2014 Blind Spot Series: A Room with a View

Based on the novel by E.M. Foster, A Room with a View is the story of a young woman who falls for a free-spirited man during a holiday in Italy. Directed by James Ivory and screenplay by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, the film is a look into a young woman coming of age in a restrictive time during the Edwardian period in Britain in early 20th Century. Starring Helena Bohnam Carter, Maggie Smith, Denholm Elliott, Daniel-Day Lewis, Julian Sands, Simon Callow, Rosemary Leach, and Judi Dench. A Room with a View is a ravishing and enchanting film from the Merchant-Ivory team.

Set in 1907, the film is an exploration into a young woman coming into her own during the Edwardian period in Britain where she meets a free-spirited man during a holiday in Florence, Italy with her cousin as her chaperone. What would happen upon meeting George Emerson (Julian Sands) is that the young Miss Lucy Honeychurch (Helena Bohnam Carter) tries to cope with her feelings for George but also play to what is expected for her as she would later return to England where she would be engaged to a wealthy yet snobbish man named Cecil Vyse (Daniel Day-Lewis). Yet, when George moves nearby with his father (Denholm Elliott), Lucy becomes confused on what she should do as her older cousin Charlotte Bartlett (Maggie Smith) would observe everything as she would also play into Lucy and George’s fate.

Ruth Prawer Jhabvala’s screenplay has a unique structure where the first half of the film is set in Florence where Lucy and Charlotte are on holiday as it’s Lucy’s first visit to the city. It is there that the two meet the Emersons plus an eccentric group of visitors including the very free-spirited priest the Reverend Beebe (Simon Callow), a lively novelist named Eleanor Lavish, two aging sisters in Catherine and Teresa Alan (Fabia Drake and Joan Henley, respectively), and the more stern Reverend Eager (Patrick Godfrey). Upon this holiday in Florence, they all look at various landmarks and such where Lucy and George sense an attraction but the very prim Lucy is bewildered by George’s sense of free-spirit as he likes to climb trees, jump around, and act wildly. Yet, George is also a man who is very sensitive and is willing to do anything for Lucy which would add to this attraction much to the shock of Charlotte who has been watching Lucy for Lucy’s mother (Rosemary Leach).

The film’s second half would largely be set in Surrey, England where several months has passed and Lucy becomes engaged to Cecil who is a very interesting individual for the fact that he’s a character that audiences would love to hate. Largely because he’s this stuffy twat that really has no formidable opinion for anything as he becomes an opponent for George to deal with as he wants to give Lucy something more than just be a trophy wife for this rich, snobbish twat. Yet, the expectations that Lucy has to play with the rules of society would hinder the decisions she makes as her mother, her younger brother Freddy (Rupert Graves), and Charlotte would notice the restrained anguish that Lucy is carrying. One aspect of the screenplay that is very noticeable is the language in the way the characters talk as there’s a certain rhythm to the dialogue as well as how it can help move the story in such a brisk way.

James Ivory’s direction is truly exotic for not just the simplicity of the images he creates but also in how he makes the locations in Florence, Italy and England characters in the film. Many of the compositions of the locations would be presented in wide and medium shots to play into the beauty of the locations and the way the characters react to their surroundings. Especially in a moment where Lucy and George witness a brawl in a square amidst these surroundings of statues and famous landmarks where it would be a key moment into Lucy and George’s relationship. Much of the locations set in Florence would have this air of beauty as well enchantment where a moment of the two having a picnic in the Italian countryside where the two would have their first kiss to the shock of Charlotte. The scenes set in England would contain a similar presentation but there’s also a tightness that goes on early in that section once Lucy is engaged to Cecil.

The direction is more controlled in its tracking shots and such until George would appear to shake things up as there’s a very comical scene of he, Freddy, and Reverend Beebe enjoying a skinny-dip to the shock of Lucy, her mother, and Cecil. The direction would also have moments of symbolism that would play to Lucy dealing with her feelings for George but also to try and devote herself to Cecil as it would create a sense of drama that becomes intense but in a very restrained form. Especially as Ivory’s approach to melodrama doesn’t play to any kind of theatrics in favor of just letting the drama be played out with a tenderness and sensitivity that makes the story far more engaging. Overall, Ivory crafts a very delicate yet intoxicating film about a young woman coming of age in the early 20th Century where she would meet her soulmate.

Cinematographer Tom Pierce-Roberts does brilliant work with the film‘s photography to display the beauty of many of the film‘s exterior locations in the day while using some low-key lights for some of its interiors in the day and nighttime scenes. Editor Humphrey Dixon does excellent work with the editing as it‘s mostly straightforward yet has this seamless flow to play into the drama while infusing a few montages and rhythmic cuts to play with some of the film‘s low-key humor. Production designers Brian Ackland-Snow and Gianni Quaranta with art directors Brian Savegar and Elio Altamura, do amazing work with the set pieces from the look of the hotel rooms Lucy and Charlotte stayed in during their time in Florence to the home Lucy lived in as well as the house George‘s father stayed nearby in England.

Costume designers Jenny Beavan and John Bright do fantastic work with the costumes from the look of the dresses the women wear to the suits and clothes the men wear to play into that period. The hairdressing by Carol Hemming is terrific for the look of the hairstyle of the time that plays into the personalities of the women in the film. The sound work of Ray Beckett is superb for its low-key approach to sound by playing up much of the film‘s natural sounds as well some of the things that are captured on location. The film’s music by Richard Robbins is remarkable for its use of low-key orchestral music to play up the drama while the film’s soundtrack also uses an operatic piece by Giacamo Puccini that is sung by Kiri Te Kanawa that serves as a fitting piece in the film.

The casting by Celestia Fox is incredible for the ensemble that is created as it features some notable small roles from Maria Britneva as Cecil’s mother, Mia Fothergill as Lucy and Freddy’s younger sister, Fabia Drake and Joan Henley as the very charming Alan sisters, and Patrick Godfrey in a terrific role as the very annoyed and strict Reverend Eager. Rupert Graves is wonderful as Lucy’s mischievous brother Freddy while Judi Dench is a total delight as the novelist Eleanor Lavish who is so full of charm and provides some witty commentary. Simon Callow is excellent as the very lively and kind-hearted Reverend Beebe who often gives Lucy some advice on how to live life. Denholm Elliot is amazing as George’s father as a man who has such wit and a good heart as he deals with the anguish of his son. Rosemary Leach is superb as Lucy’s mother who deals with Lucy’s engagement to Cecil and George’s presence as she ponders exactly what Lucy is thinking.

Daniel Day-Lewis is great as the very snobbish Cecil as Day-Lewis brings a charm that makes his character so infuriating to watch because he thinks he’s all that as it’s a performance that is funny to watch. Julian Sands is fantastic as George as this free-spirited man who likes to do all sorts of crazy things but there’s a man who is so good as he tries to woo Lucy and help her find her way. Maggie Smith is brilliant as Lucy’s elder cousin Charlotte as a woman who watches over Lucy while noticing her attraction towards George and later find a way to help guide her into the right direction. Finally, there’s Helena Bohnam Carter in a radiant performance as Lucy as this young woman trying to find herself in the early 20th Century as she deals with what is expected of her as well as it’s a performance that is very enchanting to watch.

A Room with a View is a magnificent film from the Merchant-Ivory team that features outstanding performances from Helena Bohnam Carter, Maggie Smith, Denholm Elliott, Julian Sands, and Daniel Day-Lewis. Armed with amazing technical work and a rich soundtrack, it’s a film that definitely showcases what a period film should be without the need to be superficial or stuffy. Especially as it features a truly evocative screenplay by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala that adds to the elegance of the film. In the end, A Room with a View is a sensational film from James Ivory.

