I enjoyed PA movie because the acting, effects, and cinematography were improved compared to the preceeding movies.
Yet it left out the fact that James was an Animagus just like Sirius and Peter.
The Patronus was briefly a stag but then it just exploded...
I thought that was the theme of the third novel, Harry coming to terms with James Potter being his father.

POA is my fave HP movie so far I loved it.

I personally had fun bashing the film with my son and his friends..but then I thought, 'Well, maybe I didn't give it a fair shot'. So, my son and I (with his friends) went back and watched it again, it was better the second time around. Sure, they left out a lot, changed stuff around, but it grew on me..It's now my favorite of the three.

No actually the theme/angle Cuaron chose to take for PoA was Harry himself. I read about it or found it out from an interview...can't remember.

IMHO, PoA is the book that is a turning point in the series. It focuses not so much on Voldemort as it does in the other books, but more on Harry. It takes a slightly more deeper look into Harry's emotions, his parents, and of course, he's godfather too as we find out towards the end.

Lupin played quite a prominent role in the film because Cuaron, Heyman and Kloves felt that he was the only link to Harry's past (because Sirius was still just the PoA at the time ) therefore representing the emotional core of the film.

Cuaron also plays alot with time in the film I found. He does it masterfully with the changing in seasons, the huge clock and of course the ticking sound that goes on and off during the Time Turner sequence. Absolutely brilliant from a cinematic perspective.

I've actually some stuff to say in response to the posts following my last one, but I'm just kinda getting a little tired of being a broken record.

I just want to say that I am not looking to making people think like me or change their minds about PoA. That's not my intention at all. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. All I ask is that if you disliked or were disappointed by PoA, just check your reasons and make sure you're not bashing it for the wrong reasons.

Take into consideration the fact that books and movies are two totally different mediums. Bear in mind that the movies are just BASED on the books. Remember that movies have a time and budget constraint among many other things. And never forget that everything that we see on screen has been pre-approved by JKR herself.

Lastly, Cuaron along with the rest of the film crew are experts in their field. I don't think it's fair to say Cuaron was an awful director just because he presented PoA in a different way than you'd imagined. All of us would have a different "HP world" painted in our heads. It will be impossible to ever please every single person so all the director and film crew CAN do is make the movie from their perspective, how they interpreted it.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying PoA is perfect. Cuaron definitely made more changes than PoA. He took risks and I really commend him for that. But yeah I admit there were certain things about it I didn't quite like or I wished had been done differently. As I've said though, as the movies are only based on the books, you have to go with the mindframe that you won't be watching an exact copy-paste of what you've read. If you're gonna think that way, then of course you're going to be disappointed. No doubt about it. To me, it doesn't really matter, coz I've read the books. I know what really happened. I have my own ideas and pictures in my head. But when I go and watch the movies, I go telling myself let's see how this person (for PoA, Cuaron) put the pages of this book to screen. Let's see how he interpreted the overall theme and plot of the book.

And that's my two-penneth worth. For now.

After watching it again recently, I have to say it was bad.

First time round, I was raging abotu the Marauders part (along with the rest of us). So I tried to be open, I tried to accept cuts had to be made. But for a big budget film it was poor.

The story for one seems really out of proportion. They rush through so many buts then have a scene here and there where it's dragged out too much. For people who haven't read the books, I could see it being really confusing. The acting by the trio was poor, I just wasn't buyign it. And will someone please do something about Emma's hair! Why isn't it bushy?

Sirius and Lupin were both BIG disappointments. Two of my favourite characters, but I didn't like them at all. I can't see any similarities between my versions of them and the films'. Like when I saw the first movie, I saw Robbie Coltrane and ALan Rickman do such great jobs. They became those characters for me, they did a great job. FOr Sirius and Lupin, I'd rather forget I've seen them in the film. They didn't do justice.

Now to be positive. Tom Felton looked much better and was pretty good in this film (acting-wise). The Hippogriff and Dememtors looked amazing. Fantastic job here. Micheal Gambon was good, because I remember being worried he would be acting with Harris in the back of his mind, either to immitate or replace him. I like him as Dumbledore, because I really feel the eccentric and warm side of Dumbledore

Ps & Cos weren't proper adaptations, Poa was. It had the spirit,plot & Theme of the book which is what it needs. The first 2 didn't have the spirit.

I thought the Lupin choice was nice. He wasn't how I pictured, but that's from the books, and this is the movie.

I'm very much into the third HP movie at the moment. I'm literally watching it once a day and I love it! Yes it was a shame the history of the Marauders Map was left out, but we all know the history anyway. So we can just presume Harry was told about it.
I thought it was made obvious that Sirius sent Harry the broom because of the feather that came with the package? I understood the link and thought it was done very well, because obviously Hermione couldn't just blurt out that it was from him.
There was a definate flow in this movie too, as someone earlier mentioned. It didn't run like CoS or PS because they felt far too jumpy, I felt like the main characters were discovering too much and plotting too quickly. It didn't seem realistic to me.
Daniels acting was hugely improved in this film, I think he'll portray the tortured hero in the later films very very well. Yes he didn't have tears in the scene at Hogsmeade, but I still felt really moved by that whole scene. Hermione was definately improved too as she no longer over pronounced all her words, she was much more natural this time around.
I also loved the running theme of time throughout the film, the continual shots of the huge pendulum and the fact that you could see through the clock face as well worked really well. There was also a better flow of the castle this time too, with the tunnel and the courtyard. I loved the new scenery and it would be a shame to lose that.
I think people are being too pedantic about the mistakes in this film, the director is entitled to alter the film slightly because at the end of the day it should be just as much his as it is JKRs.
I love it and can't wait for the fourth film.

