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Best Harry Potter film?

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I only ever seen the last one. Went to the theater with my girlfriend. I wasn't too into it until snake man shouted "abracadabra!" to cast a spell that killed Harry near the end. Thank Christ we were tucked away in the back of the theater because I was laughing uncontrollably.

So yeah, that one.
 
Fitts said:
I only ever seen the last one. Went to the theater with my girlfriend. I wasn't too into it until snake man shouted "abracadabra!" to cast a spell that killed Harry near the end. Thank Christ we were tucked away in the back of the theater because I was laughing uncontrollably.

So yeah, that one.
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Avada Kedavra actually :P
 
brandonh83 said:
Love how people bitch about Yates going too dark. That's only exactly what the books did. They were very depressing and hopeless IMO. Job well done I'd say.
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That's what people bitch about? Dark was the best part of Yates directing. I hated the ackward dialogues, the pacing, the unconnected scenes, the feeling that I was watching an amateur video recorded by the fourth friend that never appears on the camera.
 
Avada Kedavra is actually a silly spell, though. I mean, if you're an amoral wizard, and you're in a fight to the death, why would you ever cast any other spell. It's not like we're ever told that wizard spells in the Harry Potter world have cooldowns.
 
Branduil said:
Avada Kedavra is actually a silly spell, though. I mean, if you're an amoral wizard, and you're in a fight to the death, why would you ever cast any other spell. It's not like we're ever told that wizard spells in the Harry Potter world have cooldowns.
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I've always wondered why no one else in the Harry Potter universe ever uses whatever spell Wormtail used to blow up 12 muggles in a single go. Surely that's the GOAT combat spell?

Then I wondered why, during the battle of Hogwarts, no one ever Imperius'd an enemy combatant, sent them back to their own lines, and then had them use that spell to blow up themselves and a bunch of other people in a suicide bombing.

And that's why, if I were in the Harry Potter universe, I'd be in Azkaban for war crimes.
 
Branduil said:
Avada Kedavra is actually a silly spell, though. I mean, if you're an amoral wizard, and you're in a fight to the death, why would you ever cast any other spell. It's not like we're ever told that wizard spells in the Harry Potter world have cooldowns.
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A lot of the spells don't make sense with the 3 unforgivable curses first and foremost. I mean there are some powerful spells like the one Snape had invented in the 6th book and they're never used. Also, Stupefy is like the only spell that is used en masse. And let's just not forget magic items like that time turner. I really feel that the whole world of magic in Harry Potter is really poor constructed.
 
Qurupeke said:
A lot of the spells don't make sense with the 3 unforgivable curses first and foremost. I mean there are some powerful spells like the one Snape had invented in the 6th book and they're never used. Also, Stupefy is like the only spell that is used en masse. And let's just not forget magic items like that time turner. I really feel that the whole world of magic in Harry Potter is really poor constructed.
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Well, this part of my issue with the later books. I don't think Rowling ever really planned for the books to get as dark as they did. In the early books, the arbitrary and unbalanced magic is part of the quirky charm, but when things become serious it becomes a detriment as all the wizard battles lack any real logic.
 
Tertullian said:
I've always wondered why no one else in the Harry Potter universe ever uses whatever spell Wormtail used to blow up 12 muggles in a single go. Surely that's the GOAT combat spell?

Then I wondered why, during the battle of Hogwarts, no one ever Imperius'd an enemy combatant, sent them back to their own lines, and then had them use that spell to blow up themselves and a bunch of other people in a suicide bombing.

And that's why, if I were in the Harry Potter universe, I'd be in Azkaban for war crimes.
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Did the aurors or the "good wizards" actually use the kiling curse in the war?

Haven't read rhe books but weasley's mom throws a petrificus totallus against bellatrix, and then blows her to pieces in the movie... Brutal stuff.
 
I have a soft spot for Azkaban, it's fantastic.
I don't get the GoF hate, i can see the issues people have with it but it's still great, Voldemort's return scene was spot on.
I really liked the last 2 movies as well, despite some issues with pacing and how it handled certain parts of the story, they had a lot of great character moments.
 
Half Blood Prince
Prisoner of Azkaban
Goblet of Fire
Order of The Phoenix
Sorcerers Stone
Deathly Hallows Part 2
Deathly Hallows Part 1
Chamber of Secrets.

