Those who prefer literal translations to film of their beloved books beware! You have been warned. Director Alfonso Cuaron's version of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban strays from the style of the original director, Christopher Columbus, and focuses more on the tone and emotion of the storyline. Cuaron has made a movie about Harry�s identity and growth and pretty much ignores what is not necessary. Audiences, who have been introduced to and are probably used to Potter movies that faithfully follow the books to every last nitpick, will either love it, hate it or enjoy it... but complain about missing scenes and added things -- for example, when did Hogwart's acquire a choir?

The basic storyline is kept in tact. It is the third year at Hogwarts for Harry Potter and his friends Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasley. An escaped convict and supposed Voldemort cohort, Sirius Black, is believed to be out to kill Harry. Hagrid�s pet Hippogriff, Buckbeak, is sentenced to death after Draco Malfoy provokes it and gets injured during class. Harry�s troubles with Dementors and the infinite horrors in his past are brought forth, as well as new information about his mother and father. The end is also the same.

Scenes found in the book have been shortened, cut and rearranged. Harry creates a perfect patronus on his second try whereas in the book it takes several lessons. Snape confiscates the map in the hallway, after Harry figures out about Pettigrew first. In the book, Snape takes the map after the Hogsmeade trip and it is Lupin who uncovers the secret about Pettigrew. There are other examples. Hermione is given the �if you want to kill Harry� line that is scripted to Ron in the book. Lines were also added. A few of the comic relief joke were not in the book. However, everything all fits into a fluid storyline that�s perfect for a movie. If the same approach was taken as with the previous movies, it would have been extra clunky, awkward and a hundred hours long.

Critics are calling the tone of the movie �darker.� Perhaps it is because the story in general is darker. Wizard�s chess, basilisks and spiders can be scary but the idea of a real person, as opposed to large, fantastic and magical beasts, as the enemy could be many times more frightening. The brutality of the ending fight shows just how violent the story can be. In terms of senses, Cuaron uses greyer coloring which contrasts with Columbus� usage of brighter greens and blues. His variety of angles, framing and dissolves are also quite different from Columbus� basic approach. His light/dark technique is wonderful and effectively used throughout the film. The music involves many deep tones from strings and cellos in the soundtrack instead of the light fluttery sounds of the first two.

General points: Excellent showing of the seasons changing and at the same time showing the ever important Whomping Willow. Draco, with his Aaron Carter hairstyle, turning into the spineless whiner that Ronald was in the second movie is very annoying and kind of takes away from his bully stature. The ticking in the background during Harry and Hermione�s rescue mission is a nice touch. With all due respect to the late Richard Harris but Michael Gambon is the perfect Dumbledore. He has all of the necessary spunk and quirkiness. Special effects are alright in general but the werewolf was hideous. The multilayered Marauder�s Map is perfect! Harry�s Titanic moment while riding the Hippogriff is cheesy. The nicknames should have been explained. Ron and Hermione sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G... LoL. In the future? Hermione�s hair is a bit too stylized -- less Pantene Pro V like in the second movie but really tame, nonetheless.

I could go on for pages about the pros and cons of this film but I�m tired, losing focus and probably won�t come back to edit this even if I say I�ll finish it later. Heh. Anyway, when going to see the movie, forget that a book had ever been written and view it as a film independent from any other mass medium to get the best effect.

~* June 05, 2004 @ 2:11 am *~