These young Potter actors, who started out in this business way back in 2001 have really developed into rather good performers. Particularly impressive are Radcliffe and Watson as Harry and Hermione and the fact that they are backed up by such an wonderful ensemble of British acting greats is a real treat: Jim Broadbent; Michael Gambon; Alan Rickman (absolutely superb, as always – truly the perfect incarnation of Severus Snape); Maggie Smith; Julie Walters; Helena Bonham Carter; Robbie Coltrane and David Thewlis to name a few. Unfortunately the exception is Tom Felton – he seems to stumble and spit out half his lines and I just don’t think the poor chap can act. Perhaps he needs a few spells to help him. These films are getting darker and David Yates is the man behind this transition – and it is absolutely the right feel for the films – after all, they are dark times in Hogwarts, but bright times indeed for the good financiers at Warner Bros with this film taking in close to $US 1 billion in worldwide sales. Abracadabra!
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