Doesn't let us down.

Rating: Null/10 (26 May 2004)

If these movies keep getting better, the academy of motion pictures will eventually have to recognize them . . . Nah,will never happen. But just remember, the same critics that panned, downplayed, or just plain ignored Star Wars back in 1976, are today using it as a benchmark movie. I like Epert and Ropers comparison to these movies (specifically Chamber) to the Wizard of Oz. They definitely are succeeding in creating Rowlings world for us to visually enjoy.
If you are a true faithful hoping to see the book word for word, you'll be let down. (Hope for a 7 year Masterpiece theater television type of project some years down the road where they have 24, 1 hour episodes to do each book.) However, if you can appreciate the impossibility of transferring a thick, well written, action packed book to the wide screen in a reasonable amount of time, you will be taking your hat off to Steven Kloves. I believe that he has hit his stride in his comfort level with the books and with Ms. Rowlings world. I say this because he successfully rewrote most of the details of the end action to compress and even heighten the suspense, while preserving the feel of the book.
The dementors were even more menacing than Rowlings descriptions, and the Werewolf, while it just ran off in the book, became an important element in the action of the final scenes.
The ensemble of Daniel Radcliff (Harry), Rupert Gint (Ron), and Emma Watson (Hermione) have matured very nicely, both physically and as actors. Rupert especially raised the bar on his performance compared to Chamber. The interplay was top notch, especially between Hermione and Ron, starting to hint at the Romantic interest that appears to be developing there. I'm glad to see that the HP casting directors did such a fine job in spotting and developing such talented young actors for these roles, (unlike the Star Wars casting fiascos - i.e. both Anakins) I hope they can be enticed to stay to finish out the series. Come on Warner Brothers, promise these kids breakout acting roles once this gig is up.
The new Dumbledore was a bit disappointing only when compared to the late Rex Harrison. He didn't seem to capture the same charismatic presence that he gave as Gandalf in the LoR series, but he is a fine actor will serve the role well.
The special effects were every bit as good as chamber, with Buckbeak and the blowing up of Aunt Marge being the best efforts yet.
Some seemingly important details to the plot of the books were not divulged here, such as who Prongs, Padfoot, Mooney, and Wormtail were, but it will be easy enough to do this when the information becomes directly relevant to the plot. Another missed event from the book was Harry sending his patronus at Malfoy and Slytherin cronies dressed as dementors, but the way the movie plot was developed, and the way the action climaxed, it wouldn't have worked.
We do get to witness Hermione punch out Malfoy (twice actually).
Some details were bothersome. Hagrid's Hut and the Whomping Willow seem to have been moved, and the general landscape of the school grounds seemed very different. But the wonder and magic of Hogwarts was not only maintained but heightened.
All in all, this was a thoroughly entertaining and magical movie from start to finish. I look forward to Goblet. I don't see how it could have been done better in the limited format of an under 3 hour movie.