PoA *spoliers*

[Ali]

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Hermione Granger and the Prisoner of Azkaban

I'm not sure that there are really any spoilers in here, but just in 
case...

I went to see PoA this morning, and was so excited that I had to go 
to the loo about 3 times in the 15 minutes before it started. I'd 
booked for the 11 o'clock performance which was the earliest they 
had advertised on the internet. In fact, there were 2 earlier 
performances at 9 and 10am. It was slightly unpleasant to be warned 
that there might be night time cameras on us - so scared are they 
that people might make pirate recordings.

Anyway, the cinema was packed, and I had a good chat with another 
Mum while we were waiting for the film to start. We were talking 
about how exciting this was for the kids, how HP meant so much to 
them etc etc. I could agree with all of this, and sneak a peak at 
the PoA premiere pictures in her Daily Telegraph, without actually 
saying that I was probably far worse than most of the kids in the 
audience. At 11 in the morning, it was mostly kids and families.

I really do believe that PoA is the best film so far. The trio have 
all improved markedly in their acting. There are lots of very good, 
fun bits, it is funnier, and it is darker. But, I suppose I just 
expected too much. I didn't like the Quidditch scene. I disliked 
their new Quidditch robes, and the match itself was a dark spectacle 
rather than a game played in appalling weather. 

At one stage, I was just relaxing into the film, thinking that I 
could sit and watch it all day, but I came out feeling deeply 
dissatisfied. Some of the additional uncanon scenes are good - most 
notably between Harry and Lupin. Whether or not these really are the 
bits which gave JKR goose bumps, I suppose we'll find out in due 
course. I found I quite liked the bickering/ semi-romance of Ron and 
Hermione: it was funny, and it did fit. I'm not really a shipper, 
but I have a great need for Harry, the hero to pull through and live 
happily ever after. Selfishly, I've always thought that this should 
be with Hermione. But if JKR is going for the "obvious", the obvious 
is Hermione and Ron.

Gary Oldman reminded me of Captain Sparrow: I didn't expect that at 
all. I was even more surprised when my husband said the same thing. 
Oldman was really good though. I also really liked David Thewlis as 
Lupin, although why Lupin needed to appear slightly sloshed, I don't 
know.

But, my biggest problem with the film was (IMO) the enhanced role of 
Hermione. She seemed to take the lead in so many things. In the 
book, Hermione becomes a bit of a wreck, in the film, she takes the 
lead in a lot of the actions. 

I did wonder what was happening when Emma Watson said that PoA is 
rock and roll for Hermione - girl power. That is how I saw the film, 
but not how I wanted to see it. I decided that Cuaron must have 
fancied Emma Watson, and therefore gave her better scenes etc. My 
husband decided it was because she was the strongest actor. She was 
good, and perhaps she is the strongest actor. I don't know. I still 
want to think that Daniel Radcliffe is capable of growing into a 
really strong actor. He has the look of pathos in his eyes 
brilliantly; he can look cheeky and happy: brilliantly. I enjoy his 
defiance. But somehow, there are just too many scenes of him looking 
blank. I believe that this is because Harry witholds his emotions, 
but perhaps I'm making excuses to make me feel better!

I am going to see PoA again on Saturday, and I actually think I need 
to. In a way, this film was like OoP was for me the first time: I 
had too high expectations of it to enjoy it. Perfection it ain't, 
enjoyable it will be. Just as OoP has improved on each rereading, so 
I'm hoping to enjoy the PoA film more.

Ali