I loved this movie! Cuaron is...very good. His comedy is great, and it's really very distinct from his darker, more subtle scenes. While this movie did not follow the book to the letter, I think that's all for the best. I mean, who would want to spend a year of their life or more just TRANSCRIBING the work of someone else, which is what he would be doing if he merely put JKR's work into a visual format. It had to have his signature and I think it really did. The scenes with Harry and Lupin alone really give you a sense of the bleak and desperate feelings that harry must be experiencing. I thought the whole Hermione issue was handled in a funny way with Ron constantly exclaiming, "Where did she come from?!" It gave you the hint that something was going on, whereas transcribing what went on in the book into a cinematic format would have been really difficult, and might not have worked as well. Words are so much better at getting that stuff across!

I also really liked Harry's flight on Buckbeak. It was very symbolic, as he's first afraid, then, looking into the water at his own reflection, masters his fear and actually takes joy in the flight. I see this out of control rush as something very much akin to Harry's life, something that is entirely out of his control, but something that he must learn to master.

Overall, I'd say that this can appeal to all audiences. Kids'll like the hilarity of the Knight Bus, and Ron's constant, comical over-reaction, and adults will appreciate the more subtle nature of Cuaron's film. Oh, and by the way, so BEAUTIFULLY filmed, don't you think? Okay, well, that's my rant...I'm going to see the movie again tomorrow *