MOVIES: Harry Potter 3 More of a FIVE

It was odd exiting the theatre Sunday to hear my buddy Patrick complain bitterly about the very good movie I had just seen. "That wasn't the book," he mourned forlornly.

Yeah, so what?

This was the movie where the Chris Columbus-driven decision to be faithful to the book for the first two movies had to be cast aside. Alfonso Cuaron took the book in hand and chopped out the most visually appealing section, the Quidditch play and the multiple visits to Hogsmeade, and gave us the rest of the story. In muted tones and lacking MUCH of the reputed humour, but with a deft touch for the drama and excitement that makes Harry Potter a treat for child and adult.

The movie is not totally without humour. Hermione seemed to be at the core of any humour in the movie, which she plays straighter than straight. Ron moments, if there are any, were quite forgetful. So, there wasn't much to laugh at in this movie. I discount the opening Dursley scene as I find all Dursley material distasteful, whether in print or on film.

What there WAS in this movie was a pretty hectic pace to the dicey moments. It's hard to really put our intrepid group of adventurers into convincing danger, since we know there's four more movies in the offing. But I was on the edge of the seat for much of the last act. The animation was top-rate, especially the Hippogriff. And the Dementors were properly unsettling.

The movie did NOT conclude with the school year House Champions dinner, nor did Dumbledore explain anything about the setup for the final rescues. I think it made for a better movie.

All in all, I'm hoping Cuaron comes back for a second entry. Not only do I appreciate what he puts on the screen, but what he decides not to film.

NOTE: Some of the kids were quite noticeably older since we last congregated at Hogwarts. Draco Malfoy and ill-fated Cyril Longbottom will likely have other actors in those roles before the series end. The three main actors played 13 looking a couple of years older than that. Yet all three were SO strong, I fear a change would not work (despite Michael Gambon's take on Richard Harris' Dumbledore). One missing character from this movie, even in a cameo, was Cho.