third time's not the charm

Rating: 7/10 (20 September 2005)

It feels like a transition movie, as the books become darker, obviously their celluloid counterparts will follow suit. But this film doesn't feel that dark, yet still managed to be less magical and less fun then the previous two films. Granted with "Chamber of Secrets", the bar was sat extremely high, but this film is definitely missing Chris Columbus's touch. The good acting is there (Gary Olman is great in damn near everything), the good special effects are there, and it's nice to see Rupert Grint growing into his own skin a bit and not looking so weird looking. The substance so much displayed in the first two isn't there, the heart isn't there (not in the same degree at least). This is not to say the the third film isn't good, I DO like it. It's just the worst of the three and I'm glad that Alfonso Cuarón isn't directing the next film "Goblit of Fire", as his eye is obviously meant for more pretentious Art-house cinema.
My Grade: C+
2-Disc DVD Extras: Disc 1) Theatrical Trailer; Trailers for "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone", "Harry Potter and the Chambers of Secrets", "The Polar Express" & "Elf" Disc 2) 5 Deleted Scenes; 11 minute and 50 second Creating The Vision featurette; 7 Interviews with cast & crew with Introduction With The Shrunken Head; Catch Scabbers Interactive Challenge; Choir Practice Sing-Along; Quest Of Sir Cadogan Interactive Challenge; Self-Guided Interactive Tour of Honeydukes; Magic You May Have Missed Interactive Challenge; Self-Guided Interactive Tour of Lupin's Classroom; Care Of Magical Creatures featurette; Conjuring A Scene featurette; and Game Preview
DVD-Rom: Hogwart's Timeline; Trading Cards; Video game preview