epiphany

HP3

I watched the new Harry Potter movie yesterday. Like pretty much every other review I've read, I'd agree that it's a better film than either of the first two. The actors have improved a lot. The cinematography was more interesting with a lot more movement. We head into the story much more quickly and with less of a feeling of introductory back-story (in my opinion, time with the Dursleys tends to be the slowest part of the books, Order of the Phoenix excepted). And John Williams appears to be back in excellent form after what was, in my opinion, quite a long take between good soundtracks.

The film was a lot darker and grittier than the two previous Potter movies. While that was fitting with the darker storyline, sometimes it seemed too great a change and would almost certainly be too frightening for small children: the first two movies were fairytale romps compared to this one. I don't recall seeing as many ruins at Hogwarts as we explored in this film. The dementors were far creepier in the movie than I had imagined them, especially their decaying mouths as they prepared to kiss their victims. The special effects were generally much better integrated in this film as well, though sometimes the magic appeared to be more flippant and more like X-Men style telekinesis than in the previous movies. I enjoyed the updated looks for the kids. Fred and George in particular seemed to be a good mix of modern style with the quirkiness of adult wizarding wardrobes.

Although I'm a Potter fan, I'll admit that the first hour and a half of the movie felt slow. Of course, that could have been because I was at a late matinee and needed to make it home for supper. Still, if a movie keeps your attention well enough, you forget to be concerned about time. However, the last thirty minutes or so flew by in a blur, easily making up for the earlier slowing.

I stayed to the end of the credits, appreciating the music (especially the first section blending of the new "Toil and Trouble" theme with the now familiar Harry themes) hoping for one of the "thanks for staying" surprises many movies seem to put at the end nowadays. There's a small one, but it's hardly worth the ten-minute wait. Still, the credits themselves are quite inventive and are based on the Moony, Padfoot, Prongs and Wormtail map (which was another brilliantly non-intrusive and believable special effect in the film).

If you're a Potter fan, you've probably already seen the movie, unless you've been Providentially hindered. If not, I would recommend the books over the movies, although the movies are fun and worth seeing. And this is the best of the movies thus far. Again, compared with the others, this Harry Potter film in particular may be too frightening for young children (I'm afraid to think what the end of the Goblet of Fire will be like when adapted to the screen).