Thursday 4 August 2011

"This boy will be famous. There won't be a child in our world who doesn't know his name." - MY FAVOURITE HP FILMS

Harry Potter films have left behind a legacy of great fantasy stories mixed with heart and humour. With all this in mind, the following are my top 5 Harry Potter Films:


5) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, part 2-

Yes the second viewing helped. This film stroke a great balance between the huge battle scene with the fancy effects, and the touching, tear-jerky ones. Many characters got their fare share in this film finally- I rejoiced for McGonagall's "BOOM!" and Neville's heroics, and Snape and Harry made me cry a great deal. As the last line of the book says- "All was well", this film ended the beloved film series with a well-deserved bang. There were a few blatant flaws, but over-all, one heck of a film. Also the music was fantastic...never really cared till now. As Ruth from Let's be Splendid About This commented, the film as a whole is greater than the sum of its parts, and I did end up loving it.


4) Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone-

The film that started it all- the series and my madness. Chris Columbus did a great deal, more than people give him credit for, by bringing in the principal cast together. He knew how to make children films, and made a fantastic one out of this. The world fell in love with these three adorable kids and their magical school. So they weren't the best of actors then, but they played the characters perfectly. Also the supporting cast- Richard Harris, Maggie Smith, Robbie Coltrane and obviously- Alan Rickman are wonderful. This film introduced us to the many things of this enchanted world, and filled us with amazement, and a life-long wish to be part of it all. I think it was a very well-made film...not particularly innovative or anything, but an honest and dazzling adaptation of a genius children's book.


3) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, part 1-

I remember how utterly depressed I was reading the first half of this book. David Yates, however, made a beautiful, haunting film out of this. What we usually felt from Harry Potter films was that cozy feeling of belonging somewhere and like being with friends. This film negated all that, and left us with like a hole, but since it was such an unexpected thing to feel from an HP film, I loved it. It just showed that so much can be done with these films. This is the only film not set in Hogwarts, and Yates took total advantage of that and gave us gorgeous backdrops. Things like the noise of the Horcrux, Hermione wiping out her parents' memories, the incredulous Deathly Hallows sequence, and the amazing Dobby set it apart from all the other films. 


2) Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban-

Yaay! Now that's what I'm talking about. Warner Bros handed over the reigns of the super-kiddy series to a slightly-racy auteur, Alfonso Cuorón, and we got MAGIC! Suddenly the films became dark, and cool. This one in particular was smart and funny. The brilliant Gary Oldman, Emma Thompson, Michael Gambon and David Thewlis joined the cast. The kids finally started acting! This film didn't require much explosions or charms, but still simple things like the Dementors or the Whomping Willow did enough. I just love the look of this film in general, and the super-witty humour, and the fact that Hermione punches Malfoy in it. Plus major points to Cuarón and the film for making sense out of the super-flawed Time Turner idea, and making a great third act as a whole.



1) Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix-

Again, I can imagine the "WHAAAT???" But seriously, I love love love this film. It's so rare that a film is better than the book. And I absolutely loathed the book, and was convinced this film will be shite. But instead, I got this great story. I love all the aspects of it- Harry with his anger and Voldie-spasms, Umbridge in all her pink Devil-ness, the formation of DA and all the secretive fighting, LUNA, Sirius and Harry, BELLATRIX, the trio discussing Harry's kiss, and obviously the end. Then end is just brilliance, better than those of all the other films combined. First there are these splendid kids fighting against Death Eaters; then the angelic Order comes and they start fighting; then Harry and Sirius fight against Malfoy together; then Sirius dies and Harry's face just there; then Dumbledore and Voldemort have that super-epic duel; finally when Voldemort possesses Harry, the way Harry fights back because of the ability to love in him. This film gives me such a kick...a great effort by Yates. It shows why I love these films so much...beneath all the glamour of charms and potions and dark arts, they are about these incredible kids with who have such heart and courage, and who give so much importance to friendship, and no amount of darkness, and despair and sorrow can ever defeat that.

4 comments:

  1. Interesting that you prefer Part 1 to Part 2 of The Deathly Hallows. I think most people would tend the other way around. I think like Part 1 more than Part 2 as well!

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  2. Yeah, but I really was blown away with Part 1. It was almost gonna take my number 2 spot...took a while to decide between the two. Hi5!

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  3. Nice post! I almost agree with all these. Part 2 was phenomenal, it was cinematic and just plain brilliant. I'm going to follow your blog now :) Be sure to check my blog out> www.filmmasterjournal.blogspot.com

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  4. Thank you. It was very good, but I prefer Part 1 to it.
    And thanks :)

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