I am 23 year Harry Potter fan...and this is only and only due to the incredibly imaginative world of Hogwarts - created by J.K. Rowling.
The 2 movies ( Harry Potter & the Philosopher’s Stone and the Chamber of Secrets ) directed by Chris Columbus had only made me cringe.They had both lacked the vitality and spirit of the books, something which had made the Lord of the Rings such a visual spectacle.
I had heard abt the change of the director for the third movie, but honestly speaking I wasn’t expecting a miracle. But man...am I surprised... Alfonso Cauron ( I hope I got the spelling right) has created a canvas which surprises you, scares you, amazes you..but never bores you.
The movie is the Best of the Series yet..and I hope the ppl concerned ensure that the freshness injected into the series is not allowed to go stale.
I am not going to bore all those who read this review ( in total 3 ppl ), with the storyline...anyone reading this review has in all aspects already read the book..and if y haven’t then what r u waiting for - an earthquake!!!!
The movie has a dirty, unscrubbed look to it..Hogwarts looks faded and old and the weather has a constant bleakiness to it. This only helps in creating the ATMOSPHERE which is such an integral part of the film.The special effects are competent but the Hippogriff is an achievement in CAGs. The little touches here anf there by the Art direction team to give you the same old Hogwart, but with a completely differnt personality!AND to top it all the movie is so FUNNY --- it has little gems of wittiness tucked here and there -- that even when u r running scared u r laughing your guts out.
The actor playing Harry Potter - Daniel radcliffe had finally grown into his role - his performance has a marked change from his previous efforts. The actor playing Prof Lupin ( Something Thewlis) is brilliant and Emma Thompson as Prof Trewlaney is a riot. But I am not so sure abt Gray Oldman as Sirius Black - but then maybe he might pull it off in the next 2 movies to come. And it is so good to see the children in normal clothes instead of robes.
Some mention has also to be made of the brilliant score by John Williams --- it adds so much to the soul of the movie - my personal being the opening song for Hogwart - Double Trouble, and the piece when Harry rides the Hipogriff Buckbeak, for the first time.
For the ppl who were dissappointed with the first two offerings of harry potter --- please forget the past and watch this movie and get blown away.
P.S. I wish though they had made a mention of the Marauders map’s origin. There is no explanation for it in the movie ..and yet it was such an integral part of the book.