Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban [the trailer is up, and it looks great]

MSNBC Entertainment ^

[Chancellor Palpatine]

Opting for a producer-only role this time, director Chris Columbus passes the Harry Potter baton off to Alfonso Cuarón (Y Tu Mamá También) for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, the third film in the series. Daniel Radcliffe returns as the bespectacled young wizard who is now in his third year at Hogwarts. After and incident that sees his anger get the best of him, Harry runs away from the school. Unfortunately, the magical wunderkind soon learns that Sirius Black (Gary Oldman) has escaped from Azkaban prison and is after him. Along with Oldman, the additions to the cast the third time around include David Thewlis and Michael Gambon, who assumes the role of Professor Albus Dumbledore, previously played by the late Richard Harris. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide

[Chancellor Palpatine]

The Ron/Hermione match is being foreshadowed perfectly as well.

I gotta say, the thing I look most forward to is Fred and George's prank overload in "Order of the Phoenix" when that comes out on film. Rosie O'Donnell can play Umbridge.

[null and void]

Rosie O'Donnell can play Umbridge.

Perfect!

[Rutabega]

Oh my goodness! Rosie as Umbridge! HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAAA!!!! I know that I got as annoyed with Umbridge in the book as I get reading dem shills on the news. I had to keep putting the book down and walk slowly away. . .

[Chancellor Palpatine]

The thought hit me like a bolt of lightning. I'd say Ellen Degeneres, but she's the wrong physical type. Another possibility would be Patricia Routledge (Hyacinth Bucket from "Keeping Up Appearances"), but she's a bit old for the part.

Of course, the best person for it isn't an actress, although she'd come to the part with her own flying broomstick. I'm speaking, of course, of Lord Hildamort.

[Rutabega]

Shoot, I don't know if I could go and see the movie if Hildamort was in it.
Of course, she does have that seen with Grawp. . .that might be worth the rise of blood pressure for the hours leading up to it!

[Rutabega]

Um, I meant, she has that SCENE with Grawp! (blush)

[null and void]

*cough* as a former cult member, myself, I have seen Umbridge in the flesh. Or at least her archetype in action.

I have used the book to open discussions on the nature of totalitarian regimes with my children.

My 10 year old understands the basic principles of a white mutiny, and when, where and how to apply one. How many kids his age do?

I found it an *intensely* political work...

[Chancellor Palpatine]

Here's another one to try on for size - next time you watch the Lion King, look at it as a political movie.

What is Scar but the effete white liberal, whipping up the nonproductive mobs in the interest of obtaining power? And look what comes of his redistribution of wealth - everything gets destroyed and everyone starves.

[Rutabega]

Good for you! I admit I am not sure what 'white mutiny' means, but after reading your homepage, I don't think it means anything that I can't applaud! My kids are a little too young to sit and listen to me read Harry (so they just watch the movies, and walk away if they get bored) but I agree that the last book was totally political. I also love Rowling's digs at the media!

[null and void]

A "white mutiny" is doing EXACTLY what you have been told. No more. No less.

It is devastating!

example: "Watch the roast in the oven."

You do. You watch it burn. You weren't told to pull it out when done, or put out a fire...

The best explaination is in Heinlein's The Number of the Beast.

[null and void]

The audiotapes are great for car trips...

[RebelBanker]

Madame Trelawney's prophesy in Order of the Phoenix would appear to make that scenario rather unlikely. However, stranger things have happened...

Really? Read it again. Keep in mind the "mark" that Voldemort places on his vanquisher doesn't need to be visible.

Remember Madam Pomfrey's line about thoughts leaving deeper scars?

Actually, I was referring to the prophesy in the globe that gets broken, which says that Harry and Voldemort are linked and that one will kill the other. Sorry, I am at work and do not have the books available for reference here so I do not have the exact words. That may be Dumbledore's interpretation.

However, I do agree that Neville's part appears to be becoming more significant. Not sure about the romantic foreshadowing though...

[null and void]

She never names Harry, just the time of his birth, late July, which he shares with Neville.

OTOH, he was able to touch the globe without being harmed.

BBL, I've got a job fair to get to!

[Rutabega]

One thing to consider with the prophecy about the one born in July (where it could be Neville or Harry)--the way it is phrased, she repeats the description of the late july birth twice in the prophecy. There is wiggle room there for it to be BOTH Harry and Neville, with one dying, and the other being successful.

[js1138]

Or Kathy Bates

[js1138]

Although book five is the longest in print, it has the least action necessary to carry the plot forward. Most of its action lends itself to visual shortcuts.

Needless to say, book four cannot be easily abridged.

[Serb5150]

Why is the fat lady an idiot? I might have missed something in the books...

[js1138]

Lion King is a rewrite of Hamlet. For kids. With a happy ending. Sheesh.

[Serb5150]

Could you please add me to this list?

[Chancellor Palpatine]

I'm bookmarking the thread so that all who have requested Potter pings in the future can be notified.