This is a letter to Sci-Fi.com about Cuarons directing of POA. I'm not putting in this person name just their letter.

Harry Potter Is Cuarón's Prisoner

I can't believe I waited almost two years for [Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban]. It's not just that it's not as good as the earlier Potter films. It's not. Or that the director put his own dark view into the third Potter installment. He did. It's that, this is just not a good movie. It's choppy, and lacks a cinematic flow. He apparently wrote his own story, hijacking J.K. Rowling's cast and some of her plotline, but only some.

Unlike the earlier two Potters films, [director] Alfonso Cuarón departs greatly from the book. After seeing what he has done to this beloved young people's series, I'd say Alfonso Cuarón should not even be allowed to direct a home video. The first two movies had laid groundwork for the world of Potter and his cohorts. We knew his school, its grounds, his home, the shops in Diagon Alley. Apparently Alfonso Cuarón has never been to this land. In fact, he may never have heard of the place. With luck, Warner Brothers and Rowling will be able to save this loveable tale before Alfonso dresses Hermione Granger up like a Britney Spears want-a-be, in shorts and a crop top. It does not do Harry Potter or the J.K. Rowling books justice. Unlike the other Potter films, I will not go see this one more that once. I'll wait for the next movie and hope it's better.


Finally someone who sees things the way I do. This is not a fake letter I have made up. If you want I will give you the address of the letter and you can check it out for yourself.

What do you guys think of this letter? Can you see what they're talking about? If you've seen the movie and have been critical of it you'll understand.

OMG that is good

I liked POA but I must admit that it was not the best.He rushed it.He added some scene (the boys in the dorm) and he didn't explain anything about Harry Potter.Come on!They didn't explain anything about The marauders(If they did I did not noticed).We don't even see when Snape is talking with Harry about when James saved his live(I think that this is important that explain why Snape don't like Harry.) And Snape did not protect them.He couldn't move.If someone went there and had never read the book he would think that Snape is good.

I also don't like the way he changed the movie.What the (HEY NOW!) is all those hugs.In the end of CoS Hermione did not hug Ron why did she took his hand and why did she hugs him?

It's a good thing that he won't make GOF

Tee hee, that person has some lovely wording.

What I was REALLY concerned about was the little hug that Ron and Hermione shared; but then HARRY JUMPED IN! :shock: Is it a threesome?

it seems that it was :wink:

I can't wait to see if the next director is going to fallow Cuaron's idea.I wish he won't.

I did like the little addition of the scene where Ron half-wakes up and Harry says "You tell those spiders, Ron." ...That was pretty darn funny there... But they left out too many important scenes...

I agree with that letter for the most, except I actually like Cuaron's darker style. It made the film seem less juvenile.

It did make it more realistic but I think he went too far. If any of you are from Australia like me the you'll know they gave POA a M15+ rating. Then because people everywhere debated it they changed it back to PG. I think Cuaron should have at least read the book before making the movie. then he would have realised that you can't just change the scenery to suit your darker style.

i just wish that he didnt change the movie that much

Yeah...me too... Because I haven't read the 4th and the 5th book yet...and I know that I'm going too see every places like the ones in movie 1 and 2! You know...like where Hagrids Hut is etc.

And I agree with the letter too!

even though alfonso is a new director to the movie he shouldnt have changed soo much. people are already used to what was in the first two movies. i hope that the next director is much better

I cant understand that there's some scence in POA looks not good. Ex: In the CoS, when Hedwig want to fly around in the Dursley's house, Harry answer: I must not use magic outside of the school. But, in POA, he use his wand to cast Lumos spell! :?:
I have seen the movie, and just dissappoint about it, even i know i like it a lot. Maybe it just good as a teenage film. I think the producer must think about how is the film, why dont they give the movie for orther director?

*already ducking to avoid small objects thrown at me*

I absolutely support people's rights to their own opinions about things, but can I just say one thing...

I personally really liked Prisoner of Azkaban (as a movie - separate from the book) BUT ALSO...

J K has said publicly that it is HER favourite of the films so far - if it's good enough for her, it's good enough for me!

the poa was also my favorite movie. i really loved it. but all i was saying is that the director changed a lot.

