Favorite / Best Harry Potter movie so far? v3 NOW WITH POLLING GOODNESS!!!

[roguedragon]

Originally Posted by snugglepot

POA is the best, dementors and Lupin what more could you want.

How about Canon Ron and Hermione?
That is what I hate the most about PoA. Ron being reduced to a coward with awful facial expressions and portrayed as a fool, whilst Hermione is the brave, clever Heroine, with super strength who gets Ron's brave line in the S S and worries what her hair looks like from the back and takes over during the Time-Turner Sequence.

I totally agree. Losing canon Ron and Hermione was a horrible part of POA. Ron is brave and stands up to Malfoy. Hermione could have cared less about what her hair looked. It is bad enough thay are altering the book characters, but they are also changing the movie characters from the previous films, SS and COS. They should be consistent. But I still do believe they should have added in the bit of who the maurauders were. Rowling has said that Harry is a boy looking for a father. This is why it is important that they should have said who the mauraders are. And honestly, if they had time to pay attention to the detail of adding in the stupid talking heads in the knight bus, they could have used that time and effort to talk about the mauraders.

[annabon]

I voted POA, I loved that movie and I love Cuaron. My least favorite was OOTP I think, except for Luna, I love her<3

[walcnevar]

POA definately

[MAGICicalMUggle]

My vote goes to POA!.....It's my favorite out of the movies SO far!....It's really well done and i think it captured the spirit of the HP books the best out of all the movies!...I think that Alfonso Cuaron was the best director for the films....And the worst is David Yates because OOtP was totally different from the book....It felt like the dementors had sucked out the soul of the film....There was barely any emotion shown from the characters and i found the whole movie dull although belatrix and Luna were entertaining....I'm hoping that HBP might be as good as POA!!!!...

[vampiricduck]

Prisoner of Azkaban for sure. Loved it, just for the way the characters were growing up, the time travel thing, the plot was excellent and hello Gary Oldman!!

If I had to choose a second, I think I'd go with Order of the Phoenix, because it made a very long book into a very classy looking, adult film. It was like everyone had finally grown up! And Umbridge was scary fantastic!

[NumberEight]

My favorite is PoA. Here is the list of the films in my order, from good to bad: PoA, OOTP, SS, CoS, GoF

[vampiricduck]

I can barely watch Philosopher's Stone anymore... I think it's just that everyone grew up so quickly after it!! They all look so different now!

I watched it the other day though, and I really enjoyed Richard Harris!

[Headless_Nick]

While I love the books, I've never been overly crazy about the movies. It's not uncommon that the movies leave out crucial plot points and add extra fluff that was never in the books. The acting from the main trio isn't as good as it should/could be - Rupert Grint's pretty good, Emma Wattson fairly good (though I hate how the scriptwriters and director(s) have turned Hermione into a more girly character, which I think is part of the problem), and what somebody could say in defense of Dan Radcliffe's performance, I do not know.
But enough ranting. I'd have to say that OotP is my favorite movie because it kept with the spirit and, for the most part, the plot of the book without leaving a bare skeleton or making confusing transitions into unexplained scenes. GoF drove me nuts because the storyline that kept true to the book was a bare skeleton, not to mention all the unexplained scenes/transitions (e.g. the Quidditch World Cup and how Harry got to the Weasleys/why he was there) and the unexplained appearance of flying horses and a giant ship at Hogwarts. I felt lucky to have read the books beforehand.
But back to OotP. I also felt that the performances of supporting actors/actresses - most notably newcomers Imelda Staunton as Umbridge and Helena Bonham-Carter as Bellatrix - were phenominal and most definitely a large part of what made the movie as good as it is. I feel that none of the Hogwarts teachers get enough on-screen time.

[DeathlyH]

Originally Posted by Headless_Nick

I feel that none of the Hogwarts teachers get enough on-screen time.

Except for the DADA teachers, I agree. The DADA teacher usually ends up taking too much screen time. The only ones I felt haven't were Quirrell (who I thought was excellent) and Lupin (my favorite of all of them, books and movies). Umbridge took up way too much screentime, IMO. But I agree, the other teachers, like Flitwick and McGonagall, barely get any time at all which is too bad.

[boushh]

Hmm, if I had to rate them right now I'd say:

OotP
PoA
GoF
CoS
SS

GoF may leap frog PoA even though I love what Cuaron did. PoA has a re-watchability problem for me with the time turner. When you've seen it a few times it kind of gets tedious to watch it repeat.

I'm planning to watch them all again in order and I'm curious to see how I feel about them afterwards. I may change my mind altogether.

[Headless_Nick]

Originally Posted by DeathlyH

Except for the DADA teachers, I agree. The DADA teacher usually ends up taking too much screen time. The only ones I felt haven't were Quirrell (who I thought was excellent) and Lupin (my favorite of all of them, books and movies). Umbridge took up way too much screentime, IMO. But I agree, the other teachers, like Flitwick and McGonagall, barely get any time at all which is too bad.

In some ways, yes, you have a point. I do agree that Quirrel and Lupin were perfect in both their performances and their on-screen time. I can see how Lockhart may have had a bit too much time (more important scene(s) could, perhaps, have taken the place of a scene such as the pixie scene). Though at the same time, the DADA teachers have always (well, usually, at least) played a pretty integral role in the story. I mean, for OotP, Umbridge's scenes were cut a bit short compared to the book. I'm not complaining about that, though, since even I, a rather picky viewer, could see that it was necessary.

