Overall, fantastic

Rating: 9/10 (9 August 2006)

Until Goblet of Fire came out, this was my favorite of the movie series. The visual effects and scenery are magnificent (especially when Harry's riding Buckbeak), and the music fits this description as well. Some people say that John Williams' music is trite, but he wins my vote in this film. I think it's interesting how he helps evolve Harry's character from a wide-eyed child in the Sorceror's Stone to an adolescent determined to make something of himself. What disappointed me: They left out a couple of parts that I would love to have seen, such as when Harry hexes Malfoy and his group (thinking they're dementors). And of course, before that, the firebolt. They should have put that in the middle of the movie, where it belonged in the book; then the Malfoy scene would work. And it also would have been fun to see Gryffindor's Quidditch victory. But other than the above mentioned...this one is a triumph. I don't expect any movie to follow the book word for word, and it'd be boring if it were done that way. Kudos to Cuaron.