Exactly, when you look at the movie from a non-HP reading persons point of view it looks good, you can sort of understand whats going on, but when you watch it from a HP readers point of view (like majority of us) it was too all over the place. The movie was good as a separate entertainment item, from the books.

Actually, if my memory serves me correctly, Harry has used the 'lumos' during break in the books before, so I suppose that spell's too petty to count?

I'm not sure which film I liked the best of the three; I have conflicting feelings.

QUOTE

Exactly, when you look at the movie from a non-HP reading persons point of view it looks good, you can sort of understand whats going on, but when you watch it from a HP readers point of view (like majority of us) it was too all over the place.  The movie was good as a separate entertainment item, from the books.

exactly!! and i also think that they had to change it that much because of the time maybe?

quoting TriadofDarkness:

QUOTE

Exactly, when you look at the movie from a non-HP reading persons point of view it looks good, you can sort of understand whats going on, but when you watch it from a HP readers point of view (like majority of us) it was too all over the place. The movie was good as a separate entertainment item, from the books.

Thats exactly my idea of it. From a nonHP viewer the movie is well defined. But from someone who has been in the HP world for far too long, the moive is a washed up version of the book. Too many scenes cut off with still time to fill up. Its shorter than COS yet Book3 was longer than either of the first two. Ironic. Could have made it longer though, what's 10 or 15 more minutes...

But I like the darker tone of it, though. The camera angles and fluidity of scenes make it refreshingly different. That instead of just 'watching' the scenes before you, you somehow feel that you are a part of it. That you are there running with Harry and Hermione as they try and save Buckbeak and Sirius.

And Im sure somehow people would get tired of Columbus's style and clamor for a more "stylish" art of doing HP. And I believe Cuaron did it with POA. But whether its a tru adaptation og the Books or not is naother matter. :x

well, I think that film 3 was made wll for the time they had, i still would haev been happier with abetter explanation of the marauders, but, what can you do?

I did like th e movie although I didn't like the fact that the original sets had been changed. EX. the ground leading to Hagrid's Hut. The staircases even looked diiferent. But other than the sets I found it really good.

Yeah, the fat lady in the portrait changed too. and half through the movie, the actor who plays goyle is replaced by another person, its weird.

I don't think he's supposed to be Goyle but just another friend of Malfoy's.

Heh, I'm glad someone said something about the Fat Lady, because I thought I was just imagining that she changed.

Well you can't expect him to have everything down to a point. JKR even told Alfonso that he was allowed to wander away from the storyline as long has the main idea of it was present. She said she wanted Alfonso to do that too. Come on guys, everyone has different views of Harry Potter; we can't always say "it's not how I pictured it to be at all!!!"

I think we all realize that. Its just fun to complain about things we can't change. =P

Well, some of us are naturally critics. We can't help it!

Haha I understand. Wouldn't that be cool if we all had our personalized Harry Potter movie series? You would select the people and they would play the parts. *If only..* haha

Wow! That letter covers most of my thoughts. I was, and still am, very disappointed, finding myself missing Chris Columbus more and more as the movie played.. Hope the next director takes the movies back where Chris left them, and that he stays a whole bunch truer to the book!

yeah, i didnt really see a purpose with having the still screen of harrys face at the end... ugh ::shudder::

just what the blazes happened to Tom?! In the first movie *Ah, Hagrid..the usual? 'not om i'm on official hogwarts business' bless my soul, is that harry potter?* there was a very different Tom... Now it was a hunchback?! I don't get it... And his books are already bought?! flourish and blotts was jsut funny with the monsterbooks....



A HUNCHBACK?!

I thought the movie was brilliant.

I'm not a purist. When I stepped into that theater, I wasn't hoping for book pages with special effects.

I'm looking for the spirit, the attitude, the real characters.

Not every single detail. I'm okay with them changing a lot around.

I'm just looking for what I felt when I read that book.

And as far as I'm concerned, that's what I saw.

It was real, it was Harry, Hermione, and Ron. Them. The real them.

Squabbling over details and plots...that's for purists.

I'm just looking for the spirit of the book. That's what I saw and felt.

