[Galen_V]

I went to a midnight screening this morning, and I have to say I came away from it mixed emotions. I really didn't think that Cuarón's style played well in the first part of the film (especially going with a hand held camera with the Dursley's and the washed out looking Leaky Cauldron), but right after the shot with the carriages and the Hogwarts/Hogsmeade sign, I thought it was perfect. I really enjoyed the middle portion of the book, and I thought the Shrieking Shack segment was great. However, from having read the books, the

Spoiler:

time travel part

seemed kind of boring more so than any other part because you knew what was going to happen and you were

Spoiler:

just rehashing what happened 15 minutes before.

Obviously that's not Cuarón's fault; I just don't think that ending plays out well on screen (although I don't think that he did a good enough job building conveying the fact

Spoiler:

that Sirius was seconds away from getting the Kiss when they freed him.

It just seemed a little rushed.

Also, and I don't know if this was a problem with the theater I was in, but did anyone find that some of the sound effects were a little bit low? I'm not a sound guy but it just seemed to me that some of the oomph was lacking in certain places, like Hermione punching Malfoy or even when doors were slammed or when Snape closes the windows. I'll probably see it again this weekend on IMAX and see how it is there, but I'm just curious right now to see if others experienced the same thing.

[Jay Gunn]

I really, REALLY enjoyed it. I really couldn't believe how much Cuaron brought to the franchise; it was truly a breath of fresh air. I don't know if it was his doing, but I thought that the biggest improvement was in the story. It's much more streamlined and gets right to the point, leaving out some things that really don't drive the overall plot, like the Quidditch matches, the House Cup, and points and such. This gives the movie an opportunity that the previous films did not take, which is to be a true "film" and not just a slapped-together translation of the novels.
Special effects were really good too, in particular Buckbeak, who I thought was one of the best, if not the best, CG-character I've seen in a film.

Also, I think it was pretty obvious that Cuaron was inspired by "the Neverending Story" in certain parts, particularly when

Spoiler:

Harry rides Buckbeak for the first time and Sirius Black's animagus form, which looked nearly identical to the 'Nothing' from TNS, right down to its glowing green eyes.

[Travis_S]

Wow. I LOVED this one! I'm really impressed with Cuaron's effort in this one and hope he comes back for 5. After the first 2 movies, I was kind of writing off the movie franchise, but after this one I have renewed hope for the series.

[Patrick Sun]

I enjoyed Cuaron's comedic sense in this film, the funny bits came more naturally. I thought the middle section of the film dragged a bit, but overall, I felt it was a visually interesting film to watch with much more of an economy from scene to scene that builds upon what came before (instead of meandering a bit too much in the first 2 films of the HP franchise). Cuaron was able to impart his style while anchoring the film in a reality in which magic didn't seem all that out of place. I approved of the use of a more washed out color palette gave Harry's world a different look that didn't seem too cheery and bright, thus I enjoyed the cinematography of this film.

Radcliffe got a little shrill when he portrayed an angry Harry Potter, but overall, he's got a good handle on the character. The rest of the cast did a good job, though the script is a little light in meaningful character development at the expense of plot and revelations of Harry's past.

The special effects were pretty good in the integration department, I think the washed out look of the film help in that area. To me, Buckbeak inhabited the space in which he occupied on screen, so kudos to the effects crew for him.

Fans of the HP books will enjoy this 3rd installment, and it's going to do really well at the box office.

I give it 3.5 stars, or a grade of B+.

[Evan S]

Adam, I couldn't agree more.

I saw the film last night and I really enjoyed it. Nothing groundbreaking, but a nice two hours at the movies, which is what I am hoping for whenever I go.

I really think this franchise is lacking something when there isn't much interaction between Potter and Malfoy. Yeah, there was a little bit between the boys in this film but there was no Lucious Malfoy and he is a real asset to the films IMO. Of course we get our share of him in the forthcoming segments, don't we? I think with Cauron at the helm and a more prominent Malfoy family in the next two stories, this franchise is only just beginning.

[Dome Vongvises]

A give it a B+/A-

Really enjoyed it, but I think the "silent" movie irises were a bit odd to use in this film.

[Tim Glover]

Went to the late show this evening. Really liked this Harry Potter film. At first, I was having some trouble truly getting in to it but found myself slowly enjoying it and before long, I was totally wrapped up in it. The sound mix was excellent too.

It's different than the first 2 films and that's ok. I do miss Richard Harris.

For me, it's hard to top Sorcerer's Stone but I give this film the same rating as Dome.

B+/A-....

Want to see it again. Something I didn't really feel after seeing Chamber of Secrets.

[Vickie_M]

STAY FOR THE END CREDITS!!

I just thought I'd tell you all that.


I had a great time, but as if the movie itself wasn't fantastic enough, I LOVED THE END CREDITS!! They were just about the best end credits I've ever seen. The whole thing, all the way to the very end, was lettering on that locater map, with footsteps weaving in and through the letters. I was having a blast watching them. If the feet came up against letters it couldn't cross, you'd see them disappear for a split second then both feet appear at the same time on the other side, meaning they jumped over the letters. Sometimes you'd see cat paws or bird claws. Sometimes you'd see human feet turn into cat paws. Sometimes you'd see a little kid's feet. Sometimes you could tell that the footsteps were hopping and skipping. Sometimes they were jumping in place, like jumping rope. Sometimes they dragged. Sometimes they were hopping on one foot, then the other. They were delightful! Only a handful of people stayed and we were all enjoying the hell out of the credits. And, there were a couple of tiny bonuses after the credits were completely done, one happening even after the screen went black.

If you didn't stay or don't usually stay for credits, I urge you to do so. Don't let the people you're with pressure you into leaving, and don't let them distract you from carefully watching the footprints. I promise you'll have a big grin on your face.

[Robert Crawford]

This thread is now the Official Review Thread for "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban". Please post all HTF member reviews in this thread.

Any other comments, links to other reviews, or discussion items will be deleted from this thread without warning!

If you need to discuss those type of issues then I have designated an Official Discussion Thread.



Crawdaddy

[JonZ]

out of 4 s