Rating the Harry Potter Franchise

[jayman3]

Originally Posted by Batman1980

1. Goblet of Fire
2. Prisoner of Azkaban
3. Half-Blood Prince
4. Order of the Phoenix
5. Deathly Hallows
7. Chamber of Secrets
8. Philosopher's Stone
Fixed it for you.

I can accept your top three. Those are really the most interchangeable.

OOTP in my opinion lacked the substance. I know it dives straight to the point removing majority of the novel's fat. And Sorcerer's/Philosopher's along with Chamber of Secrets are way too much bloated now.

Half-Blood Prince as a film is wonderful, top notch storytelling. Though as a book adaptation it severely misses a lot of the books contextual point and feels more of a 150min advertisement for Deathly Hallows.

Where DH Part 1 was another 150min anticipatory build up to the third act which is the entirety of Part 2.

[Prog5000]

I rewatched all this on streaming. Any commentaries on the physical releases?

[imsounoriginal]

Originally Posted by Prog5000

I rewatched all this on streaming. Any commentaries on the physical releases?

I think a couple of the early ones have video commentaries, but only on the souped-up deluxe sets IIRC.

The individual 4K releases each come with an in-depth documentary that focuses on a specific aspect of production (writing, editing, VFX, etc.) and those are very good.

[Prog5000]

Originally Posted by imsounoriginal

I think a couple of the early ones have video commentaries, but only on the souped-up deluxe sets IIRC.

The individual 4K releases each come with an in-depth documentary that focuses on a specific aspect of production (writing, editing, VFX, etc.) and those are very good.

Cheers.

[slumcat]

Originally Posted by Prog5000

As a 35 year old is it worth me going back and reading the rest of the books?

Not really. I think Goblet of Fire is the most adult friendly book of the lot. And maybe 3 and 6, rest all skew considerably younger or are simply not that good writing that an adult should read.

Goblet is interesting because Rowling attempts the most elaborate plot she has attempted in this franchise with several different subplots intervening.

[Prog5000]

Originally Posted by slumcat

Not really. I think Goblet of Fire is the most adult friendly book of the lot. And maybe 3 and 6, rest all skew considerably younger or are simply not that good writing that an adult should read.

Goblet is interesting because Rowling attempts the most elaborate plot she has attempted in this franchise with several different subplots intervening.

I’m reading 3 right now and have picked up 4. I’m enjoying 3, it’s an easy read.

[slumcat]

Originally Posted by Prog5000

I’m reading 3 right now and have picked up 4. I’m enjoying 3, it’s an easy read.

I will tell you a fun anecdote, I read Goblet before I saw any of the movies or read any of the other books. Like just straight cold turkey read goblet of fire without knowing anything else.

And for the first 100 pages I was like - what? I especially remember Vernon Dursley asking Harry - what is Quidittich? And I remember thinking, I have the exact same question!

But I still ended up liking it and it made me go back and read the other books in proper order.

The books are very easy and unchallenging to read. They have simple language and follow a simple linear narrative - cause and effect, people say things, things happen, relatively little or no introspection. No inner monologues or philosophy.

It just functions as pure storytelling and moves the story along from point A to Point B in almost every chapter.

[DanTheMan]

Originally Posted by DanTheMan

This thread comes at a perfect time because I just received the UHD collection in the mail and I’m fairly overdue for a series re-watch. My list will be updated afterwards, but for now, here’s where I currently stand:

1. Deathly Hallows Part 2
2. Prisoner of Azkaban
3. Deathly Hallows Part 1
4. Goblet of Fire
5. Order of the Phoenix
6. Chamber of Secrets
7. Half-Blood Prince
8. Philosopher’s Stone

2020 UPDATE:

1. Deathly Hallows Part 2
2. Goblet of Fire
3. Deathly Hallows Part 1
4. Prisoner of Azkaban
5. Half-Blood Prince
6. Philosopher's Stone
7. Chamber of Secrets
8. Order of the Phoenix