PotterWatch (13 out 77): The Director's Chair: Chris Columbus

Across eight films, we've had four directors, some of which were great, and some who failed. Chris Columbus was the latter. It seemed like such an inspired choice at the time. The man who directed Home Alone and Mrs. Doubtfire, and Bicentennial Man is a natural fit for such a franchise, right? Wrong, and to be frank, none of those films were ever that good. Lets keep in mind the fact that after his contribution to the Potter franchise he went on to make the failed adaptations of Rent, I Love You Beth Cooper, and Percy Jackson and the Whatever.

So in retrospect, his work on Sorcerer's Stone and Chamber of Secrets is some of his best work. That doesn't make it any more disappointing. As far as film adaptations go, it does help to add a little creativity to the project, and Columbus never once did that in his time as director. If he had continued on as director, I think the films would've gotten progressively worse. Take Sorcerer's Stone as a good example. The script is pretty much the same as the book, word for word. There's a point where loyalty to the source material gets you killed, and this is it. Some people exhibit fantasy series creativity for the better (Lord of the Rings), but more for the worse (The Golden Compass, Eragon, The Last Airbender).

Even the texture that Columbus brought to the first two films felt too real. It's a world about magic, so it's suppose to look and feel magical. Prisoner of Azkaban and Half-Blood Prince were the only ones to do that. Then Columbus continued into Chamber of Secrets, and when you're dealing with a climax involving a 12-year-old fighting and defeating a giant snake, it's hard to fail. Columbus does, and that's probably the biggest reason he isn't here now. Because he can't handle action, and there was quite a bit in the first two films. I'd be able to deal with the lack of action recently in the series if the action in the first two lived up to the potential of the books. So I think now is a good time to retire Chris Columbus, not only as a director, but as a citizen of the earth.