James Ivory Films: The Householder - (The Dehli Way) - Shakespeare Wallah - (The Guru) - Bombay Talkie - (Adventures of a Brown Man in Search of Civilization) - (Savages (1972 film)) - (Autobiography of a Princess) - (The Wild Party) - (Roseland) - (Hullabaloo Over Georgie and Bonnie’s Pictures) - (The Five Forty-Eight) - (The Europeans) - (Jane Austen in Manhattan) - (Quartet (1981 film)) - (Heat and Dust) - (The Bostonians) - Maurice - (Slaves of New York) - (Mr. & Mrs. Bridges) - Howards End - The Remains of the Day - (Jefferson in Paris) - (Surviving Picasso) - (A Soldier’s Daughter Never Cries) - (The Golden Bowl) - (Le Divorce) - (The White Countess) - (The City of Your Final Destination)

© thevoid99 2014

Gosford Park

Originally Written and Posted at Epinions.com on 3/30/07 w/ Additional Edits & Revisions.

Based on an original idea from Robert Altman and Bob Balaban, Gosford Park is a murder mystery set in the British countryside in the course of a weekend involving a group of wealthy people and their servants as a conflict emerges between the two parties. Directed by Robert Altman and screenplay by Julian Fellowes, the film is a take on the whodunit mystery as it's set in the 1930s that is a mixture of comedy, drama, and suspense. With an all-star cast that includes Maggie Smith, Helen Mirren, Michael Gambon, Stephen Fry, Kelly MacDonald, Jeremy Northam, Kristin Scott Thomas, Bob Balaban, Ryan Phillippe, Alan Bates, Richard E. Grant, Camila Rutherford, Emily Watson, Eileen Atkins, Clive Owen, Tom Hollander, Charles Dance, Derek Jacobi, and Geraldine Somerville. Gosford Park is a witty yet delightful whodunit from the brilliant Robert Altman.

A weekend gathering at the British gathering is happening as a group of rich socialites and many others arrive at the home of Sir William McCordle (Michael Gambon) and Lady Sylvia (Kristin Scott Thomas). Among those arriving are the Countess of Trentham (Maggie Smith) with her maid Mary MacEachern (Kelly Macdonald), Lord and Lady Stockbridge (Charles Dance and Geraldine Sommerville) with their servant Robert Parks (Clive Owen), Freddie and Mabel Nesbitt (James Wilby and Claudie Blakely), Lt. Commander Anthony and Lady Lavinia Meredith (Tom Hollander and Natasha Wightman), Ivor Novello (Jeremy Northam), and American producer Morris Weissman (Bob Balaban) with his servant Henry Denton (Ryan Phillippe). The servants are accompanied by the head butler Jennings (Alan Bates) along with housekeeper Mrs. Wilson (Helen Mirren), head maid Elsie (Emily Watson), jewels security chief George (Richard E. Grant), and the chef Mrs. Croft (Eileen Atkins). Immediately, conversations occur throughout the house as Denton tells Wilson and Croft that his boss is a vegetarian as he observes the place much to the annoyance of his fellow maids and servants. Meanwhile at the house, a lot is happening where the Nesbitts are having marital issues where Freddie seeks to have an affair with Sir McCordle's daughter Isobel (Camilla Rutherford) and Lt. Commander Meredith is seeking to have a business deal with Sir McCordle.

While dinner is happening both up and downstairs, Denton continues to ask questions to the maids and servants where Parks reveals himself to be an orphan where a couple of late arrivals happen in Lord Rupert Standish (Laurence Fox) and his friend Jeremy Blond (Trent Ford). Mary does some last minute work as she tries to figure out how to work in a big house without bothering anyone. On the next day during pheasants hunting with Sir McCordle, things don't go well during the hunt while Anthony Meredith and Freddie Nesbitt are both eager to talk to him. Instead, things don't go well as everyone starts to get testy with one another leading to a tense dinner where a comment by Lady Sylvia has Elsie finally speaking out in defense of Sir McCordle. Elsie leaves due to her behavior as Ivor Novello decides to change the mood by entertaining the guests while Weissman is waiting for a phone call. Later that night, Lady Stockbridge makes a shocking discovery where Inspector Thomas (Stephen Fry) and Constable Dexter (Ron Webster arrive to the house to investigate. With Thompson amazed by the home, he talks to all of the servants including Probert (Derek Jacobi) as well as the guest about their connections to McCordle.

Still, revelations are unveiled into why Henry Denton had been so snoopy as many of the guests and servants who killed McCordle and why. Mary makes a discovery about Parks in relation to McCordle as does Dexter. Once the investigation winds down, Mary receives a final lesson from Mrs. Wilson about servitude.

While the movie is a classic whodunit where everyone is a suspect, Robert Altman takes the genre off its feet and makes it into something where it becomes more about the people behind the homes and how they run the place. Yet, it's not surprising that the servants, butlers, cooks, and valets are far more interesting than the people above the basements who spend their time talking about things common people can't relate to. That doesn't mean the posh aren't uninteresting, there's moments when they can be interesting. Yet, they are out of touch somewhat with the real world when Weissman talks about a movie he plans to make yet, most of the people he is surrounded by aren't interested or intend to watch his films. Really, the film is about a murder and how people react to it while living their own idea of life.

Screenwriter Julian Fellowes does an amazing job in taking the structure of making the story feel like a theatrical play of sorts. There's the first act where the story introduces the characters, the second act about the murder and the investigation, and the third is the aftermath. It's all told in a simple way while it's all helmed by the brilliance of Robert Altman. Taking an almost, entirely British cast whom all seem to have some kind of theater background. The film does feel like a theater play where all the actors have their place and their own take on the character.

Yet, Altman deconstructs all of that to the point where the actors feel a bit loose, improvise, and enjoy themselves. Including a very comedic scene where Maggie Smith is seen laughing as if she's having a hell of a time. The camera rarely stands still as it's constantly moving to observe a conversation, a moment where people are having fun or something else. It's all part of the Altman style of improvisation, overlapping dialogue, and something that feels natural for the audience to relate to. Yet, it still works to the point where though at times, it's hard to follow, it's a lot of fun to watch.

Cinematographer Andrew Dunn does great work in capturing the atmosphere and difference of the two cultures with very dark, intimate lighting schemes on the basements to more showy lights on the upstairs part. Production designer Stephen Altman and art director Sarah Hauldren do amazing work in playing to the film's authenticity of 1930s cars, objects, and such with costume designer Jenny Beavan creating wonderfully lavish clothing for the upper class people.

Editor Tim Squyres adds to the film's energetic, improvisational style with some wonderful cutting and tension to build the momentum for the suspense. Sound editor Nigel Mills also adds to the film's atmosphere with a great sequence where Ivor Novello sings and how the people downstairs react to his music playing in the background. The music of Novello is heard as is a wonderfully melodic, suspenseful score from Patrick Doyle whose piano flourishes and orchestral arrangements adds to the film's unique energy.

Then there's the film's amazing cast in which, there isn't a single bad performance. To the smallest of performances to the most well-known cast member. Yet, it's a bit hard at times to remember everyone involved. Small performances from Trent Ford, Laurence Fox, Teresa Churcher as cook Bertha, Jeremy Swift as the gay butler Arthur, and Ron Webster as Constable Dexter are memorable. Sophie Thompson is great as the ever-loyal Dorothy who seems willing to do anything for Mr. Jennings. Charles Dance and Geraldine are wonderful as Stockbridges with Clive Owen giving a fantastic role as the shady Robert Parks.

