The Philosophers Stone: Cast wise you watch this film for the adults, such theatrical giants as Maggie Smith and Alan Rickman provided weight to the exceptionally young cast. It was directed by Home Alone's Chris Columbus (as is the 2nd film) and it was the right choice for the younger Harry, the books themselves are more juvenile in tone and though it gets dark toward the end it needed a lighter touch to the classroom scenes and first Quidditch match. The story line follows through well, the kids do their best in their new acting roles, and the special effects don't let you down. Although not quite living up to the book it didn't annoy me, the only real disappointment came in the lack of ghosts, more specifically the presence of Peeves the poltergeist, one of the best characters of early Potter novels, and its a shame the non readers have missed out.
The Chamber of Secrets: I think this is one of the best films in the series, it gets darker, the kids are more comfortable in their roles, and we are introduced to Dobby the house elf - definitely a favourite of mine from the books. On the human and staff side we also have the wonderful Kenneth Branagh playing Professor Gilderoy Lockhart, the charismatic monster hunter who turns out to be a complete fraud, failing in teaching the students even the very basic defensive spells. He is a marvelous interpretation of Jo Rowling's creation, as is Alan Rickman in the form of Snape, Harry's foe on the teaching staff. Again the plot flows well, the direction is secure, and they stay reasonably true to the literature.
The Prisoner of Azkaban: Many peoples favourite book and movie it definitely marks a turn in the tone of the series, becoming much darker with the return of the dark lords loyal servant. The trio are definitely more settled as actors, and the helm is taken this time by Alfonso Cuaron (director of Children of Men and A Little Princess) who provides a more grown up direction, as Emma Watson said herself the hormones are beginning to bubble in this book and this is reflected on screen with the increasingly tense relationship between Hermione and Ron. There are changes to the story from book to film but you understand the reasons behind them, although as a fan of the books the differences still grate a little. Gary Oldman, David Thewlis and Timothy Spall are strong additions to the cast, something about Harry Potter is that, with the exception of the students, the adults are all without exception Gold Class.
The Goblet of Fire: One of the worst films I have seen, and definitely the worst of the series and not only from the book lovers perspective. The editing is shocking, there is no fluidity to the plot and the direction is poor. I know that the cast, the young ones at least, loved working with Mike Newell but I have to say I don't like the product of his hard work. The changes to the plot are incredibly irritating, there was a reason you did not find out Barty Crouch Jnr was still alive until the very end, it would have been so great to have the non readers try and work out whats going on, how will Harry survive etc etc. I was also sad that S.P.E.W (society for the promotion of elvish welfare) was not mentioned, it tells you so much about Hermione and how much she can care. Basically I found this film to be jumpy, untrue to the novel in both content and tone. The saving grace is the graveyard scene, genuinely scary seeing Voldemort rise from the proverbial ashes, and Ralph Fiennes makes a truly sinister Dark Lord that I find scary even after so many years.
The Order of the Phoenix: My thoughts after seeing this film? FINALLY! Finally a Harry Potter film that matches the mood, the story, and the acting ability is up to scratch. Personally this is my favourite book, many hate it because it is a loose ends tying book, it progresses the plot without too much occurring, and Harry is an ungrateful annoying boy in it. They conveyed this very well through the movie, and it is not surprisingly the director, David Yates, was kept on throughout the rest of the series. He provides a steady serious hand at the helm, because from film five onward the tone is darker and the content not suitable for the under 12s (actually I believe the books themselves cannot be truly understood unless you are the same age or older than Harry, I was lucky enough to match his age through each books release). The fractured relationships of Harry and Ron are suitably sad, the loneliness of Harry captured by the landscapes, and the evilness of Umbridge makes you want to punch her - wonderfully played by Imelda Staunton. My qualm with this movie is that there is not much focus on the hospital, part of what I really enjoy about the Harry Potter series is seeing the other parts of the wizarding world, and the difference in the hospital to our own is fascinating.
