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Harry Potter as a series of seven novels had its fair share of missteps. The elf slavery/liberation storyline has been beaten to death by now, but all the criticism of it was accurately stated. I was also disappointed that Rowling could not forgive others for the transgressions of her youth, which is why the worst character in the series is Pansy Parkinson. She has no depth and her only purpose is to laugh raucously, uproariously or viciously whenever Ron, Hermione or Harry experiences misfortune. Rowling has said Parkinson is an amalgam of all the mean girls she knew growing up and I was frustrated by the fact that she could not let that go. Ms. Rowling, you have a billion dollars and a reputation as one of the world's greatest living authors. You've won. Let it go. Other than these quibbles and Dolores Umbridge, however, I have nothing but the warmest feelings about Harry Potter, a hallmark literary achievement.

With regards to the movies, I would have expected my grades to reflect a similar trajectory yet that is not the case. I'll explain why after stating the grades:

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: B+
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: C+
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: A
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: A+
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: A+
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: A+
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1: B-
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2: A+

I enjoyed the first Harry Potter movie a great deal at the time yet I must admit that the absence of several key players is lamentable in hindsight. While the movie delivers a sweet reminiscence for me about the youthful cast, I struggle to be entertained when I watch it now. Chamber of Secrets is the most awkward book in terms of storytelling, the one where Rowling hadn't quite found her footing as an author yet and it showed. The movie is a similar hodgepodge that fails to distinguish itself from the first film in any meaningful way.

I knew from the trailer that Prisoner of Azkaban would be wonderful. The motion poster of escaped wizard Sirius Black is sublime. This represents the first non-Quidditch moment in the film franchise where I believe the producers recognized just how special the special effects could be. It was a seminal revelation for all involved and the casting of Gary Oldman was the first indication that all of the new characters in each iteration would be played by heavyweight actors capable of elevating the already wonderful source material to even greater heights.

For my money, Goblet of Fire is the greatest adaptation in the franchise as well as one of the best movies of the 2000s. To this moment, whenever the movie is on, I marvel at the set pieces. It's been six years since the release of Goblet of Fire yet the special effects remain special. Even the minute details such as the sparks coming off the staffs of the men of the Durmstrang Institute and the feminine sparkles from the women of Beauxbatons Academy are gloriously implemented. I had believed this novel to be every bit as un-adaptable as The Orchid Thief yet it hits all the right notes while correctly truncating the extended Rita Skeeter sequence.

The discussion for Order of the Phoenix, Half-Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows Part 1 is well covered ground by now, but I reiterate how impressed I am by director David Yates with regards to trimming the massive amount of fat in Order of the Phoenix then delivering a tight, high quality blockbuster. He shows more restraint than Rowling and proves that Umbridge can work as a character so long as she is used in small bursts. Half-Blood Prince is a cinematic triumph in every sense of the word, delivering character development and a resonating feeling of lost innocence. Deathly Hallows Part 1 contains all of the character development mentioned earlier, which is frankly boring on its own. Deathly Hallows Part 2 is given all the action, which is why it's such a resounding conclusion to the most popular franchise ever. There is a yin and yang element to the two movies, but I vastly prefer the latter's intensity to the former's methodical patience.

Suffice to say that I love Harry Potter and am quite sad to reach the end of this journey. Come back soon, Hogwarts.

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