What spoiled it for me......

Rating: 4/10 (3 June 2004)

Well.. I went to see the movie yesterday. Being someone who has read and re-read the books several times (although I don't claim to be an obsessive), I have to say I left the cinema rather disappointed. It's not that I thought the movie itself as a whole was so bad.. but for this budget I didn't feel it made the grade. The quality of the shooting felt to me almost like a low budget British movie from the 1970's, where as the darkened tone of colours may have been effective in parts, it was overkill using it through the entire movie. Personally I LIKED the more colourful fantasy world feel Chris Columbus gave.
As well this the movie seemed as though it cut so fast from scene to scene it felt almost as though Harry's school year was over in a few days!
The Dementors seemed far too CGI based to be truly scary, and aren't they supposed to glide? I can't remember them flying in the book... Also, wasn't it supposed to be Cedric Diggory playing (seeker) against Harry in the Quidditch match featured in the film. If so then Cedric got struck by lightning? (It will be interesting to see if the same actor gets cast as Cedric)
Michael Gambon I felt barely passed as Dumbledore, it's all very well wanting to put his own perspective into the character but personally I preferred Richard Harris' wise and regal portrayal as this gave the character a far greater sense of power. Although yes Gambon played up to the bumbling side of Dumbledore to good effect at times (which in truth Harris didn't do enough of), there wasn't enough of it to make me appreciate it.
The fact that no mention was made as to how Lupin or Sirius knew what the Marauder's map did was also annoying (I can imagine for those who haven't read the books it would be yet another puzzling factor of the film
I also felt that Harry's mastering of the Patronus (over in two seconds) and the way the Patronus was portrayed (in terms of CGI) were poor, where was the galloping stag! Even when Harry shot the patronus across the lake, I felt as though there should have been more 'oomph' to it, but instead there was nice ambient light and twinkly flute music.
The one thing that annoyed me most about the movie was the complete change of set from the previous two films. I don't mean to seem neurotic about it or anything, but I feel as though anyone watching the films in series on DVD or whatever years from now, will think it surely strange. Not only did the scenery change but it went from lovely English countryside to rugged highlands of Scotland. Although I read the first book before the movie came out. When I saw the first movie it kind of gave me an impression of how I at least thought JK Rowling must have wanted Hogwarts to look, and in this movie, I felt as though it was a completely different place. Not to mention the fact they seem to hang around that outdoor bit with the clock and the bridge all the time (and kids playing the flute?) which has never appeared before. Dawn French as the fat lady. Another cast change, don't get me wrong, I quite like Dawn French, but is it just me or does it seem like every British actor who is remotely any good or famous is trying to get in on this franchise. Rumours of Kate Winslet wanting the part as Fleur Delecour etc. Sigh.....Also, did anyone else also notice that Professor Flitwick was different, and, Crabbe, or is it Goyle... changed to a different boy half way through the film). Also, they pronounce animagus wrong, magus should be pronounced phonetically as may-jus? According to my dictionary anyway...
In conclusion, the film wasn't bad, but it just didn't feel like Harry Potter to me, more like an episode of Grange Hill with magic. I thought the quality, style, and scene timing poor. There was not enough from great characters like Dumbledore, Hagrid, Malfoy and McGonagall. (Did anyone else also notice that Professor Flitwick was different, and, Crabbe, or is it Goyle... changed to a different boy half way through the film). The soundtrack was a bit poor, especially considering it was John Williams, the only good thing really was the choir and the revamped Harry Potter theme. I also felt strongly that the film relied too much on the fact that people need to have knowledge of the books to understand it properly. Credit to the actors though, Daniel Radcliffe was more expressive and more natural this time round - he still needs work though, hopefully he'll continue to get better.... Well... that's the end of my rant.. one other thing though.. how are they EVER going to fit GOF and OOTP into single films without making them basically mirages of 10 second scenes briefly outlining Harry's year......?! :(