Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Blu-ray

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

 (2009)

Adventure | Family | Mystery | Romance



Emboldened by the return of Lord Voldemort, the Death Eaters are wreaking havoc in both the Muggle and wizarding worlds and Hogwarts is no longer the safe haven it once was. Harry suspects that new dangers may lie within the castle, but Dumbledore is more intent upon preparing him for the final battle that he knows is fast approaching. He needs Harry to help him uncover a vital key to unlocking Voldemort's defenses critical information known only to Hogwarts' former Potions Professor, Horace Slughorn. With that in mind, Dumbledore manipulates his old colleague into returning to his previous post with promises of more money, a bigger office and the chance to teach the famous Harry Potter.

For more details about Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince on Blu-ray, see the Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Blu-ray Review

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Michael Gambon, Alan Rickman
Director: David Yates

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Blu-ray, Video Quality

 


Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is an exceedingly dark film, and Warner's faithful 1080p/VC-1 transfer follows suit. Color is often absent from the palette, but the washed hues and inky blacks that remain are all the more haunting and beautiful for it. Contrast remains consistent regardless of how bleak the photography becomes, and delineation is always just as revealing as it should be. Detail is also stunning. Textures are crisp and refined, object definition is clean and sharp (without the help of any intrusive edge enhancement), and every instance of softness should be attributed to the filmmakers' intentions. Whether it be a collapsing bridge in the middle of a bustling city, a rustling grain field in the dead of night, or an underground cavern swirling with the flames of a fallen wizard, each shot and scene looks exceptional. It certainly doesn't register with the same impact as a flashy summer blockbuster, but don't be fooled by the reserved, somewhat grainy nature of the visuals. Warner's transfer is every bit as proficient as other more obvious head-turners on the market. Artifacting, crush, smearing, aliasing, and ringing aren't a problem, and the two issues that do distract -- a hint of white-flecked source noise dots a decades-old encounter between Professor Slughorn and a young Tom Riddle, and nearly unnoticeable banding pops up in two scenes filled with steam and smoke -- are short-lived and largely negligible.

Suffice to say, the Blu-ray edition of The Half-Blood Prince delivers a fantastic presentation. Its technical transfer should easily please any Potter fan who isn't taken aback by the film's subdued appearance or Bruno Delbonnel's overcast imagery. Some will surely complain, but I can't imagine the film looking much better than it does here.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Blu-ray, Audio Quality

 


On the audio front, Half-Blood Prince's Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround track is flawless. Yes, the film itself offers a quieter, more nuanced soundscape than previous series installments (particularly in regards to its musical score), but both power and ferocity arrive in force whenever called upon, and subtlety dominates the proceedings whenever evil is being held at bay. A collapsing bridge offers an early hint of the sonic majesty that is to come, but doesn't remain alone for long. Blazing flame serpents, a cursed young girl, a battle of wands, a crowded marketplace, Dumbledore's teleportation, a rush of recalled memories, a horde of undead guardians, an enraged master wizard, a harrowing field chase, and many other standout moments take full advantage of the LFE channel and rear speakers. Even when Harry and his friends retreat to a corner to whisper their plans and discuss their theories, the resonant halls of Hogwarts have a legitimate presence in the mix. Ambience, whether restrained or aggressive, accurately assaults the listener from every direction, producing a wholly immersive soundfield populated with smooth pans and precise effects. Dynamics, whether mounting an offensive or storming the gates, are bold and sternum-thumping. Dialogue, whether hushed or shouted, is crystal clear and perfectly prioritized; lines are never lost beneath the chaos and words are never drowned by the thundering magic that ensues. I may have two small nitpicks about Warner's video transfer, negligible as they are, but I can't conjure up a single gripe about the studio's magnificent TrueHD track.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Blu-ray, News and Updates

• Blu-ray Sales, December 7-13: Potter Enchants Charts (Update) - December 17, 2009


• Reminder: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Blu-ray Comm... - December 12, 2009


• Today on Blu-ray - December 8th - December 8, 2009


• Half-Blood Prince Worldwide BD-Live Community Screening - October 19, 2009


• BD Details for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - September 18, 2009


• Ultimate Editions Announced for First Two Harry Potter Movies (Up... - September 18, 2009


• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince for December - September 17, 2009

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