NOT ONLY THE BEST OF THE THREE, BUT A HUGE ARTISTIC LEAP

Rating: Null/10 (11 June 2004)

I have yet to read any of the Harry Potter books but I intend to eventually. My review is strictly based on the merits of the film, NOT the book.
DIRECTING: Alfonso Cuaron is the single best thing to happen to this franchise since it began. What he's done with this film is nothing short of extraordinary. While it makes sense to bring him in at this stage in the characters' lives, his take on the world of Harry Potter is precisely what it should have been in the previous two. Not only is the magic presented in a more realistic fashion but the darker aspects of this world are shown in a truly terrifying manner. His take on all the characters are more grounded as well with the humor presented in a tasteful manner instead of the silly, goofy interpretations within the two previous films. Cuaron's use of irises to mark scene transitions is an aspiring touch as it works perfectly for this type of genre film. The use of camera movement really brings energy to the film and really shocked me at how well the technique was used. The reason I say this is because camera movement seems like it is seldomly used for artistic reasons anymore. It seems to be a gratuitous method most directors use in absence of truly creative means. Cuaron's opening shot is worth the price of admission alone.
CAST: Every actor from the two previous Harry Potter films is so much better in this third installment it's just mind blowing. Daniel Radcliffe in particular is astounding in the amount of complexity and intensity he brings this time around. I'm a firm believer that the director is a monumental force in shaping an actor's performance. This is what Cuaron has been to Radcliffe. The fact that he made his young stars write essays on their characters proves my point. I've thought Emma Watson was a brilliant child actor since the very first film. In fact she pretty much stole both previous two films with her performances. She does so in this film as well as she as stepped up the bar for her character once again. Even Rupert Grint, who I felt was mishandled in the two previous film, shines. As far as the adult actors go, my favorite performance in this film was by David Thewlis. I love the charm and warmth he brings to this character. As usual, Alan Rickman and Robbie Coltrane are brilliant. I love Gary Oldman and liked his performance but his screentime was way, way too short. Emma Thompson rarely disappoints and I enjoyed her performance, but it was a little too over the top.
SCORE: How can you go wrong with John Williams? While his score for the previous two films were great, his work is elevated way past his norm on this film. Whereas some of his work all sounds the same, he distinguishes this installment of Harry Potter from the previous two with truly creepy and catchy segments.
EDITING: Personally, I believe that if a film is properly edited the story just flows and engrosses my imagination. The scenes just blend together. To their credit, the two previous Harry Potter films had good editing. However, on this film it is just superb.
PRODUCTION DESIGN: Another area in which the film excels beyond what the two previous accomplished. Granted, the production designer is Stuart Craig, the same from the two previous Potter films. The production design for the franchise in general has been fabulous. However, under Cuaron's watchful eye, Hogwarts truly takes a larger than life approach. My problem with Hogwarts in the past was it seemed like nothing more than a miniature model. That is not the case this time around. The design of one scary set piece is so well done that it enthralls you. Just the surrounding woods themselves are given an eerie quality of beauty.
CINEMATOGRAPHY: The work of Michael Seresin in this film is drop dead gorgeous. Using a lot of browns and neutral colors he creates a more grounded, gritty, and scary place that Harry Potter inhabits. Those scenes in the woods at night are salivatingly beautiful. And the take on the Quidditch game in this installment is just numbingly gorgeous. Also the use of visual effects as a light source is used to brilliant effect in this film.
Again I have not read the Harry Potter books, but I don't see how any fan could not see what an accomplished piece of work this installment is. It's truly a FILM.
My rating: ***1/2 out of **** stars