Rate Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (spoilers)

[MaxKaladin]

SPOILERS FOR BOOK 5 IN THIS POST!

I totally disagree here, but alas, it's been too long since I've read the books. Over and over, however, he punishes Harry for things Harry didn't do, and lets Malfoy get away with murder. Can anyone else back me up here with some examples?

He's a very complicated character, which is why he's so compelling; even as I hate him, I he earns my grudging respect and admiration.

I'll have to take your word for it. I've never read the books so I'm going strictly by the movies. If I remember, I'll ask my Potter reading friends tomorrow when we get together for boardgames.

 

[Merlion]

Well, I enjoyed the 3rd movie quite a lot

I felt that not specficaly mentioning who made the map wasnt too bad, especially since they did hint the heck out of it.

Knowing exactly why Harry's Patronus manifests as a stag would have been nice though.

I also would have liked to have seen Dumbledore drive the Dementors off the Quidditch field, but I didnt really expect to.

The werewolf was a litte strange, but not bad...just very different. I thought David Thewliss did an excellent job of portraying Prof Lupin. I had had my doubts about casting him, but it worked out very well.

It was particularly nice in the Shrieking Shack scene where Snape and Sirious are fighting, and Sirious keeps being nasty to Snape and Lupin tries to get him to stop. he was always the one of the four who tried to keep the others out of trouble.

As for Snape as a character...well he is rude, and mean, and hateful, and nothing in his past can really excuse it, however he is in the proccess of redemption and this makes him a very interesting character. He had reason to dislike James and Sirious. However, taking that out on Harry, especially since Harry knows or till recently knew so little about his family anyway is rather unfair.

But then you have his attempt to save Harry's life in the first book/movie, and in the 3rd story he stands in front of the children to try and protect them from the werewolf.

I think he has gotten past his anti-"mudblood" problem, or Dumbledore wouldnt tolerate him. I am very interested to learn more about Snape's former relationsghip with Voldemort, and the exact nature and details of his current relationship with Dumbledore.

 

[MaxKaladin]

I think he as the only one who was distrustful enough of Professor Quirrel (sp?) to be on the watch for it. All the others were intently watching the Quidditch match and didn't realize what was happening.

So brooms acting up is common enough that nobody suspected someone was interfering in the match? As competitive as they seem to be, I'd have thought there would be folks on the lookout for this sort of thing...

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

So brooms acting up is common enough that nobody suspected someone was interfering in the match? As competitive as they seem to be, I'd have thought there would be folks on the lookout for this sort of thing...

Well, if they were looking for the source, they would be looking almost anywhere but the teacher's seats - most likely they'd be intently scanning the Slytherin stands.

 

[Melkor Lord Of ALL!]

It could be longer!

The Shrieking Shack scene could be a bit longer, the people who didn`t read the book were propably quite confused!

Anyone thinks that Pettigrew looks like Bilbo who had too much of a Ring`s influence?

And I don`t like how Draco was portayed, he was too immature and covardly!

 

[Merlion]

The Shrieking Shack scene could be a bit longer, the people who didn`t read the book were propably quite confused!

It wouldnt have hurt, but I think it was deccent as is.

Anyone thinks that Pettigrew looks like Bilbo who had too much of a Ring`s influence?

Somewhat yes.

And I don`t like how Draco was portayed, he was too immature and covardly!

But...Draco is immature and cowardly. And spoiled and mean spirited.

 

[Aaron2]

Some comments from a non-book reader .....

I like how the Hogwart's grounds seemed more expansive. In the first movies it seemed that Hagrin's hut was only about 30 yards from Harry's dorm. Why was anybody suprised that Serious Black snuck into the school? Harry and the scooby gang have been sneaking in and out for three movies now without a problem. Its too bad that they made Draco such a wuss. I was hoping that he would be a major bad guy for harry's gang but I can't see how anyone can take him seriously anymore. I have to say that I don't give a crap about Harry's dorky family. Boo hoo, get over it.

I wasn't confused at all.


Aaron

 

[D+1]

Rated it 7. In some ways the best so far, but it suffers a LOT from heavy-handed removal of material from the book for a bearable running time. The maturity of the actors of the 3 main characters shows in that they finally have the ability to deliver dialogue that doesn't sound as if it's recited or rehearsed.

Buckbeak ROCKS! Best thing about the movie, IMO. Excellent animation there. He flies like a hippogriff should.

They managed to keep a cohesive, interesting story despite cutting reams of material from the book but it does feel thinned out and there are several bits that just SCREAMED for more information that needed to be given to the viewer, even if only as a lame statement from someone to tie up loose ends.

Spoiler

Of course I'm talking about the reasons for Hermiones time travelling and everything about the marauders map - the names on it, it's original purpose, etc.

It would only have taken moments and would have helped make more sense of things, even belatedly.

It's not so superior a movie as to be worth an 8 though. In some ways it's better than previous installments in the series (better animation, acting, visuals - the campus exteriors are great!) but because of the large omissions of material earlier stuff has ultimately flowed better.

 

[Arnwyn]

I'd really like to hear from some folks who hadn't read the book, to see if any of it was confusing to them.

That's me. I gave it a (5) - noting that I'm sure those that read the book would probably have appreciated the movie a lot more. I'm not really a big Harry Potter fan, and haven't read any of the books.

There were many moments that I had no idea what the significance was (and often chalking it up to "plot holes"), but I (thankfully) had Mrs. arnwyn there to constantly explain what everything meant.

I don't think the movie stands well on its own.

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

Harry has certainly absorbed massive abuse from the Dursley's, but he has also dealt out a significant amount of unpleasantness back at them. One of the things I like about the series is that Harry isn't always perfect or likeable. He's an utter twit sometimes, just like real people. His treatment of the Dursleys is a good example.