So over-rated

Rating: Null/10 (14 October 2004)

At last a web-site where I can tell the world the truth about this film - It is one of the worst ever and I was absolutely bored stiff by it! We've been duped people!!
What was particularly irritating was the way the cast was filled by hordes of well-known "celebrity" adult actors. This induced a total sense of deja vu ("Oh, it's John Cleese AGAIN, Julie Walters AGAIN! Maggie Smith AGAIN! Alan Rickman, AGAIN!!! yawn yawn) and made the characters less believable by giving you the impression you were watching over-exposed actors, dressed up.
The one noticeable exception in this regard was Robbie Coltrane who was totally believable as Hagrid - in fact, when I first read the book I imagined Robbie Coltrane in this part. Well done mate!
When I become a famous film-director, I shall cast unknowns so the audience can actually get involved in a story, and not feel like hapless bystanders at some self-congratulatory BAFTA night. Come on you film people! Give the struggling unknowns a break for once! Cleese, Harris et al don't need the money nor the exposure!
Now for the youngsters - Ron and the girl - very good and funny, Ron not as annoying as in the second film. But Daniel Radcliffe! Oh dear! Can he act? No! Does he have any expression deeper than a slowly spreading idiotic grin? No!
Not his fault as Harry is a totally passive character who never acts but reacts to events and circumstances. The fact he is a born-wizard who lost his parents and has a DESTINY adds to the sense that he is not a fully rounded character but a passenger in a rambling, predictable and dreary plot.
I can't understand how anyone can criticise the director for leaving stuff out! I believe JKR insisted on the film sticking to the book and that's why it turns out to be dull, overlong and boring. Because the book is!!