A second rate film to a first rate book

Rating: 1/10 (8 January 2005)

This film is unfortunately disappointing in more then one way. Firstly everything in this film seems to be slightly rushed. it doesn't give you enough time for anything to sink in, although some people may like it to be fast paced this is still about a schoolboy; a schoolboy that goes to a school of witchcraft and wizards but still a schoolboy. many of the details which make the story so unique and interesting suffer because of this. For example the hatch in the ceiling to professor trelawney's class (i think the name is right) is no longer there with the ladder, just a boring door.. The fat lady's portrait being replaced with the annoying short knight is no longer there either. it doesn't even explain WHY the gryffindor students are sleeping in the great hall fully making it just seem plain random. The failed patronus spells don't come out as whisps of silvery smoke, they come out as what looks like a silvery disc. Sirius black just didn't seem right, the movement from fighting to deep emotional conversation cut from each other too quickly to be believable. You don't get to see harry's fascination in the firebolt or the fact that he stayed in diagon ally for 2 weeks. Regarding film fluidity carrying on from the first two films: Hagrid's house seems to have changed its position (perhaps magically, but it says nothing about this in the book) Michael gambon does not have the same wise misty voice as Richard Harris had in playing the part of albus dumbledore which detracts from his character greatly. And the order of a lot of things are messed up
I suggest to anyone wanting a good adventure to read the book, not watch this film. It makes me very sad to say this is not a good movie, especially since i payed near enough £17 for the DVD to watch it - It doesn't tell enough of the story for new people, and it doesn't include enough of the important details for people that have already read the book. The film is jumpy with its scenes and does not allow you to take everything in.
Perhaps what i imagined the images of the book to be formed better in my head then the film showed them. And for someone who would usually pay more to watch the film then read the book, that has to be saying something.
I hope other people enjoy it better then i haven't.
A sad disappointment with unnecessary changes from the book.
It just doesn't do J.K. Rowling justice.