"Cliff Notes" version of PoA still pretty good!

Rating: 7/10 (6 June 2004)

How do you fit a 560+ page book into a 2 hr. 20 minute movie? Well, the answer is, you don't. Kloves and Cuaron hacked and slashed the original story down to a barely passable minimum, which will no doubt be somewhat confusing to those who've not read the book. However, the original Prisoner of Azkaban story by author J.K. Rowling is so brilliant that even Kloves and Cuaron couldn't deal it a death blow.
Things I liked:
They actually did use some of the dialog from the book, word for word. Some of the scenes were exactly as depicted in the book. Performances by most of the supporting adult cast were absolutely 1st rate, especially Thewlis' "Lupin", followed closely by Gary Oldman's "Sirius Black". Maggie Smith is *always* great as McGonnagal. The CGI "Buckbeak" was entirely believable and 1st rate. William's soundtrack (scoring) was, as usual, very, very good.
Things I didn't like:
Harry's "Titanic" moment while riding Buckbeak. Cuaron's infatuation with Watson/Hermione, giving her all of Rupert's/Ron's best lines ... and inventing scenes and lines, just to be able to use her even more. Cuaron's pushing the "sexual awakening" aspect of supposed 13 year olds with scenes/comments, which doesn't happen until the 4th book, GoF. Cuaron's "Blair Witch Project" cinematography, which made the movie look like it was shot in 8mm film for an independent film fest. Cuaron's "fades and transitions", which were distracting, and had an amateurish feel to them. Anyone with a home computer and decent DVD Authoring software could have done better, with a bit of practice. Skipping important scenes, which would've given necessary information about character background, to flesh out the story, making it more poignant.
Unlike all the so-called liberal Hollywood types who think Cuaron is brilliant, and that this movie is somehow far superior to the 1st two HP movies, I think that they 1st two movies were brilliant, and that this one is decent enough, given the hacked, choppy feel of it, brought about by Cuaron.
As I said, its still good enough, and well worth seeing. It could've been MUCH better, with a better director and better, more fulfilling script. I intend to see it again, just to pick up on nuances I may have missed the 1st time around .. and to experience "the magic" of viewing the film with a theater full of Potter Fans.
Seven out of ten ... definitely a cut above the ordinary, and, IMHO, better than all 3 LoTRs movies combined (but that's just me).