The Worst of the Harry Potter Films

Rating: 3/10 (13 June 2004)

Chris Columbus where are you?! Unlike the first two Harry Potter films this film was made only for those who have read the book. It is close to impossible to understand exactly what the heck is going on if you have not previously read the book.
There are so many important plot pieces left open that it's mind boggling! The movie does a POOR job at explaining them and a poor job telling it to the audience which is the main goal of any movie.
How does Sirius Black, Professor Lupin and Peter Pettigrew fit in with Harry's parents? The films says they were friends, but does not convey the true closeness of the group. Nor does it explain why Snape hates Harry so much.
How does Professor Lupin and Sirius Black know about the use of the map and who were Wormtail, Prongs, Padfoot, and Mooney? If you read the book you'll know the answer but you'll never get it seeing this film. Why does Harry see a deer when he summons his spell?
With the exception of the three main characters the rest of this talented cast is either under used or misused. Michael Gambon does not hold a lighted wand to Richard Harris's Dumbledore and is a lot less believable as the senior wizard.
Over all this a great book that has been transfigured into a horrible movie. We can only hope that Mike Newell, the director of the next Harry Potter film (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire), reclaims the magic that was lost on this film.