1890 - Harry Potter & the Philosopher's Stone

I've been looking for a reason to revisit these, and having children is a pretty good one.  We watched this because I wanted to take a crack at reading the first book to my four year old, and while he's pretty good about books with a lot of pictures, because there's a lot of fantasy elements to this he had a hard time visualizing what was there, so I decided to give him a look-see at the film world.
They're sooooo little here.  It's kind of adorable - and what a different tone this film is by the time to we get to the end-game.  One day I would love to do a marathon of all eight films - I think that's something that will have to happen when the kids are teenagers for sure.
This film still stands up, and its fantastic how much foreshadowing is going on, even here, despite how little the filmmakers knew about where the story was going.  There's even subtle moments between Ron and Hermoine.  Charming to say the least.
If you've never dived into these, and you like fantasy even a little, give it a go.  If nothing else than for the pop cultural value.

1883 - Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows: Part II

I don't know why I felt compelled to watch this - mostly 'cause I wanted something fun on in the background while I got some work done.  It's a tough film, this one, really just being the second half of something else.  Voldemort is kind of a weak villain here.  You don't really get a sense of his "plan" - what's he going to do if he wins?  What does that mean?  Is he going to take over the world?  You don't really get a strong sense of it.  Is he just going to be pure evil and try to make everyone else likewise?  That's my bigger issue with this series, mostly the films, is that we don't get a strong sense of the stakes outside of the typical good Vs. evil and life Vs. death.  

That being said the film is a lot of fun, the performances are solid, and it's a grand send-off for the series.  I'm really looking forward to exploring this world with my kids when they're old enough.

1591 - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II

I realize that I said I had this wonderfully elaborate plan to re-watch all of the previous installments first, I even finally bought Half-Blood Prince this week in anticipation of that.  Hell, I even left the house tonight with full intentions of going to see Super 8, but in my heart of hearts I knew that I really just wanted to see this.
In retrospect I really wish I'd at least watched the first part prior as this one starts smack-dab in the middle of it.  Actually, that's probably my only critique is that this one REALLY feels like it's just picking up exactly where we left off with no ramp up at all.  Although - maybe that's not such a bad thing.
There was some really lovely stuff about this one - and it was great watching it with an opening night audience to hear the cheers, of which their were many.  The largest was probably when Ron and Hermoine finally, after all these years, embraced romantically.  Part of me wonders if the producers didn't make an extra effort in the final film to keep Emma Watson with a damp look (which is a nice look for her).  This film is one that's really for the fans and a great conclusion in that it really gives each of its characters a moment to shine, and it has a lot of fun with going back to things from earlier in the series - all of which due to the excellent plotting by Rowling in the book.
I think my biggest problem with this series is just that I don't understand why and how the wizard world exists without involving the world of muggles.  I understand Voldermort's desire to run the world - why would they hide when they are clearly more valuable.  I don't recall this ever being explained.  Seems a bit odd to me.  Alas.
I'm not sure what else to say.  I laughed, I got emotional.  If you're a fan of the series you absolutely have to see it in the cinema. 

1589 - Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Man I forgot how long the first few films in this series are.  This film is a huge step forward from the last in almost all ways - the first nice bit is that the world is established for the most part, and we just learn about new things as we need to.  The children's performances are shaping up much stronger, the tone itself is getting a little less cheesy, and the CGI is closer to reality, and the story gets closer to the focus of the over all series - not that the first one didn't have Harry dealing with Voldemort, but this one is far more direct and personal and I think it adds to the weight of it all.
There's some great stuff in here, the one sequence that will always stick with me is when Ron's slug curse backfires and he spends the next little bit spitting them out - his face and the whole thing reminded me of a friend in highschool who had too much to drink one evening.  Two down - five more to go.  Have to say that I'm gettinng excited to revisit the newest of the installments as I don't think I've revisited those at all past the initial viewings.  This is one of those series that I just can't wait to show my own kids when they're old enough!
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Widescreen Edition)  Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Full Screen Edition)

1588 - Harry Potter & the Philosopher's Stone

Like a lot of geeks out there I'm revisiting the Harry Potter films leading up to the release of the final.  Only seems fitting.  Not unlike the books themselves it's amazing how much this series has evolved over the course of the films.  The visuals especially, while the latest installments have lent themselves to a dark foreboding look this film is pure storybook.  For what it's worth I think the series shift makes sense.  Although the tone of this film is rather cheesy at the best of times.  The acting just isn't quite there the way that it is later, nor are the special effects.  Of course I'm judging these films from the vantage point of ten years past their releases, and that's really just not fair. 
This film is more or less just an introduction to the world and the characters, and I think that it does a wonderful job of that.  It's a difficult thing to do in letting the audience know that there will be seven installments (more in the end) and still have them worried for your characters, knowing that they'll, in all likelyhood, be around. 
I'm looking forward to revisiting these films over the course of the next several days.  Especially towards the end when things start getting real!
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (Special Widescreen Edition) 

1466 - Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows: part one

It's a pretty impressive thing to have a series this big that's not only good, but that keeps getting bigger, richer, and more intense with each installment. And to be able to retain the entire cast (save some necessary recasting due to a lack of real Deathy Hallows) throughout the entire series. Not only that but to grab three nine-year-olds and be lucky enough that they all turn out to be damn fine actors in their own rights. I know not everyone believes this, and a lot more people are coming around to them, but I've always enjoyed and defended them, in particular Emma Watson whom people have said particularily nasty things about. I've always adored her and I do still here.

I wasn't surprised that they split the final book into two films - and maybe it was a bit of a way for Warner Bros to milk the series for a few more dollars, but I'm more surprised that they didn't split these stories up more. I always thought that they'd work better on the small screen, to give the chance to flesh out a lot of the little things that we just don't have time for in a compressed period of time. That being said I think that they did a really impressive job of making this part of the final story stand on it's own. It doesn't have a super strong climax but it ends at a really great moment. Shit is about to get REAL.

Without ruining anything, this film is full of moments that are chilling, as well as really quite lovely. Harry and Hermoine share a nice little affectionate moment right at a time that they both need it most, and it's the kind of scene that never would have existed had the film not been split into two. There's also a similar beat where we get to see all of Ron's inner-worst fears on display. It's really well done and affective.

Yates has really done an admirable job of making the last sections of this over-all story continue to ramp up and intensify. I love how the real world gets more and more integrated here. As much as there is going on here, it's still the calm before the storm. I expect the storm to be nothing short of magnificent given what's come before.

Leading up the final film I plan to revisit the series one film at a time, so be sure to look out for that if you're at all interested.

I don't need to tell you to go see this film, either you will or you won't. But if you haven't already been accustomed to this series, don't start here, they don't even bother to dumb it down for you and make it stand on it's own. You're right smack dab in the shit, and that's what makes it pretty damn awesome.

1253 - Harry Potter & The Half Blood Prince

It's been awhile since I've read any of the books and so my mind has nicely forgotten large chunks - which helps from getting annoyed with choices of what's cut out and why. The problem with this film is that it was just... underwhelming. There was no sense of joy, fear, longing. I think they wanted that from us but practically everything in the film feels quite unmotivated. Of course I'll see the last two, but this could be my least favorite of the series thus far.