I loved the movie but i do agree tht they left ALOT out. Sure it was funnier but the movie went sooo fast and alot of the important stuff was kept out. I thought the movie would be more detailed. i was kinda shocled that he changed alot. but i still loved it! maybe the next one will be more true to the book.

[color=darkblue][/color]I think that the new director completely hacked Jo's masterpiece to shreds. It was very disappointing :evil:! He also completely underminded the perfect Hogwarts, created by Chris Columbus, that we've grown to accept and love. Some have argued that leaving things out would be justified by the lack of time. I must disagree. The director can choose to show not tell some details and aspects of script to make it fit into the time allotted. The scenes were choppy and lacked transitions. Chris Columbus managed to build the story up in a way that made it magical. Why has this director neglected the vision? It's okay to add a little and change a little, but this guy has completely abused the privledge he was given. Can I do a better job? You'd better believe it buddy!!!!!!!! Sorry Jo, I know ya liked the movie, but it just doesn't compare to your genius.

When you say "we", kindly don't include me.

PoA isn't better than the first 2.the second ones ma fav both the book n the movie.

I think they did a decent job. I think they should've cut out a few parts...like wtf...The bird getting hit? That time could've been used to show a better scene. Yeah, it was humorous the first time, but we don't need to see it again.

And the fact that the Whomping Willows location changed. It use to be right by the school, if you've seen CoS then you would know what i'm talking about..Now it's just like on a hill far away from Hogwarts.

It was a decent movie, but CoS is still my favorite.

well the first time i saw the movie i thought that he ruined the movie completely

the second time i saw it i was like ok it isnt as bad as i thought the movie is good

the third time i saw it i thought that cauron did a great job! it must have been hard to pick and choose what scene stays in the movie and what scene goes.

POA is my fave hp movie so far!!

OMG soooo many threads on POA it's crazy!! I feel like a broken record repeating myself over and over again, but I'm sooo pro-POA that I just HAVE to give my two cents worth!!

I agree totally with you Raven!! Might as well have signed my name under your post too hehehe

I thought POA was brilliant. It's definitely my fave installment of the series thus far.

Like what Azkaban said in an earlier post - it's all about whether the movie kept to the SPIRIT of the book.

Yes, a lot was cut out. But people you have to bear in mind that while books can go into the smallest of details, movies can't. Movies have a time constraint!! I felt Cuaron really rose up to the challenge and did it as best as any other director could have done, really. He kept to the central theme of the book and picked out all the significant bits that were connected to it.

I admit, there were certain parts that could have been taken out or cut down. And I also felt that Cuaron should have included the background of the Marauders for the benefit of those who haven't read the book, plus he should have put in the scene where Sirius enters the boy's dormitory.

But other than that, overally, POA was a job well done considering the amount of detail there was in the book to work on to begin with. Like dansgurl01 said, it must have been tough picking what to include and what to exclude (good luck to Mike Newell for GoF man, that's gonna be ten times worse!!) As I've said time and time again, remember, the movies are BASED on the novels, and were never meant to be an exact visual representaion of each book.

Btw the ending, where they freeze and kinda distort Harry's face when he's on the Firebold. Yeah when I first saw it I was like, wft??! But after quite a few times now, I think I understand why Cuaron did that. That face, that expression on Harry's face, that's the peak of his feelings. He's the happiest he's been thus far. He's at Hogwarts. He's got a brand new broom. He's got a godfather now, the closest he's had to family. Get what I mean?

Yeah I agree with Raven, I was at first, a bit taken aback by how much Cuaron changed. Especially set-wise (and yeah what's with the hunchback Tom?? And did you notice that it's a different Fudge too?). But this is how I see it ok. Each of us are individuals. As demonstrated in this forum itself, we all have different views and opinions. Same goes for directors. Each one is different and has their own unique style.

So Cuaron changed Hogwarts. He added the long bridge and the huge clock. So he changed the location of the Whomping Willow. That's how HE envisioned Hogwarts to be. Even before the movies came about, when we all picked up the first Harry Potter book and started reading, we all had a different Hogwarts painted in our mind's eyes. Same thing!!

