Stylish, but not by the book

Rating: Null/10 (4 June 2004)

****Some Spoilers*******
I have to admit, that as a lover of the HP book series, I nitpicked almost every step of the way. I tried to sit and enjoy the film for what it was, a mere version of the book, but still, serious readers will be like me and think, "No, that's not the way things happen" or "Where did that come from?"
A few things caught my eye, like the lack of Christmas at Hogwarts, the whole Mentos commercial style ending, not going to Diagon Alley, ya know, the little things. I also had never imagined the dementors to be able to fly or freeze stuff. Whats up with that?
The opening sequence with Harry and Vernon was rather cute. However, duh, maybe they could have had him doing written homework, rather than performing illegal magic spells. Yeah, he's not supposed to do magic, right? Something we are reminded of before Harry leaves the house. Anyway, another nitpick.
However disappointing some changes were,Alfonso Cuaron really brought cinematic flare to his presentation. Of course, the story did have some choppy problems occasionally, such as the fast-paced opening, and the overly long sequences that could have been replaced with more meaningful stuff.
I would have liked to see more Quidditch, more holiday stuff, more Sirius, more McGonagall, and especially, a different ending. I could have done without the talking Jamaican shrunken head.
I suggest that if you haven't read the book, watch the movie first, so that you wont be disappointed.