"Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" film and book

[furtech]

On the recent roadtrip I had the opportunity to "read" (audio book) the third installment of the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling in one sitting. I had previously only read the first two books: the first after seeing the film and the second before the film. I soon fell behind and never caught up in my reading. There's something contagious about reading a book when everyone else is also-- and just as dulling to enthusiasm when you're out-of-sync.



Has anyone but my -not- read/seen the film of PoA yet?? Just to be polite and safe:




Prisoner of Azkaban is my favorite book and film of the series (aside from the first). I've seen all movies to date, but only have "read" the first three books. The story is filled with werewolves and grims and betrayal and redemption. Great stuff. Rowling does a particularly fine job of manipulating the reader's emotions. Sirius is my favorite character of the series and his fate is probably a big reason I lost enthusiasm with the books. Only McGonagall comes close to him as far as favorites go-- she reminds me of some favorite teachers I've had (I'm going to be very upset if she dies in the series).



I loved hearing-reading PoA: the reader did a decent job with character voices and had a easy-to-listen-to voice (now I want to hear the UK version of the audiobooks!). I found the way the book was adapted (the first of the BIG BOOKS that HP evolved into) fascinating and noticed how they streamlined the story without. Seeing the movie first caused me to be a more impatient reader than usual-- if this had been a physical book I would have jumped around to read how things happened. I am far less patient with the pace of the story when I've already seen the film: I could not get into the author's sense of pacing.

As for the film, my only complaints are with how Padfoot, and particularly the werewolf, were depicted. The description in the book is very clear: why did they make Lupin's beast form so lanky and skinny? Like a twisted, mangey greyhound. Combined with the CG quality, the effect was not very impressive.

My only two quibbles with the book are the watch (too much of a deus ex machina--though they did a good job working this in the film) and that Sirius gave Harry the new broom-- he was out of his mind nutcase! Rowling made it sound like-- in the midst of this insanity-- Sirius suddenly went catalog shopping (we now return you to your insanity). Wouldn't Gringots have been just a bit suspicious when he withdrew those funds?!?

I still wonder whether it is better to read the book or see the film first. I was blown away by the first film (I had no visual in my head to be disappointed by the realization); I enjoyed the second book immensely (but the film was kind of "eh"-- but more for the direction than anything). I think it depends on the film and the skill of the director: to hedge my enjoyment I'd say read the book first. You only spend a couple of hours with the movie; a book is a considerable investment in time by comparison. Focus on the media that brings you the most pleasure for the longest time.

Comments

[fatkraken.livejournal.com]

chiming in to recommend unreservedly the UK editions of the Audiobooks (you don't say which version you listened to here). Stephen Fry has become something of a National Treasure and does a fantastic job with them.

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Cool! We got a friend of Steve's two of the books read by Stephen Fry when we were in London for RBW. We had originally tried to get them in Canada, but it turns out that Canada only sells the "American" version of the audiobooks-- the reader isn't bad, but Fry is a god...

[nerfcoyote.livejournal.com]

I was disappointed that the film left some of the explanatory exposition out, specifically who the Marauders were and where the stag patronus comes from. Oh, and when Wormtail turns BACK into a rat, escaping into his shabby clothes, um, where'd the clothes come from in the first place?

I jokingly said they did a good job on the werewolf - at painting lycanthropy as a horrible affliction!

Good to see you again last weekend!

[furtech.livejournal.com]

I understand about the brevity of the exposition. I probably would have complained if they -had- included it, unless it's only included in the DVD "extras". That's why the book is cool: all those extra details-- it's like seeing a different version of the film, but at a pace you can luxuriate in.

[kyyanno.livejournal.com]

Drop us a line if you have difficulty sourcing the UK versions of the audiobooks, you have a willing UK re-shipping address here if you need it :)

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Hopefully I won't have to bother you, but Amazon's getting picky about foreign editions...

[desertcoyote.livejournal.com]

PoA remains my favorite book of the entire HP series. I loved the surprise twist regarding Sirius. Much <3 to Black and Lupin....

