Book To Movie Review 06: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling (2004)

Alright, here me out, I did not like this movie as much as the book. You know I know how much books adaptation movies are when it comes to details.

Dursleys
It has so many comedic elements in this portion of the book and I can't imagine is has taken a big portion out. It has so much elements on how the British scorns, despise and to abhor a person with so much hatred in their words and eyes. Harry has grown and how he manages to threatens Uncle Vernon is one way to see how much he can manage him instead of how they ill-treated him all the whole dang time!

Quidditch
Now, I was a little disappointed that the whole show, we only have 1 game. It has 3 games in the book and the house points will be gathered. In addition, there were moments of the book by introducing a so-called infatuation between Harry and Cho-Chang, which in turn to build it up in the for the 4th movie with a smoother transition.

Also, the Firebolt was given to him during the 2nd game in the book! However, the Firebolt was diverted to the end of the scene! Why!!?? I literally can't wait to see the jealous rage on Malfoy in this. Big disappointment!

House Points
In lieu with the Quidditch rant above, they literally have neglected the whole house points system in the movie like how the first one do. I know that Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff were truly celebrating for Gryffindor but I have never see how Slytherin always sulk in the movie version. Come on!

Sirius Black
Now this, I was anticipating a flashback shot for this. I was really yearning to see how much flashback they could spend on telling the backstory of Lily and James Potter with the rest of the marauder map's creators. This was largely a huge bit to further explore the identity of Harry Potter. It was only conveyed verbally in through conversations in the movie. Short conversations.

Don't get me wrong, this is how I feel what the movie has to offer. In the end, I like how the movie flows in a special way because no matter how, this is still a book-to-movie adaptation and I can foresee more to be taken off from the movie for the upcoming ones because the books are getting thicker and movie's duration can only be that few hours.

Ratings: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Harry Potter Series 03 - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling

 
Now this, the third book in the Harry Potter series. This would be my favorite of all, as of now. It literally is! I've never thought I would say this, but this series really works to a wide range of audience! Shamelessly, me!

It started with the Dursleys (the usual), and Aunt Marge (Uncle Vernon's sister) was being introduced and she is seriously quite a character. She is definitely ten times worst than the three living with Harry. I remember watching an English movie titled "Melody (1971)" and how ill-treated the adults treated the minors, this is totally a resemblance of the such character that Aunt Marge portrays. She just got on my nerves and to them, discipline is a must! Right now, with that kind of discipline, I'll consider it illegal... but let's not dwell into that.

An interesting take on how Harry was being brought to Diagon Alley with a mini adventure. Pieces of plots were told which sparks up your curiosity. What was even more interesting was during the train ride to Hogwarts. We are being introduced with the antagonist alongside withe the prison guards creatures called the Dementors. Yep, not telling anything more, many has read the series, let's not be long winded. It's a review!

We have a new Dark Arts teacher named Remus Lupin, and it was one heck of a class whilst one is reading it. The class has taken to a whole new level of academia in the school. Here now, Hermione was taking tons of class and no one seems to understand how she was able to cope with the crazy timetable. The emphasis on Scabbers & Crookshanks played a larger part in this series with underlying plot. Nope, not going into that either!

Quidditch. It has 3 games overall, which got me really excited. We are being introduced to Ravenclaw's seeker, Cho Chang. She was described as pretty and I can sense that Harry took a little interest in her which made sense since they are both in the same sports, something in common would make them spark a little more, I suppose.

There was a major plot twist towards the end of the book and it ended very very well. This book has taken the Harry Potter series to a whole new level of the reading experience. I must say, this is really one heck of a ride.

The characters are growing, plots are getting stronger, many truths unveiled and more to come for the next book. I think I would want to dive in to it soon.

Ratings: 4.5 stars out of 5 stars

Goodreads Review Link

Book To Movie Review 04: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling (2002)

The second at it's charm. Closely adapted movie based from the book with just a minor twitch by minimizing some roles just for a few minutes of dialogue which was very clever. Some of the scenes were nicely done for movie purposes. All in all, I'm glad to be back to Hogwarts.

Dobby's CGI was clearly identifiable, however, the expression and voice acting was done right. Hence, the portrayal of Dobby was very well brought into the movie set. The only thing that was even more obvious was that, when Dobby was banging his head towards the wardrobe, you can clearly see Daniel is struggling to put on a I-CANT-GET-HIM-TO-STOP-BECAUSE-HE-IS-NOT-REAL-AT-ALL look.

Very much improved acting from all the cast but the dialogue for Draco Malfoy (portrayal by Tom Felton) always seems to be cringe worthy to me. I don't know whether it s the acting or the dialogue or the face. I fairly remember Tom Felton from "Anna and the King" and he was OK in it but as Draco, I find it cringe worthy. I hope to see more of him in the subsequent show as I think he might still be young to be a good villain role.

The Christmas scene at Hogwarts never fails to be part of the movie's scenic moments for all it's glory to their fans. The gathering of the great hall is much more toned down as to compared with the first. Sometimes just a few words from Dumbledore in The Great Hall would be nice. Can't blame as the book doesn't revolve around The Great Hall all that much either.

Many characters were introduced with great in depth acting. Tom Riddle, whom we all know was a past character in the school of Hogwarts. Seriously, who is he at the end of it all? Watch it as the plot of the movie really was a closely based on the book.

The end was great when Harry has made new friends and has discovered even more hidden mystery on his scars and origin of the existence of Voldermort unfold. I am anticipating for the next movie installment after I read the third book.

