A bit too much deviation vs. eye candy

Rating: 9/10 (26 March 2002)

Yeah, I freely admit, I'm one of those scary HP fans who is still really upset I can't find HP bed sheets to fit a queen-sized bed. Yeah, I really wish they had just done the movie the way the book was. Yeah, I probably would've gone and seen it more often (even if it had been three and a half hours) if it had been exactly like the book.
But, it wasn't. It couldn't have realistically been done exactly as it was laid out upon the page. Oh darn. I understand all this, but at the same time, it doesn't make me any happier when they changed things that had nothing to do with time constraints. For example, in the book, Fluffy came from "a Greek chappie," a reference to Cerberus, the 3-headed dog of Greek myth. In the movie, Fluffy came from an "Irish" fellow. Why this sort of senseless deviation? Were they 'dumbing it down' for fear kids may go out and research the Classics? Cutting scenes, I understand. Changing them for the sake of changing? That, I don't understand.
On the plus side, they did do a fabulous job with location, special effects, etc. "Eye candy" sums it up--even making less scary parts seem darker and more threatening, but in a subtle, the-kid-next-to-you-doesn't-know-to-scream sort of way. Wizard chess is much scarier and Quidditch is more exciting when it's played out on the screen.
A few words on the acting... besides Coltrane (Hagrid)'s sometimes annoying penchant for improv, they actually succeeded in getting some mighty fine actors. Even the young actors are great, something too many directors unfortunately do not demand. Grint (Ron Weasley) is a classic Mercutio, though--at times he's more entertaining and likeable than the "star." He did a fabulous job, outshining even Radcliffe.
All of the actors--especially the adults!--could stand to loosen up and get angry / get happy / get scared occasionally. Everyone, but particularly Shaw (Petunia Dursley), was a bit too stiff and calm during the scene introducing Hagrid.
Despite all of this, a great movie made of an even greater book.