We have compiled a comprehensive

We have compiled a comprehensive list of 80 movie reviews – the average tone of the reviews is just mixed to positive, here are some highlights:

The Houston Chronicle praised the movie: “Lovers of the book will find most of their favorite moments beautifully realized, perhaps even bigger and more wondrous than they imagined them,” also popular film critic Roger Ebert, who calls the movie “an enchanting classic that does full justice to a story that was a daunting challenge.”

While most reviews admit that “fans will be so relieved to find the world they love transplanted to the screen intact” (TV Guide), many do question the quality of the movie as a standalone product. For people who have not read the books, “lots of unanswered questions will remain after you leave the theater: why is Snape such a jerk, and how come Harry didn’t once use the precious wand he’s given, except to stab the troll in the nose?” (Hollywood.com)“The movie needs to be stronger dramatically, with a much more appealing central performance,” writes the Denver Post.

Also John Williams’ movie score is generally not received well. The Fresno Bee calls it “overblown” and the L.A. Daily News even “the film’s biggest offense.”

Some of the best known American publications have issued negative reviews. Time Magazine writes: “This is a magic act performed by a Muggle” and the New York Times does not like the movie at all: “Given that movies can now show us everything, the manifestations that Ms. Rowling described could be less magical only if they were delivered at a news conference.”