For one thing, many people simply do not have $600 to spend on a collection of books and The Creature Vault is only $27 at Barnes & Noble or Amazon. The book, out October 28th, also has 208 pages while the other edition only has 127. This new publication contains a LOT more material. The earlier book is mostly comprised of photos while this combines imagery with all the information you could want on the creatures in the films. Harper Collins sent us a copy to review, and here are our thoughts!
We went over the basics, now let’s dig in a little deeper. The quality is beautiful, just picking up the book stimulates the senses with it’s textured cover (creatures are debossed in a dark purple.) The attention to detail in the creation of this book is apparent, the cover was designed to look worn out, almost as if it is part of the Potter universe. The book also contains a poster depicting some of the world’s favorite magical creates. It is concealed in an envelope on the back cover of the book.
Inside find gorgeous full color photographs in the form of film stills, concept art and behind the scenes photos as well as detailed sketches of creatures we saw in the films and some we never got to see due to cuts. Perhaps we’ll have the chance in the upcoming Fantastic Beats and Where to Find Them films?
What about the content, you’re thinking? Well, you won’t be left wanting. There are 208 pages full of little tidbits, fast facts and even film quotes to go along with the descriptions of each creature. The Creature Vault is a great companion for fans of the movies because within the book you will find details on how certain creatures were made for the films. Also, in the “fast facts” sections you get to see the first film appearance of the creature, additional appearances if any, and other details you may want to know. For example, from Mrs Norris’ section:
First Film Appearance: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone Additional Film Appearances: 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, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2. Location: Hogwarts Castle Owner: Argus Filch Description from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone Book, Chapter Eight: “Filch owned a cat called Mrs. Norris, a scrawny, dust-colored creature with bulging, lamplike eyes just like Filch’s.”
[flat interior shots thanks to Behance; all others by Magical-Menagerie]
As many news outlets posted last week, J.K. Rowling has released some new information on Pottermore today. Along with that, the first chapters of Order of the Phoenix are now ready to explore! You can also visit the Great Hall to witness the spectacular annual Hallowe’en feast, and don’t forget to take a peek at the Hallowe’en map on your pottermore.com homepage. A preview of Dolores Umbridge’s back story may be read below.
“…Dolores…is one of the characters for whom I feel the purest dislike…” writes J.K. Rowling in a note at the entry’s conclusion. “Her desire to control, to punish, and to inflict pain, all in the name of law and order, are, I think, every bit as reprehensible as Lord Voldemort’s unvarnished espousal of evil.”
Among the new details about Umbridge that have never before been disclosed:
A real person was the inspiration for the character of Dolores Umbridge (J.K. Rowling is deliberately vague on her identity). She describes her as a person “whom I disliked intensely on sight. The woman in question returned my antipathy with interest. Why we took against each other so instantly, heartily and (on my side, at least) irrationally, I honestly cannot say.”
During detention, Umbridge forced Harry to cut the words “I must not tell lies” on the back of his hand, thus becoming the only person other than Lord Voldemort to leave a permanent physical scar on Harry.
She is revealed to be a half blood – the daughter of a wizard and a Muggle (non-magical person). This is especially noteworthy because in the books Umbridge lies to bolster her own pure-blood credentials.
According to the press release:
The essay about Dolores Umbridge is just one entry in over 5,500 words of new writing by J.K. Rowling posted on Pottermore at Halloween, to mark the launch of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix onto the website. Other entries include a look at the magical and mysterious creatures Thestrals, the dark history of the wizarding prison Azkaban, thoughts on the character Sybil Trelawney, details of all who have held the position of Minister for Magic, and an introduction to the ancient wizarding practice of Naming Seers.
The holiday season is fast approaching, so starting this week we will be sharing one or more Harry Potter items to get for the Potter fans in your life (or yourself) every Friday!
Dementors and House-elves, merpeople and Chinese Fireball Dragons, and Harry Potter fans everywhere are sure to love the magical gifts inspired by J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World. For those Harry Potter Super Fans who have it all, Warner Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP) presents Harry Potter: The Creature Vault, a book that takes a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at how this menagerie was produced for the blockbuster Harry Potter film series. Also, bring spells to life this holiday, or at least to the television. WBCP is offering the Harry Potter Remote Control Wand, allowing wizards everywhere to magically control any IR device with the flick of the wrist.
HARPER DIRECT Harry Potter: The Creature Vault
Dementors and House-elves, merpeople and Chinese Fireball Dragons—these are just a few of the magical creatures and frightening monsters populating J. K. Rowling’s wizarding world. Harry Potter: The Creature Vault is a fascinating look at how this menagerie was brought to life for the blockbuster Harry Potter film series. Detailed profiles of each creature include rare concept illustrations, behind-the-scenes photography and filmmaking secrets from the Warner Bros. archive. A removable poster picturing each of the creatures and an interactive Eeylops Owl Emporium catalog complete this must-have package. Available for $45.
THE NOBLE COLLECTION – Harry Potter Remote Control Wand
Bring spells to life, or at least to the television. With the Harry Potter Remote Control Wand, one can magically control any IR device with a flick of the wrist. Complete with collector box and comprehensive instructions. Available for $49.95.
