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EmmaRiddle · #1 (**permalink**) 05-20-2004, 07:02 PM

A PoA Review by a TLC reader - First fan review

Summary:
Another PoA Review

Article:

A PoA Review by a TLC reader

Alexandria was lucky enough to see a preview showing of PoA. Here is what she had to say.

Quote:

When my manager offered to let me go to the preview screening of
"Prisoner of Azkaban," I immediately accepted, regardless
of the fact that I would miss a full day of school. My second thought, after accepting, was that I should do a review for the fans out there who still have 16 days to wait. So without further ado, this is my first attempt at an organized critique. (Spoilers abound, by the way. I don't think I could even attempt this without spoiling it.)

I'll say this now, and I'll say it again at the end, if you've read
the books and love them as much as I do, the first thing you do when you go see a movie adapted from the book is do your best to forget that there ever was a book. You're setting yourself up for disappointment right there because there is no way a movie will ever look the way you imagined it unless you make it yourself. Whether it's "Lord of the Rings," "Master and Commander," or, of course, "Harry Potter," the most important thing is that you view it as though it's an original film.

Even so, I am as guilty as anyone for comparing the movies to the
books. These are the differences which stood out to me, and which I was a little (emphasis on little — it's almost insignificant, my
amount of disappointment):

-Quidditch: I don't like the new uniforms. It could have
been that they looked like rain slickers because the game was played in the
rain, but I really do like the ones from the first two movies better.
Also, I can easily think of a way to put in the other two matches so that we get to see Gryffindor win the cup. This film is over a half hour shorter than "Chamber of Secrets" — it would have been
simple.

-The script has Harry see Pettigrew on the Marauder's Map
before Lupin does: There was no reason for this, except to have Harry run into Snape and do the "turn out your pockets, Potter" scene. If they had had the cloak slip off Harry's head in Hogsmeade, they could have done that scene where it's supposed to be.

-The Shrieking Shack: This scene was WAY too fast. They don't go into the fact that Prongs is James, Padfoot is Sirius, etc., or that the three became Animagi for Lupin. They could have made it about two minutes longer, explained the whole history behind why Sirius is there trying to do what he's trying to do, and it would have been much better.

-Yeah, the werewolf looks weird: But I got over this really fast,
because it's not a crucial plot element. Who cares, really? (Another little "who cares?" moment is the fact that the entrance to the Gryffindor common room has changed locations: it's now at the top of a staircase instead of in a corridor, and they changed Fat Ladies. It's a magic castle, though, so I've explained that one away quite nicely.)

-They kept the ending: And by this, I mean the one that I
heard was rumored to have gotten bad feedback at a test screening weeks ago. As we all know, Oliver Wood is not in this one, so that complicates things regarding the Firebolt. Harry gets it in the end, and flies off on it.

And that's where the movie ends, on a very abrupt note. It's the
way they did the last shot, a freeze-frame on Harry's face, instead of Harry flying by and then a fade-out on the castle.

So those are my only qualms. And they are far outweighed by
the good things. If I wrote down all of them, you'd be reading for about a
year, so I'll try and compact them the best I can.

Dan, Rupert and Emma: They have all matured and grown into their parts, most noticeably Dan, who is light-years ahead of where he was
2 years ago. He IS Harry. Rupert is wonderful, as always — he always seemed to be the most comfortable in his part of the three, at leastin my opinion. Emma, in some scenes, still seems a little bit ...stiff. She looks the way I feel when I'm doing a scene in Drama, and I don't quite know what to do. But she's honestly very good in the role, very much Hermione. She's nailed the know-it-all attitude and voice.
Every time Ron questions how Hermione has suddenly appeared in a class or
at the table, she dismisses it so forcefully and matter-of-factly. (In addition to these three, Tom Felton is much better now — I find the de-gelling of his hair to have released the tension in his jaw which was causing him to clench his mouth a lot in the last movie.)

David Thewlis is not how I imagined Lupin, nor is Gary Oldman as
Sirius: I think a lot of people feel this way, at least about the
way they look. However, they are actors, and act they can. They're perfect.

