.

Harry Potter films to be taken off store shelves on December 29th!

According to entertainmentweekly.com, all eight of
the Harry Potter movies will start to be taken off
store shelves on December 29th.

It appears that the films will only be available
to buy through digital download.

the Harry Potter franchise has grossed more than $12 billion for Warner Bros.
This includes not only the films, but official Harry Potter merchandise like
the video games, action figures, and movie soundtracks.

Although this appears to be an official announcement, the question remains:
Is this really a good idea?

Famous films franchises like Star Wars and Indiana Jones still are around,
so why is Warner Bros. so eager to remove Harry Potter,
the #1 movie franchise of all time?

Warner Bros. has not yet released an official statement on this major newstory,
but considering the impact it will have on the Harry Potter fandom,
they will, likely, issue some explanation shortly.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 Blu-Ray/DVD trailer released!

A brand-new trailer for the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 DVD
was just released online yesterday, and here it is, embedded into this news post.

Although it does show a lot of film clips seen in past trailers, (and in the film itself,)
it does show clips from a few, but not all of, the special features that will be included
with the film on Blu-Ray and DVD. (Although many of the features won't be on the DVD.)

One of the special features that was shown in some detail was the Maximum Movie Mode,
which is a special feature exclusive to Blu-Ray, and will not be on any of the DVDs.
The Maximum Movie Mode will feature interviews and behind-the-scenes clips,
and will be hosted by Harry Potter co-star and fan favorite, Matthew Lewis.
Matthew Lewis is known for the role of Neville Longbottom in several of the Harry Potter films.

One other notable extra feature is a conversation between Daniel Radcliffe and J.K. Rowling.

To watch the official Blu-Ray/DVD trailer for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2,
click on the video below! Deathly Hallows: Part 2 enters U.S. stores on November 11,
and in the U.K. on December 2nd.

LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 game director discusses game!

LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 game director
Arthur Parsons recently discussed the upcoming
LEGO Harry Potter video game sequel,
LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7.

In the interview, he was asked:
Following LEGO Harry Potter Years 1-4, 
what sort of things did you want to improve 
or expand upon?

"The first game was a different direction for LEGO, because we wanted to
create that experience of going to school, being a wizard at Hogwarts
and it was very light-hearted and jovial, like the first films are really."

"So for Years 5-7, the big change is that dark times are coming,
...It's about learning new magic that you're going to be able to take
and fight the forces of Voldemort with."

One other interview question worth noting in the lengthy interview was:
LEGO Harry Potter Years 1-4 had the biggest hub world of all the LEGO games.
Does that setting return, and have you amended it?

"What we've done for this game is make it bigger.
In the first game, you were in the walls of Hogwarts, and you could explore Hogwarts,
go off the beaten track,  you could go to your lessons and your story events,
or you could go have a bit of fun.

We kept that, because that was such a massive positive.
And instead of just keeping it, we've expanded it. You can actually walk
outside of Hogwarts, you can walk to Hogsmeade Station, you can get the
Hogwarts Express, go to King's Cross, explore King's Cross, wander around London.

"We've actually linked it all up, so now it's not just Hogwarts, the whole Harry Potter
universe is there to wander round and explore. There's Hogsmeade and Hogshead,
and you've got the whole forest hub area, because obviously Deathly Hallows Part One
in its entirety is set outside Hogwarts, so we had to make sure we captured that."

The whole interview was very nicely done by digitalspy.com,
and can be reached through this weblink:http://www.digitalspy.com/gaming/interviews/a346714/lego-harry-potter-years-5-7-interview-we-made-dark-films-fun.html

Thanks to digitalspy.com for this newstory!

Pottermore Insider posts new concept art from Pottermore.com!

This is all-new concept art from Pottermore.com
that was released online by Pottermore Insider.
(http://insider.pottermore.com/).
To the left is early development artwork for
the Griffindor house logo.

Secondly, here is the artwork for Ravenclaw,
which also is an early development sketch.

Here is how, according to Pottermore Insider,
these sketches were created:

"The artists started by talking about the best way to include the natural elements 

of fire, earth, water and air into each house; what the best positions and expressions 

for the animals would be; and the most effective way to include the house colors 

in the final designs.

Their main aim all the way through the process was to make the crests into symbols 

that Pottermore users would be proud to display as part of their Pottermore identity.

To start with, three versions were sketched for each house crest. 
The team then looked at each variation to make absolutely sure the details 
and attributes of each house were clearly represented. 

The design they felt was the strongest out of the three was selected to go through 
to the next stage of the process, which involved adding color to the designs."

