Prisoner of Azkaban Spoiler Thread

Lady Pi Phi · #1 06-03-2004, 10:23 AM

Post all comments and spoilers about Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban movie here.

TigerLilly · #2 06-03-2004, 12:57 PM

Well since I got to see PoA last night, here's my take on it:
Like I said in the other thead, I could definitely tell it was done by a different director. The style was simply...different. I saw all three in a row, so I could definitely tell the difference.

I thought it was a bit choppy, for one thing. Things just didn't seem to flow as well between scenes as they should have. Then again, that might be due to the fact that Harry kept blacking out and then a new scene would start with him waking up again. Other things just seemed to randomly happen without explanation, like the "Something Wicked This Way Comes" chorus singers. They sang at the opening feast but there was no explanation why they were there. It seemed to me like they just put that scene in, in order to have it in the previews.

It was interesting the way they changed around the locations of things from the first and second movies. In the first movie, Hagrid's hut seems to be located directly outside the main gates of the school, but in PoA it's off to the side, down a hill and a lot of steps. I'm pretty sure they changed the location of the Fat Lady painting/entrance to Gryffindor common room, too.

My first reaction on seeing the kids was "WOW, they've all grown up so much!" I mean, I knew that, since I had of course seen pictures, but even the supporting actors look much older, like Fred and George, and especially Neville.

The dementors were very well done, though! They were seriously creepy, especially during the Quidditch scene where they surroud the field. That whole scene was great: driving rain, Harry flying amongst the clouds, then the demontors coming up behind him looking all creepy. The way the Patronus charm was shown was also cool: I had never really been able to picture it correctly, and in the movie it looked really good.

I also liked the scenes in which Harry and Lupin talk alone together. Did they spend as much time talking together in the book? I can't remember.

I think I'm going to have to go see it in English before I decide how much I liked this one: it's just not the same in German.

chideltjen · #3 06-03-2004, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TigerLilly
I also liked the scenes in which Harry and Lupin talk alone together. Did they spend as much time talking together in the book? I can't remember.

IIRC, Harry and Lupin do get a lot of alone time in the book. There were the parts where he learned about how to create a patronus, the part after the boggart lesson, there was a part where they had tea together, and when he helped Harry get out of the whole Maurader's Map with Snape. Unless they added more, this appears to be enough. I haven't seen it yet. I am thinking about being ambitious and seeing it at midnight tonight. (Take a nap before and then go.) I just can't wait any longer.

chideltjen · #4 06-04-2004, 11:47 AM

I SAW IT! But I think I have to see it again. I went to the midnight showing where a lot of die hard fans showed up. Every time Daniel or Rupert (or hell, even the Weasley twins) showed up, a group of fan girls started SCREAMING!

And every time someone said something funny or did something cool, everyone started clapping/screaming/etc. So some of the movie I missed because people wouldn't shuuush!

But anyway... I LOVED IT! Well worth my lack of sleep.

But Tigerlilly, I agree about all the fading in fading out stuff. There was quite a bit of it... and it got a bit annoying after a while because you felt like you were missing something in between. And yeah, the choir... random!

What I did like: The dusty art house movie feel. Critics have been mentioning that the movie isn't the technicolor/Disneyland feel movie. The kids might not like it, but I did. I thought it gave it a more mature feel. And the scenery was awesome. I just don't remember Hogwarts being surrounded by that much water. I also enjoyed all the symbolism. I read a review that Curon (sp?) wanted to focus on "time" and I think he achieved that well. And the goofy little voodoo guys cracked me up. And all the little added humor that wasn't in the book had me rolling in the aisles. Even if it was subtle. Ron had a lot of funny lines that had me giggling. And Emma Thompson stole the show. The changes in the wardrobe were also refreshing. Even when the kids were in their uniforms/robes, they all looked like teens trying to mix in their own style at a Catholic High School.

