Dumbledore
I wonder how different the Harry Potter films would have been if he survived to play Dumbledore in the entire series. I always found his Dumbledore to be spot on with what was portrayed in the books.
shareMy daughter has made me watch all 8 almost on a loop for the last 6 months but the first 2 in particular she likes. And i have to agree i'm very surprised by the low opinion of the first 2.
For me the series go downhill after 3rd because of 2 things, the acting and the look of the films. I hate the dull grey looks of the later ones they're so dreary but the main problem is that the acting of the kids never gets any better from film to film so by the sixth when they are almost fully grown it stands out way more.
By contrast the first two set the stage of Hogwarts far better IMO and because of the lighter tone for the most part you don't notice how bad they are. But the best part of the first two by far are Dumbledoor and his relationship to Harry. As much as the first two are seen as set ups for the rest of the series i think the first works just on it's own as an Orphan boy who finds his way back home.
I would have loved to have seen a Chris Columbus and Richard Harris continuation for the rest of the story i think it would have been a lot richer in tone