Harry Potter...Kepp'em Coming!

Rating: Null/10 (23 June 2004)

Spoiler alert The third installment in the book series-turned movie franchise was all around was excellent. Staying true to Rowling's mood in the third book, the movie is darker, scarier and has more complexity than the first two, which shows that the story is moving forward, that we are not just having a simple story of a boy wizard going through school at Hogwart's.
I thought that director Alfonso Curalon did a fantastic job refacing the movie's feel and look. Even though I thought Chris Columbus did a good job with the last two films, with a on-going franchise like this, having the same director for all of the films would have gotten stale and stagnant. Curalon's direction for making this movie much darker, both in humor and in deepness of story, was right on the mark with what the author wanted for the third movie.
The actors were incredible, as are always improving. Daniel Radcliffe shined as Harry Potter, and i thought he really put more of his own emotion into the character this time around. he's amazingly perceptive in gaining insight into a character for so young an actor. Emma Watson, also brilliant, yet i thought her attitude was a bit pushed, but that may be just me. I loved the way her bossiness comes through in this movie, and she really has settled into the role. The best improvement came from Rupert though in his reprisal of Ron. I thought that he was a little annoying in the C.O.S. and was completely spellbound by ron's much-needed charm. I wasn't sure of him then, but now he really stands out. Without him, the movie would not have had the proper balance of fun and dark mystery.
As for the newcomers in the film, Including the actor, who's name escapes my memory, who filled in for the late Richard Harris as Dumbledore, all were excellent. I give several props for Emma Thompson (one of my all-time favorite actresses) for her role as the crazy and whimiscal divination teacher. I thought she was marvelous and wanted to see more of her.
Professor Lupin was good, although throughout the movie he left me with a sort of half disturbed feeling, maybe it was the intention of the director to do this, but i always got a chill. I was highly disappointed with Gary Oldman though, I have to say. (as tomatoes and cabbages are thrown at my face) I didn't think he was nearly scary enough. I expected a really dark, evil portrayal of the prisoner of askaban and all i got was a ticked off man in tatty clothes, though to give him some credit, the scene where he and lupin cornered pettigrew about how he had indeed betrayed Harry's parents to -You-know-Who was brilliant. Where Sirius says to Peter "i would have died, I would have died rather than betray my friends!" I was moved, and thought that Gary Oldman had finally shown the passion I knew the character had. I thought that Magonnagle (sorry spell check?) and Draco got seriously underplayed, and i really wanted more of them.
As for the famous trio and their story, I am hugely disappointed the route the romantic angle is going. If you have read the books then maybe you have made yor peace with it, but those who have not (myself included) i think are getting mixed signals. The end of C.O.S. Hermione comes running down the hall, throws herself into harry's arms, and then Ron getting blubbery where you clearly get a sense that Ron digs this girl. But what about Hermione? I thought her feelings bent to Harry. I found to too confusing, and maybe film four will iron it all out for us. Things that bothered me in general: I still, to this day after having seen the film 3 times, have no clue why Harry fainted everytime he saw a dementor, even the bogget?? Was it just the thought of them being there enough to scare him so badly??? And, i'm sure everyone asked this, but WHY on earth, did a professor give Hermione a time-traveling necklace?? Was that the most responsible thing to do, Give a kid (even as one as mature as her) the power to move in and out of time like it was the public library?? How did Lupin know how to use the Maurader's Map?? If Snape couldn't figure it out, than why could he?? Why was the set completely moved from the last two films??.. I wanted to shout CONTINUITY! everytime I saw the scenery. I went to see this movie the first time with my cousin who is a very perceptive 11 yr old girl. Once the movie was over she said "The scene where Harry saves himself from the dementors, it was almost unearthly. I felt awed." She told me later that she had cried when the scene was going on. I have to say my feeling was exactly the same. I cannot wait for the next film!