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

[billbears]

Seriously I thought you were joking. But black pepper ones?

[null and void]

Nope. Nevil defets Voldemort.

[newcats]

I have the same theory too...there have been a few "hints" to lead in that direction.

[aruanan]

Really? I thought that both of the previous movies were engaging and faithful to the storyline.

Yes, but in a filmed-through-vaseline Doris Day sort of way. They were engaging to the extent that they stayed faithful to the book, so that it was the original story that saved them, not the film maker's skill rescuing a marginal script. Columbus just barely avoided making something like The Grinch or The Cat in the Hat. The vicious streak in the Dursleys was buffoonized. The almost numberless shots of Harry et al looking with slack-jawed awe at one wonder or another were grating after the first. But it was faithful to the story line in the same way a corpse is faithful to the living body. It's exactly alike, except it isn't alive. TPOA looks as though it may get some of that life.

[null and void]

Also, Harry's parents aren't dead.

He didn't see the thestrils when he first got to Hogwart's. I'm betting Hermoine figures out a way to release them from Voldemort's wand.

[Rutabega]

Oh! I totally agree, Neville is the one. . .and if you watch the movies with this in mind, you see how much camera time he gets for a bit character (in the first two books at least). I love Neville, poor guy! In an interview, JKR says that though she didn't tell Klovis how the story ends, she did guide him in which bits needed to be left in.
(But you can't seriously think Hermione would ever have any sort of feelings for Neville!? ;)

[Rutabega]

Good call about Harry's parents not being dead! I have read all sorts of resons why he couldn't see the thestrals, but none of them have the ring of truth. . .but it DOES make sense that they are still alive and Hermione would be the one to find a way to free them!
I also think that there must be other connection between Potter seniors and Neville's parents. . .and the Dumbledore and Aunt Petunia is somehting I am dying to have the answer to!

[null and void]

But you can't seriously think Hermione would ever have any sort of feelings for Neville!?

Yep. Protective ones to start...

[YourAdHere]

After and incident that sees his anger...

As a professional editor, it makes me mad that MSNBC would post this mistake. They meant "an." Spell-check is not always 100 percent effective.

[Rutabega]

(Stomping foot impatiently) You KNOW what I meant. . .I am sure she likes Neville and has protective feelings for him. . .but I can't see them ever dating. . .wait a second, I am getting nuts.
However, here's a fun question. . .which (US) political parties do you think the characters in Harry Potter would be IF they were;
a) real
b) adults (for the minors)
c) US citizens

[RebelBanker]

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

I can not remember where Harry "should" have been able to see the thestrals in a prior book. It has been a while since I read the earlier ones, though.

[retrokitten]

Is there a Harry Potter ping list??? If there is please put me on it!!

[null and void]

See my tag line...

[NormB]

Rowling promotes discrimination against fat people.


Examples include:

Mr. Dursley Fat idiot
Dudley Dursley Fat idiot
Neville Fat idiot
Crabbe Fat idiot
Goyle Fat idiot
"The Fat Lady" Picture of an idiot.

Did I miss someone?

In fact, the only overweight character not labelled an idiot is Mrs. Weasly.


Anyway, I heartily approve of the use of fat folk as a generic stereotype worthy of global discrimination.
If we can all agree to hate fat people then think of how much better the world would be.

Oh, the movie looks great, I consider POA to be one of the better books!

(SIC)

[najida]

~sigh~
I too am a Potter addict.

Please add me to the ping list, and where do you find the beans?

[painter]

My wife,kids and I are big Harry Potter fans.We want to be on your ping list.

Thanks!

[Rutabega]

The thestrals would have been pulling the carriages that the students rode to Hogwarts in, so presumably, he would have seen them every year. Rowling says something like Harry's grief hadn't really hit home yet from after Cedric died, so he didn't see them after the tournament in book four. She also said something along the lines of not wanting to introduce the thestrals without being able to really focus on them. Granted, she might have just forgotten (yeah, right!) but it doesn't wash. I don't have her side-kick book Magical Beasts and Where to Find Them, but I think that thestrals are in there, so they were a device she thought up long before the fourth book. I also find it odd that none of the students who COULD see the thestrals (Neville, Luna) ever mentioned it when the students were amazed that the carriages were moving without any apparent locomotion.

[retrokitten]

I have seen them at Borders and Barnes and Noble. Borders also has the chocolate frog cards.

[retrokitten]

I recommend www.sugarquill.net for anyone who wants to read some great fan fiction.

Mugglenet.com is great for all sorts of HP info. One recent article says that Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy) has sprouted up and is now six foot one! He's taller then the actor who plays his dad.

Also, I know alot of people on this thread are Simpsons fans, too. This Sunday The Simpsons go to the UK and JKR is a guest voice.

[js1138]

He didn't see the thestrils when he first got to Hogwart's.

Interesting point. But it could just be an oversight on JK's part, not thinking about the death of his parents. She could paper over this by saying he wasn't in the same room when his parents were killed.