This is the first of the POTTER films where I read the book before I saw the film. Despite the book being better, the film is still a wonderful treat, keeping up the quality of the series. New director Alfonso Cuaron (Y TU MAMA TAMBIEN) replaces Chris Columbus at the helm, moving the franchise in a more mature direction.
The awe-shucks wonder of the magical world is over for teenage Harry (Daniel Radcliffe, TAILOR OF PANAMA). He's become bitter about the murder of his parents and lashes out against his muggle (non-magic) family for insulting his parents' name. This time around Voldemort has taken a rest from trying to kill Harry, but it seems that escaped convict Sirius Black (Gary Oldman, THE PROFESSIONAL) is taking up the reigns. Where Ron (Rupert Grint) played a bigger role than Hermione (Emma Watson) in the second film, it's visa versa in the third. Despite a continuous war between Ron and Hermione over her cat attacking his rat, the film does develop the two teens' ever growing attraction for each other.
Harry isn't interested in girls quite yet (the next film introduces his crush Cho Chang), but what he is looking for is a father figure. He finds this in the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher Prof. Lupin (David Thewlis, RESTORATION). Lupin was my favorite adult character in the books. Author J.K. Rowling really captures what makes a great teacher inspiring. Though the film doesn't have the time to sell this point like the book did, Thewlis does a wonderful job of bringing the character to life.
However, the best performance in the film is from Oldman, who brings real vitality to the role of Sirius Black. He made the character his own and I couldn't see any other actor playing it. The younger actors are all turning into capable thespians. Radcliffe may be the weakest of the three, but he holds his own. Other additions to the cast include Emma Thompson (DEAD AGAIN) as loopy Divination teacher Sybil Trelawny and Michael Gambon takes over as Albus Dumbledore for the late Richard Harris. Gambon makes the right decision to not imitate Harris, but play off his performance. Gambon's Dumbledore is a bit more flighty, but retains that playful, all-knowing glint in his eye. And if you're keep tally of the great English actors that have appeared in the films, Julie Christie (MCCABE & MRS. MILLER) makes an appearance as Madame Rosmerta, the inn keeper and the wonderful Timothy Spall (ALL OR NOTHING) plays Peter Pettigrew.
The film plays like a thriller and is filled with the same sense of magic the previous POTTER films had, except a bit gloomier. Cuaron keeps the overall feel of the series in tact, but properly moves the visuals into a darker realm, which is justified by the material. The visual effects are still wonderful, keeping the bar raising tradition of the series alive. Buckbeak the Hippogriff is amazing. Plus, Cuaron adds a more artistic photography style to the film.
I can't wait until August to read ORDER OF THE PHOENIX in paperback and until November 2005 for the GOBLET OF FIRE film. This series is a must theater outing and could easily become the best "children's" franchise of all time.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
