I thought the map was the highlight of the movie.

they should have gone into how the map came about more, it's actually a crucial plot element that actually ties in with other characters & future event, but i thought it was well done. even better than the diary in #2.

If you can abide it, stick around after the movie; the credits are a 10-minute walk
through the "school grounds" trailing fading footsteps along a close-up of the map,
past the hundreds of people involved in the production. I didn't have the stamina
to seek out the amazing calligrapher who made the hand-lettered map,
or who made the rustic font used for the titles, but I imagine there is a neat easter egg
when the footsteps arrive there. The footsteps sometimes take on unique characteristics so watch closely....
I found this one of the best parts (characters) in the movie.

This topic is also being discussed over in the Type ID section.

I thought the credits at the end were very entertaining. It looked a bit like oragami created by M.C. Escher and a calligrapher. At one point you see Sirius Black's footprints wander by and turn into paw prints (or maybe the other way 'round?). We usually watch the credits anyway, but this one was worth staying for more than most.

The bird prints wandering around the owlery were a nice touch, but my favourite gag was the half-dozen footprints quickly fleeing the stink bomb store room.

I'm sure there are many jokes hidden in the writing on the walls[1]. I know that if I had to write hundreds of lines of unreadable latin, I'd include the names of friends and family, subliminal messages, the ending to the seventh book, etc.

[1] In another scene, one of the doorframes is covered in runes. One rune that stood out was the Dead Kennedys' logo.

Oh wow, I didn't see the DK logo. I've got to look for it. This thread's just giving me more reasons to re-watch this film.

Aside from it being the best of the series.

{best in the series} definately the best of the books, not sure if i agree when talking about the movies, they got the look right, but the story telling was weaker, i thought. ah well, i still have my imagination intact. ;^)

Chris, The DK logo is on Professor Lupin's door frame; outside, on the left, near the top. You see it as Harry enters the room on his last visit (when he gets the map back).

I meant the film, but the book is great as well. I prefer the later novels, where the politics and breadth of the magic world are revealed. I'm a sucker for tales with a fully-realized world behind them.

I've also got a weak spot for the film's director, Alfonso Cuar�n.