[merylsilverburg]

Well, saw it Monday and I must say that I had mixed feelings when I came out of the theater. The film was so different from the previous two. But now that I think about it a little more, I'd give it a B/B-. I think the tone of the story being very dark and mysterious was done well, some scenes were very well-done (such as

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the Defense Against Dark Arts class when the students had to encounter their fears and the whole paradox incident...those were great!

). But, as many of you guys said, it did go by very quickly and it seem Cuarón wanted to get straight to the action. I mean, in the beginning, there weren't much going on with Potter and his family...it was just not "normal". Then before you know it, we're straight going into Hogwarts and all that. Cuarón also neglected to make the viewers "feel" the world of Potter, which really irritated me.
The three kids did improve on their acting, but Radcliffe still needs to really do a better job, IMO. Like the part when he said

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"I hope he does find me, 'cause when he does, I'll be ready! When he does, I'm gonna kill him!"

, I was sitting there thinking "Really? Are you sure?" because his eyes just didn't express that anger/frustration/tears/tension and all that he was supposed to express.
The other actors did a great job....the new Dumbledore took some time to get used to (though I still have some annoyance towards him) and I think this new guy is better suited for this new Potter film. I can't imagine the regal Richard Harris acting those parts that Gambon did.

And for those who hated the major changes to the film, we should be glad. As said in the June 11 issue of Entertainment Weekly, "Cuarón admits he arrived looking to change more than he ultimately did. He mulled more radical changes, like redesigning the Hogwarts architecture, but was talked out of it. Cuarón was particularly fixated on making the giant Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane) larger. Ironically, Columbus was similarly obsessed in the early stages of Sorceror's/Philosopher's Stone, but time and budget made it impossible. "I realized then, the universe had been established, let's move on," says Cuarón. "I had to learn to serve the material, and subvert my ego, not vice versa."'

So, to all those who've read the books, what details were omitted from the film? I've never read the books so any information would be helpful.

The same issue of "Entertainment Weekly" gave the film a B+.

The magazine as stated that as for the kids returning, apparently Radcliffe wants to stay for all the seven films...him and his parents realized that ever since Radcliffe began the films, his grades have improved drastically. And Warner Bros. now wants to keep the trio intact...when they once wanted to get rid of the kids the minute they reached puberty/became older. The one kid they had to persuade to return for "Goblet of Fire" is Emma Watson.