Derek Jacobi is wonderful as Mr. McCordle's personal butler with Richard E. Grant as the snotty George. Ryan Phillippe is very good as the shady Henry Denton who gets more than he bargains for when he plays both sides only to be humiliated in front of both. Bob Balaban is excellent as the consumed American producer Weissman who carries his own secret that only Denton knows. Jeremy Northam is wonderful as the entertaining Ivor Novello.

Maggie Smith is wonderfully funny as the spoiled Constance who enjoys her own lifestyle though not fully aware of the real world. Tom Hollander is good as the desperate businessman Meredith with James Wilby as another desperate man in Freddie Nesbitt. Natasha Wightman and Claudie Blakley are excellent as their respective wives to portray the contrast of their own love life with Blakley being more dramatic. Stephen Fry is charming as the inept, distracted Inspector Thompson, who never gets to say his name entirely while Emily Watson is amazing as the Cockney-accent Elsie whose experience and care for McCordle makes her a very complex character. Camila Rutherford is excellent as the suffering Isobel who is often pursued by Freddie with Kristin-Scott Thomas as her mother Sylvia, who is a divine as the bitchy, bored wife of McCordle.

Sir Michael Gambon is excellent as this awful yet mean man who has become more distracted by money and riches as he opposes all sorts of old businesses and such. Eileen Atkins and Helen Mirren are great as feuding members of the staff who don't like each other with Mirren giving an amazing performance as the perfect servant, Mrs. Wilson. The late Alan Bates is great as the head butler Mr. Jennings who have his own secrets while managing the house while Kelly MacDonald is great as the naive yet observant Mary MacEachern who learns what it takes to be a great servant.

Gosford Park is an incredible film from Robert Altman that features an amazing ensemble cast. The film is definitely among of Altman's great films for its take on the whodunit mysteries as well as utilizing his mastery of finding life in an ensemble piece. Notably as it explores the world of class and servitude and the roles that these people play in this way of life. In the end, Gosford Park is an extraordinarily rich film from Robert Altman.

Robert Altman Films: (The Delinquents) - (The James Dean Story) - Countdown (1968 film) - (That Cold Day in the Park) - M.A.S.H. - Brewster McCloud - McCabe & Mrs. Miller - (Images) - The Long Goodbye - Thieves Like Us - California Split - Nashville - Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull’s History Lesson - 3 Women - (A Wedding) - (Quintet) - (A Perfect Couple) - (HealtH) - Popeye - (Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean) - (Streamers) - (Secret Honor) - (O.C. and Stiggs) - Fool for Love - (Beyond Therapy) - (Aria-Les Boreades) - (Tanner ‘88) - (Vincent & Theo) - The Player - Short Cuts - Pret-a-Porter - (Kansas City) - (The Gingerbread Man) - Cookie’s Fortune - Dr. T & the Women - The Company (2003 film) - (Tanner on Tanner) - A Prairie Home Companion

© thevoid99 2013

Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows Pt. 2

In the second part of Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows, Harry Potter must complete his task to find the remaining Horcruxes in order to defeat Lord Voldemort. With longtime friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger helping out, the trio learn more about the life of Albus Dumbledore as well as the remaining Horcruxes leading to a climatic battle at the Hogwarts School of Wizardry and Witchcraft. Directed by David Yates and screenplay by Steve Kloves based on J.K. Rowling’s novel, the film marks as the conclusion of the entire Harry Potter series. Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Michael Gambon, John Hurt, Maggie Smith, Alan Rickman, Tom Felton, Jason Issacs, Julie Walters, James & Oliver Phelps, Bonnie Wright, Evanna Lynch, Matthew Lewis, Ciaran Hinds, and Ralph Fiennes. Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows Pt. 2 is a magnificent conclusion for the film franchise.

With Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) finally obtaining the Elder Wand, Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint), and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) hide out at Shell Cottage, the home of Ron’s eldest brother Bill (Domhnall Gleeson) and his wife Fleur (Clemence Poesy). When Harry learns that the next Horcrux is at the vault of Bellatrix Lestrange (Helena Bohnam Carter) as they ask the goblin Griphook (Warwick Davis) to help break in the vault. Griphook does so but asks for the sword of Gryffindor in return as Harry reluctantly makes a deal while learning from the wandmaker Ollivander (John Hurt) about the Elder Wand.

With Hermione disguised as Bellatrix through the Polyjuice Potion, they break in as they find the cup of Hufflepuff in Bellatrix’s vault only to get into trouble and escape with the help of a dragon. Harry then realizes that Voldemort knows what is going on where Harry finds the next location of the fifth Horcrux at Hogwarts. Arriving into the Hogsmeade village and evading Death Eaters, they are saved by Aberforth Dumbledore (Ciaran Hinds) who reveals what’s been happening. When a secret passage opens in Aberforth’s home, Neville Longbottom (Matthew Lewis) appears as he takes the trio to Hogwarts where Harry confronts Severus Snape (Alan Rickman) over the death of Albus Dumbledore (Michael Gambon).

With Snape escaping and Hogwarts in danger, Professor McGonagall (Maggie Smith) along with fellow Hogwarts teachers and members of the Order of the Phoenix get ready for battle. With help from Luna Lovegood (Evanna Lynch), Harry meets the Grey Lady (Kelly Macdonald) who tells him the whereabouts of the Ravenclaw diadem. With Ron and Hermione destroying the Hufflepuff cup and the diadem also getting destroyed, Harry learns that Voldemort is getting weaker as the battle continues. There, he learns about the remaining Horcruxes including some information from Snape about the seventh prompting Harry to get into a confrontation with Voldemort.

The second part of The Deathly Hallows has Harry, Ron, and Hermione continue their trek to search for the remaining Horcruxes leading to a climatic battle at Hogwarts. During this battle, Harry learns more about his connection to Voldemort leading to revelations about why he had survived the Killing Curse a long time ago. It is there that loyalties are revealed along with whose side Severus Snape was on and why did Dumbledore had been so secretive. Yet, it all comes down to the eventual showdown between Harry and Voldemort where Harry knew what he had to do in order to beat him.

Steve Kloves’ script is excellent for the way he creates a sense of dread of everything that is happening along with the stakes into defeating Voldemort. Characters such as McGonagall and Neville definitely get a chance to take charge in the battle where Neville gets an amazing monologue in final moments leading to one final confrontation between the Death Eaters and the Order/Dumbledore’s Army. While Kloves cut out some material to keep things going which isn’t surprising with a lot of adaptations. He keeps things faithful throughout while one of the subplots about Dumbledore’s family life gets cut which was a bit prevalent in the first part of The Deathly Hallows.

David Yates’ direction is truly phenomenal from some of the intimate and quieter moments of the film to the big spectacular sequences that is created. Among them is the climatic Battle of Hogwarts where there’s a mix of humor and drama while it’s all about the intensity and chaos of war. From the wide shots to let audience see Hogwarts in full scale to some close-ups and hand-held shots for the battle scenes. Yates becomes very engaging while mixing in some moments during battle such as Snape and Voldemort’s meeting that becomes one of the most crucial moments in the film. During Harry’s battle with Voldemort, Yates manages to make things grittier than what some expect with the close-ups on the two men as it is one of the most exciting moments of the film.

While the film has a running length of 130 minutes, there’s a feeling that it could’ve been longer though Yates and Kloves manages to simplify things a bit. Then there’s the film’s epilogue which is among one of the things that divides Harry Potter fans. The epilogue turns out to be not the great disaster some predict with the makeup for the characters in the film not as bad as it seems. Yet, it does provide what is certainly a fitting close not to the film but the entire Harry Potter story as well. In the end, Yates creates an amazing film that gives the Harry Potter franchise a proper farewell.

