On June 26th, 1997 British writer published her first novel in the Harry Potter franchise Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. The result was great critical and commercial success; spawning a billion-dollar film franchise that generations of young adults would go to the theater to enjoy. Rowling sold the first four Harry Potter books to Warner Bros. for $1 million, though she did have creative control & was the main reason the cast was almost entirely of British origin.
Quick note: I'm only reviewing films 1-4 because these are the only ones I have read/seen & I have no desire to watch the rest of the franchise.
The Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
Rescued from the outrageous neglect of his aunt and uncle, a young boy with a great destiny proves his worth while attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Director Chris Columbus (Home Alone) makes the first film in the franchise a rather light affair that is clearly aimed at entertaining children, Which is fine this time around, as the darker elements of Harry Potter come into play in the later books. In addition the inexperienced child actors (Radcliffe was 12 at the time) likely would not have been able to create any real serious tension.
The actors struggle with simple lines of dialogue & the special FX artists animate various CGI creatures so poorly that it almost ruins the elegant set design and fantastic costumes. The tangible imagery is remarkable, whereas anything computer generated comes off as amateurish, which is a shame for a film with a budget so big.
Ultimately it's a passable film, if only because it's the beginning of a franchise that has potential to become something greater.
The Chamber of Secrets (2002)
Director Chris Columbus directs the second picture in the franchise and is unfortunately still stuck in child-mode. You'd think a film consisting of blood being written on walls, moaning ghosts in the girls’ bathroom, and hundreds of spiders trying to eat the main characters would be a darker cinematic experience, but these scenes are toned down with humor that doesn't fit and light fluffy (no,not the dog) moments that cater to more primitive minds.
The dialogue is awful in this one, which is unfortunate because Rowling's original text didn't have awkward villain monologue moments or characters constantly reminding Harry Potter about what he just went through. At least the three main child actors can deliver this awkward dialogue better than the first? That's an improvement right?
Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
It's Harry's third year at Hogwarts; not only does he have a new "Defense Against the Dark Arts" teacher, but there is also trouble brewing. Convicted murderer Sirius Black has escaped the Wizards' Prison and is coming after Harry.
Thank goodness Chris Columbus was removed from the directing chair and replaced with a more competent director in Alfonso Cauron (Y Tu Mama Tambien). The first two films were conventional little pictures that tugged at 10 year old heartstrings, whereas this picture bursts with energy and feels darkly atmospheric.
The use of CGI and special effects remain secondary to story, so rather than being in awe of spectacle for the sake of spectacle, we can actually care about character relationships for the first time in the series. Prisoner of Azkaban is an artistic developing film that does away with cheeky childish humour and boorish dialogue, and replaced it with a fantastic plot and equally engaging character development.
The Goblet of Fire (2005)
Harry Potter finds himself competing in a hazardous tournament between rival schools of magic, but he is distracted by recurring nightmares.
Director Mike Newell (Donnie Brasco) is no Alfonso Cauron in terms of pure unadulterated talent and therefore Goblet of Fire cannot possibly hold up to the previous picture Prisoner of Akzaban (2004) Thankfully it's still better than the first two, as Newell's touch gives a more ominous tone throughout the picture. Its PG-13 rating is well deserved as there are many moments that are more suitable for horror films than something that was previously given to a Home Alone director.
The new actors; Ralph Fiennes as Voldemort & Brendon Gleeson as 'Mad Eye' Moodey give the picture a more sinister touch that spells real danger for our heroic main character. Voldemort in particular gives a menacing tone to the series that predicts gloom for the rest of the series. The three main actors; Radcliffe, Watson and Grint have now grown into their roles and can sufficiently act in the more dramatic moments that these films now demand.
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