The new Harry Potter is exceptional. It's easily the best of the three movies. When I first heard they had chosen noted Spanish pornographer Alfonse Cuaron (Y Tu Mama Tambien) to helm the film, I was a little surprised. But he was clearly a great choice. This movie doesn't feel nearly as tedious as the others sometimes did, and is a lot more fun.

Flaws? But of course.

1) The new Dumbledore is terrible.
2) The last third of the movie is almost incoherent (though that's JK Rowling's fault, not Cuaron's).
3) The Marauder Map scene is missing, for no discernable reason. If they're not going to have the full scene, they could have at least revealed the identities of Moody, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs. It would have been so easy to fit it in, you have to wonder why they didn't. Maybe it'll turn up on the DVD.

The clear shoutout to Back to the Future Part 2 ("My old man's about to deck Biff!") was also duly noted and much appreciated, though I wonder if Cuaron didn't inadvertently spoil the joy of BTTF2 for the entire next generation of happy schoolchildren. I guess time marches on.

This was a real step forward for the franchise. I'm impressed. Will it crash and burn in Goblet of Fire? See you in November 2005.