By Adam Ray Palmer Battle of the Sequels returns after our Fast Saga epic! This time we are focusing on another series – the Harry Potter franchise! This series of films are sacred to a lot of fans, but the time has come, to pit them against each other in a battle royal. So, hold onto your wands (no crude jokes please) and let’s get into it! Quarter-Final #1Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone – 2001 – Chris Columbus (Director) Plot: An orphaned boy enrols in a school of wizardry, where he learns the truth about himself, his family and the terrible evil that haunts the magical world Vs. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets – 2002 – Chris Columbus (Director) Plot: An ancient prophecy seems to be coming true when a mysterious presence begins stalking the corridors of a school of magic and leaving its victims paralyzed. Verdict: This is such a tough call, and one that I think will have to be decided on a coin flip. Both movies follow the same Chris Columbus style, both have the same narrative arc throughout, and both have the three main stars still in their infancy when it comes to acting. They are cheesy but certainly loveable, and I just think the Chamber of Secrets edges it. The first instalment is hindered with the setting up of the story (which is fun of course) but the second movie is free to kick straight on into the script. It’s a semi-final visit for number two! WINNER: HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS Quarter-Final #2Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – 2004 – Alfonso Cuarón (Director) Plot: Harry Potter, Ron and Hermione return to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for their third year of study, where they delve into the mystery surrounding an escaped prisoner who poses a dangerous threat to the young wizard. Vs. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire – 2005 – Mike Newell (Director) Plot: Harry Potter finds himself competing in a hazardous tournament between rival schools of magic, but he is distracted by recurring nightmares. Verdict: The toughest battle is now out of the quarter-finals. Both these films are leagues above the first two outings. Prisoner of Azkaban was released two years after the Chamber of Secrets, and it returned with a moodier and darker style which really elevated the series. Then a year later, the Goblet of Fire carried on the same gloomy and mysterious filming style. Both these films have brilliant screenplays and the acting stepped up a gear, but for me, Alfonso Cuarón’s solo Potter movie nails it. WINNER: HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN Quarter-Final #3Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix – 2007 – David Yates (Director) Plot: With their warning about Lord Voldemort's return scoffed at, Harry and Dumbledore are targeted by the Wizard authorities as an authoritarian bureaucrat slowly seizes power at Hogwarts. Vs. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince – 2009 – David Yates (Director) Plot: As Harry Potter begins his sixth year at Hogwarts, he discovers an old book marked as "the property of the Half-Blood Prince" and begins to learn more about Lord Voldemort's dark past. Verdict: Another two classic Potter entrants into the franchise, but this is a lot more straight-forward for me. Half-Blood Prince takes it for being the more rounded movie and standalone. The Order of the Phoenix is a great middle of the pack movie, taking on the narrative arcs so far and bridging the gap to the next instalments. But because of this, cinematically, it loses its Harry potter magic on screen. So, for this reason, the stronger Half-Blood Prince flick takes it. WINNER: HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE Quarter-final #4Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 – 2010 – David Yates (Director) Plot: As Harry, Ron, and Hermione race against time and evil to destroy the Horcruxes, they uncover the existence of the three most powerful objects in the wizarding world: The Deathly Hallows. Vs. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 – 20011 – David Yates (Director) Plot: Harry, Ron, and Hermione search for Voldemort's remaining Horcruxes in their effort to destroy the Dark Lord as the final battle rages on at Hogwarts. Verdict: The final battle in the quarters comes down to the final two-parter. This seems a harsh judgement largely as they are near enough one large movie, but the rules are the rules! For me, Part 2 edges it slightly. I think Part 1 is an epic adventure movie where the trio of wizards go searching for the Horcruxes to destroy them, and it really creates a brilliant spectacle from start to finish. However, Part 2 has the ambitious battle scenes and the triumphant climax. If this was FIFA, it’s a sweaty goal by Part 2. WINNER: HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 2 Semi-Final #1Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Vs. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Verdict: The Chamber of Secrets puts up a valiant effort against the Prisoner of Azkaban, but there is only one winner here. To think that these two films are next to each other in chronological order is bewildering. What Alfonso did with his movie is fantastic. He took the script, stamped his vision on it and delivered to Warner Bros. an intense teen drama. Don’t get me wrong, the Chamber of Secrets served its purpose, but this is where the journey ends for tidy 2002 effort. WINNER: HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN Semi-Final #2Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Vs. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 Verdict: This semi-final is the hardest battle of the lot, the final is far easier than this because I know what is winning no matter what. I have mentioned before the battle scenes in Part 2 that are rousing, and I also wanted to do a special mention to one of the best sequences in the franchise that occurs in this film too. When Harry sees Snape’s old school memories to realise Severus’ true love for his mother is breath-taking cinema – it nearly won this battle for it. However, the Half-Blood Prince is the victor for a couple more reasons. The character development in this instalment is pivotal. We see Draco coming of age and really owning the screen, we see Horace Slughorn scene-stealing and we see the demise of a king. Yes, you know the scene, the death of Dumbledore. In addition, the funeral of the great man is beautifully crafted penmanship and the cinematography seems to fall in love with the writing too. Sublime. WINNER: HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE The FinalHarry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Vs. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Verdict: This is it guys, the final is here! You may have noticed a slight trend in the writing up to this moment. I have slowly but surely praised the Prisoner of Azkaban without truly gushing over it, well, up until this point. Before I do, to reiterate, the Half-Blood Prince had heaps of compliments poured onto it in the second semi-final, and it is deservedly the runner up. For me though, the Harry Potter realm changed on the big screen when Alfonso Cuarón entered the building. He took the wizarding world as we knew it from the second movie, rinsed it in teen angst, poured cold, murky framing on top and littered it with so many lonely, isolating scenes throughout that you really felt the pent-up energy when the final 30 minutes arrived. The whole film is visually stunning, with vivid colours and genius effects. The script is lengthy but there isn’t a word I would change. The film receives top marks and declared an absolute gem. With how the franchise developed, we owe a lot to the visionary Cuarón. WINNER: HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN Do you agree with my thoughts? What would your last four look like? Who be your number one? Let me know in the comments below, and let’s discuss on the socials!
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30/4/2020
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