hpatgof

[dk_psy]

So what are people's views on the new HP film? I personally loved it and can't wait to see it again, but the reviews I've read (Total Film and Empire) gave it less than what they gave to the first three. TF gave it 3/5, but gave the first three 4/5 each, while Empire gave it 3/5 and gave the first two 4/5 and Prisoner of Az 3/5.

So, what did people really think? I'd give it at least 4/5.

[Enyaj]

Thought it was great and reasonably true to the book. Didn't think that they needed to use the bad language though, the expression Ron made to Harry could have been just as effective with a 'Get lost' instead of 'p*** off'.

Why do they need to use all those 'bloodys' aswell?

[Gigadave]

I really liked it. I thought it was better than the first two but not as good as the excellent 'Prisoner of Azkaban'. I don't know why they feel the need to change directors all the time when one gets it so right...

[maymey]

i thought it was the best so far. It showed that the cast are growing up and they have kept the best scenes from the film and the scenes they have added in complimented the film. I think that the use of different directors allows different aspects of each book to come to the front and allows the films to flow

[flashpig]

Their language is a whole lot better than real kids their age.

[bernardo]

I only read the books for the first time this year, and I haven't even seen films 2 and 3 yet. I liked the new film a lot, and I was very impressed by the special effects (and the bits when Daniel took his clothes off) but objectively I thought that it was rather unimpressive because of the fact that so many chunks of it were left out. I only understood what was happening, and knew who/what everybody was, because I have read the book. A film should be good enough to stand on its own without assuming that the viewers have read a book beforehand.

For example, the bit at the beginning:
Get up
Walk across a field
Wait for a quidditch match to start
(none of the match was shown)
and then a load of death and destruction in the campsite.

All of that bit was cut to the bone so much that it didn't really add anything, and should have been left out completely. It was all over so quickly that it wouldn't have left any useful background information about who or what Voldemort was, or what the fighting was about, to anyone who hasn't read the book.

I have a feeling that in 10 or 20 years time, when the hype has worn off, the film(s) may be regarded as a triumph of special effects over technology.

Having said that, I did enjoy it and I probably will go and see it again.