Last week The Wand Company sent me one of their Kymera magic wand remotes to review on the site. If you would like your own wand, visit this page to buy one! Before I get to the actual usage of the wand I must say that it is VERY well made and I am in love with the user manual. It is totally in keeping with the Potter world and old timey feel with the parchment background and fun graphics.
The wand starts out in practice mode so you can learn all the different gestures like twisting the wand, flicking up or down, swishing down and more. The wand pulses to let you know you have done the movements correctly, which I found very helpful. Then when you are ready you can go into learning mode to teach your wand what you want each gesture to do, so the wand is very customizable! This part is a little tricky and took me a while to learn, but the good thing is once you teach it you won’t have to do it again (unless you want to change what a gesture does).
I will admit that I got very frustrated when I tried to teach my wand how to do things but then I asked my father to help and it works a lot better when you have two people. That way someone can do the wand movements and can tell the person holding the clicker when to push the buttons. Or perhaps I have lost all my hand eye coordination now that I’m an old fart (even though I’m only 22). Now I feel like a real wizard when I change the channel or turn the volume up or down! It’s pretty darn cool! I tried to take a video to show you all how it works, but I’d rather not subject you to that horribleness…
*I was gifted with the wand for the purpose of reviewing but that in no way affected my review. My thoughts are my own.
Insight Editions have emailed to let us know about some exciting news for Potter fans! They will be releasing an iPad app for the Harry Potter Film Wizardry book. The app is the first-ever authorized Harry Potter™ Film Wizardry book app and contains the entire New York Times bestselling book as well as interactive features, video, audio, additional never-before-seen photography, and will include an update on the making of Deathly Hallows Part 2 late this month. For more information visit this page. You can buy the app here for $12.99!
The SceneIt Twitter account will be hosting a super fun Twitter event tomorrow called Stump Scene It? From noon-1:30 PST, fans will have the opportunity to Tweet in their toughest Harry Potter film trivia questions to @sceneit, to try and stump the team of experts at Scene It?. They will also be giving out prizes such as Scene It? Harry Potter the Complete Cinematic Journey DVD boardgames, and Scene It? Harry Potter apps for iPhone and iPad.
All you need to do to participate is to follow @sceneit on Twitter, and use the @sceneit handle in all questions!
Also, the Scene It? Harry Potter iPhone/iPad app will have a free update tomorrow which includes new content and questions, including Deathly Hallows: Part II!
Today 30 second previews of each of the songs on the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II soundtrack have appeared online. The soundtrack will be released on July 12th, 3 days before the film comes out in theatres.
Once again, the track titles are as follows:
“Lily’s Theme” – 02:28
“The Tunnel” – 01:09
“Underworld” – 05:24
“Gringotts” – 02:24
“Dragon Flight” – 01:43
“Neville” – 01:40
“A New Headmaster” – 03:25
“Panic Inside Hogwarts” – 01:53
“Statues” – 02:22
“The Grey Lady” – 05:51
“In the Chamber of Secrets” – 01:37
“Battlefield” – 02:13
“The Diadem” – 03:08
“Broomsticks and Fire” – 01:24
“Courtyard Apocalypse” – 02:00
“Snape’s Demise” – 02:51
“Severus and Lily” – 06:08
“Harry’s Sacrifice” – 01:57
“The Resurrection Stone” – 04:32
“Harry Surrenders” – 01:30
“Procession” – 02:07
“Neville the Hero” – 02:17
“Showdown” – 03:37
“Voldemort’s End” – 02:44
“A New Beginning” – 01:39
Thanks to SnitchSeeker for compiling all the clips!
EA have sent over a new trailer for the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II video game, which will be released this coming July. The clip is entitled “Prepare for the Battle” and is introduced by Evanna Lynch. They also sent over a couple new stills from the game which you can view in the gallery, they include a shot of Ron and Hermione and of the stone knights.
Harry and Friends Prepare for Battle in the New Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows™ – Part 2 the Videogame Trailer
In this new trailer for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows™ – Part 2 the videogame, Harry and his allies prepare for the ultimate showdown with Voldemort™ and his dark forces. Based on the upcoming Warner Bros. Pictures film and featuring the most epic battles to date, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows™ – Part 2 the videogame promises an unforgettable interactive finale.
As the showdown between Harry and Voldemort draws near, this trailer highlights the preparation of both good and evil forces for the impending battle of Hogwarts. Whether searching for Horcruxes to destroy in order to weaken Voldemort’s power, or shoring up the defenses of Hogwarts, Harry and his friends all have a critical part to play. Meanwhile, Voldemort’s dark army is amassing at the gates of Hogwarts with the goal of eliminating Harry once and for all.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows™ – Part 2 the videogame, licensed by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, will be available for Xbox 360®, PlayStation®3, Wii™, Nintendo DS and PC in July 2011.
Today TimeLife have announced the release of a Harry Potter Chess set that will ship around August 1st. The full press release may be read here, and a video about the set may be watched below.
The Harry Potter Chess Collection includes an authentic, scaled-down replica of the life-sized wizard chess set seen in the film that started it all, “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.” And each “enchanted” piece has its own special effect, bringing the Harry Potter Chess Collection to life in your own home. Guide your rook with a magic wand, see pawns self destruct when captured, and watch the king lower his head and groan in defeat. The knights neigh, the bishops crash, and the queens glow when moved. Whether you’re a Harry Potter fan or a chess aficionado, The Harry Potter Chess Collection is a treasure to play.
The Harry Potter Chess Collection is only available at TimeLife.com/HPChess and only in limited quantities. Don’t miss out.
The Harry Potter Chess Collection includes:
32 Authentic Replica Chess Pieces, each with a thrilling special effect
2 Magic Wands that actually guide your Rooks on the board – as if by magic!
1 Light Up Chess Board to illuminate your progress in the game
32 Collector’s Manuals with expert advice and strategies
1 Authentic Recreation of Hermione’s Time-TurnerTM
Signed Certificate of Authenticity, proving the chess set is an authentic replica from “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”
Pre-Order Begins: June 13, 2011
Anticipated Ship Date: July 31, 2011
List Price: $249.95
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