Cinematographer Eduard Serra does a wonderful job with the cinematography from the dark-colored saturated look to the battle scenes and interiors such as the Gringotts caves. Serra also brings a more naturalistic look of the English landscape scenes including a small scene in Snape‘s memory sequence. Editor Mark Day does a really good job with the editing as he maintains a tight, leisured pace throughout the film while playing to jump-cuts and other rhythmic flourishes for the battle sequences in the film.

Production designer Stuart Craig, along with set decorator Stephanie McMillian and a large team of art directors, does a brilliant job with the look for the Shell Cottage along with Gringotts and Hogwarts as it goes into ruins for the climatic battle scene. Costume designer Jany Temime does a good job with the costumes from the Hogwarts uniforms to the decayed, ragged clothing that the trio and many other characters wear during the battle. Visual effects supervisors Matt Jacobs, John Moffatt, and Chris Shaw do some fantastic work with the visual effects such as the dementors, spells, giants, creatures, and other things to enhance the magical world including to the shield in the battle scene.

Sound designer Dominic Gibbs and sound editor James Mather do a superb job with the sound work from the way spells are cast to the sounds of destruction that goes on throughout the film. The film’s score by Alexandre Desplat is great for its sweeping orchestral pieces for many of the film’s big moments such as the Gringotts break-in and the Battle of Hogwarts plus some more melancholic, dramatic pieces for scenes involving death.

The casting by Fiona Weir is truly phenomenal for the array of actors and appearances from actors who appeared in previous films to smaller characters who get their moments to shine. Making small appearances from previous films include Jim Broadbent as Horace Slughorn, Miriam Margolyes as Professor Sprout, Emma Thompson as Professor Trelawney, David Bradley as Argus Filch, Gemma Jones as Madam Pomfrey, Katie Leung as Cho Chang, Josh Herdman as Goyle, Devon Murray as Seamus Finnigan, Alfie Enoch as Dean Thomas, Jessie Cave as Lavender Brown, and Gary Oldman in a wonderful appearance as Sirius Black. Adrian Rawlins and Geraldine Sommerville are good as Harry’s late parents along with David Thewlis as Remus Lupin, Natalia Tena as Tonks, Clemence Poesy as Fleur Delacour-Weasley, Domhnall Gleeson as Bill Weasley, James & Oliver Phelps as Fred & George Weasley, and Mark Williams as Arthur Weasley.

Notable standout performances include Maggie Smith as Professor McGonagall, Warwick Davis in dual roles as Griphook and Professor Flitwick, Robbie Coltrane as Hagrid, Kelly Macdonald in a wonderful small role as the Grey Lady, Jason Issacs and Helen McCrory as Lucius and Naricssa Malfoy, John Hurt as Ollivander, and Julie Walters in an outstanding performance as Molly Weasley who gets to say her big line. Helena Bohnam Carter is excellent as the devious Bellatrix Lestrange as she even gets to be funny when Hermione inhabits her character while Ciaran Hinds is very good as the secretive Aberforth Dumbledore. Evanna Lynch and Bonnie Wright are superb in their respective roles as Luna Lovegood and Ginny Weasley as both young ladies prove to be quite powerful.

Matthew Lewis is amazing as Neville Longbottom as he finally fulfills his character’s long development as the kid who couldn’t hang to a full-fledge badass who delivers a great monologue towards the end of the film. Tom Felton is really good as Draco Malfoy who tries to play his part in battle only to realize the magnitude of Voldemort’s madness. Michael Gambon is great as Albus Dumbledore in the few scenes he has where he explains about Harry’s situation in Snape’s memory scenes. Alan Rickman is wonderful as he is the real standout performance as Severus Snape, a man whose true allegiance is revealed as Rickman brings a heartbreaking performance in the memory scenes. Ralph Fiennes is magnificent as Lord Voldemort as a bit of his vulnerability is revealed through his rage as Fiennes adds a sense of madness into Voldemort as he’s becoming unhinged.

Rupert Grint and Emma Watson are spectacular in their respective roles as Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger as they help Harry in their mission while the two finally gets to share a kiss in one of the film’s grand moments. Finally, there’s Daniel Radcliffe in a towering performance as Harry Potter by making his character the heroic figure that he is. Even as Radcliffe sells the anguish and vulnerability of his character in his connection to Voldemort while proving that he’s not going to back down.

The second part of Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows is a magical yet awesome film from David Yates and company. With an amazing cast and spectacular sequences that gives the fans what they want and more. Yates creates a film where the Harry Potter franchise goes out with a bang and in grand style. If both parts of The Deathly Hallows were to become one entire film, it would’ve been the best of all the films of the Harry Potter series. In the end, Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows Pt. 2 is a superb film that allows the Harry Potter universe to say a fond yet grand farewell.

Harry Potter Reviews: Novels: Harry Potter & the Sorcerer's Stone - Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets - Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban - Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire - Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix - Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince - Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows

The Films: Harry Potter & the Sorcerer's Stone - Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets - Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban - Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire - Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix - Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince - Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows Pt. 1

Related: Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them - Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald

© thevoid99 2011

Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban (film)

Originally Written and Posted at Epinions.com on 6/5/04 w/ Additional Edits.

When British novelist J.K. Rowling became a huge success with her children's story on the boy-wizard Harry Potter, Warner Brothers knew that a film franchise was born. After consulting with Rowling to turn her books into movies, Warner Brothers finally got a franchise that is likely to be successful. With family film director Chris Columbus on board along with an elite group of Britain's finest actors and young newcomers including Daniel Radcliffe in the lead role as the Boy Who Lived. In 2001, the first film Harry Potter & the Sorcerer's Stone opened to huge box office success, as did its sequel, Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets the following year, both released on the holidays. While both films grossed huge amount of box office receipts and won some acclaim from critics and fans of the books, many wondered how will the next film for The Prisoner of Azkaban will be presented.

While Chris Columbus did a fine job with the first two films, some felt he was too faithful to the first two books and didn't do enough to make them standout as films. With the fifth book Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix looming for a June 2003 release, Columbus felt tired and didn't want to direct the third film leaving only to stay on his role as producer. Immediately, Warner Brothers scrambled on not just expanding the franchise's cast while finding a replacement for the late Richard Harris as Dumbledore, but also finding a new director.

J.K. Rowling made a radical suggestion in choosing the controversial but acclaimed Mexican director Alfonso Cuaron. Cuaron, whose previous credits had included 1991's Solo con Tu Pareja, 1995's A Little Princess, and the 1998 modern adaptation of Charles Dickens' Great Expectation, was indeed a controversial choice his 2001 masterpiece Y Tu Mama Tambien was a raunchy, extreme sex film that pushed the limits of sexual content. Rowling chose Cuaron not for that film but more for A Little Princess because of his visual style and his approach to filmmaking. Cuaron at first wasn't sure if he wanted to do it but after reading the screenplay by Steve Kloves (who also wrote the scripts for the first two films), Cuaron joined the franchise.

Whereas the previous two films really were used to introduce Harry Potter, his classmates, teachers, and his cruel family, Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban is where the Harry Potter story really begins. After thwarting his parents' murderer Lord Voldemort twice in the first two, Harry Potter becomes a teenager and is forced to new challenges and emotions. In The Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry returns to the wizard school of Hogwarts where he is placed under guard by soul-sucking hooded creatures called dementors where a convict named Sirius Black has escaped the treacherous Azkaban prison and is rumored to come after Harry Potter. Amidst the guarded school, Harry learns more about his parents and Black along with his own powers while growing up with his friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger.