I watch the movie every day on the weekends. I find it very rewatchable, unlike the other two.

I must say I don't like the option "It was a perfect replication of the book" on the poll. Adaptations aren't meant to be replications, everyone knows that..

it wasnt good what ý had expected
they modified every part of book
what a mess
in book harry took his broom in middle of season
but in movie he took in at the end
gee
they didnt show some of very important parts
if ý didnt see emma watson in film ý can say "its not good"
but eveywhere where emma there is veeeeeeeery good for me :D

The movie included everything important from the book. Unlike PS, & Cos, which included lots of things that had nothing to do with main plot.

of course GOOD!
but not as BEST as the first two films!
i actually didn't like the plot or the sequence done by A.Cuaron
the time turner scene was a bit confusing for me!
anyways, it was GOOD!

How was the spirit not their? I really don't think the spirit of the books is all americanized like the first two films.

Out of the three movies PoA is my favourite! I thought that it was very well done. I think its better to connect with more people, adults and children alike!
It may have left out a lot of sub-plot and scenes from the books but for what it has i think that it is brilliant.
I think that it was a brilliant movie and pleased most people.......mission accomplished!

I thought PoA was a lot better than the other 2 films, i just loved the dementors and everythng in my opinion it was great! but it was a bit annoying how there were only 2 scenes where they actually had their uniform on!!

same here,I would have kinda got lost if I din read the book.They mised out the maraders part.But it was just to make it shorter.hermione has picked up a real accent {bad spelling i know}.She is looking Cool.But if they were in robes it would be ok.But it was greaaaaaaaaaaaaaate.

The movie was great, but Hogwarts and the grounds look so different. If they had filmed it in the same spot as the 1st and 2nd movie it would have been better then it was. Still, I like it as much as the others.

It was okay, but they let thing really important, when i was waching the movie was like a copy and page, I GET angry for that, `cause you can`t understand what is happening.

Pacat ca nu e nimeni cu care sa vorbesc pe limba MEA...

MOD EDIT : Hiya and welcome to the forums! You're going to have to post in English if you can here otherwise no one will be able to understand you, as this is an English-based forum, I'm afraid. I'm not even sure which language this is...perhaps if you could tell me what country you're from, I can try and help you out.

I think that the movie lacked a certain thing called...story line! I thoought it was bad. I tthink if anyone but Alfonso directed it, it would have been beter. I think that the sudden Setting change was distracting..and WHY arent the students wearing uniforms? HUh?!?!? Well, i also think Sirius could have been more attractive, and i think Johnny Depp would have been a great Sirius. I think Alfonso, made a mistake by changing where the school was and yea..i didnt like it much...and...the part about when Harry got his broom would have been better where it was in the book...I personally did not like it..I picked The second las choice. I agree with lawks_fuster but i didnt think it was good..

It was so awsome well only because i kinda sorta read all the books about five times and the movies about 20,000,000,000 different times And because well my library at school has some books on himm and i rea them all the time an learn so much about [COLOR=green][COLOR=red][SIZE=7][FONT=Optima]

PoA is certainly my favourite of the three movies. The first was decent - in a simple, disney type way - which was fine, it was the 'least' dark of the movies, though I though the ending could have packed a little more punch. (though of all the cuts in hp movies, the removal of hermione solving snape's defense of the philosophers stone annoyed me the most!).

The second movie disappointed me. It aimed to be more of the same, but fell flat. The challenge all movies of this sort face is that there is too much material in the book to fit in a movie. So you have to cut stuff. If you tried to maximize information packed into the movie, you'd end up with a hectic, and unwatchable movie, so you end up cutting even MORE stuff to make room for those scenes that are more 'cinematic'. What I didn't like about CoS, and liked about PoA was how this was done.

The flying car scene in CoS was an example of something I hated. I mean they tried to play it as being some sort of exciting scene. Who was worried Harry or Ron was about to die. Anyone? Anyone? PoA wisely played the earlier, cinematic scenes more for laughs - the knight bus scene being an obvious example, but also Harry battling his textbook for care of magical creatures. The books are not just exciting, they can be funny as well, and PoA captured that better then the other two movies.

Finally, as to the complaints about not knowing Prongs was harry's father, and that's why he had the patronus he did - these sorts of things are necessary cuts to fit into a movie. The fact that PoA alluded to these things - showing the stag patronus, and so on, without confusing non-readers, I thought was well done. Things in the movie had significance for readers that it might not for non-readers, which is certainly better then cutting entirely - or bewildering those who haven't read the books.

