Writer: Steve Kloves(based upon the novel by J.K. Rowling)
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Michael Gambon, Gary Oldman, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, David Thewlis
Warner Bros. Pictures
Story: A
Acting: A-
Directing: A+
Visuals: A+
Genre: A
Final: A+
Rated: PG ***1/2
This third film though, benefits from the addition of a new director, Alfonso Cuaron who takes his knowledge of teenagers and hormones and applies them to make a truthfully great movie, with a little help from matured actors and actresses giving rivetingly mature performances and the director himself powering up this movie to make it an unstoppable force that will remain the film that will land on many top ten lists by year end.
I don't think I've seen a movie this good. Radcliffe was ghastly in the first two movies, but here he adds depth to his character and proves what he is. There was truthfully one scene of his I couldn't stand and that's when he's in a rocky glen in winter with Ron and Hermione and pathetically gives girly crying and then attempts to wow us with serious acting, but instead he made me laugh when he screamed, "HE WAS THEIR FRIEND!" I'm sorry, but I lost it there it was a pathetic scene for him. Rupert Grint I think proved that he's probably the worst of the leads on this movie. Tom Felton was pitch perfect as the even eviler, slimey little dung-ball of Draco Malfoy. He is truthfully evil in this movie whereas in the first two he was a pathetic looking baby-ish like threat that helped keep everyone from growing up and maturing. Here I think he gives his carreer best.
I see an amazing carreer ahead of Emma Watson who prowled through this movie with grace and talent and though the scene where she did the howling made me laugh a little, I still think she did the best child acting of the movie. In my opinion she has proved to be the best of the young 'uns in these movies.
I'm not going over the story to this movie as to the fact that all you do or will eventually know it. I will say that it's about a guy named Sirius Black who escapes from prison and is expected to be going after Harry Potter.
Particualarly David Thewlis, Michael Gambon(in a limited Dumbledoore), and Robbie Coltrane give the best performances of the movie and Gary Oldman was the perfect choice for Sirius Black. He was amazing as the murder bound victim of judicial systems gone wrong.
Pam Ferris was particularly riveting as Aunt Marge and Lee Ingleby as Stan Shunpike was another perfect choice. I was disappointed by the exclusion of Sir Cadogan the Knight, but I expect to find him in deleted scenes on the DVD.
All in all a particualarly outstanding movie event of the year and the first true blockbuster of the summer being the first great movie and the first film that will truthfully break records at the box-office. Now I'm gonna have to see this like fifty times before I can be ok waiting until DVD in like fall. I cannot wait to see what Mike Newell does with the Goblet of Fire my favorite of them all, the best of them all, and in my honest opinion the third best book of all time.
Go see this movie and have a great time witnessing the first great "Harry Potter" movie. Alfonso Cuaron you are a genius.