Just as good as the first film

Rating: 9/10 (16 May 2007)

The special effects were awesome, the scenes I was particularly impressed with was the flying car, the phoenix bird going up into flames and then a little baby growing out of the ashes and the snake at the end of the movie.
I hadn't read the books at this point which had me wishing I hadn't read the books after The Prisoner of Azkaban as in some way it spoiled my enjoyment of the film because I knew what would happen in the next films. At least with this film, it was unpredictable and kept me gripped as I didn't know about all the plot lines. I recommend people not to read the books and see all the movies first as it is fun not knowing what will happen in every part of the movie.
More characters were introduced in the film. Dobby the House Elf, I found to be annoying at times. Kenneth Branagh as Gilderoy Lockhart was funny especially being in the worst job as a coward, a professor against the black arts. He likes to brag what a hero he is to anyone who will listen but hasn't done any of the things he's claimed he has. Jason Issacs as Lucius Malfoy, at his villainous best. Mark Williams as Arthur Weasley, a wizard interested in the muggle world unlike his other wizard peers. Great casting as ever.
What a plot! When I saw it, I was blown away by what an interesting plot twist J.K. Rowling introduced to the story, Voldemort has cast a spell to put his 16 year old self in his diary, waiting for a time to come out and attack students he considers 'mudbloods.' Wasn't disappointed in it, at all.