Directed by Cuaron with the adapted screenplay by Steve Kloves, the film was considered to be the most radical of the franchise. Where Columbus is more of an entertaining storyteller, Cuaron is more of the auteur who wants to make changes.  Challenge actors and recreate sets to give a more livelier feel to the world of Harry Potter and separate itself from the books.  With the young cast of Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, and Tom Felton returning along with veterans like Alan Rickman, Robbie Coltrane, Julie Walters, Mark Williams, Maggie Smith, David Bradley, Robert Hardy, Ron Griffiths, and Fiona Shaw from the previous films. Joining the franchise for the new film are Gary Oldman, Pam Ferris, David Thewlis, Dawn French, Timothy Spall, Emma Thompson, Julie Christie, and Michael Gambon replacing the late Richard Harris as Professor Dumbledore. The resulting film isn't just the best film of the series but clearly raises the bar for the films ahead in the years to come.

For Harry Potter, summer has never been a fine time since he's forced to live at home with his Muggle relatives the Dursleys. This year, it gets worse when his Uncle Vernon (Richard Griffiths) invited his sister Marge (Pam Ferris) to stay for a week with Harry's Aunt Petunia (Fiona Shaw) and cousin Dudley (Harry Melling). Marge loves to criticize Harry and his behavior is at a crucial point since he needed a permission slip from school to be signed by his uncle.  Unfortunately, Marge's comments on Harry's parents pushed him too far where he had her blown up into a balloon and he leaves the Dursley home immediately. Knowing that he wasn't supposed to do magic outside of his school Hogwarts, he was ready to make his escape till he came across a huge dog. The dog disappeared when the Knight Bus arrived to pick him up where he read the Daily Prophet about a convicted murder named Sirius Black (Gary Oldman) has escaped Azkaban prison.

Upon his arrival at the Leaky Cauldron, the Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge (Robert Hardy) tells him that Harry won't be in trouble since he is supposed to be watched. The next day, Harry sees his friends Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) arguing over her new cat Crookshanks who had been going after his rat Scabbers. Harry meets the rest of the Weasley clan that included little sister Ginny (Bonnie Wright), elder brother/new Head Boy Percy (Chris Rankin), mischevious twins Fred & George (James & Oliver Phelps), mother Molly (Julie Walters) and father Arthur (Mark Williams) who tells Harry about Sirius Black's escape, who is supposedly coming after Harry in order to resurrect the ailing Lord Voldemort.

Harry and the gang leave on the train to Hogwarts where they sit in an empty compartment with a sleeping man who turns out to be their new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher Remus Lupin (David Thewlis). On the way to Hogwarts, the train stops where everything begins to freeze and Harry comes across a black-hooded creature called a dementor, that was sucking the soul out of Harry. Lupin stops it and upon their arrival, Harry and his classmates learn that the school's headmaster Professor Dumbledore isn't happy with the dementors while announcing the new arrivals of Lupin and Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane) taking over as the new teacher for Care of Magical Creatures.  Hagrid's first class starts off well until Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton) starts to get himself injured after insulting a hippogriff named Buckbeak.  Yet, Harry had other problems when he and classmates attended their first Divinations class with Professor Trelawney (Emma Thompson who believes that Harry has a death omen around him.

With the news of Sirius Black's sightings looming all over Hogwarts, Harry and his classmates go to their first Dark Arts lesson with Lupin.  Lupin teaches the students how to repel boggarts, a manifestation of things people fear. For Harry's classmate Neville Longbottom (Matthew Lewis), his greatest fear was Potions master Professor Snape (Alan Rickman) in which, Neville made boggart Snape dress up like his grandmother with many other students conquering their fears but Harry didn't get his chance to fight one as Lupin feared that it would manifest into Lord Voldemort.  Harry befriends Lupin, who knew Harry's parents as he used to go to school with them which brings comfort to Harry.  Even as he was unable to visit the Hogsmeade village because he never got his permission slip signed.

During a fest, a break-in occurred when the Fat Lady (Dawn French) painting was in shreds where Dumbledore and caretaker Filch (David Bradley) learned that Sirius Black was in the castle. The students were forced to sleep in the Great Hall where Snape suspects that someone in the school brought Black into the castle.  Snape takes over for an ailing Lupin where he gives them a lesson about werewolves.  Yet, Harry has bigger problems during his Quidditch match where Dementors flew around him making Dumbledore extremely upset that they were on Hogwarts grounds.  Lupin decides to teach Harry how to battle Dementors as he is still weary from his illness.  With Harry desperate to go to Hogsmeade, Fred and George give Harry the Marauder's Map.  A secret map of Hogwarts that includes secret passages to various place including Hogsmeade.  During his secret visit, he meets with Ron and Hermione while listening to a secret conversation from Professor McGonagall (Maggie Smith), Madam Rosmerta (Julie Christie), and Fudge about Sirius Black as he was revealed to be Harry's godfather.  For Harry, it is heartbreaking news as he vows to confront Black.

With Harry learning how to defend himself against Dementors from Lupin, Harry also tries to ease the tension between Ron and Hermione over Scabbers' sudden disappearance.  When they heard that Buckbeak is to be killed over what happened to Draco, the trio are unsure what to do.  Then one night when Harry is checking the map for another sighting of Black, he suddenly sees a dot for a man named Peter Pettigrew.  A man who was also a friend of the Potters who was supposedly killed by Black along with 12 other people with a single curse.  Harry would find a link about Pettigrew as he finally confronts Black where some truths are uncovered about what really happened as Snape and Lupin would be involved with the confrontation.

While most film adaptations of books tend to have flaws and omit certain scenes in order to tighten story. The Prisoner of Azkaban clearly has a tighter and more complex story despite its flaws in the script.  While fans of the book will be upset over what was cut in the story along with back story on objects, such as the Marauder's Map.  Screenwriter Steve Kloves creates a more streamlined approach to the story in focusing on Harry, his friendship, and his newfound friendship to Professor Lupin over his connection with Harry's late parents.  Kloves also makes changes to some of the setting and characterization.  Notably Dumbledore, who was once this more restrained, regal kind of a character as he's changed into a more eccentric individual.

While Kloves deserves credit for tightening the story into script, the real credit for the film's brilliance clearly goes to Alfonso Cuaron. While Chris Columbus has a  directing style that is more safe and goes by-the-book. Cuaron is a more of a stylistic director who works from a much broader canvas.  Some have criticized Columbus for being a bit glossy but with Cuaron, he brings all of the arty elements of his previous films and puts into a mainstream family film where it achieves not just for a mass audience but also serious art film fans.  Cuaron's use of wide-camera angle shots, close-ups, and some hand-held camera work really shows Cuaron taking on a different approach to the filmmaking than other directors of the series would've done.  On directing the actors, there's definitely a more relaxed tone where the actors start to come into their own and give a bit of their personalities.  The result isn't just a mesmerizing film that is entertaining and engaging but also shows what can be to a family film with elements of fantasy while broadening to appeal to more serious filmgoers.  Even as the film opens with a veiled adult joke about Harry playing with his wand.

If Cuaron's wandering, abstract directing style gives the film an edge that raises the bar for the franchise. Helping him on the visual department is cinematographer Michael Seresin (noted for his work with Alan Parker) who really steps up to the plate with his bleak, colorful photography. While previous cinematographers like John Seale and Roger Pratt have done fine work, Seresin really aims for a darker look to the film with help from production designer Stuart Craig who gives Hogwarts a bigger look with its clock tower and bridge.