Don't get me wrong, I'm not slacking off the first two movies and Chris Colombus. Heck, I thought he did an excellent job too. In fact, he possibly could have had the harder task as he had to build the world and establish the characters within. So hats off to Colombus too!! What I'm trying to say is, don't bag Cuaron just because he has a different style and saw Hogwarts differently.

Colombus stuck closer to the books because as he had said in an interview once, it was a daunting task to create this world that JKR had established for us, fans and therefore he didn't want to disappoint. Also as we saw in the first two movies, his style was more straightforward, he told the story in a more linear way.

As some of us have said, bringing Cuaron on board was a breath of fresh air. Which I reckon, personally, was just in time, coz POA is the turning point of the series, in my opinion. Cuaron's style as many have noted, is more creative. I'd say he's very daring to make the changes and take the risks he did in POA as look now, it has certainly caused an uproar in some of you who were majorly disappointed and thought Cuaron did a bad job.

But I think each director likes to put a sort of "stamp" to each movie they direct. Some of you said you didn't see the point in all the long scenes of landscape and like that blasted bird flying through the grounds only to get squished by the Whomping Willow. I agree, time-wise, it was wasted and could have been used to include something else. But that's Cuaron's style. I find him a very "artsy" director, a lot like Peter Jackson. There were lot of landsape-y scenes in LOTR as well.

Yeah I think it's a shame that Cuaron won't be doing GoF, but then again, it's gonna be very interesting to see how Newell is gonna pull this off. GoF is very different from POA because it involves huge wizarding events like the World Cup and the Triwizard Tournament. And then there's the Yule Ball and that duel at the end between Harry and Voldemort. GoF's chock-full of details and significant stuff so it's definitely gonna be a toughie picking what goes in and what stays out, esp since they want to keep it to just one movie (what a bummer!!). So I reckon it's great that another new director's coming on board. Let's see how Newell does!! Whatever happens, the final product will get my respect if anything, coz to date, GoF would have definitely been the hardest to do.

Ultimately, this is just my opinion, but I do hope that all of you out there who disliked POA could be a little bit more open-minded. Trust me guys, I am a HUGE Harry Potter fan. I guess I could be a purist when it comes to the books. But when I go watch the movie, I go knowing that this is just based on the book and that it will not feature everything that appears in the book, and possibly some facts will be changed.

Hey JKR and even Dan Radcliffe said that POA was their fave movie thus far, so like someone said before, that's good enough for me!! Remember, as this is JKR's "baby", anything and everything has to run by JKR first, so whatever we see in the movies have been allowed by her.

Put it this way, we've all read the books so we know what really happened, we know the facts. So as long as the movie stays within the SPIRIT of the book, that's all that matters.

OMG this is like a thesis!! Well I think I've said everything there is to say. Sorry if I've bored any of you guys!!

It's so sad that we're so very hard on the directors! I mean none of us here really have the right to go and rant about how very wrong any director of HP is! It's quite funny since many of us are teenagers and we're all hardcore fans who are "It should be like this." or "That's not how I imagined it!" and we aren't even the ones with the pressure on us for making these movies.

Not that I have a problem with talking about it since I love the movies and even I as a pro-POA fan had a few misgivings with the lack of information given by Lupin (maybe I'm saying this because I love Lupin and would have loved more lines from him.) about the Marauders and of course more attacks by Sirius, if only to give non HP readers and even those who have read HP more reason to believe that Sirius really is out to get Harry and not just terrorizing the school. And of course I like to debate and give my two cents. So it all works for me, but we're so SERIOUS about it that it's a little funny.

But I'm very glad that someone agrees with me and that Curaon has a few defenders of his artistic style!

Raven

Cheers Raven, it's always a comfort to find another like-minded HP fan out there!!

Yeah when I read through all our posts everyday, it does amaze me how incredibly passionate we all are for Harry Potter and this fictitional world that JKR has created for us!!

I still can't believe how much I typed in my last post!! Sooo sorry again if I bored anyone!! As I said, I'm very pro-POA and once I started typing I just couldn't stop, I had just so much to say!!

Yeah that's why my previous post I was focusing more on the directors coz I really do feel that some of y'all out there are too purist when it comes to the books; you need to lighten up when it comes to the movies and not be so hard on the directors. As Raven said, none of us really have the right to go and rant about how badly a job any director of HP is.

