Disappointing

Rating: Null/10 (10 June 2004)

If one more person comments how this is how the Harry Potter films are supposed to be, I'm going to barf up slugs.
This long awaited film proved to be a major disappointment in many ways. It's not so much that the students didn't wear robes or that there is a new Dumbledore but it just feels as if Dementors sucked the very soul out of this movie.
I'm well aware that movies cannot include every little detail that the book contains but I agree with so many others in that much of the essence of HP3 is supposed to be about the strong bond of friendship between Mooney, Wormtail, Prongs and Padfoot. To bypass any explanation of the significance of the map and it's authors is seriously derelict.
A unique aspect of HP3 is that so many millions have read the books and it's with a very critical eye that we watch this 3rd installment. You can't just go and change the sets that we've come to know and love.
On it's own, it's not a terrible movie. It certainly held my interest, good casting, some funny lines, great intro...but you just get the feeling there is no warmth or soul to this movie. I can sit and watch HP1 and HP2 another dozen times while this one I've watched three times trying to like it, but couldn't . It's like going for a steak dinner and winding up with hamburger. Be prepared to walk away from this one saying "huh?".