Plus, the art direction by Alan Gilmore is stepped a notch for giving Hogwarts and Hogsmeade a more contemporary look with a tone that kids could relate to. Even the costume design by Jany Temime is given new life where the school kids and even Professor Lupin and Dumbledore are given looser clothing that shows the new freedom the film has. Helping Cuaron and Seresin on the visual effects were supervisors Tim Burke and Steve Hamilton that really give the effects a livelier look with some fun and scary moments. Notably the look of the dementors that really lived up to its imagination for readers along with the Monster Book of Monsters and the creature of Buckbeak.  Even the film score by John Williams is given new dimension not just adding a playful look to the film but also intensify in the action scenes while dabbles in melancholia in the more emotionally-driven scenes.

Then there's the film's amazing cast of elite actors where some greats like Julie Walters, Richard Griffiths, Mark Williams Fiona Shaw, Timothy Spall, David Bradley, and Julie Christie are well used in their small roles. Even the smaller performances of its younger actors like Matthew Lewis, and the Phelps twins were fun to watch while Maggie Smith and Robert Hardy were given time to deliver masterful performances in their respective roles. Pam Ferris' small screen time as Aunt Marge is hilarious to watch while Absolutely Fabulous TV-star Dawn French brings some humor as the Fat Lady with a funny opera scene.

While it's obvious that the regality that the late Richard Harris left for Dumbledore will never be replaced, Michael Gambon makes up that loss by being a more mischievous and off-the-wall to Dumbledore where he's both funny and carries a prestige presence. Alan Rickman continues to be amazing as Professor Snape with his sneering look towards Harry while we get to know him more and his hatred towards Harry's father. Robbie Coltrane also shines in the role of Hagrid where he brings a likeability and charm to his role while we root for him when Buckbeak is in trouble. Tom Felton also shines as Draco Malfoy where we finally see him gets what he deserves when Hermione clearly had enough.

Of the new actors added to the franchise, David Thewlis is amazing as Professor Lupin. He brings a compassionate, complex performance as a teacher who is loved by most students while in his scenes with Daniel Radcliffe, brings a mentor-like tone to his role while holding a dark secret. While Gary Oldman is only seen in pictures early in the film till we finally see him in the final act, Oldman brings another classic performance as the troubled Sirius Black. Known for playing villains and Sid Vicious to film fans, Oldman brings an eerie presence to the franchise and a provocative nature that is wonderful to watch. Emma Thompson is clearly the film's most hilarious performance as Professor Trelawney. Thompson, mostly known for period and drama films, returns to her roots as a comedic actress by bringing an over-the-top performance that is clearly gets funnier every time she makes a prediction.

Rupert Grint, who always served as the comic backbone for the character of Ron really gets to shine more dramatically while his comedic skills of sarcasm are heightened to perfect timing. Emma Watson really shines as Hermione by being a bit looser and more rebellious while using her brains to get Harry and Ron out of situations while finally standing up to Malfoy. Grint and Watson even have a strange but fun chemistry that is enjoyable to watch as they develop this love/hate relationship. Daniel Radcliffe clearly delivers his best performance to date in the title role of Harry Potter. We see him at first feeling a bit confident until the dementors arrive and we even root for him when he wants to fight them. Radcliffe delivers his best performance in the more emotionally intense scenes and clearly steps up to the plate when acting with the likes of Oldman, Thewlis, Rickman, Gambon, and Smith.

While it may not live up to the complexity of the book, Alfonso Cuaron's adaptation of Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban is clearly the best film of the Harry Potter franchise, so far. With a great cast, look, tone, story, score, and format, Cuaron raises the bar of what could be done for a fantasy film that appeals to young audiences.  Fans of the Potter books and films will indeed find The Prisoner of Azkaban the best film of the series and truly lives up to the book's spirit while fans of Alfonso Cuaron will be pleased with the way he handled himself in a mainstream franchise. If there's one blockbuster film that will satisfy blockbuster moviegoers and more cinematic filmgoers, Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban is the film to see

Alfonso Cuaron Files: Solo Con tu Pareja - A Little Princess (1995 film) - Great Expectations (1998 film) - Y Tu Mama Tambien - Children of Men - Gravity - Roma (2018 film) - The Auteurs #11: Alfonso Cuaron

Harry Potter Reviews:  The Novels: Harry Potter & the Sorcerer's Stone - Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets - Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban - Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire - Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix - Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince - Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows

The Films: Harry Potter & the Sorcerer's Stone - Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets - Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire - Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix - Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince - Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows Pt. 1 - Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows Pt. 2

Related: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them - Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald

© thevoid99 2010

Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets (film)

Originally Written and Posted at Epinions.com on 11/29/02 w/ Additional Edits.

When Harry Potter & the Sorcerer's Stone came out in the fall of 2001, the Harry Potter film franchise officially begins with a bang.  Excellent reviews and huge box office exceeded expectations.  The film also gave attention to its young cast in Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson as they all became stars.  While Chris Columbus succeeded with the first film, he was already getting ready to start work on the second film of the seven-part film series where Harry explores a dark chamber with a creature that is attack Muggle-born students called Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets.

In The Chamber of Secrets, the film picks up where it’s left off as Harry now lives in a room (instead of a closet in the previous film) in the Dursley’s home but Uncle Vernon (Richard Griffiths), Aunt Petunia (Fiona Shaw), and cousin Dudley (Harry Melling) still treat him like an outsider, especially in a deal for Vernon where Harry is forced to be in the room pretending he doesn’t exist. Harry ponders why his friends haven’t send him any letters until he learned that a slave elf (a CGI-creation voiced by Toby Jones) named Dobby who tells Harry not to return to Hogwarts because of some terrible danger behind the school. Harry wants to return to Hogwarts but Dobby gets him in trouble with Dursleys that forced Uncle Vernon to put bars in Harry’s window. Later that night, Harry gets an unexpected visit from a floating car driven none other than his best friend Ron and his brothers Fred & George Weasley (James & Oliver Phelps) where they break the bars of the window as Harry packs his clothes and his pet owl Hedwig as they escape the Dursleys.

Harry arrives at the Weasley home where he meets with elder brother Percy (Chris Rankin), little sister and first-year Hogwarts student Ginny (Bonnie Wright), and the parents, Arthur and Molly Weasley (Mark Williams and Julie Walters). There, Harry and the Weasley clan take another way to Diagon Alley but Harry gets a first sign of trouble as he says the magic words and lands him at the wrong side of the town. After catching up with Weasleys, he meets up with friend Hermione as the gang goes to the bookstore to buy some books. There, they meet a popular and pompous wizard named Gilderoy Lockhart (Kenneth Branagh) who is adored by many female wizards and students, particularly Mrs. Weasley and Hermione but disgusted by all the male students who thinks he’s an egotistical wizard. Lockhart sees Harry and uses him to help boost sales of his recent book by taking a photograph with him. Harry wasn’t very pleased taking a picture with Lockhart and he then runs into his nemesis Draco Malfoy. Accompanying Draco is his father Lucius Malfoy (Jason Issacs) who seems to enjoy belittling Harry as well as the Weasleys since he always considered them a weak clan of wizards particularly Mr. Weasley. Lucius also takes shot at Hermione because her parents are Muggles (non-magic folk) and she isn’t a pureblood wizard like the Weasleys, Potter, or the Malfoys.

After the confrontation with Malfoys, Harry and the Weasleys enter the secret wall through the Hogwarts Express train where Harry’s feeling that something in Hogwarts that didn’t want him came back as he couldn’t get through the secret wall, thus leaving him and Ron to miss the train. Ron and Harry decides to take the Weasleys floating car to catch up with Hogwarts train but they have trouble along when the train is behind them and as they arrive at Hogwarts, they encounter a big tree that damages the Weasleys’ car and Ron’s magic wand. The duo gets an unwelcoming reception from Snape who had a paper of the floating car that was seen by some Muggles and wanted them to be expelled but since they don’t live in the Slytherin house that he runs, he couldn’t do anything since they live in the Gryffindor house run by McGonagall who decides to give the two detention.