CoS is the least entertaining and least important of the films/books IMO. Yes it's the introduction of a horcrux (least I think it's the first time we see one) but it feels more like a sidestep then an actual advancement of the plot.
 
peanutbutterlatte said:
I still think it's better than the latter 4. Yates wrecked my favourite book (Phoenix). Goblet isn't perfect, but one thing it absolutely nails is the Voldemort returning scene, which is the entire point of Goblet really.
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I don't think it nails Voldemort's return at all, but that's mainly because I absolutely hate how they chose to portray him. In the books he's cold, calculating and fiercely arrogant. In the films he's this eccentric loon who runs around ranting and raving...he's like a parody of what I always imagined Voldemort to be.
 
I really have trouble understanding how anyone can defend 1, 2, and 4.

Christopher Columbus's movies are so deficient as films it's almost unbelievable. They are genuine hack work: there is nothing whatsoever good to be said about any of their formal elements (cinematography, editing, blocking, basically anything related to directing). They are literally staged line readings.

Goblet of Fire is also unbelievably deficient. It runs through plot points at breakneck speed, accomplishing nothing and emphasizing nothing and hitting precisely none of the important emotional beats of the book, totally failing to make the really interesting mystery plot of the book interesting at all. It is as soulless and rushed and perfunctory adaptation of a book I've ever seen.

I don't really like Prisoner of Azkaban, but at least I can understand why people defend that one. Cuaron has style at least; no one can deny that. But I just don't get how there can be any love for 1, 2, and 4. Cuaron and Yates might have problems, but in my mind they are the only ones even in the running for best HP film.
 
I really like 1 and 2, I won't deny that's probably purely nostalgia based. There's just so much wonder involved with the beginning of a series.

I never did see 6 or 7p1. I should probably try to watch through the whole series at some point.
 
Frog-fu said:
1 > 2 > 3 > the rest
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I agree the series got worse after it got self-seriously grimdark and overly concerned with the big overarching plot as opposed to whimsical adventures. That said, my personal preference is 3 > 1 > 2. Azkaban is the best-looking, has stronger characterization and I really enjoyed the time travel shenanigans.

But the Columbus films get a bad rap. His approach isn't particularly inspired - you could even call them workmanlike - but at least they're lighthearted and colorful as opposed to the dreariness of Yates' work (7.1 > 7.2 > 5 > 6, for the record. 7.1 at least takes time to catch its breath. Also, the animated story of the three brothers is incredible).

(For completeness sake: 4 is probably my least favorite of them all. Though it's a toss-up between it and 5/6).
 
Azkaban is awful. They changed too much, they barely explained Sirius innocence, they didnt explore the marauders background, with the map and the animagi, no fidelius charm explanation, there was only one dull quidditch scene and Harry receiving the Firebolt only in the end, a shame as the quidditch scenes in PoA book are great.

The best is probably Deathly Hollows part II, while my favorite is the Half-Blood Prince.
 
1 > Rest.

So good that I have watched this over 1000 times and remember most of the dialogues.
 
I like 3 and 4 the most. 4 is just so watchable despite angrydore and gutting the book to hell and back. Honorable mention to 5 for making the longest book into the shortest movie (not counting 7-2) and still being great.

6 is my least favorite. 7 could have been the best but they really squandered the extra runtime, abysmal Voldemort confrontation and so many plot details still left up in the air to non book readers, that payoff is a huge part of the appeal of book 7 for me.
 
Prisoner of Azkaban




DH2
DH1
Half-Blood Prince
The Order of the Phoenix
Goblet of Fire
The Sorcerer's Stone
Chamber of Secrets
 
Deathly Hallows Pt 2 is the best. Come on, people!

I'd rank them as such:

1. Deathly Hallows Pt 2
2. Prisoner of Azkaban
3. Deathly Hallows Pt 1
4. Goblet of Fire (Yes, butchered the book, but still a very enjoyable film. The trials were awesome, as was the Voldemort reveal)
5. Order of the Phoenix (Dumbledore/Voldemort confrontation on the end was amazing)
6. Half-Blood Prince
7. Philosopher's Stone
8. Chamber of Secrets
 
azkaban gave us da gawds david thewlis and gary oldman in this universe. it really was easily the best of the potter movies.

the yates ones were pretty dull but eh i guess i'd say deathly hallows 2 was the next best.
 
Just going to copy my post from a similar thread two weeks ago.

PoA > DH2 > SS > GoF > DH1 > HBP > CoS > OotP
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Though GoF, DH1, and HBP are very close and interchangeable. I think GoF is generally more entertaining. DH1 is pretty good all-around. HBP's pacing and tone were a little inconsistent.
 
Aside from Prisoner of Azkaban landing on top, it's actually crazy how different everyone's rankings are. Almost everyone seems to have a different favorite. Shows what a great series this is.
 
The first four movies are great, with my favorite being Azkaban. Phoenix was okay, mostly redeemed by Umbridge. Half-Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows Part One sucked. Never watched Part Two.
 
