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?