I'm not gonna bother going into the plot on this one. Either you love Harry Potter and have read all the books (as I have) or you just think it's an ok kids movie. Either way, a plot description from me would be pointless. If you haven't read it, I won't spoil any plot elements for you. I will tell you that this is by far the best of the 3 Potter films. This movie is incredible.
The first thing you'll notice is that the cast has hit a growth spurt. Daniel Radcliff, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint (as Harry, Hermoine, and Ron) are all teenagers now, which makes them much more interesting on screen and much better actors. There's actual acting here, not just kids running through their lines. The script is also better this time around. Writer J.K. Rowling was really discovering her characters in the first two films, but in Prisoner, she hits her stride as a really great writer. There are plenty of plot twists and lots of little idiosychratic things that help round out the characters.
But the real success of this movie lies in director Alphonso Cuaron. I haven't seen anything else he's directed, but I'm now a fan. He's darkened the film without making it dreary. This movie is much more grounded in reality, without as much of the bright, obvious magical bombast of HP 1 & 2 (directed by Chris Columbus). Cuaron also uses solid film techniques such as wipes and fades to convey the passage of time. Each Harry Potter movie covers 1 school year, and a major complaint I had with the Columbus films was that he didn't make this clear. Cuaron uses a shot of the Whomping Willow in autumn, winter, and spring to show the change in seasons. He's really added a savvy artistic non-Hollywood aspect to Harry Potter, which is exactly what the series needed.
Another change is with the passing of Richard Harris, a new Dumbledore was needed. Michael Gambon stepped in and was perfect. He was different then Harris' interpretation, less intimidating and more human, and in my opinion better. Other great british actors are following Alan Rickman's (Professor Snape) lead and jumping on Harry Potter. We're also treated to the incredible Gary Oldman as the mysterious Sirrius Black, David Thewlis as the heroic Professor Lupin and Emma Thompson as the wacky Professor Trelawney.
I could go on forever about this movie, but I'm running out of time. This movie will be remembered fondly forever by the young generation of today, just as the Goonies and Back to the Future are by my generation. One of the best of the year, and should, in my opinion, get a best director nod for Cuaron.
The Sneaky Cheetah's Grade: A+
Monday, December 06, 2004
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