Alfonso Cuarón

This review is from an adult who has NOT read the books. I find this film series wildly uneven and a bit mystifying for several reasons:

1) There are just way too many characters flitting in and out, and it isn't apparent what the importance (if any) of a lot of them is. Even if they are played by great actors, such as Gary Oldham, it is stilll confusing.
2) Did J.K. Rowling have any idea where the story was going when she started writing it? In so much of it, Voldemort is just an show more afterthought. We have long parts of the plot devoted to things such as the visit from the French school for wizards. What is that all about? How is it important to the overall plot? And don't even get me started on the episode when Hermoine and Ron are not on speaking terms with Harry. Since the relationship between them and the strenth of those actors is what pulls a viewer through the series despite the occasional mediocrity, this is maddening.
3) Why does everyone get married at the end? (Sorry; I'm jumping ahead to the last film, which isn't in this set!)
4) For an arch villain, Voldemort is not very interesting.
5) Why do some characters who seem so important at first, such as the Malfoys, have a distinct lack of screen time toward the end of the series?

I could go on, but you're probably mad enough at me already. What makes the films worth watching is the actors, especially Daniel Radcliffe, who has the toughest job and manages to pull it off, even while growing up in the process. Hermoine is also good, but annoying--why does the female character seem to always inherit that role? Ron is well played, but falls short of Sam in The Lord of the Rings as a best friend. Lots of the supporting cast are stellar--too many in fact to name. Even some of the ones whose purpose I have no idea of... show less

This was a much more visual film than the first two. There seemed to be huge swathes of the book left out; but although I'm quite familiar with the book, I was - mostly - able to watch the film in its own merit.

However I found it disturbing that there was so little dialogue, and that the film felt rather short with an abrupt ending. Despite this there were rather over-long visual scenes of (for instance) Harry flying on the hippogriff, or Quidditch games, which added nothing to the show more storyline.

Some critics have said that this film was 'darker' than the first two; perhaps it is, but then so is the book. I didn't have a problem with that. But I would have preferred more action and speech and considerably less of the visual side. Had I not been aware of the overall plot, I'm not sure I would have followed it.

Still, well worth seeing as part of the series.

Latest full review: https://suesdvdreviews.blogspot.com/2023/10/harry-potter-and-prisoner-of-azkaban... show less

Space debris separates an astronaut from her shuttle.

Intense and impressive. I do have to say, contrary to every review I've read, that I think this would still be a great movie on a small screen. The giant IMAX spectacle is nice, but it's the suspense that makes the movie work. (And regardless of how well it's done, 3D is annoying.)

Concept: A
Story: B
Characters: C
Dialog: C
Pacing: A
Cinematography: A
Special effects/design: A
Acting: B
Music: B

Enjoyment: A

GPA: 3.3/4

Overall a pretty fun way to bring a classic book to the big screen in the story of a rich but sweet and kind girl who's struck by horrible misfortune and does her best to stay afloat and optimistic.