The Half-Blood Prince: Like the Order this film is true to the books pace and purpose, it may not be entirely right, and the emphasis on the half-blood prince peters out until the sudden revelation at the end, but it continues to improve on accuracy. An example of a scenario that was changed for the purposes of a more flowing film is in the final part where Harry and Dumbledore go out to find one of the elusive Horcruxes, the key to Voldemorts downfall, and Dumbledore apparates out of the castle. This is something crucial to Hogwarts defenses that Hermione has re-iterated time and again through the books and films, but to save on time and having to follow Harry and Dumbledore through to the village they change the rules for the headmaster. I was only really disappointed by the end, by not having Dumbledore's funeral as a viewer you were denied your chance to say goodbye, and a chance to see the magical community gather. Harry is given his opportunity to be funny in this film, Ron his chance to be a stud, and Hermione to be hurt and show her true feelings for the ignorant Ronald. They have definitely improved in their acting abilities, and attempted to move on Ron from the funny man who gets to swear.
And Finally....
The Deathly Hallows Part One: A truly fantastic film. It lived up to the book, taking some parts with artistic license of course but not to the detriment to the plot. I was so happy to find out they were going to take their time with the final adaptation, if they had tried to cram everything into 2 and a half hours it would have been all action no heart, and the heart is why the Harry Potter novels were successful in the first place because you cared about this boy and his world.
This film takes us most the way through the book, because most of the action happens in final third there is the opportunity to use the first part to build the tension, there are some especially scary scenes in Godrics Hollow.
But what I feel is most important that this film achieves is the final test of the friendship between Harry Ron and Hermione. Since the age of eleven these three have been fighting Voldemort together, Harry of course gets the final say in each battle, but the trio have suffered together through loss and hardship, and it is true to say they are better for knowing each other.
It is Ron who crumbles in this relationship, leaving behind his best friend and the girl he loves when it becomes too much, the stress of being apart from his close family and not knowing how they are. This abandonment and the subsequent scenes with only Harry and Hermione allow for a wonderful moment between them as Harry tries to cheer his friend up by dancing. This is kind of artistic license I love from filmmakers, it serves only to bolster the plot, not a whimsy of the director or writer to show off. Harry and Hermione have always shared their muggle upbringing, and perhaps a more logical grasp of the world than Ron possesses, and this added dancing scene reflects the close bond and their shared grief in the absence of their ginger friend.
It all ends on the discovery of what the Deathly Hallows actually are, with the help of Luna's equally whimsical father, and a beautifully animated retelling of the story of these powerful objects. There is some action at the Lovegood household that carries on to a frightening and deeply sad ending, which I won't reveal here in case of spoilers.
This film is powerful, tragic, wonderfully dramatic and a showcase for the talents of the cast and art department. Very well done indeed, and a fine part one to the explosive and thrilling final book adaptation.
The Deathly Hallows Part Two: Simply Magical. The conclusion to the Harry Potter series is a fantastic two hours of action and drama, it is terrifying and heartwarming, will break your warmed heart then try to repair it again. It begins as the first part ended, with Voldemort grasping the weapon he has longed for since he was a teenager and began his literally soul destroying quest for immortality and power. Harry and the others are still at Shell Cottage dealing with their grief, and planning the next part of their own quest to destroy the horcruxes. Helena Bonham-Carter gets the opportunity here to play at being 'good' as she is playing Hermione playing Bellatrix, and definitely has a lot of fun with it, testament to Helena's acting ability that you actually start to think it is Hermione...maybe that was just me.
The truly powerful moments of this film come in the latter half (not discounting the amazing dragon scenes early on, they are brilliant) but again I don't want to give anything away, lets just say for those who have read the books Snape's scenes and memories are truly as horrifying and as heartbreaking as the novel, Neville is given a larger but deserving role and is incredibly heroic, and the casualties of the final battle will make even the hardest of nuts well up.
Apart from the main three and the adult cast there is one other actor I have been very impressed with over the course of these films, and that is Tom Felton who plays Draco Malfoy. Malfoy has from the Half Blood Prince begun to regret his families involvement with Voldemort and the dark aspects of magic, and Felton has matured himself into a fine actor, he displays the cowardice of the arrogant dissolving into pain and true fear. And he and his family remain cowards until the end.
Its very hard to review this film without giving away the plot, suffice to say the action is intense, the deaths are powerful, the acting superb, and the ending as surreal as the book. Truly, its like Harry Potter ends up on acid and trips out, but totally accurate.
The Deathly Hallows have been the best in the series, David Yates continues to keep a firm handle on the direction, and the cast have every right to be proud of these films. As a fan of the books, and as a fan of film in general, this two part finale lives up to the height I placed it on.
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