To read the full story of these spectacular pieces of art, go to:
http://insider.pottermore.com/2011/10/behind-scenes-pottermore-house-crests.html

Target announces its exclusive Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 special edition!

Target.com has just announced yesterday that
the final Harry Potter film will be released in a
special 4-disk special edition, exclusive to Target.

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2"
will be available in Blu-Ray and DVD there also,
but this 4-disk edition includes an exclusive
48-minute documentary on the making of the film.

To pre-order this edition of the film, go to:
http://www.target.com/p/-/A-13788752#?lnk=Utility_MOVIE_101611_X2Y0W2|X2Y0W2

The retail price stands at $29.99, only $5 more then the Blu-Ray Triple Play pack,
which includes Blu-Ray, DVD, and a digital copy of the film, which is included here.
The only reason you'd want to pay $5 more is to get this 48-minute documentary,
"When Harry left Hogwarts". You can see a sneak peek of the video below.

Harry Potter actor Jamie Waylett arrested

ex-Harry Potter co-star Jamie Waylett has been arrested
for "...violent disorder and receiving stolen goods."

During the London riots, which he participated in,
Jamie Waylett was arrested for stealing champagne

During a authorized search of his home,
police found over a dozen marijuana plants.

In addition to these charges, Waylett was also found
to have a homemade bomb in his possession.

He was let out on bail, but is scheduled to
return to court on November 11th.

Jamie Waylett has already once been arrested
for marijuana possession within the last year or two.

As a second offense, the punishment may end up being more severe.

New LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 game art leaked online!

Here is the all-new LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7
character art that was released over the course
of the past month. These three images are likely
early pieces of C.G.I. character animation,
from when the game was in early development.

These pieces of art are (or were) used to help
re-create these characters for the game itself.

These pictures were provided by the offficial
LEGO Harry Potter facebook page.

Harry Potter movie series to get a farewell tribute at the Scream Awards

It has now been confirmed, after much
speculation, that Spike TV will be honoring
the Harry Potter movie series at their annual
Scream Awards ceremony.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part Two
holds a nomination in 14 different categories.

Place your vote now, and the Harry Potter films may be able to pull off another piece of magic!
Go to: http://www.spike.com/events/scream-awards-2011/

Voting is open, and hassle-free for all.

It is also believed that the final Harry Potter film may have a chance
at the Oscar Awards, which take place in only a few months.
Only time will tell...

LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 game trailer released!

The first official trailer for LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7
has just been released online.

About 1 minute and 11 seconds long,
this trailer focuses heavily on Year 5 in the game,
but includes some clips from Years 6 & 7.

It includes the U.K. game rating, but please be aware
that it does not specify any U.S. rating.

You can watch the full trailer for the game below.

The game comes out this November.

The Order of the Phoenix Network supports the Anti-Bullying movement!

As of today, The Order of the Phoenix News Network will be supporting
the No Bully organization to prevent any form of bullying,
weither it is cyber-bullying, or physical bullying, it is unacceptable.

So for all of October, in a movement to surpress bullying, and hopefully,
eliminate it where possible, we will be standing behind several anti-bullying
campaigns, including nobully.com.

Here is the description for the organization: "Each day an estimated 160,000
students in the USA refuse to go to school because they dread the physical
and verbal aggression of their peers, and the isolation that comes from being
the target of rumors and cyber-bullying."

One bully can ruin anyone's day. A world in which anyone can be a bully,
and get away with it, is even worse.

To coin a phrase: "They cannot take away our self-respect if we don't give it to them."

To show your support, visit http://www.nobully.com/= 
Thank You.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows lands at #14 all-time movie in the U.S.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
has now earned $379,268,754 in the U.S. alone,
and totals $1.3 billion dollars worldwide.

A very impressive total, and it continues to slowly gain
even more money, although it is now clear that,
after almost 3 months, the last Harry Potter film is finally
on its last legs. It looks like it will soon end up with $1.4 billion,
and then leave theaters, just in time for the Blu-Rays and
DVDs to be released next month.

A future post will be made when the film
finishes its long and fruitful run.

Pottermore.com confirmed to be released late October!

It has been confirmed that Pottermore.com will
NOT be opened to the public until late October.
The Pottermore Insider says:
"From the end of October, registration will be
opened to everyone and we’ll be giving access
to registered users in phases.

Access may be granted quickly, but please note
it could also take some weeks or months,
depending on demand.

Also: "...we’ve decided to extend the Beta period beyond September and take
a different approach to the way new users are brought onto Pottermore."

So if you've been one of those granted early access, then you have
one more month to enjoy the site exclusively.

Please note that the notice said this clever release date hint:
"From the end of October, registration will be open to everyone."
This encourages the rumor of Pottermore opening on October 31st,
the day that Harry Potter got his lightning shaped scar.

