Sometimes not knowing is better....

Rating: 9/10 (20 November 2005)

I've never written a review (or anything like it), nor have I ever written a comment about a movie, so bear with me a moment. I feel I have a point to make, and it may change how you see this movie, and yes, it all depends on if you've read the books or not. I'll be honest, I only read the first book, didn't really feel an overwhelming need to read the second. Good story, good premise, just no desire. To tell you the honest truth, I am very grateful that I stopped at the first. Why? Because by reading the book, perhaps I would not have liked this movie as much as I did. You know the fans, you hear them all the time, they are not happy with the adaptation. They read the book, and are mad that a few things were left out, or this didn't get enough time, and you can't blame them. They fell in love with a story that gave precise details. What I fear has happened is that although they know the story inside and out, it has made it so they could not fully enjoy a truly masterful film. You know what I speak of, during the dragon trail, the book readers all remember what happened in the book, and it put a filter on how much they can enjoy what is on screen. It could never be done good enough. However, I did not read the book, and as I said, I am forever grateful of this. If I had, it would have taken away from the unknowingness I had going in. This movie is unbelievably tense, dark and full of poignant themes. It shows what true evil can be, it takes us back to when we were slightly younger and it lets us actually feel for the main character by ourselves. What I mean by that is, we know the characters so well, we understand them, we no longer need to have it explained. And we finally understand that by the end of this series, Harry will need to lean on those around him, because no matter how great he may be, he is nothing without those that care. I feel bad for those who come home from this picture and can't help but be disappointed. It's really not their fault; one's adaptation is another's disappointment. Yet believe me on this, this is a great film. As I put before, this is the Potter film that makes you want to see the next movie, right away. The true dark tone is finally here, the evil has finally come, and the characters are reaching the breaking point. And if you let it, this film will make you care. I don't know where the series goes from here, I didn't read the books.
And I wont, I wouldn't want it to ruin the next movie.