Michael Gambon as Dumbledore: For the few scenes he was
given, he did marvelously. He's more spunky and energetic, which is the way I personally envisioned Dumbledore. He's not given that much screen
time, though, which is a shame, because I think he could do so much
with the part.

This is a darker film. My mother then asked me what I meant by
darker, and I said, "Creepier ... and not as happy." And
it's not. It's highly emotion-driven, and Harry is bummed for a lot of the movie, by the fact that he can't go to Hogsmeade, the broomstick debacle, the fact that his parents' murderer seems to be out to get him. It's made more so by the music. John Williams composed again, but it sounds
nothing like the last two movies' music. The prologue theme only
shows up about twice, which is nice, but it gives the movie an entirely different feel. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed it. It's just different.

It's very hard to critique it without comparing it, both to
the books and to how well it continues from the first two. The differences between Columbus and Cuarón's directing is night and day. It's totally apparent that it is not the same director. Even the grading (color) on the film lends to the overall tone, which is less playful than Columbus's interpretation. It's grittier. I think the biggest difference is that Cuarón GETS this book in a way that Columbus didn't.
It's a very good thing that Cuarón did this one instead, because we all know that the conflicts in "Prisoner of Azkaban" are
mostly internal, and when they are external, they come in the form of Quidditch, Malfoy, and the conflict at the end. I think if Columbus had made this one, it would have been a little boring, because Columbus's screenplays follow the events in the book, but often miss out on the emotions.

Cuarón presents the audience with both events and emotions,
which are edited a little to work around a story line which had to endure some tweaking. Rest assured, all crucial plot events make it in, even if they do come in a slightly different order. As I mentioned before, as long as you look at this as a film separate, and I do mean COMPLETELY separate from the book, you'll love it as much as I did. It's a cliché'd phrase, but totally applicable. I just wish Cuarón could stay and do the rest of them. Anyone who felt that the first two lacked a little something, I'm sure, will agree with me that Alfonso was it. Everyone I've asked always says that "Prisoner of Azkaban" is their favorite book, and I don't think anyone will be disappointed.

Source: TLC

fan · 05-20-2004, 07:22 PM

It's lovely to see so many compliments from a person who is a fan. I'm glad to hear more positive reviews about Thewlis, Oldman and Gambon.

samanthalee1983 · 05-20-2004, 07:23 PM

Cool! I so want to see POA even more now.

Uh... no mention of the Frog Choir though? (the one from the first trailer that sings 'double double toil and trouble...")

Oh well, I'm curious to see where that fits in.

bageLiciouss · 05-20-2004, 07:40 PM

Quote:

David Thewlis is not how I imagined Lupin, nor is Gary Oldman as*
Sirius: I think a lot of people feel this way, at least about the
way they look. However, they are actors, and act they can. They're perfect.

You can't judge a person by how they look! I can't wait to see how they do!! I know they'll be great, just watching the trailers and all, And reading this review

Kazters · 05-20-2004, 07:57 PM

i am not sure did she really like the film or thought it was ok?

i soo cant wait to see it though.

Dan's_Girl · 05-20-2004, 08:13 PM

I think It will be fantastic!! She was rather negative about it though!!
For me, I am relying more on the Empire review. They said that the film is FAR superior to all the others, and they are proffesional critics... So...
Cool though!!
Weird thing about the Firebolt!

~*dangirl~* · 05-20-2004, 08:18 PM

this is a review by what this preson thinks and not necessorily every one thinks the same way........................

hey may be this person didn't like the uniforms but may be i might like them..... i don't know... i still just can't wait to sede the movie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

~*dangirl~* · 05-20-2004, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dan's_Girl@May 20 2004, 12:47 PM
I think It will be fantastic!! She was rather negative about it though!!
For me, I am relying more on the Empire review. They said that the film is FAR superior to all the others, and they are proffesional critics... So...
Cool though!!
Weird thing about the Firebolt!

