Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone was the litmus test for the magical world created by JK Rowling on the big screen. And, thankfully, it was a great success. Director Chris Columbus drew inspiration from his experience with family-friendly children's stories such as Home Alone and Mrs. Doubtfire to create an introduction to the magical world of Harry Potter worthy of the books. There are childlike adventures, a school atmosphere, and above all, moments of true enchantment, such as the plots against Professor Snape, Quidditch training, and levitation classes. It is the lightest movie in the franchise and serves as an invitation to people of all ages to enter the magical corridors of Hogwarts Castle.
After directing the first movie of the saga, Chris Columbus returns behind the cameras of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Although the director's childlike tone remains, showing a style reminiscent of 1980s Afternoon Session classics, the saga already has a more youthful feel and, above all, there is an aggravation in the clash of the two franchise rivals: Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort. In addition, it begins to explore even more the personalities of the three protagonists, Harry, Ron and Hermione, and deepen the participation of characters such as Hagrid and Dumbledore. It is the consolidation of the formula and stories seen in the first movie, gaining momentum and reaching new audiences.
Award-winning Alfonso Cuarón (Children of Men, Roma) takes control of the third movie in the saga and puts his world view on the Harry Potter story. The tone is much darker than the previous two films, with characters like the frightening Dementors and the complex Sirius Black. But more than that, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban puts layers and characters into the fight against Lord Voldemort and, most importantly, experiments with script and direction -- thus becoming the critics' favorite, a large part of the audience, and even author JK Rowling.
In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry, Ron, and Hermione enter adolescence. Love problems, first fights, and initial discomfort arise. In addition, director Mike Newell (of the comedy Four Weddings and a Funeral) takes advantage of the atmosphere of the Triwizard Tournament and builds a kind of school comedy of manners. There is the bully, the good guy, and the heroine. All this to create a different atmosphere and show that Harry Potter's magical world goes beyond the walls of Hogwarts, expanding its final possibilities. And it is worth remembering: the movie has one of the most anguishing and strongest endings of the entire saga, with Lord Voldemort finally taking shape.
With Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the franchise of the wizard played by Daniel Radcliffe takes on the face, form and tone that follows the films up to the Fantastic Beasts spin-offs. After all, director David Yates takes the lead of the story and puts a plasticity, almost an industrial rhythm in what is done, bringing a typical English conduct to the saga. It's slower, more contemplative, things get stranger - in the good and bad sense. In addition, there are many political subplots, due to the interference of the Ministry of Magic. However, contrary to what may seem, the film is one of the most exciting of the saga, with Harry teaching spells to students, Dumbledore showing his powers and, finally, engaging in the famous battle against Lord Voldemort, already alive and powerful.