Funny how over the years, the extended Potter family of muggles and magic has woven into our lives. The other day, my wife and I visited our 18-year-old son, Patrick, a freshman at Western Washington University in Bellingham, during parents weekend. We returned at one point to our hotel room, accompanied by our son, to pause before going out to dinner. Patrick picked up the Comcast remote and started surfing. He quickly landed on the last half hour of the first Harry Potter film. Patrick looked at the actors and said, “Awwwww, I forgot how cute they all were.”
My wife and I had to smile, since we remember how cute our son was when he was there for the beginning of the Harry Potter saga. He was the age of the lead Potter actors. If you don’t stop to remember how cute any kids were, it’s too easy to forget.
The childhood of the students at Hogwarts is about as well documented as any child actors in Hollywood. And now we’re all ready to see them grow up. The next movie’s coming out in about three weeks. Tonight the family will be devouring the latest Xfinity TV On Demand featurettes from the upcoming Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1. Comcast and the Potter family will be rolling out these documentaries starting today and through November. This time round, we also have the option of watching these segments On Demand via our computer, online in the Potter family section of www.XfinityTV.com.
If you sum up the amount of Harry Potter coverage, On Demand offers access to to more than 75 special features, including interviews with the actors, behind-the-scenes features, a historical overview of the films, trailers and more.
In terms of the featurettes, there will be six exclusive features available On Demand and online, including (and now you’ll see wording from the official company news release):
· Available November 1, 2010:
o The Story: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 is different from the previous films in that Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger are on their own, without the protection of their Hogwarts professors. The three friends are on a desperate mission to save the wizarding world while Lord Voldemort’s Death Eaters hunt them every step of the way! This featurette looks at how their journey begins, what is at stake, and the sacrifices they make for one another.
o Horcruxes: It’s up to Harry, Ron and Hermione to find and destroy Lord Voldemort’s remaining Horcruxes. Learn why the Horcruxes are the key to Voldemort’s immortality and to his ultimate destruction.
· Available November 8, 2010:
o The Deathly Hallows: What are the Deathly Hallows? And why are they are significant in the final battle between Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort? Find out in this exclusive featurette.
o The Ministry of Magic: This clip explores the changes to the Ministry of Magic that are revealed in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1. Learn how Harry, Ron and Hermione infiltrate the Ministry and encounter Dolores Umbridge in her new position as Head of the Muggle-born Registration Commission.
· Available November 15, 2010:
o Introduction of New Characters: In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1, Harry is introduced to Ron Weasley’s oldest brother and Luna Lovegood’s eccentric father. Meet these new characters in this Comcast exclusive.
o Bellatrix and Malfoy Madness: Following the events of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Bellatrix Lestrange remains Voldemort’s most loyal follower. However, Bellatrix’s sister, Narcissa Malfoy, and the Malfoy family find themselves in a precarious position after Lucius and Draco Malfoy failed to complete their missions for the Dark Lord. Go inside Malfoy Manor and learn how things have changed for this family of Death Eaters.
And then there’s the movies …
Xfinity TV is also offering Comcast customers access to the first five Harry Potter films – 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 and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix On Demand through November 10 for the special price of “nine and three-quarters” ($9.75), the same number as the train platform used to to get to Hogwarts. The On Demand path is Movies/Movie Collections/Harry Potter and then “Harry P. Bundle.”
These movies will also be available to rent individually On Demand and online through December 13.
The sixth movie, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, is available On Demand and online to Comcast HBO subscribers through November 29.
