Good adaptation, great movie

Rating: Null/10 (5 June 2004)

I had been greatly anticipating this movie, not only because I love the Harry Potter books but also because I'm a great fan of Alfonso Cuarón. I must say that I was not at all disappointed.
I do realize many parts of the book were changed or left out, but the same happens in any and all adaptations. (And it's not the director's fault, as some people keep on complaining, he is just following a script). I believe that the movie was great and true to the book's essence. Rowling's mystery and humor were palpable. True, it was a darker movie, but there were still a lot of funny moments (even inside those darker moments, which is brilliant). The new Dumbledore, considering he had to fill for the Dumbledore that was basically was taken out of the books, was great. He kept that childish humor that makes him so lovable, and still managed to play a decent serious Dumbledore (although not as awe striking as the first one, I admit)
About the changes from the previous chapters, I think they were for the better. This is Hogwarts like I pictured it from the books. Not neat, flat and orderly (in fact, Rowling tends to keep orderly things for the mundane muggles) but a little bit chaotic (I specially like the transition scenes using the Whomping Willow, a tree that cool deserved personality earlier on). In this Hogwarts you could sense the magic everywhere, like a haunted castle.
I loved the music as well, and I just may have to buy the soundtrack. It did a great job of enhancing the visual part of the movie.
All in all I think the movie was well done, well written, and superbly directed.