Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's StoneHere's an event movie that holds up to being an event. This filmed version ofHarry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone,   adapted from the wildly popular book by J.K. Rowling, stunningly  brings  to life Harry Potter's world of Hogwarts, the school for young  witches  and wizards. The greatest strength of the film comes from its   faithfulness to the novel, and this new cinematic world is filled with   all the details of Rowling's imagination, thanks to exuberant sets,   elaborate costumes, clever makeup and visual effects, and a crème de la   crème cast, including Maggie Smith, Richard Harris, Alan Rickman, and   more. Especially fine is the interplay between Harry (Daniel Radcliffe)   and his schoolmates Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson), as   well as his protector, the looming Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane). The   second-half adventure--involving the titular sorcerer's stone--doesn't   translate perfectly from page to screen, ultimately because of the   film's fidelity to the novel; this is a case of making a movie for the   book's fans, as opposed to a transcending film. Writer Steve Kloves and   director Chris Columbus keep the spooks in check, making this a true   family film, and with its resourceful hero wide-eyed and ready, one   can't wait for Harry's return. Ages 8 and up.--Doug ThomasHarry Potter and the Chamber of SecretsFirst sequels are the true test of an enduring movie franchise, andHarry Potter and the Chamber of Secretspasses with flying colors. Expanding upon the lavish sets, special effects, and grand adventure ofHarry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone,   Harry's second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry   involves a darker, more malevolent tale (parents with younger children   beware), beginning with the petrified bodies of several Hogwarts   students and magical clues leading Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert   Grint), and Hermione (Emma Watson) to a 50-year-old mystery in the   monster-laden Chamber of Secrets. House elves, squealing mandrakes,   giant spiders, and venomous serpents populate this loyal adaptation (bySorcerer's Stonedirector Chris Columbus and screenwriter Steve Kloves), and Kenneth   Branagh delightfully tops the supreme supporting cast as the   vainglorious charlatan Gilderoy Lockhart (be sure to view past the   credits for a visual punchline at Lockhart's expense). At 161 minutes,   the film suffers from lack of depth and uneven pacing, and John   Williams' score mostly reprises established themes. The young,   fast-growing cast offers ample compensation, however, as does the late   Richard Harris in his final screen appearance as Professor Albus   Dumbledore. Brimming with cleverness, wonderment, and big-budget   splendor,Chamberhonors the legacy of J.K. Rowling's novels.--Jeff ShannonHarry Potter and the Prisoner of AzkabanSome movie-loving wizards must have cast a magic spell onHarry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,  because it's another grand slam for the Harry Potter franchise.  Demonstrating remarkable versatility after the arthouse success ofY Tu Mamá También,  director Alfonso Cuarón proves a perfect choice to guide Harry,  Hermione, and Ron into treacherous puberty as the now 13-year-old  students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry face a new and  daunting challenge: Sirius Black (Gary Oldman) has escaped from Azkaban  prison, and for reasons yet unknown (unless, of course, you've read J.K.  Rowling's book, considered by many to be the best in the series), he's  after Harry in a bid for revenge. This dark and dangerous mystery drives  the action while Harry (the fast-growing Daniel Radcliffe) and his  third-year Hogwarts classmates discover the flying hippogriff Buckbeak  (a marvelous CGI creature), the benevolent but enigmatic Professor Lupin  (David Thewlis), horrifying black-robed Dementors, sneaky Peter  Pettigrew (Timothy Spall), and the wonderful advantage of having a  Time-Turner just when you need one. The familiar Hogwarts staff returns  in fine form (including the delightful Michael Gambon, replacing the  late Richard Harris as Dumbledore, and Emma Thompson as the goggle-eyed  Sybil Trelawney), and even Julie Christie joins this prestigious  production for a brief but welcome cameo. Technically dazzling,  fast-paced, and chock-full of Rowling's boundless imagination (loyally  adapted by ace screenwriter Steve Kloves),The Prisoner of Azkabanis a Potter-movie classic.