Seeing all 9 Harry Potter movies (Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them was also included) in only 6 days is, in one word, exhausting! While I more than enjoyed going back to see all the movies in theatres, in XD might I add, and in a distraction-free environment is amazing. I would definitely do this all over again…although maybe in a few years or ten.
Anyways, the whole event did leave me with a new ranking of the movies, also some complaints, and new ideas/thoughts/scenes I didn’t know before. The main ideas/thoughts I have over the movies/books/characters will be coming in their own blog posts. Here I will have the new order of the movies and why. So, without further ado…
9. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
I’ve realized that the second book and movie has not moved in their ranking. I don’t know if it’s that it’s the second in the series, which usually have issues with it, or if I just find the whole storyline quite boring. There are some funny and exciting scenes but overall, I am not of fan of this movie.
8. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Why did the whole movie have to be filmed in that sepia tone overlay?!?!
I understand that the movie has much darker ideas and presence than the previous ones, but the main characters are still 16 years old. As I have recently re-read the book, the whole theme of the novel does have an underlying presence of Voldemort being back, but most of it is actually teenagers acting pretty awkward about crushes and worrying about classes and apparition. The book is way less terrifying and suspenseful than the book. I will always be annoyed that they only included two scenes from Voldemort’s background. How could they delete some of the other scenes; I just don’t understand!?
7. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
I’m utterly shocked that this movie has actually moved up in the rankings. I hated this movie when it first came out, and obviously, it is still low on the list. Part of the reason this one is so low is because of how much they left out of the movie. We don’t have the majority of the last chapter where Dumbledore explains everything to Harry, nor do we have much of Sirius (who is killed at the end), and even though it’s a small scene they cut out the beginning of Snape’s memory to make James look like the offending party (for those who have not read the books, Snape calls Lily “mudblood” and James decided to use Levicorpus). The problem with this movie is they tried to fit a 766 page (870 for the U.S. edition) into a 2 hour and 22-minute movie. The longest book and one of the shortest movies.
6. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
First off, great first scene of Frank, the caretaker, Voldemort, Wormtail, and Barty Crouch Jr. I was slightly unimpressed with this beginning scene once I saw Deathly Hallows Part 1 when they did the story of the Three Brothers. Overall, I still thought they did a good job of telling the story of the Riddles. I will never forgive them for this scene:
Why did they feel the need to have Beauxbatons and Durmstrang as non-co-ed? This is one area where I can’t help but feel shows how sexist Hollywood can still be, as both schools in the books have boys attend Beauxbatons and girls attend Durmstrang. The only reason I can think that they separated them in the movie is for aesthetics…you know because there are no men in France. I’m also still upset we didn’t get to see a sphinx.
5. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
This was truly a faithful adaptation of the novel, which I greatly appreciated as a child. However, as an adult, I would have liked to see some more originality in the Chris Columbus’ directing. The only reason this one is so much higher is that the storyline does keep me engaged, unlike the second one.
4. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
The movie was great! I cried buckets of tears the first time and all the times after it. Yet, the scene at the end when Voldemort is killed is not correct. I have heard all the arguments for why it works, and I will still say that was not the way to have him killed. Not only is he supposed to die a muggle death, as it states in the book, but also, having him break away into flakes of skin doesn’t mean that he’s gone. We all know he’s gone, of course, but people in the wizarding world need to see the physical body to truly believe that this is the end. I’m also still trying to figure out to this day why they couldn’t have actors who were 20-25. Harry’s parents were 21 YEARS OLD WHEN THEY DIED. They should not be looking like they are in their 40s/50s which is how the actors they have look. I”m not saying anything bad about their acting capabilities, but this has bothered me since the beginning and will until I die.
3. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1
I know most people refer to this movie as the angsty camping trip, however, I would really like to know how they would be acting when their world is taken over by a dictator, they are supposed to find these objects to destroy, not be found, and they are only 17 years old. I know for a fact that I would have a mental breakdown. They do a great job of showing how difficult and frustrating it is to find Horcruxes. After re-reading the 6th book, and seeing all these movies back to back I find it truly difficult to be on Ron’s side anymore. I can’t believe I would ever say that in my life.
2. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Most people rag on this movie and probably have it at the bottom of their list. It was pretty close to the bottom of mine too, except once I re-watched it, I found how much I did love the adaptation. I thought Alfonso Cuaron’s directing upheld the important parts of the novel while still being his own work. The only aspect I have issues with is Michael Gambon’s portrayal of Dumbledore, which may also be that I really loved Richard Harris so much. The storyline was fun and engaging to follow with the added bonus of having Sirius Black in it.
1. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
I know, technically, this is not a “Harry Potter” movie, but as it is set in the wizarding world, I’m still counting it. This movie had all the elements I wanted it to have when dealing with a sequel of sorts. I found while watching it again that this movie gives me all the same feelings and emotions I felt whenever I read the books that I don’t really have when watching the other movies.
A few last thoughts to think over that did not fit in the above sections. I will always be annoyed at the adaptations of Ron and Ginny. I feel like they made Ron too dumb and Ginny too simpering. They do not give any sort of justice to James, and they don’t show nearly enough of Snape’s tormenting of other students, which always leaves me to have to explain to others why I’m not a fan of Snape.
Anyways, I’m so happy that I was able to experience all of these movies again on the big screen. What do you like/dislike about the Harry Potter movies? Tell me in the comment section below.
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