EXACTLY what i mean

daniel'schick · 05-20-2004, 08:52 PM

i DO think this will be a GREAT movie only i wish Columbus had directed it instead of Cuaron. the quidditch robes may be different but i don't care. this movie is going to go down in history. true, the actor who plays Sirius doesn't look the way i pictured him and neither does Lupin . but altogether, this movie is on the top of my movie list to go see. :sorcerer:

I LOVE DANIEL RADCLIFFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*Snivellus* · 05-20-2004, 09:18 PM

hmmm ok interesting...kinda ruin'd something for me there...but ok Im still quite sure that its wicked!...some of the things that she points are, are some of the things that I feared... for example the Shack scene... :ermsmile:

rongranger · 05-20-2004, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Quote:

David Thewlis is not how I imagined Lupin, nor is Gary Oldman as
Sirius: I think a lot of people feel this way, at least about the
way they look. However, they are actors, and act they can. They're perfect.

You can't judge a person by how they look! I can't wait to see how they do!! I know they'll be great, just watching the trailers and all, And reading this review

I think what they meant was that is not how they envisioned Lupin and Sirius, not by what they look saying that they are bad actors. Anyway I think that it is exciting that the movie doesnt really follow the book exactly but that is my opinion.

EmmaRiddle · 05-20-2004, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dan's_Girl@May 20 2004, 05:47 PM
I think It will be fantastic!! She was rather negative about it though!!
For me, I am relying more on the Empire review. They said that the film is FAR superior to all the others, and they are proffesional critics... So...
Cool though!!
Weird thing about the Firebolt!

Yes but the "professionals" are paid to do this.

This was the honest opinion of a normal HP fan like yourself or I. The only negative comments seemed as if they were fact, like the thing about the Shirkeing Shack scene being short and the ending being corny.

phoenixtears489 · 05-20-2004, 11:24 PM

Now I'm scared that I won't like the third movie....It's by far been my favorite book...by what she is saying...I think that she was implying that everything was done quickly...I hope that Alfonso doesn't dissapoint us...

angels-in-my-heart · 05-20-2004, 11:44 PM

I'm sure this film will be fine if we take on the advice, to forget there's the book. I am going to be optimistic and wait and see for myself what this movie brings. But the thing that really gets me is the fact that the couldn't have the quidditch final in!! :ermsmile: it would have been brilliant to see this and it would have only taken about 10 mins? in the film and to say it is shorter than the other 2 films it wouldn't have mattered!!

not long now though and we can make our own judgements!!

strawberrykid931 · 05-21-2004, 12:06 AM

I agree with her, they could've put more in the Shrieking Shack and the other Quiditch Games and it wouldn't have been too long. That stinks! It's not like anyone cares if the movie 30 minutes longer! It'd make it better. probably just cause of little kids that watch.
Ya, the ending does sound kinda corny

hermioneg288 · 05-21-2004, 12:29 AM

Yeah, they definitely should have put the quidditich in--although i kind of knew they weren't going to do all 3 matches because of oliver wood not being there and i think i read somewhere that they weren't doing it. The film should be longer though-with the quidditch and shreiking shack scenes

I still think this movie is going to be the best one yet--POA is my favorite book and it sounds like the movie will be excellent. I can get over the little things hopefully like quidditch and the shreiking shack and that ending not being the greatest. I can't wait to see it even more and I know i will love it!!

padfootis#1 · 05-21-2004, 03:01 AM

I still say they should have kept chris. And made the movie longer, whats up with that?
The no robes thing is also stupid, i kno the movie is not gonna be JUST like the book, but i think u should try to stick to it as much as possible and not add things that did not happen, it confuses people. About the Lupin thing, i agree, he looks nothing like i thought he would.
More shaggy with longer hair and NO mustache. But you kno i cant judge it intill i see it.
I kno i'll proyble be sittin in the movie theaters whispering to the person beside me that that didnt really happen in the book and sit there explaing what really did.

vietgirlz_8706 · 05-21-2004, 05:17 AM

can't wait to see the movie now.

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