Worse than the first two

Rating: Null/10 (12 July 2004)

I just give a short statement here. Having seen the first two movies, although not a Harry Potter reader, I went to see this movie because I expected it to be something like a linear extension of the whole thing. I haven't read the books because A) I don't have the time and B) I prefer other types of books, but strange for me, I did like the first two movies. Why? Because they take you away into another world for two hours and give you a nice, fairy tale like story that is easy going and very nice for the eye. Chris Columbus was a great director for this kind of movies. I own both on DVD and sometimes when I want to relax, I throw them in, lean back and eat some candies.
Now for the Azkaban movie. I saw the making of before and did know that I had to expect something different. I heard about "finally being able to wear blue jeans" - "more like real children" and things like that. When the movie opened, the scene where Harry and his foster parents run through the house, I had a sudden flashback. I felt back in the early 70s. The granularity of the film gives a rather rough impression, the colors were altered to the black and white end of the spectrum, the screenplay or camera movement was hectic and MTV like, just like one of those "real life documentaries" they made in the early 70s when filmmakers experimented with new means of expression and tried to be as realistic as possible by means of brute force.
The impression went on when Harry left the house and finally reached that tavern (I forgot the name) and it even went on later in Hogwards. How come that Hagrets (forgive me if I get the names wrong, I never saw them in writing actually, since I only watched the movies) shag is all of a sudden on a hill slope although it was on an even surface and close to the school in the first two movies? There were several other clear breaks with the geography of the first two movies but I don't remember them now.
All in all the impression I have is this: A new director comes in and he has to make a name for himself by throwing everything out that the former director did. Steady camera shots? I make the camera move around. Rich and nice colors? I go as black and white as I can. Locations which give you a nice and cozy feelings? I make locations as realistic and unpleasant as I can. Fancy school uniforms? I let them wear blue jeans. Not too much you might say. But it's enough to ruin the whole impression you get. Watching a movie is about the total impression it has on you and for me, the impression was ruined. I will certainly not buy the DVD. Even the casting was horrible. Who picked that dude who replaced the late Richard Harris? I know it's hard to fill Harris' shoes but that dude was certainly out of place. He reminded me more of a circus clown who was given a couple of lines (thank god not too many) and added to my disappointment.
Should they ever make a fourth film, I hope it's Chris Columbus again, otherwise it's very doubtful that I will watch it.