I'm down for another Harry Potter movie thread!

3 is probably the best, but I really love 6 as well.

3=6 > 1 > 5 > 7.1 > 2 > 4 > 7.2
 
Azkaban is the best film and the worst adaptation. It's the only Harry potter film I consider to work well as a standalone fantasy tale, it's great.

"I hate it because it's not like the book!" Is not a valid criticism to me. Judge a film as a film and judge a book as a book.
 
i'm finding it hard not to rank DH part 1 really low based on the fact that i fell asleep watching it in the movie theatre because it was so long and drawn out
 
Goblet of Fire is the worst movie.

Poor acting, awful pacing, everyone's long hair looks stupid except for Harry's (this is the only movie where he looks as shaggy as I expected him to from the books' description).
 
Tertullian said:
But none of the Harry Potter movies even really try to do this, except maybe Azkaban, and even then only a little bit.
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Thanks. I can see your point about Part 1, but the last book was also my favorite one and Yates just got it all right to me. Only thing I don't care for in his movies is the lack of Voldemort back story in HBP but other than that I thought he did an amazing job.
 
Deathly Hallows 1 > Deathly Hallows 2 > Prisoner of Azkaban > Sorcerers Stone > Order of the Phoenix > Chamber of Secrets > Half Blood Prince > Goblet of Fire.

I really enjoyed the hopelessness in the last two films. You felt like you were right there with the characters, and it even looked taxing on the actors! That scene in the end of Deathly Hallows 1 with the snatchers? My breath was caught in my throat.

An earlier poster mentioned cinematic language, and that's the best way to describe the last two films, imo.

Half Blood Prince would have made it much higher if it wasn't for the last half of the movie, ESPECIALLY the last few scenes. Tragic.
 
  1. Prisoner of Azkaban
  2. Deathly Hallows Pt 2
  3. Philosopher's Stone
  4. Goblet of Fire
  5. Deathly Hallows Pt 1
  6. Half-Blood Prince
  7. Order of the Phoenix
  8. Chamber of Secrets

Have a soft spot of Goblet. Yes it did butcher the book but it was one of the more entertaining movies imo. DH1, HBP and OotP are all interchangeable to be honest.
 
Ganzlinger said:
Azkaban is awful. They changed too much, they barely explained Sirius innocence, they didnt explore the marauders background, with the map and the animagi, no fidelius charm explanation, there was only one dull quidditch scene and Harry receiving the Firebolt only in the end, a shame as the quidditch scenes in PoA book are great.

The best is probably Deathly Hollows part II, while my favorite is the Half-Blood Prince.
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How did they barely explain Sirius's innocence? It was pretty clear he didn't give up the Potters or kill Pettigrew. What more is there.

The marauders get enough of a mention. Even in the book when Lupin is telling the story Sirius is telling him to get on with it because it is boring. And in the time travel part Harry and Hermione have enough time for a sit down in Hagrid's while they wait for the shreiking shack scene to end. Then you can fit it all together once you see Lupin with the map and knowing how to use it. Was it ever important that Harry's dad could turn into a stag? No.

The fidelius charm is a macguffin, it added nothing to the book either and quite frankly it is never really explained why Sirius makes the Potters switch Secret Keeper.

Thank god they cut the Quidditch stuff. It is a nonsensical game that doesn't warrant the time spent on it. There is precisely two outcomes Harry catches the snitch and wins or Harry fails to catch the snitch and they lose. And we already had the triumphant scenes in the last movies there was no need to redo it.

PoA is the best movie because it takes the book and repurposes it with some flair. The book version suffers because it is too caught up in the rigid school year and really doesn't get to the meat of the characters. Lupin and Black come across much better on screen than they do in the book. Prof. Trelawny gets more characterisation than both combined. The movie really focuses on Lupin more and gets rid of nearly all the school year structure
 
I really don't get the love for PoA. I feel people like it just bc Cuaron directed it. I think it has the worst story of the 7.

I think 4 is the best film. The Yates films suck
 
ryan299 said:
I really don't get the love for PoA. I feel people like it just bc Cuaron directed it. I think it has the worst story of the 7.

I think 4 is the best film. The Yates films suck
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While I think Azkaban is a legitimately great movie, the sheer hyperbole surrounding it probably has something to do with that. Stuff like it being the only good one.

But then your last few statements lost me but whatever when it comes to this series opinions are all over the place :p
 
Even though I still hate the fact that Deathly Hallows got split into two movies, I'm surprised at how much I liked Pt. 1. I'd probably still have to give it to Prisoner of Azkaban though, although it always really bothered me for some reason that he doesn't get the Firebolt until the end of the damn movie.
 
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