Second movie of the week: “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban”. SPOILERS!

I’m having a little trouble here being not too judgmental because compared to the book, this isn’t a really good movie. Having said that, I suppose even for someone who hasn’t read the novel by J.K. Rowling this wasn’t a really good movie. And compared to the other two movies, this wasn’t a really good movie, too. See the pattern? It’s not really a good movie, but it’s not really a bad movie, either.

On the plus side we have beautiful imagery, bedazzling landscapes, wonderful sets, impressing magical creatures (the hippogriff and the Dementors, the werewolf not really), an enchanting (if sometimes a bit too pompous) soundtrack and across the board good actors – though Alan Rickman gets little to do, his Snape is excellent as is Emma Thompson’s Trewlaney. We see next to nothing from the other teachers alas but David Thewlis as Lupin is doing what he can given the circumstances. Michael Gambon as the new Dumbledore lacks a bit the commanding presence of his predecessor but manages to make the character believable anyhow.

On the negative side we have a rather jumpy story, pieced together from what obviously were thought the most important scenes in the book -what is most evident in the many, many missing transitions-, far too many bad digital effects and at the same time a general tendency by the director to rely heavily on them, and some additions to the story like the shrink heads which were totally unnecessary. For example, we hear nothing more from Hagrid’s fate until suddenly he returns from the hearing, and the Quidditch match is presented without being really connected to the rest of the story. As to the digital effects, I would have wished for less of them but then of better quality. Especially the transitions of seasons and the apparently always flying birds were a bit too much CGI for my eyes, and perhaps less there would have been more to the werewolf which looks very skinny and unthreatening (despite the flying saliva).

On the other hand, so many things were left out it almost hurts –

  • we hear absolutely nothing about Snape’s history with Harry’s father and as well the friendship of Lupin, Black, Pedigrew and Potter wasn’t elaborated;
  • the grim appears only once;
  • apart from Harry’s mother screaming for him, Harry’s visions about his parents’ death were omitted;
  • there was only the slightest mention of Voldemort;
  • and the whole point of the permit to go to Hogsmeade wasn’t made (namely that Black signs it for Harry in the end).

I’d also like to say something about the different sets because especially Hagrid’s hut and the Whomping Willow were totally different from the last movie. While I welcome the more beautiful landscape of alternating hills and valleys, I think that redoing the Whomping Willow made it far less dangerous than in the last movie where it came across as quite vicious. It’s still untamed but in a far more mass-compatible way than before.

Speaking of mass-compatible, I still think this isn’t a movie for kids because frankly the Dementors even scared shit out of me, and I’m a little older than 12. At least I think that kids below that age shouldn’t be allowed to see it yet and therefore cannot understand that they are allowed to anyway when they are accompanied by their parents. Filthy lucre makes the world go round…

On the whole, Alfonso Cuarón obviously admires his story and tries hard but what he is thoroughly lacking is a feeling for smooth transitions. Many of his scenes are good for themselves but they are only very loosely connected which creates the feeling of watching episodes, not a movie. Also, Mr. Cuarón should try not to overuse elements which he likes, like the unduly digital effects discussed above, or some scenes which appear two times or more. It’s okay to use two similar scenes to either make a frame or show differences – however re-use of exactly the same scene is just tedious. Harry looses unconsciousness three times, and three times we are fading to black to awake again with Harry’s perspective. The Whomping Willow snatches a bird twice in the same way, Harry crashes against the window in the Knight Bus twice, the Dementors are hovering in the air around Hogwarts three times and so on. I would have much preferred seeing less of the recurring scenes and more of the back story!

Maybe I’m just too old for this kind of movie (or rather, for this movie) but I do feel it lacks something very important: soul. We are never really let close to the characters, they are just stumbling through the adventure without development. Many things remain shallow, like the terror of Azkaban, or Harry’s feelings. While they are giving emotional speeches, Sirius and Harry seem unattached to each other and the last scenes which should depict their connection just show a young wizard happy with his new broom, not necessarily happy with his godfather. At least Gary Oldman mainly keeps away from overacting – except for the photo on the wanted posters, but as he’s described as a lunatic then, I suppose it’s okay.

All in all – the story was there, the realization lacks soul in large parts but is nevertheless entertaining: 3 out of 6 Meeps – average.

:music: : The Corrs “Confidence for Quiet”