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Reviews
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
Alfonso makes a good effort, yet fails to stay faithful to the books.
If you have not previously read the books, do so before watching, else you shall be even more confused by a film that misses out so much background that it fails to develop the plot correctly.
To Concentrate on the Direction of the film Alfonso has made a somewhat more believable effort than efforts of Columbus in HP1 & 2. For starters it appears that Alfonso has understood that it is unusual for students to wear their uniform outside of school, a clear sign that he understands what the films are about a little more.
Be prepared however for some stupidly over-blown CGI that sacrifices time in the film that could have been used for better purposes. It is also to be noted that Daniel Radcliffe is placed with two extremely embarrassing scenes that would not have been out of place in "titanic".
This brings us onto our Actors. The "trio" (Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley) and Emma Watson (Hermione Granger)) who have undoubtedly progressed in Acting ability, while they have been good so far (and have had some awful directors to work with in HP 1 & 2) they show that they are certainly capable in PoA. Emma Watson delivering the best performance of the three in this film showing that she can use expression fully. With some stunning acting from other, older actors, but as other critics say their roles can hardly be called more than "cameo" appearances, which is disappointing as such time is wasted with, the aforementioned over-blown CGI.
I scored this film as 5 (out of 10) simply due to the fact that it is half-baked, not even half as good as the book, and the adaptation leaves the audience with little satisfaction from it.
The Amazing Mrs Pritchard (2006)
Relative Fast Pace, in places scary realism
Firstly I think the previous comment was perhaps a little harsh. So far this program has operated at a highly interesting angle, by having an initial intense fast pace, and a gradual slow down before throwing a new thing at the audience to consider.
There is continually something for the audience to think about, and about 15 things at the same time. All the concerns of someone running a country, while it is slightly unrealistic with some of the simplicity it makes the point it's trying to make very well.
Much of the policies "Mrs. Pritchard" tends to raise are real life policies. Won't say any more here.
As a piece of Tuesday night viewing it's worth watching, unlike much of whats on at the moment.
Deadwood (2004)
Cutting it's own path into the Western Genre - Odyssey running the Community
Deadwood makes a real stab at the real life harshness of the western life on the fringes of community. A settlement which in it's own right is an illegal venture in Native Territory; be prepared for some really BAD things to happen.
Ian McShane makes a groundbreaking performance in this series, depicting the real life bad guy that is Al Swearengen in astonishing style, he truly is a nasty piece of work in this series.
Not forgetting Robin Weigert as Calamity Jane, this is perhaps one of the best depictions of the "rootin' tooting'" gal. She is far more realistic in this series as a hard-hitting butch woman, unlike in previous inaccurate depictions from the glossy western of the "stunning blonde".
This has a quality of "Tombstone" (1993 - Cosmatos) mixed with "Fistful of Dollars" (1964 - Leone) mixed with "Open Range" (2005 - Costner), but with a far more darker side to it which is perhaps only seen in "The Missing" (2003 - Ron Howard) and it goes even further into that. Random acts of violence are not rare in this series and the community is non-stop. This is perhaps the finest example of how much trouble happens when the Odyssey runs the community.
Conventions Followed: Framing Shots, Idea's of Odyssey and Community, Guns Saddle and Horse, an "other" (in this case the Sioux).
Conventions Broken: Women are depicted as a tool, to be used by the Deadwood community such as prostitutes or like Calamity Jane. (slightly more realistic to the life in 19th Century Western America), Community dominated by the odyssey Character, Nothing Pre-lapsarian, Almost entirely based in the community, foul language used in it's full context, immoral characters "get-away with it".
Prepare for some Protagonist vs. Antagonist Action.