Filed Under: Books, Friday Favorites, Products
In a new press release from Bloomsbury this morning, they’ve announced that on February 5th they will be launching Harry Potter Book Night.
February 5th 2015 will see the first ever Harry Potter Book Night. This exciting event will give new and existing fans a chance to share the wonder of J.K. Rowling’s unforgettable stories and, most excitingly, to introduce the next generation of readers to the unparalleled magic of Harry Potter. You are hereby invited to embrace the magic and banish the midwinter blues!
Bloomsbury Children’s Books is inviting schools, bookshops, libraries and community groups to host early-evening events in celebration of Harry Potter Book Night. Bloomsbury is creating a complete Harry Potter Book Night Kit – available for free download – offering hosts everything they need to plan an unforgettable evening. The kit will include invitation templates, an event poster, games, activities and quizzes as well as ideas for dressing up and decorating the venue. The kit will be available from the new website harrypotterbooknight.com. Event hosts can register now at the site to receive the kit and updates in the run up to the big night.
In addition to the community events outlined above, there will be public events in London and key regions, a major competition for UK and Irish schools and many further treats and surprises – all celebrating J.K. Rowling’s seven iconic Harry Potter books – to be revealed soon.
Bloomsbury Children’s Books will be marking Harry Potter Book Night on February 5th in their key territories, giving fans across the world an opportunity to join in the celebrations.
Bloomsbury is working closely with Harry Potter partners on plans for the inaugural Harry Potter Book Night, and this interactive celebration joins the new Jonny Duddle jackets, Harry Potter book festival events and the Jim Kay illustrated editions publishing October 2015 as part of a wider strategy from Bloomsbury to pass the magic of these unique adventures on to as many readers as possible.
In a new survey by Vue Cinemas, the Harry Potter books came out in the Top 5 Best AND Worst book series to be turned into films. Vue have sent over the results which you can read in full here. Find the results specific to Harry Potter below.
Harry Potter came out as the worst book series to be turned into a film, mainly due to plot gaps and actor choices. The top five worst books to be turned into films are as follows:
Harry Potter
50 Shades of Grey (interesting as it’s not even been released yet)
Lord of the Rings
The Hobbit
Twilight
Lord of The Rings came out as the UK’s favourite book series to be turned into films, due to it staying true to the book, and it bringing to life what the reader imagined. The top five best books to be turned into films are as follows:
Lord of the Rings
Harry Potter
The Hunger Games
Batman
Bridget Jones’ Diary
Harry Potter was voted both the worst book adaptation, and the second best. In this context, worst doesn’t mean bad films, it means the series that people felt the most was missed out of. Plus, the books had such a wide-spread and intense following, that the films were always going to upset some fans.
Other little tidbits on the results:
Out of the Harry Potter books and films, the books are the clear favourite amongst fans, with more preferring the book versions of Harry Potter than any other vs. questions in the survey. 12% more agreed that the books were better than the films. In fact, every region of the UK agreed that the books are better.
The key moments respondents felt were missed out of the Harry Potter films were Peeves the Poltergeist and the Quidditch World Cup, followed Hermione’s elf rights group, SPEW.
Females are bigger fans of the Harry Potter books than males, with females preferring the books, and males preferring the films.
Publisher Harper Collins have released a new video trailer for their upcoming book Harry Potter: The Creature Vault. The book will be released on October 28th and can be pre-ordered for $45 at Amazon, Harper Collins, and Barnes and Noble. A second book, Harry Potter: The Book of Magical Places will be released in May of 2015.
HARRY POTTER: THE CREATURE VAULT (Harper Design; on sale October 28, 2014; $45.00, 208 pages, full color photos and illustrations throughout; ISBN: 9780062374233 ) is the first book devoted exclusively to the fascinating process of bringing to life the creatures in the Harry Potter films. With full support from Warner Bros., the studio behind the enormously successful film franchise, HARRY POTTER: THE CREATURE VAULT is a comprehensive and delightful look at the memorable creatures that populate the magical world. From Dementors and goblins to merpeople and Chinese Fireball dragons, HARRY POTTER: THE CREATURE VAULT peers into the filmmaking archives to give readers an inside look at the magical creatures featured in the wizarding world of the Harry Potter films.
HARRY POTTER: THE CREATURE VAULT is bound in a purple leatherette case with de-bossed images of the creatures featured in the magical world of the Harry Potter films. The interior features high-quality photographs of each of the creatures and is loaded with beautifully detailed concept art, behind-the-scenes shots, and film stills. A true collector’s edition, HARRY POTTER: THE CREATURE VAULT includes a removable poster that pictures each of the creatures in full color and an eight-page Eeylops Owl Emporium catalog, profiling the owls on offer at Diagon Alley’s one-stop shop for every wizard’s owl needs.
Compiled by Jody Revenson, this lavish volume will answer questions such as: How was Dobby created? How were the Hippogriffs (part horse, part eagle) made to look so real? In short: How does movie magic happen?
Jody Revenson has written extensively about the Harry Potter films and is the author of six books in the Harry Potter: Page to Screen Limited Edition, including Wizard Wear and Muggle Attire, Movie Magic, and Ten Years Later: Life On Set with the Harry Potter Cast and Crew. She has also written books about Jack Sparrow, the Disney theme parks, Dick Grayson, and Bugs Bunny. She lives in New York City.
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