This is a movie? (spoilers within)

Rating: Null/10 (14 June 2004)

Most definitely not. Not even in the general vicinity. Think interstellar distances.
I came into HP3 with high hopes. This, despite having been very disappointed in the two previous efforts to turn this franchise from books only to books and movies. The way I figured it, the vastly improved reviews must mean something. My sister assured me this director works well with children. Seeing as the biggest problem with the other two was the abysmal acting (with the notable exceptions of Alan Rickman and the always wonderful Maggie Smith), I decided that this might finally be a worthy installment. I was in for a major disappointment.
First, let's go over the good things. For starters, the acting is, as a matter of fact, far better than it was in the first two. Even Tom Felton, easily the worst in a rather talentless crew, delivered a decent performance. Also, the humorous touches were much better than before. Finally, I must note the addition of the song "Something Wicked This Way Comes", both for it's musical value and for it's feeling of foreboding mixed with dark humor.
That said, let's get to the bad in this so-called "movie". We'll start things off with the fact that approximately 5% of the book actually made it into the script. No Quidditch Cup, hardly any mention of the Scabbers-Crookshanks issue, no mention of final exams or lessons. I realize that the book is too packed to get everything into the movie, but this is ridiculous. This leads nicely into my next problem: unnecessary additions. If you're going to leave out so many things from the book, at least have the decency not to add lengthy scenes or alter things that should not be tampered with. Do we really need to waste more than 5 seconds on Harry, er, "meeting" Buckbeak for the first time? More importantly, was it a good idea to add a scene revealing Pettigrew early on? Again, this lead me to my next gripe: clues. The beauty of the third book is that even more than the others, the villain is completely impossible to guess, and so is the issue of the time-turner. Here, it would take a simpleton not to guess the end.
Still, all those things pale beside one massive problem. I am referring, of course, to the complete lack of connection between various scenes. Hmm, Marge has come for a visit. Oh look, it's the big dinner already. The Knight Bus, right, this is OK. What? He's already headed for Hogwarts? Hmm. Why is he suddenly going for long walks with Professor Lupin? This seems rather sudden. Oh, look, it's the end of the year. Huh? Sirius already? Why does Harry believe him? Honestly, he's just met the man, and he seems completely unhinged. What, the movie is over?
That's a fairly accurate description of what happens, with a few obvious exaggerations. There are almost five minutes between the beginning and the end of the school year.
All in all, for something to warrant the use of the word "movie", it has to at least have a credible stream of events. Prisoner of Azkaban fails spectacularly at the attempt to achieve that.
3/10, out of respect for what Cuaron managed to do with the actors.