What I didn't like: They left A LOT out. I mean every other movie was 3 hours, if they had the added an extra half an hour, the ending wouldn't have felt like something was missing. There was a lot more information about Sirius and James and whatnot in the book and the last half hour just seemed sorta rushed. BAH! I know that this was supposed to focus on Harry and the relationship between Black and everyone else, but very important stuff happened at the two Quidditch matches that were omitted. I wished they were included. And the Firebolt, which was huge in the book, seemed like an afterthought. I'm surprised that Crookshanks didn't have a bigger part in this either because he was pretty big in the book. I also noticed that tensions were bigger in the book between Hermione and Ron/Harry due to her studies. It all seemed like the movie wanted to focus on the activity outside of Hogwarts instead of what was going on in the school. Fine by me. It was still a cool movie. I just wish some of these things were included.

Lines of the movie that had me giggling (because I am just really immature): Ron - "You have to stroke it..." (the way that was placed in the movie was just kinda random and it just cracked me up.)
Lupin - "Yes, I knew her... *awkward silence*" (He was refering to Lily.)
And then the whole scene when Harry has the Map and Ron wakes up from a nightmare, I forget exactly what Harry said about spiders, but the look on Ron's face was priceless. Ron is good comic relief.

That is all!

BGKdLady · #5 06-04-2004, 12:45 PM

Question - I have a 7 year old who love HP, but is skittish at the theater (got very nervous and had to go out during the spider scene of the last one, but again that was 1 1/2 years ago). What's the "scary" factor???

chideltjen · #6 06-04-2004, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BGKdLady
Question - I have a 7 year old who love HP, but is skittish at the theater (got very nervous and had to go out during the spider scene of the last one, but again that was 1 1/2 years ago). What's the "scary" factor???

The dementors freaked me out a bit. And then Lupin turning into a werewolf might freak him out. And yes, there is a spider in this one... but it gets on roller skates. That's actually kinda funny.

But the dementors are described better in the books. They don't show their bare heads or anything but you do see a mouth and that was enough to make me squimish.

It is more of an adult movie and you can totally tell the difference between this one and the last... but there were a few kids at the midnight showing... so he might be okay.

tinydancer · #7 06-04-2004, 04:04 PM

I just saw it and it was tremendous fun! I also thought the Dementors were MUCH scarier in the book. I noticed the part about the Firebolt coming "that close" to being left out altogether.

Did anyone else notice that Dawn French (Vicar of Dibley) was the Fat Lady in the Picture and Lenny Henry (Chef and husband of Dawn French) was was the shrunken head in the Knight Bus? I thought that was really funny!

ms_gwyn · #8 06-04-2004, 04:56 PM

I just saw the movie and I have to say that overall that I LOVED THIS MOVIE.

There are a few bits that had me upset: they had Padma and Parvati IN THE SAME HOUSE!!!!!! they were standing next to each other and have Griffyndor patches.

Somehow they changed either Crabbe or Goyle, who was in an eariler scene with Draco and a third boy, then it was Crabbe/Goyle, Draco and the mysterious "third boy" who I assumed was supposed to be Goyle/Crabbe.

They did not use Crookshanks properly AT ALL, he stopped the wrompping willow damnit!

They DID NOT explain Messrs (sp?) Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs, it was very important to the Patronus and shows Harry that HE IS HIS FATHERS SON!!!

Other than that, I loved the overall feel and I can forgive the other oversights.

I kept thinking about 2nd task and where they would film it, during all the "waterfront" scenes. I have say that my favorite scene in the ENTIRE movie was Harry riding Buckbeek.

ms. gwyn

chideltjen · #9 06-04-2004, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ms_gwyn
Somehow they changed either Crabbe or Goyle, who was in an eariler scene with Draco and a third boy, then it was Crabbe/Goyle, Draco and the mysterious "third boy" who I assumed was supposed to be Goyle/Crabbe.

I noticed that too!!!! I was like... who in bloody hell???? (TM Ron...)

Read a review (cuz I am THAT bored at work) that Cuaron didn't like Quidditch... I am sure that was just the critic's way of saying that all Quidditch matches that meant anything were omitted. But if it really is the case, we are gonna have issues with book four and the World Cup.

