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JANUARY 21, 2004 at 6:11 PM
Posted by GRAE
Source: CTV.ca via The Leaky Cauldron
If you were hoping for a cinematic version of epic proportions for this year's Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, you may be out of luck. According to Canadian television website CTV
, the movie may be the shortest of the series so far.
Harry Potter fans who want to see every detail from the books translated into the screen versions might be uneasy over the projected length of Prisoner of Azkaban: less than 2½ hours, the shortest of the series so far.
This time, Rowling's story lent itself to a tighter script than the first two movies, said director Alfonso Cuaron, whose previous movie was the racy hit Y Tu Mama Tambien.
Keep in mind that the running time of Prisoner of Azkaban hasn't been officially confirmed by Warner Bros yet.
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High Inquisitor
Points: 23483
KT Lady says:
Oh my gosh!!! Thats horrible if it's true! You would think it'd be the longest! Now, Im depressed...:(
Posted Jan 21, 2004 at 6:15 PM EST
Points: 7828
Rococoed says:
I will not believe the information given by CTV until a spokesperson for Warner Bros. confirms it. Prisoner, at over a third the length of Sorcerer's Stone, must have of a running time of at least three hours in order to be loyal to the novel. 150 minutes will not be enough time to handle all the sub-plots of the third installment at a level in which the audience can fully understand the story. I even had troubles following the second film since it ran so quickly through the story.
Posted Jan 21, 2004 at 6:17 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 308
duckumu says:
Don't freak out, guys, it's not that bad. Think about it, most action movies aren't 3 hours long, because that would throw the pacing off horribly. A shorter length might be a lot better for this movie than a long one.
Posted Jan 21, 2004 at 6:20 PM EST
Keeper of Harry's Fate
Points: 8934
TheOneWhoMustBeNamed says:
It is the end product that counts. Not the length of time. I will wait and see before I get too excited about the particular length.
Posted Jan 21, 2004 at 6:21 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 451
Pure-HP says:
I will not believe it until it is confirmed. I want as much time as I can get to watch Dan on screen so if it's true, it BAD!
Posted Jan 21, 2004 at 6:23 PM EST
Witch
Points: 884
sirius trouble says:
I must admit, although I love the other movies... my butt does tend to go numb as I sit there watching them, especially at some of the less exciting parts. I hope this one is well-paced and keeps it moving. As long as the story flows well, it doesnt matter how long, because it will be a better movie.... if u want the whole story without any changes, then read the book :o)
Posted Jan 21, 2004 at 6:23 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 342
Tearbear says:
I won't believe it yet, until it's confirmed.
And btw, this isn't an action movie it's Harry Potter *cough* Compare the 1st book to the 3rd, much different, more info, how can it be less script?
Posted Jan 21, 2004 at 6:28 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 361
Dracofan1987 says:
This film is going to be very different from the first 2 because of the new director. I predict that it will be more dramatic. And the movies does seem short since it's the longest book so far.
Posted Jan 21, 2004 at 6:33 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1126
holtasaurus says:
WHAT!! 2 1/2 hours! That sucks!!! They cant do this to us! Well that is 21 hours for me! Im goin 10 times (smirks)
I think it will be scaryier! Phew it hasnt been confirmed yet thank you!
Posted Jan 21, 2004 at 6:34 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 62
Rose_Miller says:
oh man! so that means more will be taken out then put it unless of course he's planning on handing out Time Turners.
Posted Jan 21, 2004 at 6:42 PM EST
Seer
Points: 15207
Brittany Radcliffe says:
How is that possible?? unless they cut out a bunch of stuff which i hope they dont. out of the SS and COS books the POA book is longer then those two so it must be longer in the movies too. hmmmm. i dont really believe that right now. i'll wait for WB to announce it.