School goes underway for the second-year students of Hogwarts as Herbology professor Sprout (Miriam Margoyles) teaches them to pull exotic plants that reveal screaming roots. Harry then meets up with Gryffindorff team captain Oliver Wood (Sean Biggerstaff) for team practice of the next Quidditch game with the rival team Slytherin where they learn that the Slytherin team has a practice spot as well with a new seeker, Draco. Thus begins one of several battles between Potter and Malfoy and believe me; those two don’t like each other. Even when Draco calls Hermione a “mudblood” that leads to Ron to try and curse Draco with a spell that backfired due to his damaged wand. They go to Hagrid for help where he tells them that the Malfoys were always a bad clan because they think they’re better than everyone and don’t like non-, pureblood wizards at Hogwarts. Harry meanwhile, is starting to feel something strange has arose as voices started to talk in his head and he sees a message written in blood about the Chamber of Secrets being opened and Finch’s cat who looked like she’d been hang but was petrified by some evil force.

Harry is suspected of wrongdoing but Hermione and Ron along with some of the professors don’t think so. The Hogwarts staff picks Lockhart for some investigation surrounding the Chamber of Secrets while he becomes the new teacher for the Defense Against the Dark Arts. Lockhart and his ego comes in with a painting of himself painting him as he teaches the students how to stop tiny, little elves but has problems until Hermione stops them with a spell that begins the suspicion for Ron and Harry about Lockhart’s credibility. Harry then goes into a Quidditch match against Slytherin where he goes head-to-head with Draco over the Golden Snitch but he is followed by a ball that seems to go after him. After the match, the ball is trying to kill as Hermione stops it that leads to Lockhart trying to repair Harry’s arm but left again, Lockhart’s credibility comes in question as Harry’s arm isn’t repaired.

More eerie messages and voices come for Harry as he, Ron, and Hermione begin to read about the Chamber of Secrets. The Chamber was created by Slytherin as a way for him to create more spells but was rejected by the other founders of Hogwarts School. The chamber could be open by an heir of Slytherin, which made the trio suspect the Malfoys that could be the heirs. In order to get something from Draco, they decided to make a potion in an abandoned section of the girl’s bathroom haunted by a ghost named Moaning Myrtle (Shirley Henderson). More students hit with the same spell Finch’s cat got were sent to the hospital that were later followed by a trail of small spiders coming out after the students were petrified as Lockhart decided to create a lesson where students can defend themselves with their wands. Helping Lockhart was Snape who again made Harry and Ron question whether Lockhart is really the great wizard he claims to be. There, another battle between Harry and Draco comes in that forced Lockhart to make some spell that turned out to be the wrong one as a snake comes in and scares the students until Harry speaks to the snake in a secret language that made Harry to question if he’s the real heir of Slytherin.

Then the film takes a dark turn as Harry discovers about a story of the Chamber being opened by Tom Riddle (Christian Coulson) that led to the death of a non-pureblood student fifty years ago and learned that all the victims of the spell were non-pureblood that spells trouble for Hermione. Harry and Ron discover more about the Chamber and learn some horrible stories surrounding close colleagues, spiders, and snakes. There, they have to discover what’s behind the Chamber of Secrets or else Hogwarts School will be closed for good as Potter.

The Chamber of Secrets is definitely a much darker and more intense film than the first. With its plot twists and simplistic storytelling, it’s an enjoyable film from start to finish. The action scenes in the movie, particularly the Quidditch match is more fun than ever. The performances from the young actors are more relaxed as each of them get more in touch with their characters while the additions of Margoyles and Branagh are refreshing and add more humor to the film while Jason Issacs does an excellent job as the malicious Lucius Malfoy. The rest of the supporting cast, although their roles were brief, were very excellent including Richard Harris in his final film performance (shortly before the film was completed) that served as an example of his great talent

Steve Kloves' script does dwell into some of the darker territory that would set the course for the film as it takes in what is needed for the story to move forward.  Chris Columbus' direction however, isn't as wondrous in comparison to the first film as it's mostly by-the-book in what is expected for a fantasy/adventure film.  Even as he approaches some of the darker aspects of the story by just making it adventurous and intense but not exactly getting his hands dirty.  Despite that cautious approach, Columbus does succeed in maintaining that world of Harry Potter and presenting the story in a faithful manner.

Overall, Harry Potter & The Chamber of Secrets is an excellent sequel that doesn't exactly surpass its predecessor.  Though it's so far, the weakest of the film series, it does contain some memorable performances from its young cast including one-timer Kenneth Branagh and then-series newcomer Jason Issacs.  While it's definitely an entertaining film, it's one that doesn't go far into the dark tone that would come yet it is still a worthy film of the series.  In the end, Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets is a solid film for the franchise.

Harry Potter Reviews: The Films: Harry Potter & the Sorcerer's Stone - Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban - Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire - Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix - Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince - Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows Pt. 1 - Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows Pt. 2

The Novel: Harry Potter & the Sorcerer's Stone - Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets - Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban - Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire - Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix - Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince - Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallow

Related: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them - Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald

© thevoid99 2010

Harry Potter & the Sorcerer's Stone (Film)

Originally Written and Posted at Epinions.com on 2/3/03 w/ Additional Content

Since the Harry Potter book series by J.K. Rowling arrived in 1997, the story of a young orphaned boy who becomes a wizard became a worldwide phenomenon as books like Harry Potte & the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban, and Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire broke sales records and topped several book lists for endless months as literary critics began to compare Rowling to such greats as Roald Dahl and several other children’s novelists for their freewheeling imagination while at the same time, Rowling attained the respect from several novelists including horror king Stephen King who wrote an exhilarating positive review on The Goblet of Fire for the New York Times. The phenomenon concerning Harry Potter brought the attention of Hollywood producers who easily knew that a successful film franchise could be made around the Harry Potter phenomenon.

While it was a good idea, J.K. Rowling was very cautious about her stories be turned into big, Hollywood blockbusters, especially since the producers wanted top Hollywood film stars and filmmakers to do the film. Fearing that Harry Potter would end up becoming some horrible film that didn’t stay true to the books, Rowling demanded some control for the movies and wanted to find the right people in running the Harry Potter films. She found the right man in American filmmaker Chris Columbus who had previously made such great family films like Mrs. Doubtfire, Home Alone, and Nine Months. Columbus who had a great reputation for working with children actors was the perfect choice for Rowling as he gathered his own team that included screenwriter Steve Kloves to work on the first Harry Potter film Harry Potter & the Sorcerer’s Stone (In the U.K., it’s called Harry Potter & the Philosopher’s Stone). Rowling who knows how powerful and shortsighted the film industry in Hollywood is, also demanded that the casting for Harry Potter should be all-British ensemble so at least the movie could hold a certain prestige that most big-budgeted American films don’t carry. In the end, Rowling won her battle with Hollywood as Columbus began production on Harry Potter & the Sorcerer’s Stone.

Based on the book of the same name, The Sorcerer’s Stone is actually an introduction to the Harry Potter character, a orphaned boy who lives with cruel, abusive relatives named the Dursleys that included a fat, bullish cousin named Dudley who treats Harry like crap until one day, he receives a letter from a school called Hogwarts, a school for young wizards and witches where Harry learns about his parents and finds a world where he is appreciated while finding a mysterious secret about an evil wizard named Voldemort, who killed Harry’s parents when he was a baby and lost his powers when he tried to kill the boy.