And I know that fans everywhere want Ron and Hermione to hook up. I didn't really get that impression in the book itself, but definitely got it in the movie. And there are people on msg boards also hinting that Lupin and Sirius are a gay couple.

Where do people come up with this stuff???

rainbowbrightCS · #10 06-04-2004, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by chideltjen
lines of the movie that had me giggling (because I am just really immature): Ron - "You have to stroke it..." (the way that was placed in the movie was just kinda random and it just cracked me up.)
Lupin - "Yes, I knew her... *awkward silence*" (He was refering to Lily.)
And then the whole scene when Harry has the Map and Ron wakes up from a nightmare, I forget exactly what Harry said about spiders, but the look on Ron's face was priceless. Ron is good comic relief.

That is all!

ron dream was about Spiders making him tap dance. He said to Harry that he was going to tell them "no" and Harry said to do that.

Very good movie. I agree with every one about the choppy scence and leaving things out.

I still liked it.

carnation · #11 06-04-2004, 06:58 PM

I just saw it! I can't believe we went on opening day but my husband and I took our middle school-aged sons. I'm glad we didn't take the younger kids, as the dementors would've been a bit much. We'll let them see it at home when the DVD comes out--it'd be much better for kids on a smaller screen.

We liked it but y'all are right about the choppiness. Plus the stuff they left out from the book--Mr. Carnation, who hasn't read it, is seriously confused at this point.

SSS1365 · #12 06-04-2004, 09:46 PM

I just saw it with two friends, one who has read the book and one who hasn't. The one who hasn't read the book loved the movie. My other friend and I felt pretty much the same as everyone else on this thread-- that they left too much out. I'll agree with everything that has already been said... I didn't feel that Crookshanks and Scabbers were focused on enough, especially considering that Scabbers is a vital part of the story! And there was NO explanation of the stag at all, which was just a horrible oversight, IMO. The choppiness didn't bother me too much... I just wish they hadn't left so much out. But overall I liked it, and will probably go see it with Mr. SSS this weekend.

ms_gwyn · #13 06-04-2004, 10:17 PM

I just thought of another thing....Quidditch....grrrrrrrrrrrrrr

THE ONLY THING THAT WE SAW OF CEDRIC WAS HIS ARM!!!!!.

Sorry for yelling, I'm re-reading OoTP, dont you think that introducing a very important character in GoF is a good thing? What about the Portkey scene???? His....I don't know....DEATH!!!!!!

Okay I think I'm better now.

ms. gwyn

DolphinChicaDDD · #14 06-05-2004, 12:48 AM

I'm going to add a big fat DITTO to what has been said thus far. I can't believe so many important things were left out of the movie!! Crookshanks, Cedric, and what drove me crazy:

THEY DIDN'T SAY WHY HARRY'S PATRONUS IS A STANG!!!!!!!!!!!!

PS:The dementors reminded me of the scary black things from Ghost Ya know, those things that take the bad people to hell? Instead of Patrick Swaze??Those things freak me out.

AOII*Azra-elle · #15 06-05-2004, 05:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by tinydancer
I just saw it and it was tremendous fun! I also thought the Dementors were MUCH scarier in the book. I noticed the part about the Firebolt coming "that close" to being left out altogether.

Did anyone else notice that Dawn French (Vicar of Dibley) was the Fat Lady in the Picture and Lenny Henry (Chef and husband of Dawn French) was was the shrunken head in the Knight Bus? I thought that was really funny!

The guy that plays Dumbledore is the guy from Lord of the Rings. The original person playing Dumbledore died right after they started shooting.

Harry told Ron to tell those spiders...it was quite funny!! *haha*

We saw Harry's patronus was a stag...

If I recall correctly Crabbe wasn't in the scene where Hermione punches Malfoy....in the book I don't believe he was there either, it was another student from Slytherin.

ETA: I did like how they started to play off Ron's and Hermione's 'romance' as it is supposed to be really played up in Books 6 and 7.