Finally, the always enjoyable dursley scene was filmed wonderfully. The image of Marge floating into the sky, with Vernon hanging on, slowly lifting off, and Marge's wretched dog hanging onto Vernon's leg was flawless.

Personally I think this was definatly the best movie yet, but I think GoF will be a lot better.

I liked the way that the time-turner scenes were done, but too many mistakes were made, and I have no idea why he kept putting in all that fading.

i think its the best movie yet.
It was because of alfonso, he created a much darjer atmosphere, and because im 16 i liked it more as it wasn't as childish.

I really liked the film...much more so then the first too. What appealed most to me was the overall 'feel' of the movie- the music, cinematography, etc.

However, I don't think the film stressed enough the relationships between Harry, Sirius, Lupin, James, and peter. The Mauraders were the central theme in the book and understanding the freindsships and relationships between them, i think, was essential.

In the movie those relationships are almost non-existant and it doesn't even mention what/who the mauraders are.

i think the movie was really good, i was a little dissapointed at what they left out but i still thought it was a great movie.

I was kind of disapointed with the fact that they left out so much inportant stuff like:

who Made the marduraurs map(sorry for spelling)

Who was prongs, padfoot, and moony was

how they were all animugas

how sirius knew it was ron's rat that was pettigrew if he was in prison

and why they were all animugas

this is just what i recall from the last time that i read it which was quite some time ago.

So my family, and others who haven't read the Hp books, have no clue about any of that. I think that was a major mistake that they made.

ý don't like this film...ýt has got a lot of mistakes...ý disappointmented... cuaron isn't good director...

i think it was pretty good the best out of 3!
3/4 because profferssor Lupin(david thewlis)is so handsome and makes the movie whole ;) !

ý don't agree you.. because film isn't prettt good...and david thewlis is good actor and handsome.. that's right. but it is not enough... my favorite book is GOF... ý wish GOF film will be good..

Ok, in the PoA movie, they make malfoy look like a total sissy, and he's not like that! He's a nasty dirty mouthed kid!! He only becomes a sissy when he's really scared but i think they over did that.

Just letting you know that I've moved this topic into the PoA discussion forum where it seems a bit more at home...

**HBP SPOILERS** - Highlight to read

I have to say that, given the developments in HBP, I'm even more surprised that Jo allowed them to portray Malfoy almost as comic relief in this film. Yes, he's a coward, but he's certainly not someone to be taken lightly. He truly is a very nasty piece of work, particularly when you think that he's still only 16 years old.

So yes, I think it was a bit of a mistake, making him a joke. Somehow detracts from the true darkness he represents, but there we go....the film-makers will do whatever they see fit, and Jo must have approved, so...*shrugs*

Dana, you don't think that Draco's actions have been cowardly?

*Minor HBP spoilers*





I mean, he's clever but hes not very brave. He only taunts Harry in the open because he knows that Harry couldn't retaliate since a teachers are around and he also hides behind his injurys if he thinks that certain alterior conditions will effect a Quddith match. Has Malfoy ever really acted brave when he has not been surrounded by various cronies? I know there is more evidence of this also.

I'm assuming this is all pre-HBP though right? Cause its true that even if Draco was a coward beforehand he could become braver through discipline and training from Death Eaters etc.

Yes i have to agree, Draco in the PoA was a bit of a sissy and i didn't like it, yeah draco isn't brave but he is not a cowerd.




**HBP SPOILERS**





even though to don't see Draco brave, I though that it was very brave of him to put his wand down when DD told him to. When DD said that he can help him.

This was the first HP movie I saw and I really loved it then and still do. I don't care that the movie differs from the book. They aren't supposed to be the same as the movie as based on the book, not an exact replica of it.

The movie was funny and I loved Ron, Siruis and Lupin especially.

Oh, and I thought the punch was much more effective anyway.

The movie was alright, I just hated the new scenery, and the new dumbledore is nowhere near as good as richard harris. I wish Harry still got the firebolt earlier, and I wanted to see the Quidditch Cup, I wanted to see Wood crying and giving the cup to Harry lol. The first two movies were better, well prolly cause Columbus was the director, but they had more feeling in the first two, I saw too much change in this movie. Goblet of Fire look great though!!

Honestly, I believe that the Marauders were the most important part of the book, it was about Harry discovering who his father was, not about monster books or buses and stuff. They could have made the other scenes a little shorter to add a little of the actual plot. Now they have to make up for it in the other movies otherwise a lot of stuff just won't make sense.

I think the firsts are better then the Prisoner of Azkaban. It have a story very hard to understand for people that didn't read the book. It hasn't a logical plot and it's too different from the others.

I personally liked the movie a little. I JUST think it should not of left alll those things out,and not to change locations. I loved the first movies locations. Also I would just want to say that when JKR saw the movie she said there was something major that was revealed that was in the movie and not the books. THe only thing I could think of is when Snape gets in front of the trio to protect them from Lupin as a werewolf.

Tell me please if you thought this was intented or not. Or if you found somehting you likes about it

MOD EDIT : The use of netspeak is not allowed - "plz" should have been "please". Please read the rules before posting again. Your post has been edited.