For me, I guess part of the reason why I'm more open and understanding about it is coz I've studied film so I know that it's not a bed of roses...especially when trying to realize such a phenomenal book series like HP to the big screen. It's a heck of a challenge!! That's why I have nothing but the utmost respect for both Cuaron and Colombus. Also, when you've studied film, you tend to be more appreciative to the technical aspects behind the film. That's why while many couldn't understand Cuaron's style behind POA, I thought it was brilliant!!

PS - I'm not a teenager like most of you...I'm 21!!

Well, I guess with age comes wisdom!;) as for me I'm still a teenager. But what can I say, I act older when it comes to stuff that's important to me... Why HP is I don't know, maybe because my career choice is films and I myself might run into stuff like this one day... urg, hope people will be Pro-Raven too. But I can't even imagine what directors hear all the time from fans who feel the way some of us do about what obviously was not a months worth of work.

We hate to admit it but isn't like Curaon didn't spend anytime on this at all. From the pictures and things I've read, he was very involved, and I'm sure that if he thought he was ever going to direct a Harry Potter, he probably already had a different kind of Harry Potter in mind. One that I am totally in love with. The sets I thought were gorgeous and what's not to love about green hillsides and pastures, and what's not to say that the Whomping Willow couldn't be far away from the school. As much as I love Remus, I really don't think I would want a werewolf less then a few feet from my front door, so some of his ideas make sense. And that doesn't mean there wasn't a few things I disagreed with!

Well, now that I've rambled a bit, I must get to class! I only have one more to go and then I'm FREE, but never fear Raven will be back at 11:00 (My time, in CR) that'll be 2 hours... For those who don't live where I do. haha ok, going now!

Raven

I had a love/hate relationship with the film. At first, I was more or less just disappointed. PoA was my favorite of the books, and the one I remembered best of all of them... and a lot of things had been changed, and some of the most memorable scenes and details were removed. HOWEVER, after seeing the movie again... my attitude started to shift towards it, I started seeing the things I really *liked* about the movie (including the credits) lol. Then I saw it with my sister (who's eight) and she was scared to death at parts, and I realized that if they'd gone much darker at times then little kids wouldn't have been able to see it.

Overall now, after four viewings lol. I think it's my favorite of the Potter films, it WAS choppy at times, and they did cut out a lot of details... but for the details they removed, others were added in. (anyone who has read the books knows the details in it, or if they don't, they wouldn't care that they were missing because they wouldn't realize it... so since we already know that stuff, why not give us some new stuff to work with rather than more of the same?) I also really ended up liking some of the shots that were done, and the darker style of the film... (which I really didn't notice till I watched it with my sister).

I think we should just take the movie as it is, and embrace it. I mean, it's different... but since when is different bad? It just takes some getting used to really... I'm not sure what the next film is going to be like. I haven't seen any of Mike Newell movies I don't think.

If you look at it as a not Harry Potter movie, its good..but if you look at it from the book point of view, it is not connected or explained properly. I seemed to have understood the movie and it is clearer than the book in some ways. The darkness was more...dark! It was a good movie..too bad i read the book before watching the movie.

Oh Man... i wish I could come with you... My mom is like:

"Three times is enough..."

"But mom, I've only seen it twice so does that mean I can go again? Just to be sure..."

"...."

"Mom?"

"It doesn't matter... You see this face? Is it saying yes?"

"No."

"Well there you go!"

"But mom! Professor Lupin!"

"Ahhhhhh shut up, I can't take anymore Professor Lupin!!"

So there's my rendition of how my parents feel about POA haha, they haven't seen it ever so I don't know what they're talking about!

My mom's nuts if she doesn't like Professor Lupin... But yeah I want to see POA again and I can't hardly wait for it to come out on DVD in November! AHHH not fast enough, how about tomorrow... Yeah they could sell it now and they wouldn't see a break in any revenue or profits! Yah I think they should do that!! hehe...

I'm sorry, I just got my driver's liscense so I'm uber excited right now! OH and my AVATAR came back, Professor Lupin human is a leeeetle better then as a balding werewolf! So if I'm annoying anyone I apologize profusely... I'll be back to my normal dull, philosophical self tomorrow!

