Before Deathly Hallows, which Harry Potter film was the best?
Over 300 of you cast your ballot for your favorite Harry Potter film before Deathly Hallows hit theaters. With a new contender in the ring, it’s time to tally the votes and declare the fan favorite of the first six films.
Let’s start with the loser (whomp whomp). No real surprises here. With only 5% of the vote, Chamber of Secrets brings up the rear. It’s not a bad movie, but it’s also not as developed and interesting as the later installments. This sophomore project is too similar to the first film, without the novelty of being the first. Still, I actually enjoyed it more than the second book.
Coming in fifth place with 7% of muggles claiming it as their favorite, we have Sorcerer’s Stone. Hats off to the film for establishing the wizarding world as we would see it for the next seven movies. You have to give it credit for that. But like the book, this film is very childish and it’s difficult to claim it as your favorite as an adult.
Next is the film I think almost destroyed the series, Goblet of Fire. 11% of you evidently disagree. 11% of my readers are wrong. I mean, um…I don’t know what you’re talking about…(((cough))).
In third place is David Yates’ first attempt at the Harry Potter series, Order of the Phoenix, with 17% of the vote. It’s a long book and as a result, the movie feels a bit cramped and rushed, with major elements falling by the wayside. That said, Dumbledore’s Army and the arrival of Umbridge keep this film going strong.
In second place, with a solid 22% of the vote, is Half-Blood Prince. I enjoyed this film. I didn’t expect to. Part of me didn’t even want to, since it’s so distant from the book. But I have to admit it’s entertaining. A bit confusing. A little emo. But entertaining.
And the winner (no surprise here whatsoever, if you ask me), with 39% of the most discerning muggle votes, is Prisoner of Azkaban. Most of you know this is my pick as the best of the first six films, but in case you missed that, check out Prisoner of Azkaban is the Best Harry Potter Film (I believe in subtlety).
But can Prisoner of Azkaban stand up against Deathly Hallows, Part I? Can either film win out against Deathly Hallows, Part II? It ain’t over till the fat lady guarding the Gryffindor common room sings, so we’ll check back on this poll in July, 2011.
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Find the new DEATHLY HALLOWS poll in the sidebar!
Probably the reason I liked the Azkaban movie best, was that I liked the book best (until Deathly Hallows.) Other than that, I liked Stone and Chamber because they were able to be more closely related to the books and because they had Richard Harris as Dumbledore.
He is a much more adorable Dumbledore.
Bill Nighy “Slartibartfast” could also have made a great Dumbledore, imo.
POA was *ABSOLUTELY DREADFUL*. I am sick and tired of people praising Cuaron for that hack-job of a film. It was an insult to J.K. Rowling and every devoted HP fan on the planet, and those of you who think otherwise need your heads examined.
The tone and atmospehere of POA is completely off. It WASN’T MAGICAL AT ALL.
And can someone PLEASE tell me *WHY* Cuaron MADE THOSE LITTLE ANNOYING ASS CHANGES? Why the %#$& was there a shrunken head with a Jamaican accent on the knight bus? Why was Flitwick (who looked nothing like he is described in the books!) conducting a chorus of “Something Wicked This Way Comes”, and why the fuck were the singers holding gigantic TOADS?!!!! Why were the Hogwarts grounds unrecognizable? Why wer the Hogsmeade and Shrieking Shack scenes so disatisfying? Why was the Maurader’s Map not explained adequately? WHY WAS EVERYONE WEARING MUGGLE CLOTHING?
The first two movies were impecable. Flawless, in my opinion. Just as I had imagined them in my minds eye. The casting, scenes and atmospeher3 were perfect. I CRIED during the Diagon Alley and Great Hall scenes in Movie one. So beautiful. And the Burrow scene in Movie two was spot on! Chris Columbus should have direct all 7 films, instead of leaving us with this disastrous hodge-podge series we have now!
You have made some very good points, here. I think I just need to watch the movies again scene by scene, alternating with the corresponding scenes in the books….
Before Deathly Hallows part 2, Prisoner of Azkaban was my overall favourite. I think the films tone and look was everything I thought a Harry Potter movie should be; it was beautiful, funny, dark and accurate. It also portrayed Harry perfectly, which is something I have issues with in the other films.
Half-Blood Prince is my next favourite. The first time I watched it I didn’t really like it (mostly because it was so distant from the book), but the more I watch it the more I love it. The shots of Hogwarts are stunning, the music was lovely and script was quite funny. I also LOVED all the pensive scenes, Tom Riddle was perfect and the ink effect made the film so much more enjoyable in my opinion.
The remaining films are good but not great. The fifth book is actually my favourite and excluding the battle between Dumbledore and Voldemort at the ministry and all the Dumbledore’s Army scenes I felt it was a bit of a letdown. Same with the fourth film, I actually watched the movie before I had read the book and really enjoyed it but when I realised how much they left out it quickly left my top movie list. The first two films are sweet, though a little childish. Although, I like how they stayed true to the films in order to ‘set up’ the fantastic world of Harry Potter. Oh and Deathly Hallows part 1 would be in here somewhere. Even though I am glad they split up the seventh book and the first one is pretty good, I still feel bored when watching it.