[vampiricduck]

I also agree that Lupin, Quirrell and Lockhart were excellently portrayed. But I also agree that more time needed to be devoted to other teachers. It sometimes feels like the students are, well... not students. I know that this is also down tot iming constraints, but I would adore seeing more of Snape or McGonagalls classes. The only time I ever really saw them as students being taught was the first film, where a few classes were shown.

I feel like, that for a group of films centered in a school, not a lot of teaching gets done! It seemed, during Order of the Phoenix, that the OWLs were being sat with no preparation or stress! Having just done major exams, let me tell you: the stress should have been there!!

[Martok]

There are less and less classroom scenes in each progressing movie. I think the reason is, that they really don't work as good in the movies. I mean, if they introduce each new spell like a teacher demonstrates it by waving his or her wand and saying an incantation and then we see the students struggle with it, it's not particularly entertaining, because it becomes repetitive. Charms and Transfiguration classes are basically like that. History of Magic lessons are supposed to be boring, so I'm glad that we never saw one of those.

[Solaris23]

Originally Posted by Martok

There are less and less classroom scenes in each progressing movie. I think the reason is, that they really don't work as good in the movies. I mean, if they introduce each new spell like a teacher demonstrates it by waving his or her wand and saying an incantation and then we see the students struggle with it, it's not particularly entertaining, because it becomes repetitive. Charms and Transfiguration classes are basically like that. History of Magic lessons are supposed to be boring, so I'm glad that we never saw one of those.

I agree with this, but in all fairness the way the classes are done in the first two films are rather boring and they could have done a few things to make it much more interesting than what it actually was. Same with the Quidditch. It is only from POA onwards that they cut back a lot on the class time and made Quidditch exciting again and in all fairness to the film makers, when you do read the books you again realise just how boring the classes are unless someone is mucking up or one of the spells goes really wrong.

[potterboykazi]

I know a lot of people think that SS was really corny, but still the forst HP film was the best. Yeah, the acting wasnt great, neither were the special effects but the sets and all the characters portations were awesome. it wasnt action packed or even funny, and it was like a children;s movie. But it still rocked

[vampiricduck]

Originally Posted by Solaris23

I agree with this, but in all fairness the way the classes are done in the first two films are rather boring and they could have done a few things to make it much more interesting than what it actually was. Same with the Quidditch. It is only from POA onwards that they cut back a lot on the class time and made Quidditch exciting again and in all fairness to the film makers, when you do read the books you again realise just how boring the classes are unless someone is mucking up or one of the spells goes really wrong.

Yep, I agree with you there. It was only from PoA onward that things seemed to mature a bit, which I understand and accept, but I did wish for more from the first films. Classes are classes, and I know that if there were too many in the films I'd be bored, but I love the "it's a school!" point too, which appeals to me.

Originally Posted by potterboykazi

I know a lot of people think that SS was really corny, but still the forst HP film was the best. Yeah, the acting wasnt great, neither were the special effects but the sets and all the characters portations were awesome. it wasnt action packed or even funny, and it was like a children;s movie. But it still rocked

I still agree with you too though. I like PS/SS myself, just because it was the first one and I was so young. I liked it then, but today I'm not so young so I don't appreciate it so much.

[DeathlyH]

Originally Posted by vampiricduck

Yep, I agree with you there. It was only from PoA onward that things seemed to mature a bit, which I understand and accept, but I did wish for more from the first films. Classes are classes, and I know that if there were too many in the films I'd be bored, but I love the "it's a school!" point too, which appeals to me.

I think there were too many classes in SS/PS-CoS, and not enough during GoF-OotP. PoA I think got it just right.They also only showed classes that were important, but still more than 1 like in GoF. It was good for me, and that's another reason why IMO PoA is the best to date.

[Voldemorts8thHorcrux]

HBP!!!!! because it is ALL ABOUT VOLDEMORT!!!!!! and Hero is adorable with the sadistic gleam in his eye .

But if I hadn't chosen HBP, i would've chosen PoA. It was the most enjoyable and accurateish movie for me

[bellatrix93]

That's my list:
-HBP
-POA
-COS
-OOTP
-GOF
-PS
I think the Half Blood Prince will be the best so far, I'm sure the part of the cave will be too creepy, but I'm upset because Christian Coulson wont return in that one, I'm sure he'd have done great job, Hero seems to be great though.
In POA, all actors grew up so much, which made the movie more enjoyable. I also love the time turner thing, Trealawny's prophecy and the part of the werewolf in the forbidden forest.
COS was so nice, I really enjoyed it, Christian Coulson's performance was AWESOME
-In OOTP I loved Helena Bonham Carter's performance, the way she screams and taunts Harry was so real.
-GOF was great all the tasks seemed to real especially the first one Voldemort's return was perfect
-PS is great but I dont think that I'll enjoy it any more. Not after Dan, Emma and Rupert have grown up so much.

[eaglestreasure]

Originally Posted by yoshi2542

I voted for POA, but shouldn't there be an option for GOF?

Anyway, I think POA is the best because it was directed fabulously, with stunning camera work, lighting and background detail, the best musical score, the best story, the best characterisation (people say Hermione was the focus and was a pink power ranger, but to me she was always a pink power ranger, and I don't know how you can say she is the focus when it's Harry who fights the dementors, Harry whose godfather is chasing Pettigrew, Harry who rides on Buckbeak, Harry who rides the Knight Bus, etc..) and the best acting. The change in the grounds was great, gave the landscape a real personality, and I think Cuaron managed to capture the pure spirit of the books without sticking rigidly to the plot.

Same here.