Ratings: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Harry Potter Series 02 - Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

What a great follow up! As I just finished the second book, nothing falls short in many areas ever since it ended so well from the first. One of the great things in reading a Middle Grade or Young Adult books is that there are snippets of gentle reminders on things that might have forgotten. The Dursleys bunch are still as annoying as anyone could expect, and because of that I never once knew Hogwarts would set a rule for not using magic in the 'muggle' world. Dang it!

The rescue mission from the Weasley brothers was really a fun ride. Although new characters came in already in the first few chapters, moreover, they are not difficult to remember who they are. Recurring characters were once more introduced with great anticipation of their involvements in the search of Voldermort's ultimate motive around the wizardry world.

Alright, the thing about Gilderoy Lockhart's character. Where should I began? His self-confidence level was too obnoxious to the point I feel like skipping most of his scene out while I'm reading it. He needs a big tight slap! It is without a doubt that I have my qualms about him from the very beginning until the end of the book. Annoyance aside on his mere fame in the wizardry world, he knows nuts about education at all. I really don't know whether he was employed based on his credentials or his fame. What were you thinking, Dumbledore?

A new character named Dobby, a house elf, which I reserved my judgements towards him from the very beginning. Many a times, I did have a slight curiosity on his motives towards Harry and I knew he was being bound by some commands from his master by doing things he's forced to obey. Love the ending of this book for Dobby.

Lucius Malfoy's (father of Draco) role in the second book is more prominent. Many political agendas were very pronounced with real harm done towards Hogwarts through him. Although he is not the main antagonist in this book but you know that he is behind it all in most of the scene for selfish gains in the dark world. Might I say more, I think he has a share in Voldermort's return. Let's wait and see.

Trying very hard not to give away spoilers (although most would already know by now), I love the fact that the book has brought us back 50 years to understand the life of many characters in Hogwarts. This part of the story sparks my interest even more because many of the mysteries of today were actually the cause of yesteryear.

Happy ending as always, I can't wait to get myself into "The Prisoner of Azkaban".

Ratings: 4 out of 5 stars

Goodreads Review Link

Book To Movie Review 02: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling (2001)

What can I say? It's the ever classic Harry Potter (HP) movie series. After reading the first book from the series, I can't wait to re-watch it once more to get Diagon Alley right in my mind, to get Hogwarts right with my mental image that I had.

I wouldn't say that the movie was perfection, many plot was butchered for the sake of the movie run time and cutting down casting purposes (I suppose). For many has claimed that the first 2 movies are the closest to the book. Nonetheless, I have my reservations still for the book. No matter how great the movie it can be, the book still has a special place in my heart because of how the voices of each characters were being portrayed in the book.

Side note, I have a guilty confession, I wasn't EVEN aware of "The Lord of the Rings (LOTR)" series at all back then and I have opt to watch this movie instead because I have read the book and was excited about it. Nevertheless, that near 12 hours of LOTR is still one of the best movie adaptation instead of the HP series. Let's not dwell into that right now since I'm reviewing the HP series and it's a whole different 'audience' genre.

The beginning was a tad bid rush on introducing the obnoxious Dursley. I remember laughing my heads off on how spoiled Dudley was and how crazy he could be when both Vernon & Petunia have to even kowtow to him in the book. Many was being cut for I know they may have be the main casting characters but they are very well portrayed.

Plot wise was done right in this movie. Not too rush, not too draggy either. Moreover, the scenic of how Hogwarts looks like was fantastic. The great hall was magnificently majestic and Diagon Alley looks mystical as how the book has spelled out.

The ending was not too rush, and how the movie builds up by allowing the audience to have a sense of rooting the House of Gryffindor is strongly given. Magical, whimsical & humorous is what the movie has to give, what more can you ask for in the first installment? One can expect that watching a feel good family drama movie is to enjoy the introduction phase, hence the first of the series has a lot of hope and anticipation for the next installment with greater fun and enthusiasm. Bravo!

Ratings: 4 out of 5 stars

Harry Potter Series 01 - Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling

Finally! I have finished the first book from the ever so famous Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Back when I was a student, I wasn't even able to touch any of these books at all. I have my fair share of history of being restraint from reading these series. 

Sarcastically, I would love to thank the one who speaks against reading this series over at the pulpit of fear that the idea of witchcraft would seep into our daily lives. Verdict after reading the first book, I don't even have a hint of curiosity on witchcraft at all. Practically speaking, who would even want to venture into something so dark?

I love how we are being introduced with the world of Muggles (humans) and then to the world of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The transition from one world to another was fascinatingly amazing with so much awe and jaw-dropping scenery. The magnitude of how Hogwarts were being described is mesmerizing.

I, for one, would love to witness the majestic scale of The Great Hall especially during their Christmas season. It is really to die for. What makes it even greater is how all those wonderful delicacies were being displayed and described. 

Characters are fairly well written and I can never get enough with all the conversations between Ron, Hermione & Harry! British hilarious. Always love their come backs. It's always a lot of insults with posh and styles.

Plot wise was intriguing enough to grip you from the very start even for a middle-grade. Clues and suspense are well planted into their conversations. Suspicion on the main idea is even greater as the book progresses.

Hint: Dumbledore has given his opinion on death which would be greater and the definition of the truth will be ugly and painful to be borne for the rest of ones life.

As of now, I cannot wait to read about their upcoming adventures until the day comes with full explanations on how it all started.

Ratings: 4.7 out of 5 stars

Goodreads Review Link