--Jeff ShannonHarry Potter and the Goblet of FireThe latest entry in theHarry Pottersaga could be retitledFast Times at Hogwarts,  where finding a date to the winter ball is nearly as terrifying as  worrying about Lord Voldemort's return. Thus, the young wizards' entry  into puberty (and discovery of the opposite sex) opens up a rich mining  field to balance out the dark content in the fourth movie (and the  stories are only going to get darker). Mike Newell (Four Weddings and a Funeral)  handily takes the directing reins and eases his young cast through  awkward growth spurts into true young actors. Harry (Daniel Radcliffe,  more sure of himself) has his first girl crush on fellow student Cho  Chang (Katie Leung), and has his first big fight with best bud Ron  (Rupert Grint). Meanwhile, Ron's underlying romantic tension with  Hermione (Emma Watson) comes to a head over the winter ball, and when  she makes one of those girl-into-woman Cinderella entrances, the boys'  reactions indicate they've all crossed a threshold.But don't worry, there's plenty of wizardry and action inGoblet of Fire.  When the deadly Triwizard Tournament is hosted by Hogwarts, Harry finds  his name mysteriously submitted (and chosen) to compete against wizards  from two neighboring academies, as well as another Hogwarts student.  The competition scenes are magnificently shot, with much-improved CGI  effects (particularly the underwater challenge). And the climactic  confrontation with Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes, in a brilliant bit of  casting) is the most thrilling yet.Goblet, the first installment  to get a PG-13 rating, contains some violence as well as disturbing  images for kids and some barely shrouded references at sexual awakening  (Harry's bath scene in particular). The 2 1/2-hour film, lean  considering it came from a 734-page book, trims out subplots about  house-elves (they're not missed) and gives little screen time to the  standard crew of the otherPotterfilms, but adds in more of  Britain's finest actors to the cast, such as Brendan Gleeson as Mad-Eye  Moody and Miranda Richardson as Rita Skeeter. Michael Gambon, in his  second round as Professor Dumbledore, still hasn't brought audiences  around to his interpretation of the role he took over after Richard  Harris died, but it's a small smudge in an otherwise spotless  adaptation.--Ellen A. KimHarry Potter and the Order of the PhoenixAlas! The fifthHarry Potterfilm has arrived. The time is long  past that this can be considered a simple "children's" series--though  children and adults alike will enjoy it immensely. Starting off from the  dark and tragic ending of the fourth film,Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenixbegins in a somber and angst-filled tone that carries through the entire 138 minutes (the shortest of anyHPmovie despite being adapted from the longest book). Hopes of winning  the Quidditch Cup have been replaced by woes like government corruption,  distorted media spin, and the casualties of war. As the themes have  matured, so have the primary characters' acting abilities. Ron (Rupert  Grint), Hermione (Emma Watson), and especially Harry (Daniel Radcliffe)  are more convincing than ever--in roles that are more demanding.Harry is deeply traumatized from having witnessed Cedric Diggory's  murder, but he will soon find that this was just another chapter in the  continuing loss he will endure. Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) has  returned and, in an attempt to conceal this catastrophe from the  wizarding public, the Ministry of Magic has teamed up with the wizard  newspaperThe Daily Prophetto smear young Potter and wise  Dumbledore (Michael Gambon)--seemingly the only two people in the public  eye who believe the Dark Lord has returned. With no one else to stand  against the wicked Death Eaters, the Hogwarts headmaster is forced to  revive his secret anti-Voldemort society, the Order of the Phoenix. This  welcomes back characters like Mad-Eye Moody (Brendan Gleeson), kind  Remus Lupin (David Thewlis), fatherly Sirius Black (Gary Oldman), and  insidious Severus Snape (Alan Rickman), and introduces a short list of  intriguing new faces. In the meantime, a semi-psychotic bureaucrat from  the Ministry (brilliantly portrayed by Imelda Staunton) has seized power  at Hogwarts, and Harry is forced to form a secret society of his  own--lest the other young wizards at his school be left ill-equipped to  defend themselves in the looming war between good and evil. In addition,  Harry is filled with an inexplicable rage that only his Godfather  Sirius seems to be able to understand.This film, though not as  frightening as its predecessor, earns its PG-13 rating mostly because of  the ever-darkening tone.  As always, the loyal fans of J.K. Rowling's  books will suffer huge cuts from the original plot and character  developments, but make no mistake: this is agoodmovie.--Jordan ThompsonHarry Potter and the Half-Blood PrinceThe sixth installment of theHarry Potterseries begins right whereThe Order of the Phoenixleft off. The wizarding world is rocked by the news that "He Who Must  Not Be Named" has truly returned, and the audience finally knows that  Harry is "the Chosen One"--the only wizard who can defeat Lord Voldemort  in the end.  