[Ernest Rister]

I've seen it three times now, and I seem to enjoy it more with each viewing, which is a good sign. I'm still at a loss to rank any of the Potter films as being any better or worse than any other. They all have their merits and, like all films, their debits. I think all three are hugely entertaining...but...now don't stone me for this...I'm not a fan of Fawkes showing up in during a certain moment in Chamber of Secrets. It seemed too convenient in the book, and the film wasn't much better. While I can admire the Arthurian reverberations of Harry pulling the sword from the hat and going off to battle, I just never bought it.

But even though that is my least favorite moment of the Harry Potter series, Chamber is still one of my favorite books. I loved the darkness and the mystery.

[Chris Atkins]

Ernest, having watched SS and CoS before viewing POA, I would rannk CoS slightly higher than SS. But I prefer POA to the both. And, like you, I really enjoy all three films.

[Ricardo C]

I saw the film again yesterday, and I started thinking about something that hasn't been disussed very much, I think...

Rowling said that Cuarón had included an inadvertent bit of foreshadowing, something he came up with on his own, but that meshes well with something she's got planned for one of the last two books. Any guesses as to what it is?

Spoiler:

The only thing that comes to mind is Lupin's rather googly-eyed memories of Lily. He goes on about her in great lenght, giving James a tiny mention at the end, regardless of the fact that they were supposedly best friends, the lot of them. Could we be in for a revelation of a more involved past between Remus and Lily?

I'm not going to go all fanboy on you and say "LUPIN IS HARRY'S REAL DAD", but perhaps, just as we discovered that James was pretty much an a-hole in school, and that Snape has plenty of reason to hate him, we'll discover that things weren't as rosy between Remus and James as we've been told, perhaps they were both after the same girl for a while.

[MatthewLouwrens]

Interesting theory, Ricardo. I look forward to seeing what happens.

I can think of one problem with that idea, though. The idea (from the book) about the stag patronus - if Lupin was Harry's father, then the stag ultimately means nothing.

[Ernest Rister]

"Rowling said that Cuarón had included an inadvertent bit of foreshadowing, something he came up with on his own, but that meshes well with something she's got planned for one of the last two books. Any guesses as to what it is?"

Harry kicks his dresser again?

[Adam Lenhardt]

Quote:

I think all three are hugely entertaining...but...now don't stone me for this...I'm not a fan of Fawkes showing up in during a certain moment in Chamber of Secrets.

I actually loved this scene, and I especially loved how Columbus pulled it off. The bright red and orange set against an almost greyscale backdrop was pitch perfect. Yes, Fawkes is a bit of a dues ex machina but when you consider the importance of the Pheonix song in later events it's more acceptable. I'd go so far as to say the second film was damn near perfect through Fawkes. It was what happened from once they all left the sewers on that dragged the movie down.

Quote:

But even though that is my least favorite moment of the Harry Potter series, Chamber is still one of my favorite books. I loved the darkness and the mystery.

Amazing how opinions differ. It was my least favorite, because it was the only one that didn't really move the story forward. Riddle was a diversion.

Ricardo:

Spoiler:

I think you're right about the foreshadowing being about Lupin having a thing for Lily. I'm not sure it ever turned into a love triangle however. As an aside, that Lupin/Harry exchange was one of my favorite additions of all three movies.

[Ernest Rister]

"Amazing how opinions differ. It was my least favorite, because it was the only one that didn't really move the story forward. Riddle was a diversion."

Rowling set up a hell of a lot in Chamber -- we learn the concept of "Mudbloods" and how prjeudice against non-pure-blood folk has fueled a fascist war lead by Voldemort, we learn the lore of the house-elves, Harry's growing discovery that he has inherited some of Voldemort's traits -- all of these continue to pay off in later books. Tom Riddle is as much of a diversion as any number of "temporary villains" Harry must defeat, like the Dementors or Professor Quirrel. I think Chamber "moves the story forward" as much as Prisoner of Azkaban, in which Voldermort doesn't even appear, or Order of the Phoenix. The fact that the mystery was dark and bloody and creepy was a bonus, and it was a real page turner.

Fawkes was a cop out, though. Rowling ex machina.

[Adam Lenhardt]

Chamber introduces a lot of concepts and areas of the universe but it didn't really move the story forward. What I mean is:

Spoiler:

Book One - Harry learns he's a wizard and begins school
Book Three - Voldemort is given the means to rise again
Book Four - Voldemort rises again, Dumbledore and the Ministry have a falling out.
Book Five - Harry and Voldemort enter each other's mind, the Ministry is overturned, Harry learns his destiny, Sirius dies

While we first visit the Burrow in Chamber and get some great backstory, Harry's world at the end of the year isn't very different than it was was at the beginning. In every other book in the series, Harry is left in a very different place by the knowledge and experiences he accumulates. It is the lack of overall progression that makes it the least satisfying in the series for me. Like all of Rowling's books, it is a great read as a stand-alone, however.

With the movies, if you excuse the last act of Chamber or the first act of Prisoner either would become my favorite film of the series.

[Chris Atkins]

I am reading Chamber right now and find it just as captivating as the first book. Of course, I am reading these after I saw the movies, so that could make a difference.

Incidentally (and perhaps ironically) I had no desire to read the books until after I watched PRISONER OF AZKABAN in theaters.

[Tim Glover]

I've been wanting to see Prisoner of Azkaban again after I recently viewed the HD-DVD of Goblet of Fire. Kind of got me in the Potter mood if you will...so I watched this yesterday.

I'll try and not say what's already been said

Harry Potter & The Prisoner of Azkaban is far and away my favorite of the series. I think there are many factors in this...a big one is the Director Alfonso Cuaron. Loved the direction, the editing, and just the feel of Hogwarts in general.

The acting was really good and any time you add David Thewlis and Gary Oldman ( is there anything Mr. Oldman cannot do?) to the mix, the whole deal just got elevated.

I love most things about POA and hope they can get Cuaron for another one?

I see where the next one is set for release in July. I can't really knock that since Azkaban was released in June 2004, but there's just something a bit more special about seeing a Harry Potter film around Thanksgiving.

Finally, the score for this one is fantastic. Nominated for an Oscar in a tough year with The Village, Finding Neverland, The Passion Of The Christ, and Leminy Snicketts. Neverland won, and as much as I adore that score, I think the Azkaban score is overall better.

If you get an inkling to see a Potter film soon, take out The Prisoner of Azkaban and you'll have a rewarding experience.