Raven

I completely agree with TRAIDOFDARKNESS i refuse to watch but my friends told me all about and how he screwed it up i HATE alfonso grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Raven :

Hahahahahaha

Well my parents just think I'm a nutcase coz I'm 21 years old but still watch cartoons, have an army of stuffed toys, and OF COURSE, am an over-obsessive fan of our dear boy wizard.

I'm planning to watch it one more time before it goes out of the cinemas. I guess it helps too that I actually work at the cinema...hehehe I've been "misbehaving" at work, everytime we get a break with no crowd, I'd scarper off to the cinema showing POA...

I can quote the lines from POA...honestly!!

Yeah I CANNOT wait for the dvd man...well put it this way, the reason it's taking them ages is coz they're compiling all those additional scenes that got cut out. So it's gonna be worth the wait!!

Fingers crossed, there'll be more of Lupin...yeah he rocks!! Don't worry, you're not annoying anyone...he's my favorite character too!!

I have a question for the last poster...(And this isn't meant to be rude, or try to force my opinion on you or anything.) But have you actually seen POA? From what I read of your post, you make it sound like you haven't even seen it and are basing your opinion on what your friends told you...

I know all of you know how I feel about it, goodness knows how many times I've posted, but really, how can you make an accurate and fair opinion based on something you've only heard. Now that's just if you haven't seen it if you have and that's how you feel, ok, fair enough. Granted there is defintely A LOT of changes and it's got a way different style then Columbus, but if you're just going off what your friends are telling you, maybe it's a little harsh to be saying how you hate Alfonso and that the movie sucks.

Another question if I may ask, What made you refuse to see POA in the first place? It seems to me that you didn't like it from the beginning, but why? Simple question, just wondering.

I guess all I can say to sum up is that if you haven't seen it, maybe you should, so you can give it an overall look and maybe you'll end up liking it and maybe you'll come out cursing Alfonso anyway, but I think maybe that way you won't be assuming that it's all bad, not that I'm saying your friends don't have a right to say it was bad but it should be you coming up with opinion.

Sorry if I offended anyone, I really didn't intend to if that was the case but maybe you'll understand what I'm saying and take it in stride!

Thanks,
Raven

Yeah I see where you're coming from Raven, and no, I don't think you're being offensive or anything. I think it is a fair question to BladerChick13.

It makes perfect sense that if you're making a critique of a particular movie, you'd have to have watched it first for your comments to be of any validity. Yes, it wouldn't be fair if you were going off someone else's feelings, be it a friend, or a movie review. "One man's meat is another man's poison" - that's what I think. We all perceive things differently, as we can see through this thread itself. Some of us loved POA, while some of us hated it, and that's fine. What Raven's trying to say is it must come from a fair ground, that is, it must be truly your opinion from watching it, not someone else's.

I think some of you guys are not cutting Alfonso Cuaron enough slack. He's not a bad director, he's just different from Chris Colombus. People need to be more open to change. Every director has their own unique style and that "stamp" is reflected in each movie that they direct. I think it's perfectly fine to say you don't like Cuaron's style and his vision of Hogwarts/POA, but I don't think it's fair to say he's a bad director.

It's all about keeping to the SPIRIT of JKR's books...that's what matters!!

PS - JKR herself thought POA was the best movie thus far, so Cuaron's depiction of Hogwarts and the world of HP is actually the closest to what JKR herself imagined it to be. What's good enough for her, is certainly good enough for me!!

Well I am very, very glad someone agrees with me! I just got back from three days of not vacation, but some serious grandparent time. Oy. We won't go into detail but all Raven can say is that she's very glad she had her computer with pics of Professor Lupin on it. But hey, at least no one went beserk over my post, I feel like I'm being rude if I say stuff like that, but all I can do is say what I think and hope no one takes it the wrong way!

Raven

I think Alfonso Cuarón is the best of HP directors. Simply he is the best.
Jo said to him clearly that he don't be literal, and he made ONLY that JK said.
I think PoA is MUCH MUCH MUCH BETTER than PS and CoS, and Alfonso, (of course) is MUCH MUCH MUCH BETTER director than Chris Columbus.

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡VIVA CUARÓN!!!!!!