[furtech.livejournal.com]

I agree with all of that! I think the surprise twist worked better in the movie than the book-- the book spent too much time making Black into a Manson-like boogieman. Hooray for sinister black dogs!

great cover!

[c-eagle.livejournal.com]

I've seen all the films first, except for the last film... I've been forced (somewhat) to read the books while sitting with mom as she reads them, and have found them somewhat interesting. I tried reading the first book waaaaaaaaaaay back, but myself and another animator friend of mine were generally pissed with the constant frenzy on every page. However, 'reading' them via these narrated tapes seems to even-out the pace much more, and they have been very enjoyable :>

My favorite 'film' was the second one in which the phoenix tears save Harry's life... it was unexpected and really grabbed my attention and got me all choked up...

My least favorite film was the most recent one, but I hope it's not because it was the only one I read first. Just felt it was rather scattery...

Re: great cover!

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Good point about the frumious pace of the first book. When she could write what she wanted, the pace got much smoother (until the last books, where she could probably have used the help of a veteran editor a bit).

Phoenix=bird=you...werewolves=dogs=me. Not that much of a surprise!

The last movie -was- a bit scattery, but the writer had a tough job to fit it all in. Thank goodness they broke the last one up into two films. I thought the 6th and 7th could have been great as miniseries.

[vulpesrex.livejournal.com]

The LASFS Library has a copy of each of the books - and I started reading from the beginning, and getting the next book in the series each week at the Thursday Night meetings.

THe first movie had the terrible challenge of Great Expectations of a demanding audience, relying on the movie to be "just like the book", and it did quite well in that regard; but each book has been more of a challenge, cinematically, the first two showing Harry being immersed in this strange world where he is at once the "New Boy" to an ENTIRE secret culture, and yet a well-known celebrity in it - and the second book exposing him to his Arch Foe. But each book thereafter treats the Wizard Society with a little less wonder, and you begin to get the feeling that Harry himself might be feeling, since he spent his early years in Muggle life (just like the readers), that the life of Wizards and Witches is not necessarily all that better, as he is exposed to more and more of it; he sees the factions and the prejudices and the faults and foibles of it, and Rowling's evolving writing style is rather necessary to suggest the potential for Harry growing weary of it; Wizards can be Jerks - and the "arrogance" which some (such as the Ministry of Magic) see in him is _not_ due to a presumption of celebrity entitlement, but is rather the un-awed, un-jaded eye of an outsider to the culture. Harry does not have the same blind-spots as most of the Wizarding World, and those who actually get to know him are able to see through those blindspots, as well. In fact, that might be why he hits it off so well with Hermione and all of the Weasleys (aside from the literary and narrative necessity, of course).

I have re-read the LAST book in the series, about 12 times now; and each time I keep encountering fresh, subtle little things which were mentioned innocuously throughout the book, but needed to re-read to see the connection with later events; this is simply because the final book, and its central plot, take so friggin long and require so much learning to fully understand - though one can enjoy it for the scene and atmosphere, the mystery and adventure, without really understanding too much of it. Just too many little details to keep track of and remember as you go through the story.

I FAR prefer having read all the books, before seeing each movie; while I am a bit disappointed in how the movies have to compromise, the central story is much more coherent, much more memorable, when you get to read all the stuff that the movie just can't include; and in the end, is more meaningful and _LASTING_ than the eye-candy escapist ride that the movie must necessarily become.

I, too, liked Sirius and Lupin; but I advise you to actually _read_ the PoA, even though the audio book may have been relatively complete. I got a far better feeling for Sirius from PoA, GoF and OotP than the movies could possibly give.

Incidentally - the PoA movie is the only one which I bothered to buy the CD for, as I missed the theatrical release - I especially liked the Maurader's Map - but again, one needs to know who those folks where who made it, and other details, which the movie is scant on; it's just as scant on why Sirius is so _reviled_ by the Wizarding Community as a whole; rather than merely being afraid of him. One can pause while reading, and reflect on the opinions expressed - and I think this is somewhat harder to do while listening to the story as it is read _to_ you.