My misc. thoughts on POA

[Paul Kippes]

By now, I was hoping to have seen POA a second time.  Considering
Ive only seen the first two once each, POA was an improvement.

I didnt mind the Marauder Maps presentation a bit.  In fact, this
initial map scene was my favorite of the entire film.  I always
envisioned something more handwritten since it was created by
students (but nothing so crude as Dracos Harry picture).  But tiny,
vanishing footprintsthat was so creativeas was the scripted writing
in the tiny banner.  Loved the map.

I know Ginny didnt have much of a part in the book.  But I really
wished she could have had a few more parts.  I didnt care much for
the train/dementor scene at all.  Hermione knew Lupins name much too
quickly.  She took only the slightest glance above Lupin and was not
at all convincing that she read the name.  Even just a 1-second pause
to perform a visual scanning for clues.  I also thought Lupin slept
much too long.  I kept expecting his first line to be, Quiet! as
soon as the kids got noisy or the train stopped.  I thought the train
stopping would have been perfect for Ginny and Neville to show up,
but they didnt.

Loved Crookshanks.  She acted a bit drugged up at times, but she
certainly was a cutie.

Why was Sirius acting like a lunatic in the poster?  V. distracting. 
But good job Industrial Light and Magic guys!

Love the Book of Monsters.  But didnt care for the under-the-bed
humor and certainly didnt care for the idiotic revisit with Neville
during Hagrids class.  (Actually most of this Care of Creatures
scene dragged for me.)

People have been critical of Feltons performanceand rightly so. 
But I thought he did such an excellent job in the other films that I
dont blame him at all for POA.  I think he either had poor direction
or instruction.  I dont think Draco is the crying typeespecially in
front of his cronies, Harry, or Hermione.  Felton did act very
stupid, but Im thinking it was the directors fault.  If anything,
Cuarn let those crappy cuts remain.

Did Hermione #1 give Draco a straight-on, head punch?  And then
Hermione #2 do a right cross?  Id have to re-watch, but that is what
I think I saw.  Im not a film guy, but I wouldnt have thought
stand-ins to be necessary.

Also loved several of the comical additions.  My favorite (although I
cant remember word-for-word) is when Trelawney starts off, The gift
of sight and then runs into the table.  I think I was alone on that
one, but I loved it nevertheless.  Also loved, Harrys Lupin sure
isnt having a very good day (or whatever) line.

I didnt realize until this list pointed out that the Fat Lady
actress was changed.  I thought I liked her better beforejust didnt
know why.  Too bad they didnt film all 4 books at once and just be
done with the Fat Lady parts through book 4.  I missed the Sir
Cadogan character quite a bit.

Thank you, thank you for not having any stupid ghost-speaking scenes.
 Vast improvement to not have the distraction.

Im still bothered by the animagus visuals.  Is this the first time
weve seen a human transform into an animal?  Why did Pettigrew lose
his clothes?

Were the wands correctly placed/edited in the Shack scene?  Id need
to re-watch to figure it out.  But I lost track of how Harry got a
wandor am I wrong to think he lost it soon after entering.

How were Harry and Hermione able to sit at the base of the willow?

I like the music much better in this moveespecially during the first
DADA class.  Was it because the Williams score was either very
subtle or missing?  At any rate, a very welcome change to not find
Star Wars not nearly so noticeable.

Overall, I also felt the pacing was rushed.  I stopped worrying about
it after 45 minutes.  But during that time it felt to me that the
film attempted to hit each plot point and then skip on to the next. 
Can you imagine if wed only have a book derived from the films
plot?  I daresay Id probably never pick it up again for fear of
giving myself a headache and being completely confused.  And I
certainly wouldnt consider Lupin to be my favorite character.



	
		
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