Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Ass

[Nate]

I saw this today.  All I'll say is I haven't read book 4 or 5, but so far, every book/film's villain centers around the Defense of Dark Arts teacher.  Is an original plot too much to ask here, three films in?  I know they're kids' books, but when I'm figuring out how shit will end halfway through, something ain't right.  

I don't dig this series at all.

[redbobsled]

Is this supposed to be in the blasphemous statements thread?

I LOVE the books.  The movies...not quite as good, but I have great hope for this third one.  Hopefully, I'll get to see it sometime in the next week.

[Nate]

If you dig it, that's fine by me.  I do not so far.

[Hell Toupee]

I wasn't a big fan of the first two films, but this one was decent for a couple of reasons.

1 - The director, Alfonso Cuaron. He has shots in this movie that are just dazzling, not to mention how much it feels like half a Fellini film / half Nine Inch Nails video. The wash-out effect coupled with the beautiful cinematography were really well done. Chris Columbus' versions were too bright and cheery for me.

2 - It WASN'T a direct translation of the book, so if you want the full story, you still have to read the book. I don't read them myself, but everyone complained how the first two were so literal. This one isn't and will force you to read the book to get the missing parts.

3 - Better acting as the kids get older and more comfortable with the material.

4 - Better CGI. Less of Quidditch (which got old really quickly for me in the first movie), and more interesting work, especially the fantastic Buckbeak, which looks very genuine in all scenes that it's in.

5 - It's more cut-to-the-chase story-wise. All the elements are easy to follow without you having to know much about the Potter world. It helps, but it doesn't hurt you if you see this without having touched or seen anything 'Potter'.

What I didn't like?....

1 - Gambon as Dumbledor. I miss Richard Harris.

2 - Slow build-up. The scenes with Harry's various 'family' moments don't do anything for me. Thank God it's short in this one.

3 - Unexplained Dementors (Azkahban's guardians - big whoop). I wish there was a scene for Sirius Black's escape from the prison.

Other than that, I was entertained. It has great moments in it that I didn't expect, and I'm sure the kids will still enjoy it. It's definitely more stylish, and that may turn some people off, but overall I think it's a darker vision for a darker story. Well done in my book.

4 out of 5 cheese doodles.

-ct

[Juliana]

I thought it was good.

I didn't think it was that obvious ahead of time what was going to happen, especially with Lupin.  In the book it's more obvious, but they left a lot of those details out in the movie I thought.

Anyway, I thought this film was very well done.  I like this director a LOT better than Columbus.

I thought Gambon was good.  IT's not as though they really had much choice in the matter afterall.  It's not like they fired Harris.

[kcneon]

Is an original plot too much to ask here, three films in?  I know they're kids' books, but when I'm figuring out how shit will end halfway through, something ain't right.

I think you're expectations are too high, mate!  To me it's just a cute story for this generation.  My niece & I have made the trip to see each one within the first couple of weeks, so we'll probably both look back at it as a fun tradition.  Guess I just don't read too much into it.  Rowling is not another Tolkien.  

[scurvygirl]

Rowling is not another Tolkien.  

Yeah, no matter how much she "borrowed" from him.

Yeah, so, good movie.  I liked it lots.  This director is friggin' awesome.

[mona]

I loved the directors use of the iris effect. there were so many beautiful shots that I was really impressed with. my friend and I have both read the entires series and we were sitting there, obviously already aware of the entire story. yet there was a lot they left out, and some things I thought they should've kept in. but I realize the biggest complaint about the last two (which I enjoyed, but I think I like this one better) was that they were too literal, so I understand the decision. all in all, the movie flowed well and it was fun and the acting was better, the story great (as usual) and beautifully shot.
I'm sure I"ll go see it again.

[Juliana]

Some things would have made SO much more sense if you would have read the book though.
My sister and I spent all of dinner explaining things to my mom and cousin who haven't read them

[cuddlyevil]

With the noted exception of the intermission due to the medical emergency, I enjoyed the movie. It had a much different feel to it than the last two, it was a lot darker--it worked for this one. My husband took some issue with certain things that weren't the same as they were in the book, but I only had to hush his complaining once as opposed to several times when we watched the two towers and return of the king. It's probably too dark for the young kids that were in the audience that night, but the rest of us seemed to dig it.

I LOVED the shrunken heads, not sure why, just did.

[SenorCardgage]

Overall I thought I was a great third installment.  It so hard with the books getting bigger and bigger to cram everything in the movie.  I found myself thinking "Oh, I wish this was in the movie, it would have explained it so much better..."  So that night I was bummed, but realized there is only so much they can do.

Everybody keeps saying it was a darker movie.  I think the book came off much darker than the film.  I loved the Dementors, and I thought Lupin's character was great even though it was trimmed from his role in the book.

[cuddlyevil]

harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban in 15 minutes