| Actors: |
Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Maggie Smith, Gary Oldman, Alan Rickman, David Thewlis, Ralph Fiennes, Emma Thompson, Helena Bonham Carter, Julie Walters, Fiona Shaw, Imelda Staunton, Michael Gambon, Brendan Gleeson, Robbie Coltrane, Warwick Davis, Jason Isaacs, Richard Griffiths |
| Special Features: |
- Maximum Movie Mode (Disc 1, HD, 154 minutes): While its moniker is completely misleading -- Half-Blood Prince's Maximum Movie Mode is a traditional Picture-in-Picture track, not the revolutionary, Watchmen-esque monster experience its name implies -- Warner's feature is nevertheless a generous, extremely well-conceived one. Loaded with animatics, special effects breakdowns, production stills, scene comparisons, concept art, interview segments, and accessible Focus Point featurettes, it's a fairly extensive addition to the release. It's also not hosted by Daniel Radcliffe (as the coverart seems to suggest). Radcliffe appears in interviews, but no more than his castmates and other production heads. Still, the quality of the PiP content renders it all a non-issue. As an added touch, tapping the directional pad on your remote allows you to hop through the track, effectively skipping gaps in which no bonus material appears on screen. It's a snazzy, effortless, and subtle function that makes the entire experience more streamlined, less time-consuming, and far more enjoyable.
- Focus Points (Disc 1, HD, 38 minutes): The Maximum Movie Mode's fourteen Focus Point featurettes can also be accessed from the main menu. Segments include "The Millennium Bridge," "Shooting on Location," "Professor Slughorn," "Building Relationships," "Director David Yates Returns," "Wool's Orphanage," "Ron and Lavender's Kiss," "The Burrow," "Harry and Ginny's Kiss," "Aragog Returns," "Creating the Cave," "Designing the Virtual Cave Environment," "The Inferi," and "The Underwater Sequence."
- Creating the World of Harry Potter Part 6: Magical Effects (Disc 2, HD, 64 minutes): The sixth Ultimate Edition Harry Potter release initially seems a bit late in the "Creating the World" game to tackle what is arguably one of the series' most crucial elements -- the visual effects wizardry and CG sleight-of-hand that have helped make the Harry Potter movies, well, magic -- but it makes perfect sense once you sit down and begin watching the evolution of the series' effects, from The Sorcerer's Stone to, yep, The Deathly Hallows, the conclusion of which is due in theaters next month. Like previous outings, the latest installment of "Creating the World of Harry Potter" is an excellent one, delving into every aspect of the films' effects from their development to their implementation to the changes they've undergone over the course of the saga's production. Virtually every key member of the cast and crew, new and old, take viewers behind the computers, into the digital world of Harry Potter, to examine the practical tricks-of-the-trade, clever innovations and CG spell-casting that transformed some of the series' biggest scenes into its most unforgettable.
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: Behind the Magic (Disc 2, SD, 47 minutes): Also making its Blu-ray debut is "Behind the Magic," a secondary television special hosted by Ben Shephard that goes behind-the-scenes of The Half-Blood Prince. Brimming with cast and crew interviews, production insights and on-set, mid-shoot tours, it's much better than the usual television specials included on other Blu-ray releases. Shephard even scores a cameo in the film, much to his delight.
- Additional Footage (Disc 2, HD, 7 minutes): Eight brief deleted scenes, none of which fizzle and most of which should have been retained in the final film (I particularly enjoyed the moment of quiet reflection set to choir song). Moreover, each one is being presented in high definition for the first time.
- Interstitials (Disc 2, SD, 5 minutes): While the set's "Interstitials" weren't included on the 2009 Blu-ray release, it was probably for good reason. The Half-Blood Prince interstitials are a collection of quick-hit promos for the film, nothing more. Segments include "The Story," "Love is in the Air," "Meet Professor Slughorn," "The Story of Tom Riddle" and "Comedy."
- J.K. Rowling: A Year in the Life (Disc 2, HD, 50 minutes): This revealing documentary about Rowling and her craft opens with a spoiler warning, and for good reason. It plows through the whole of the Potter saga, including its ultimate conclusion, and investigates the woman who brought it all to life.
- Close-Up with the Cast of Harry Potter (Disc 2, HD, 29 minutes): A series of eight additional featurettes in which key members of the cast explore various production departments. Daniel Radcliffe sits down with editor Mark Day for a chat about editing; Matthew Lewis, Oliver Phelps, and Tom Felton learn about special effects from FX supervisor John Richardson; Jessie Cave meets owl trainer Guillaume Grange; Rupert Grint spends time with the stunt department; Evanna Lynch discusses jewelry with costume designer Jany Temime; Bonnie Wright visits graphic designer Eduardo Lima to talk about props and set design; James Phelps earns his wings as an assistant director; and Emma Watson has a spirited conversation with makeup designer Amanda Knight.
- One-Minute Drills (Disc 2, HD, 7 minutes): Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, James and Oliver Phelps, Bonnie Wright, and Tom Felton are each given one minute or less to recount their character's entire, six-film storyline. It's mildly amusing, but primarily aimed at younger viewers.
- What's On Your Mind? (Disc 2, HD, 7 minutes): Tom Fulton interviews his fellow actors with rapidfire questions aimed at soliciting one or two-word answers.
- The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (Disc 2, HD, 12 minutes): A sneak peek at the Potter attraction being built at the Universal Orlando Resort in Florida.
- First Footage from The Deathly Hallows (Disc 2, HD, 2 minutes): Though outdated at this point, completists will nevertheless appreciate this early sneak peek's inclusion.
- Theatrical Trailers (Disc 2, HD, 8 minutes): Four trailers round out the package.
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