Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: 20th Anniversary Edition (2001/Warner DVD Set)/Jim Henson's Labyrinth 4K: 35th Anniversary Edition (1986/Sony 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray w/Blu-ray)

4K Ultra HD Picture: A- Picture: B+/B- Sound: A-/B- Extras: B Films: B+/A-

Next up are anniversary editions of two more recent fantasy genre favorites...

I consider Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001) to be up there with some of the greatest fantasy films ever made such as The Wizard of Oz (1939, reviewed on 4K disc elsewhere on this site). It's impeccably close to the original book by J.K. Rowling, and tells a wonderful and captivating tale of a poor boy that is destined to become a powerful wizard. Seeing the film after all these years, I still find it as magical and captivating as ever before. We have reviewed all of the films on the 4K UHD format elsewhere on this site if you want to get into the full coverage.

Warner Bros., in celebration of the film's 20th anniversary have re-released it on Blu-ray and DVD in this two-disc collector's edition. I also have the (far superior) 4K UHD edition of the film, but here we are covering the 2 disc DVD edition, which has a magical movie mode that is basically kind of pop up video facts and information about the making of the film and the wizarding world of Harry Potter. Not sure why they didn't put out a 4K UHD release of the film again for this occasion, but it is available individually and in a box set too. If you have the capability at home I would suggest that version.

The film stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, John Cleese, Robbie Coltrane, Richard Griffiths, and the late John Hurt and Alan Rickman amongst many others. The film is directed by Chris Columbus (Home Alone), who came back to direct the second installment: The Chamber of Secrets.

A young orphan boy named Harry Potter is forced to live with his harsh Aunt and Uncle and their stubborn son in a hole in the stairs at their residence. Poor Harry remains optimistic in life despite the harsh punishment at home, and misses his real parents badly, who disappeared under secret circumstances. One day, he receives (many) letters to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Before he knows it, he is at the school and begins to meet other children his age and begin his studies of becoming a wizard. He also finds out that his parents were important figures in the school and left him with a lot of money. Harry's life changes drastically overnight and he begins to learn that he is of rare importance himself. Meanwhile, a dark force is reborn and starts to take shape as the Lord Voldemort begins his plans of taking over the magical school and its students.

This 2-disc DVD edition shows a compressed, anamorphically enhanced version of the film in 2.40:1 widescreen and paired with a lossy Dolby Digital 5.1 mix. Both of which are of high standard for the format, but a far cry from the superior 4K UHD edition. John Williams' beautiful score lends so much magic and wonder to the film and is captured nicely here.

Special Features - The Harry Potter Magical Movie Mode on a separate disc and the film presented normally on the other.

Though 20 years have passed, this first Harry Potter film remains a magical and fun entry in the franchise and is a fun movie on its own for people of any age.

Jim Henson's Labyrinth (1986) is a classic fantasy film and stars the late David Bowie and a young Jennifer Connelly in a magical fusion of live action and puppeteering that is still awe inspiring to this day. Sure, this film has seen COUNTLESS releases on various formats over the years, but that's just because so many people love it. This edition on the 4K UHD format has one of the coolest slip cases I've seen lately and is presented as a 28-page DigiBook featuring rare artwork, photography and early script pages, all from deep within the Henson Archives, styled to resemble Sarah's book of The Labyrinth from the film.

In Labyrinth, a young girl (Connelly) wishes that Goblins would take away her crying baby brother and it ends up actually happening when the Goblin King (Bowie) shows up and hides the child in the center of a complex labyrinth that the girl must travel through to save him. Along the way she meets many bizarre creatures big and small that teach her things as she goes and help her with a few life lessons too.

This 35th Anniversary Edition edition of Labyrinth is presented in 2160p on 4K UHD disc with a native 4K presentation, HDR (Dolby Vision & HDR10), a widescreen aspect ratio of 2.35:1 and lossless audio mixes English Dolby Atmos 11.1, Dolby TrueHD 7.1, DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 5.1, and DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 2.0 (all 48kHz, 24-bit). This actually isn't the first time the film has been released on the 4K format, which we reviewed a few years ago and the 4K transfer is the same amazing transfer from before. There's also a 1080p Blu-ray edition in this set with similar audio specs and a lesser image.

Extras include:

Deleted & Alternate Scene Oubliette

NEW Over 25 minutes of never-before-seen lost and alternate scenes, with all-new commentary from Brian Henson!

NEW: Sarah's Screen Tests

A collection of rare, original screen tests for the role of Sarah! Featuring Molly Ringwald, Trini Alvarado, Tracey Gold, Claudia Wells, Jill Schoelen, Maddie Corman and Danielle von Zerneck

Regular Blu-ray version extras:

Feature presented in high definition, sourced from the 4K master

Dolby Atmos audio

"The Henson Legacy" Featurette

Labyrinth Anniversary Q&A

"Remembering The Goblin King" Featurette

The Storytellers (Picture-in-Picture)

Commentary by Conceptual Designer Brian Froud

Original Making-of Documentary "Inside The Labyrinth”

"Journey Through the Labyrinth: Kingdom of Characters" Documentary

"Journey Through the Labyrinth: The Quest for Goblin City" Documentary

and Theatrical Trailers.

- James Lockhart

https://www.facebook.com/jamesharlandlockhartv/