Best of the Series So Far

Rating: 9/10 (14 June 2004)

It's always tough watching a film when you've read the book, but this entry in the Potter series is by far the best so far. Perhaps it was the fact that the books themselves have improved with each new offering. In any case, the visuals, pacing and story are all tighter and focused than previous films.
The casting changes, most notably Dumbledore, don't detract from the film. The young actors, who have grown quite a bit, are showing more edge and that's an improvement. It might be the change in directors that made the biggest difference. Cuaron brings an interesting attitude to the film. Unlike Columbus, he seems willing to be a bit earthier in his vision.
Definitely worth it for fans of the series.