What made Alfonso Cuaron and Mike Newell's vision of Harry Potter so unique from Chris Colombus' version was that they relied heavily on the human emotions of Harry Potter instead of the magical wonder that surrounds him. They really wanted to focus that even though all this is taking place in a world unlike anything we've ever seen in our lives, that these kids are still just...Kids. And being all of 14 years old, they are at a confusing point in their lives. Not to say there still aren't amazing things to see in this movie. The grave yard scene with Ralph Fiennes is worth the price of admission alone.
Mike Newell of Donnie Brasco and Mona Lisa Smile fame, takes the reigns and does an admirable job of creating this new world for Harry. He gives the kids their due but unlike past directors also gives the adults a chance to shine. Every character in the film is balanced to a point where I didn't miss one person. Including my fave's Snape, Dumbeldore, and of course, new comer Mad Eye Moody. A role Brendan Gleeson was almost assuredly born to play. I can't wait til the next movie when he gets even more to do. In the aspect of balancing the characters in this movie, Newell is a strong Harry Potter director.
The only reason why he wouldn't have been my favorit director thus far, (Alfonso Cuaron takes that honor) is because even though he did a fine job there was no visual flair to it. No real style to the look of the film. I.E. he played it to safe with the filming. Where as Cuaron did a great series of moving camera tricks, and visual timing, that really set him apart from the pack. Newell brought no real look to the film that Cuaron hadn't already set up, and thus should have tried a little harder to make sure his film stood out so that when you see it, you can say "That's a Mike Newell film if I ever saw one."
Newell focuses the high powered beams that are the Harry Potter kids into a film about growing up. Giving their ragin hormone's within a chance to erupt in an explosion of confusion, embarassment, and a lot of crying and hurt feelings. Just like my high school career. What else is also evident is that these kids are maturing as actors. There's a scene between Harry Potter and a corpse that moistened my eyes a little. Brought me damn near to tears. A vast improvment over the static, monotone acting that Chris Colombus could emote from these young actors, thus relying so heavily on the aforementioned volley of CGI. Still with all the advances these kids have made the ones who still steal the show will always be Oliver and James Phelps who play the Weasley Twins. Freaking comic geniuses these two. If David Yates has got hishead on straight, he'll give these two their due in the next movie.
As is true in each and every movie it wouldn't be fair to not have a brand new actor or two join the HP cast. As mentioned Brendan Gleeson plays Allistor Moody. The thing that urked me though about his story was that they were practically shoving the answer down the audiences throat. "You making polyjuice potion?" "Where the polyjuice potion?" "Oy, you haven't been drinking polyjuice potion have you?" Yeech. Ralph Fiennes plays Voldemort. And he looks like he should as what could be one of the best movie villans ever. He has very little in this movie but as the series progresses we get a lot more of him, and if handled with care and respect, Voldemort could easily be one of the greatest villans ever put on film. I just hope that the series keeps on respecting this character.
Shirley Henderson returns as Moaning Murtle. And let me tell you she earns that name. In what is assuredly the creepiest scene (Yet intruiging) of the movie, the ghost of one student named Moaning Murtle gets into a huge soap filled jacuzzi with young Harry and tries to get into his lap. And at this point you realize that Mike Newell might have had a calling to direct erotic films instead of kid fan-fare. It would be really, really, really uncomfortable if it weren't for the fact that Miss Henderson was born in 1965. So it's okay to think she's attractive. *Whew*
FINAL ANALYSIS!
Prisoner of Azkaban will remain my favorit Harry Potter movie. Book 5, is my favorit read, so I'm hoping that it will also be my favorit of the movies. Curon took HP into a great direction and to just dismiss how he reinvented the look of the movie would be sacralidge.
Mike Newell does a great job at the helm. But if you look really closely he's just following in Curon's footsteps and building on his foundation. What Newell does do better is advance the characters. You can feel that they're all starting to become a lot more complex and are starting to really grow up.
That's what's always been great about the HP series. The kids aren't stuck in limbo like so many other childhood fanfare. They actually age and mature. Although in book 6 they seem to do very little of that. All they do is make out. But that's another story. Newell has found the voice these characters need, and as a director he's more than able to get the actors to feel that as well. Along with Curon, he too has smacked Chris Colombus in the face. Call it fate that the movie series Colombus started would completley rape his latest vision "RENT" in the box office. TAKE THAT COLOMBUS!!