While like all movies made from books, The Sorcerer’s Stone does leave off some important details that would be useful in later films but it is still enjoyable since screenwriter Steve Kloves does stay true to the book while director Chris Columbus makes an enjoyable film that is both fun for adults and children. The film features an all-star British cast that many filmmakers would die for that includes Richard Harris, Maggie Smith, Robbie Coltrane, Richard Griffiths, Fiona Shaw, Zoe Wannamaker, Warwick Davis, Julie Walters, John Hurt, Ian Hart, David Bradley, and Alan Rickman! Rounding out the adult cast is the meat of the film, the young actors that provides the accessibility for young moviegoers that are led mainly by Daniel Radcliffe playing the lead role of Harry Potter. Released in late 2001, Harry Potter & the Sorcerer’s Stone is an excellent film that begins one of the most promising franchises in film history.

The film begins eleven years earlier in a quiet English suburb where a powerful headmaster named Albus Dumbledore (Richard Harris) arrives with fellow teacher Professor McGonagall (Maggie Smith) and gamekeeper Rubeus Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane) to drop off an orphaned baby to a home to live with his relatives. The movie fast forwards eleven years later as Harry Potter wakes up in a cupboard where he’s mistreated very often by his Uncle Vernon Dursley (Richard Griffiths), Aunt Petunia (Fiona Shaw), and their fat son Dudley (Richard Melling). One day on a trip to the zoo, Harry finds himself communicating with a snake as he mysteriously makes the snake glass vanish freeing the snake while trapping his cousin inside the snake cage.

After the snake incident, Harry receives a letter from a mysterious school called Hogwarts as the Dursleys take and it not let Harry read but the letters keep showing up in multitudes sent by owls which led Vernon to get his family out of their home and into a small house by the sea where their found by Hagrid who tells Harry about Hogwarts, a school for witches and wizards, and gives him something he never had, a birthday cake. Hagrid also tells Harry about his parents who were wizards and a bit of truth about their death from his Aunt who is his mother’s sister. Hagrid is outraged over what his relatives told Harry about his parent’s death and tells them that he will go to Hogwarts and be taught by Albus Dumbledore which lead Vernon to say one of the stories most famous lines “I WILL NOT LET SOME CRACKPOT OLD FOOL TEACH HIM MAGIC TRICKS” which led Hagrid to give the Dursleys a punishment.

Hagrid accompanies Harry to London where they go to a pub where all the patrons are excited about meeting Harry Potter including a Hogwarts professor named Quirrell (Ian Hart). There, Harry enters a secret wizard street called Diagon Alley where he gets his money (a fortune) from a bank run by goblins (played Warwick Davis and other midgets including Austin Powers' Verne Troyer, who is the only American actor in the film) where they get Harry’s money and a secret package Hagrid must take to Dumbledore. After buying some things for school, Harry goes to a wand shop run by a man name Ollivander (John Hurt) who lets him try some wands including one that has a connection to the man who killed Harry’s parents where Hagrid tells him his name, Voldemort (a name that many wizards don’t want to say) and all the things he’s done including killing Harry’s parents which led Voldemort to try to kill the baby Harry but for some reason, Voldemort lost his powers and Harry survived with a lightning-bolt scar on his head which is the reason Harry is famous in the wizarding world. .

After getting all the supplies including a snowy pet owl named Hedwig, Hagrid leaves him at King’s Cross to go to a mysterious train platform called 9 ¾ where Harry meets up with a wizarding family named the Weasleys led by a mother (Julie Walters) who accompanies her boys Percy (Chris Rankin), twins Fred & George (James & Oliver Phelps), and the youngest boy in the clan Ron (Rupert Grint). Harry makes friends with Ron who is in shock that he’s sitting in the same compartment where they also meet up with an intelligent young girl named Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) who comes from a Muggle-family (Muggle means non-magic folk). When they arrive at Hogwarts, Harry sees Hagrid and enters the Hogwarts castle where he meets a cocky boy named Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton) who is always followed by his cronies Crabbe (Jamie Waylett) and Goyle (Josh Herdman). Harry and the new first-years at Hogwarts enter the great hall where they get sorted into the houses: Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. Hermione and Ron get into Gryffindor while Draco goes into Slytherin. Harry meanwhile gets into a tough position when the Sorting Hat considers putting him in Slytherin but ends up putting him in Gryffindor.

As the first day arrives, Harry and Ron gets into their first classes where McGonnagal teaches the first-years Transfiguration while Harry gets a special loathing from Potions master Professor Snape (Alan Rickman) who doesn’t like the way Harry’s getting attention since he’s already somewhat famous. The first-years also get a chance to learn how to ride brooms taught by Madame Hooch (Zoe Wannamaker) where Harry finds a natural talent in riding one after catching an object thrown by Malfoy where Harry becomes a Seeker for the Gryffindor Quidditch team (Quidditch is a sport played on flying brooms that is like football (soccer for you Americans)) where Harry gets a quick lesson from team captain Oliver Wood (Sean Biggerstaff). While going up back to the Gryffindor common room, Harry, Ron, and Hermione accidentally enter a secret room while trying to get away from caretaker Argus Filch (David Bradley) where they meet up with a three-headed dog named Fluffy who was guarding something. Once the trio finds out what Fluffy might be guarding, they learn that the object could be the Sorcerer’s Stone and they learned that a teacher might be stealing it.

The film does include a lot of CGI images, particularly the Quidditch match that is very intense but it’s mostly a film built on sets and everything. Chris Columbus does an excellent job in turning J.K. Rowling’s vision of Hogwarts to the moviegoers while making the Harry Potter fans wishing there was a school like Hogwarts or go through Platform 9 ¾ in King’s Cross. Then there’s the acting, the younger actors do make the film enjoyable for kids and adults even if it’s a bit off at times since the films feature a lot of first-time actors but the leads played by Radcliffe, Grint, Watson, and Felton do bring out great lines as well as some comical timing to the film. Then there are the adult actors who bring in some of the film’s finer moments while being likeable to the younger audience. Robbie Coltrane who usually plays some big boss or a villain finally plays a loveable role that kids could enjoy while Alan Rickman, known for playing enjoyable villains, brings another masterful performance in a role that is so unlikable yet is mostly appreciated by fans of villains.

While the film include some great CGI, colorful cinematography by John Seales, and a flourishing score by John Williams.  The story itself is faithful to the books but nothing quite radical to make some changes for the film.  Columbus' direction is fine though not very daring.  Even when he's compared to other directors that would follow him.  It's mostly a by-the-books approach to directing yet it works because he's aiming for a young audience and readers of the book.  Despite a few of its shortcomings, it is a fantastic film from Columbus.

While it’s not as good as the original book, Harry Potter & the Sorcerer’s Stone is still one of the most enjoyable family films in the past few years. With fans currently waiting for the fifth book Harry Potter & the Order of Phoenix on June 21, 2003 and the third film Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban in the summer of 2004 where the film will add new actors like Gary Oldman, David Thewlis, Pam Ferris, and a replacement for the late Richard Harris for Dumbledore (Currently in the running for that role are Peter O’ Toole and Michael Gambon). While the movie is a worthy introduction to those who want to know about the Harry Potter series, it’s to pick up the books first then see the films later on. Overall, the film for Harry Potter & the Sorcerer’s Stone is an excellent introduction to a promising film franchise. 

Harry Potter Reviews:  The Novels: Harry Potter & the Sorcerer's Stone - Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets - Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban - Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire - Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix - Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince - Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows

The Films: Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets - Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban - Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire - Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix - Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince - Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows Pt. 1 - Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows Pt. 2

Related: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them - Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald

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