steebo777

Just saw Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban last night. Long story short, a very good film with great new direction. Alfonso Cuarón gave the film a bit of a darker tone. Chris Columbus did a fine effort for the first two, but the direction and cinematography (sp?) was simply outstanding. Although the story is not as good IMO as Sorcerer's or Chamber, it was still well done. Towards the end when

I also thought the film was a bit long winded by about 15 minutes, but I can't think of anything that could have been deleted. Michael Gambon did a wonderful job in filling in the role of Professor Dumbledore for the late Richard Harris.

Overall a very good film, very enjoyable and extremely well shot and directed. Anyone else see this yet?

Oh yeah, and on a side note:

silentbob007

Interesting comment about the story being the weakest considering that it is probably the most solid novel story-wise of the series so far. I am very curious to see what plot points and story lines have been trimmed from the book to fit the "short" running length.

Groucho

Just for reference, steebo...have you read the book(s)?

steebo777

I've only read the first two books

A bit, just a few hints of it here and there.

Rivero

interesting, I always considered the story of this one superior to the first two, and Goblet of Fire the best one of all. Did they play up a Ron/Hermione romance at all?

Groucho

Nothing to be embarassed about. I'm just curious about how these movies play to those who have read the books vs those who haven't.

Alvis

Well, I hope this movie is even better than the other two. I just watched Chamber of Secrets for the first time last night and found it to be better than the first movie.

Rivero

Cool. Just two more questions, i promise:

- How many quidditch match games were there in this one? The book has 3.

- Do the dementors look like carbon copies of the Ringwraiths? From the brief shots in the trailer they seem to.

steebo777

There is one match, which is short and ends abruptly when

Yes and no. Their black hoods resemble a close approximation to the Ringwraiths, but underneath the Dementors look more 'zombified' than the 'skeleton' look of the Ringwraiths. Also the Dementors move more like ghosts through the air.

Get Me Coffee

C'mon June 4th! Can Wait!

June is going to turn out to be one hell of a money machine.

Jackskeleton

I'm glad they cut down the Quidditch games considering the 4th book is Quidditched out and we need a break from it from the first two films.

As a reader of all the books out currently, I am sure that the film will seem different to me opposed to those who go in bare. Hopefully I wont nitpick at what was cut out
as I really did want to see that on film. Ooooh wells

Still can't wait.

PixyJunket

I'm not going to compare the movies to the books. Azkaban is my favorite of all five, I'm simply going to enjoy the movie for what it's worth. If it doesn't live up to the book, I still have the book. Either way, I'm sure I'll be entertained by it and that's all I'm asking for..

groovrbaby

The books seem like they came out sooo long ago. When the latest book came out, i watched the first 2 movies, then read the remaining books just to try and remember what had happened before.... To J.K. Rowling: A "Previously at Hogwarts..." prologue please!!!!

das Monkey

I'll share my thoughts if it interests you:

Read Sorcerer's Stone and enjoyed it. Not great, but pretty good for a book aimed at youngsters. It was a quick and fun read. Saw the film and enjoyed it. A little silly, but pretty faithful to the book and entertaining for both kids and adults. Overall, I was impressed.

Didn't read Chamber of Secrets. Saw the film and thought it was silly and repetitive. Reading this forum and talking with others, I'm apparently the only one on the planet to feel this way. In fact, it seems most people like it more than the first. From my perspective, all the freshness of the first was lost here, and it was just a rehash of essentially the same stuff, with a lame slow-clap thrown at the end for good measure.

After seeing the first, I was really looking forward to the second. Having seen the second, I have little desire to see or read any more. I too wonder how my opinion would be different had I read Chamber before seeing it.

das

Jackskeleton

Dude..

This one's for you...



I know that will make you happy.

Jeremy517

In my opinion, Chamber is by far the weakest book (and movie, most likely. I didn't like the direction). If you can find the time, I'd recommend reading at least the third book, which many people (including myself) consider to be the best.

Semi-related, my order of preference is: 3, 4, 5, (long gap), 1, (long gap), 2

PixyJunket

Whoa.

AgtFox

Yeah, I pretty much agree here. Although I may go 4, 3, 5, 1 and 2.

The best thing about part 3 is that:



Also, the first poster talked about:



Had you read the book you would have seen the same handling of the story. This is what makes book 3 so highly regarded in my opinion along with what I said above.

TomOpus

From the looks of things, I'm really going to enjoy this one a lot. The kids have grown a bit and it looks much darker, moodier.

I'll just have to make sure I see it when kids aren't taking over the theater

silentbob007

I "liked" the second movie when I first saw it in the theater, though I didn't ever go back to see it, and the last 2-3 times I've watched it on DVD, I've fallen to sleep right around the whole spider scene.

DVD Smurf

Its fantasy, what else can one ask for?

CreatureX

I think they did a good job in making the Dementors look different than the Ringwraiths. Click this page to see a pic of a Dementor:

http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/ex...dTrailer8.html

Joel

Lucky steebo.

I can't wait to see the movie. Can't wait to buy the DVD later .. it'll give a perfect addition into my Harry Potter books and dvds collection.

The twists are what makes Prisoner of Azkaban my favourite out of the series.

Oh, and how's Professor Lupin in the movie?

Alvis

Who is this?

Rivero

It's Emma Watson. She plays Hermione Granger in the movies.