Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Review
starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Gary Oldman
director: Alfonso Cuaron
After the whole Dobby fiasco, Harry Potter seemed to be content with how his life was going. Until a man named Sirius Black escaped from Azkaban prison (kind of like Alcatraz in San Fransico), which no one had ever done before because it is heavily guarded by surrounding Dementors.
I felt nice and warm watching another Harry Potter movie again for the first time (which was a very long time ago). The moment that the Monster Book of Monster's started to open it's eyes and become alive underneath Harry's bed made me feel happy that I had finally fallen into another Harry Potter adventure.
Hogwarts never looked better, since after this movie, the whole series would take a completely drastic turn. I love watching the classroom scenes, the Quidditch matches, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione hanging out together. I wonder if this movie got approved for a bigger budget because it seemed like this movie looked more like an epic film compared to the first two, in a good way. The Whomping Willow, Sirius as Padfoot, Buckbeak, the Dementors, Remus Lupin, and the Marauder's Map all looked incredibly well done and fit perfectly with the setting and lighting of the movie.
I thought the director did an amazing job at portraying the whole back-in-time sequences. At first I was a little confused when Harry and Hermione were actually back in time watching themselves. I would question whether the dialogue that was being said coincided with what they were seeing, and after re-watches of the movie, they were perfect. Everything fit amazingly well, I thought it was completed spot on for how complex the story-line was for that particular portion of the film.
I really love the fact that John Williams (whom I am a big fan of) composed the music for the first three Harry Potter films. The scene where Harry was riding Buckbeak over the Black Lake with John Williams's music in the background was simply refreshing and touching. You could just 'feel' that Harry began to trust Buckbeak when he spread his arms out and shouted with excitement. I also thought the point where Buckbeak glided over and touched the water was a brilliant shot as well.
Some of the more powerful scenes to me in this movie was when Professor Snape got Expelliarmus'd by Harry while in the Shrieking Shack. Harry finally taking control and being the powerful wizard that we all wish for him to be glistened in that part. Another part was, of course, the scene where Harry used his Patronus Charm and blasted away hundreds of Dementors coming down on him and his godfather Sirius Black. Harry realizing it was himself that he saw saving them was spectacular, Daniel Radcliffe made me a believer.
The whole movie is amazing, and I wonder what the other Harry Potter movies would look like if either Chris Columbus or Alfonso Cuaron directed the remaining films. I believe they would have more of a sense of loving between the relationship of Harry and the audience, but I am not complaining at all, I cherish the movies immensely.
Showing posts with label Gary Oldman. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gary Oldman. Show all posts
Monday, August 15, 2011
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Review
starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Gary Oldman
director: David Yates
I give to the entire cast in the whole entire Harry Potter series. They do an incredible job and I thank them for giving me so many wonderful memories. The Order of the Phoenix is the first movie of the entire series that was directed by David Yates, and it is quite obvious, in a good way. The darker side, more... grown up side, of Harry Potter seemed to come out since David Yates took the lead on the Harry Potter film franchise. The dark blue shade captivated the essence of the film. I am particularly glad that David Yates still kept a lot of the classroom scenes in the movies because the classroom really started the exploration into magic as Harry learned through his interesting professors. I applaud David Yates on doing a wonderful job on his first Harry movie and I hope he continues to make more epic movies down the line.
The casting crew did an amazing job on acquiring Imelda Staunton for the roll of Dolores Umbridge. She played the part to perfection with her crack-whip dialogue and her little laughs that she did to herself. Her all-pink wardrobe completed the package as the perfectionist professor with a pleasant demeanor, but with a horribly cruel heart. I also thought that the little kitten plates in her office at Hogwarts was hilariously cute.
I look up to Gary Oldman a lot as an actor because the passion seems to intensely flow through him. Whatever roll he plays, he plays it remarkably well and I am glad he was chosen for the roll as our friend Sirius Black. Sirius's fate turned out to have a very sad ending, however, he went out in true 'Top Level Wizard' fashion. His dueling near the veil alongside his godson Harry had epic written all over it, it was truly Sirius's best moment of the entire series in my opinion, aside from escaping from Azkaban and 'catching' Wormtail.
As soon as the mind-blowing fall of Sirius Black was calculated in your head, you then see Harry running after the culprit: Bellatrix Lestrange. This quick chase changed everything because our favorite wizard of all time used an unforgivable curse! The torture curse, Crucio, was released on Bellatrix, which didn't affect her enough because Harry is a good guy of course (and he needs to mean it, not to mention that was his first time ever).
I think the best duel of magic in the entire film series happened right after, Professore Albus Dumbledore vs. The Dark Lord, Voldemort. The darkness, the epicness, the glass shattering awesomeness that is this franchise unleashed into a battle of good versus evil. I was waiting a long time to see this battle and I was certainly not disappointed, I loved it.
Overall, I think this movie won't be forgotten any time soon, as it is one of the top films of the franchise, considering how much information needed to be explained to the audience who haven't seen the books. I could see how it could be confusing for someone who has not read the books, but I think the extra information gives the audience more incentive to actually read them. Great movie, please watch the series from 1-7 if you have not already.
starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Gary Oldman
director: David Yates
I give to the entire cast in the whole entire Harry Potter series. They do an incredible job and I thank them for giving me so many wonderful memories. The Order of the Phoenix is the first movie of the entire series that was directed by David Yates, and it is quite obvious, in a good way. The darker side, more... grown up side, of Harry Potter seemed to come out since David Yates took the lead on the Harry Potter film franchise. The dark blue shade captivated the essence of the film. I am particularly glad that David Yates still kept a lot of the classroom scenes in the movies because the classroom really started the exploration into magic as Harry learned through his interesting professors. I applaud David Yates on doing a wonderful job on his first Harry movie and I hope he continues to make more epic movies down the line.
The casting crew did an amazing job on acquiring Imelda Staunton for the roll of Dolores Umbridge. She played the part to perfection with her crack-whip dialogue and her little laughs that she did to herself. Her all-pink wardrobe completed the package as the perfectionist professor with a pleasant demeanor, but with a horribly cruel heart. I also thought that the little kitten plates in her office at Hogwarts was hilariously cute.
I look up to Gary Oldman a lot as an actor because the passion seems to intensely flow through him. Whatever roll he plays, he plays it remarkably well and I am glad he was chosen for the roll as our friend Sirius Black. Sirius's fate turned out to have a very sad ending, however, he went out in true 'Top Level Wizard' fashion. His dueling near the veil alongside his godson Harry had epic written all over it, it was truly Sirius's best moment of the entire series in my opinion, aside from escaping from Azkaban and 'catching' Wormtail.
As soon as the mind-blowing fall of Sirius Black was calculated in your head, you then see Harry running after the culprit: Bellatrix Lestrange. This quick chase changed everything because our favorite wizard of all time used an unforgivable curse! The torture curse, Crucio, was released on Bellatrix, which didn't affect her enough because Harry is a good guy of course (and he needs to mean it, not to mention that was his first time ever).
I think the best duel of magic in the entire film series happened right after, Professore Albus Dumbledore vs. The Dark Lord, Voldemort. The darkness, the epicness, the glass shattering awesomeness that is this franchise unleashed into a battle of good versus evil. I was waiting a long time to see this battle and I was certainly not disappointed, I loved it.
Overall, I think this movie won't be forgotten any time soon, as it is one of the top films of the franchise, considering how much information needed to be explained to the audience who haven't seen the books. I could see how it could be confusing for someone who has not read the books, but I think the extra information gives the audience more incentive to actually read them. Great movie, please watch the series from 1-7 if you have not already.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)