Dark forces loom around every corner, and now regularly  attempt to penetrate the protected walls of Hogwarts School. This is no  longer the fun and fascinating world of magic from the first few  books—it's dark, dangerous, and scary.Harry (Daniel Radcliffe)  suspects Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton) to be a new Death Eater recruit on a  special mission for the Dark Lord. In the meantime, Professor Dumbledore  (Michael Gambon) seems to have finally removed the shroud of secrecy  from Harry about the dark path that lies ahead, and instead provides  private lessons to get him prepared. It's in these intriguing scenes  that the dark past of Tom Riddle (a.k.a. Voldemort) is finally revealed.  The actors cast as the different young versions of Riddle (Hero  Fiennes-Tiffin and Frank Dillane) do an eerily fantastic job of  portraying the villain as a child. While the previous movies' many new  characters could be slightly overwhelming, only one new key character is  introduced this time: Professor Horace Slughorn (with a spot-on  performance by Jim Broadbent). Within his mind he holds a key secret in  the battle to defeat the Dark Lord, and Harry is tasked by Dumbledore to  uncover a memory about Voldemort's darkest weapon--the Horcrux.   Despite the long list of distractions, Harry, Ron (Rupert Grint), and  Hermione (Emma Watson) still try to focus on being teenagers, and  audiences will enjoy the budding awkward romances.  All of the actors  have developed nicely, giving their most convincing performances to  date.More dramatic and significant things go down in this movie  than any of its predecessors, and the stakes are higher than ever. The  creators have been tasked with a practically impossible challenge, as  fans of the beloved J.K. Rowling book series desperately want the movies  to capture the magic of the books as closely as possible. Alas, the  point at which one accepts that these two mediums are very different is  the point at which one can truly enjoy these brilliant adaptations.Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Princeis no exception: it may be the best film yet. For those who have not  read the book, nail-biting entertainment is guaranteed. For those who  have, the movie does it justice. The key dramatic scenes, including the  cave and the shocking twist in the final chapter, are executed very  well.  It does a perfect job of setting up the two-part grand finale  that is to follow.--Jordan ThompsonHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part IHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part Iis a brooding,  slower-paced film than its predecessors, the result of being just one  half of the final story (the last book in the series was split into two  movies, released in theaters eight months apart). Because the  penultimate film is all buildup before the final showdown between the  teen wizard and the evil Voldemort (which does not occur untilThe Deathly Hallows, Part II),Part Iis a road-trip movie, a heist film, a lot of exposition, and more  weight on its three young leads, who up until now were sufficiently  supported by a revolving door of British thesps throughout the series.  Now that all the action takes place outside Hogwarts--no more Potions  classes, Gryffindor scarves, or Quidditch matches--Daniel Radcliffe  (Harry), Emma Watson (Hermione), and Rupert Grint (Ron) shoulder the  film almost entirely on their own. After a near-fatal ambush by  Voldemort's Death Eaters, the three embark on a quest to find and  destroy the remaining five horcruxes (objects that store pieces of  Voldemort's soul). Fortunately, as the story gets more grave--and  parents should be warned, there are some scenes too frightening or adult  for young children--so does the intensity. David Yates, who directed  the Harry Potter filmsOrder of the PhoenixandThe Half-Blood Prince,  drags the second half a little, but right along with some of the slower  moments are some touching surprises (Harry leading Hermione in a dance,  the return of Dobby in a totally non-annoying way).Deathly Hallows, Part Iwill be the most confusing for those not familiar with the Potter lore,  particularly in the shorthand way characters and terminology weave in  and out. For the rest of us, though, watching these characters over the  last decade and saying farewell to a few faces makes it all bittersweet  that the end is near (indeed, an early scene in which Hermione casts a  spell that makes her Muggle parents forget her existence, in case she  doesn't return, is particularly emotional). Despite its challenges,Deathly Hallows, Part Isucceeds in what it's most meant to do: whet your appetite for the grand conclusion to the Harry Potter series. --Ellen A. Kim