Very much better Potter

Rating: 10/10 (31 May 2004)

This is a different type of film than the first 2 Potter movies. There are a few deft comedic sections at the start ( watch out for the bus ride through London ) before the dramatic heart of the film swings into gear.
The director (Alfonso Cuarón) has pulled some great performances from the teenage leads and shows an eye for details that Mr Columbus could learn from - especially in the village scenes - and some great landscape shots in the flying sequences.
Of the Hogwarts staff, McGonagle ( Maggie Smith ) is woefully underused, Snape ( Alan Rickman ) is excellent as always, Hagrid ( Robbie Coltrane ) is allowed to act and Dumbledore ( Michael Gambon ) is Dumbledorish. Lupin ( David Thewlis ) is outstanding and Trelawney ( Emma Thomson ) is wasted in 2 short cameos.
Sirius ( Gary Oldman ) is only really in the film near the end but the screen comes alive when he's in the frame !
Of the cameos, two stand out - Julie Christie as Madame Rosmerta and Dawn French as the Fat Lady.
A great continuation of the Potter series.