Is this a coincidence, or is it hinting a release date?

Harry Potter e-books delayed until 2012!

It was just announced by msnbc.com that the
Harry Pottere-book adaptions planned to be sold
through Pottermore.com  have been postponed
until sometime in early to mid 2012.

According to msnbc.com, the Harry Potter e-books
will be avaliable on the following digital readers:
 Amazon Kindle, Sony Reader and on the Apple iPad.

The Pottermore.com team says
this delay will allow them to:
"...focus on our first priority: opening Pottermore to as many people
as possible and making the experience as good as it can be."

So, sorry to all of you hoping to download the Harry Potter e-books,
but it looks like the books will stay in only print and audio form, for now.
Pottermore.com opens to the public sometime in October.

All 1 million early access Pottermore invites sent out!

It was officially announced today, by 

PotterMore Insider, http://insider.pottermore.com/ ,

that all 1 million early access welcome e-mails

have now been sent out to their owners.

They released a short statement on the matter,

 which can be read fully below. For more info 

on Pottermore, go to the PotterMore Insider blog,

You can use the link at the beginning of the post.

Pottermore Insider tells us: "Earlier today,  we sent out the one-millionth Welcome email - 

which means that everyone who successfully registered for the PotterMore.com Beta 

should now have access to PotterMore.com shortly.

We’re expecting the site to be extremely busy over the next 24 hours
as people log in and explore PotterMore for the first time.

As such, you may have to wait to sign in but please keep trying if you aren't able
to gain entry straight away, (due to the large amount of users on PotterMore.)"

Pottermore.com is open to the public this October.
No release date has yet been officially confirmed.

All-New preview of Pottermore.com!

Behindthethrills.com has just posted a review
of the upcoming Pottermore.com experience,
and more importantly, they share very useful
information on setting up a Pottermore account.

Pottermore.com opens to the public next month.
Pottermore.com doesn't yet have a premiere date.

How to set up a Pottermore.com account
 "After you get your welcome email and
log in for the first time, you’ll be shown
what you can do with Pottermore."

"At the bottom of this screen, you can link your
Pottermore account to Facebook and link up
with your friends on Facebook who use
Pottermore.  You can also just type in your
friends username and add them directly."

"Now it’s time to explore starting with the
Magical Gateway. There, You can see your
progress, as well as where your friends are at."

"Notice all the locked symbols at the top?
Soon we will be unlocking things,  but lets focus on getting started.
From here you can see how much exploring we have to do in the near future.
Pottermore allows you to explore chapters of each book, beginning with
the first book, “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”.

To read the review on behindthethrills.com, use this link:
http://behindthethrills.com/2011/09/a-guide-to-jk-rowlings-pottermore-getting-started/

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 Blu-Ray covers released!

These are the official covers to
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.
To the top left is the Blu-Ray 3-D pack, allowing fans
to re-watch the film in full Blu-Ray 3-D quality.

Second on the left is the two-disk DVD edition,
with several, if not all, of the special features.

If you don't have a Blu-Ray player and HDTV,
then this is the DVD pack for you.

It is well worth getting, but please note that Blu-Ray
does have several additional features that you will
not be able to enjoy on DVD.

Next, to the bottom left, is the Blu-Ray Triple Play combo pack.
Containing a Blu-Ray version of the film, a DVD version,
and a digital copy compatible with a computer or an ipod.
And finally, the 1-disk DVD, with only additional scenes
as a feature.

The only question remains, which will you choose?

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 is released on
November 11th in the U.S and on December 2nd in the U.K.

Harry Potter: The Complete Collection coming this November!

For both Blu-Ray and DVD owners, you will soon
be able to collect all eight Harry Potter movies
in one complete combo pack.

"Harry Potter: The Complete 8-film Collection"
will be released on November 11th in the U.S.
and on December 2nd in the U.K.

As to why there is about a three week delay
in releasing the collection in the U.K.
We don't know.

You can pre-order the HP complete collection
through amazon.com through these links:

For those of you in the U.S. , go to:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005OCFGTO/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=danradclico06-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=B005OCFGTO

This will get you to the complete collection
in its DVD form, but it is also available in Blu-Ray.


For U.K. residents, go to:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00543R3WG/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=danradclico02-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B00543R3WG

Also for U.K. residents, you can order a limited edition collector's set
of all eight films, you can place an order for one on amazon.com .
There is a picture of one below this text.

Go to: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B005GTJEZC/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=danradclico02-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B005GTJEZC

Order now. It's unsure how long these
collector's edition copies will be here
before they're sold out!