Very good but feeling rushed

Rating: 8/10 (1 June 2004)

The best Harry Potter movie yet?! Arguably, no. I would say that this film is on par with the last two - all entertaining and magical films.
I was a bit concerned that by having a new director the feel of the series would change for the worse. However, new director Cuaron has proved me wrong and made a sterling film. Granted a lot is missing from the book and explanations to why things are happening are rather lack-lustre or just missing altogether. Its quite easy to see where scenes have been enhanced from the book to make them all the more thrilling and I could spend ages moaning about which bits they missed and should have put in but the crew has done well to fit all the book into just over two and a half hours of film. I'm just glad it has been a while since I have read the book!
Cuaron's take on the scenery in and around the castle we got to know so well in the first two films breathes new fresh air into the series and adds a bit more excitement to the film. There are new robes, the tables in the great hall for each house have been re-arranged and now to get to Hagrid's Hut you must cross a long wooden bridge. Michael Gambon replaced Richard Harris as Dumbledore perfectly and performances from Emma Thompson (Trelawney), David Thewlis (Lupin) and Gary Oldman (Black) were all very good. I also have to say that Dan Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson appear much more confident in their roles this time round and turn out their best performances yet. My favourite parts are firstly the way there has been a bit more humour injected into the film; secondly, the way the night bus was portrayed; and last, the way they did my favourite chapter in the book, 'Hermione's Secret' because it turned out just as I had imagined!
Overall, a very good film. Not quite how I imagined it, feels a bit too rushed in places but very entertaining none the less. 8/10