Posted Jan 21, 2004 at 6:44 PM EST
Chief Magic Investigator
Points: 4910
EagleOwl says:
Repeat after me...it's not official yet. Geez, they have barely finished filming it, so they can't be anywhere near finished editing the thing yet! Let's just wait and see what WB says about this before we panic.
Posted Jan 21, 2004 at 6:46 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 308
duckumu says:
It's a movie, not a book. You can't include everything in the movie that was in the book, ESPECIALLY if it's a longer book! Look at Lord of the Rings... amazing, brilliant movies and there was a lot left out of them that was in the book.
A long movie with tons of subplots would confuse viewers, and the filmmakers would end up making less money (not good).
Posted Jan 21, 2004 at 6:47 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 329
RMG says:
That sucks! Its the longest book so far therefore it should be the longest movie, or at least as long as the others. I really hope that's not true.
Posted Jan 21, 2004 at 7:01 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 388
Persephanyi says:
O no if its been shortened that means a lot of important stuff was cut. I never liked this guy as director. I really hope he doesnt destroy the series.Im already having some doubts with this movie the more I keep reading about how Curon had changed a few images and a few revisions were made Its making me worried Im hoping its not a big disapointment. Also do you think if this bombs do you think the other books will even be made into a movie? I really hope they dont destroy this book since it is my favorite...sigh
Posted Jan 21, 2004 at 7:23 PM EST
Animagus
Points: 19544
Sirius-Ella says:
It's not all that bad! I can handle it! I'm just glad they are making the film! *apparates with a small pop*
-sirius-ella-
Posted Jan 21, 2004 at 7:31 PM EST
Hufflepuff Princess
Points: 24832
Waddi Wasi says:
I don't care about the length... I just want to make sure Tom Felton gets looots of screen time and that the end part in the Shrieking Shack is very long. Think about it... the whole plot centers around the Marauders and what happened Halloween 1981 (or whatever). Honestly I don't mind unless they've cut something out of the Shrieking Shack scene (which I can pretty much quote at any time).
WW
Posted Jan 21, 2004 at 7:33 PM EST
Student
Points: 288
Phoenix~gurl says:
I had hoped it would be longer because the first and second books were sooo short but they cut out A LOT!!!! I know its not confirmed yet but wow. If the first and second books were 200-300 pages and the movie was three hours and they left out stuff how can a 400 page book have a movie lasting only 2 1/2 hours and expect everything to be their in the story? I hope it's not true, by the way, RMG I love your avatar!!
Posted Jan 21, 2004 at 7:37 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1068
Penumbra says:
NOOO!! Esach time Cuaron says something I get the creeps! I'm so happy he's not doing the 4th movie even if I think he's great but there are too many changes. PoA is a longer book than the others and now this film's shorter! Come on! And GoF will be 2 and a half too! JK you should say something!
Posted Jan 21, 2004 at 7:41 PM EST
Chief Brain Washer
Points: 2875
Chogiiiirl says:
I really hope that this movie will be longer, but I guess we shall see. Since this is no official word, let's not get too upset yet. I would love a 4 hour movie of each book, I love the Harry Potter world so much!
Posted Jan 21, 2004 at 7:45 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 96
Larien says:
I'm gonna be so mad if they make it too short! It should be the longest and its the best in the series in my opinion...
Posted Jan 21, 2004 at 7:49 PM EST
Werewolf
(Moderator)
Points: 5479
MoonyDawn says:
But... It just cant be less than two and a half hours!!!!!
It better not be!! Thats my favorite book and I want the movie to be my favorite too! Now I'm worried, I really hope they dont cut too much out!!!
Posted Jan 21, 2004 at 8:04 PM EST
Heir of Slytherin
Points: 5499
Spazzingduck says:
Aw, c'mon! It's the longest book in the series so far so it should also be the longest movie! Oh well, the others were only a little over two and a half hours anyway, so this isn't really THAT much shorter than the other two, if this report is true.
Posted Jan 21, 2004 at 8:04 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2055
lilbrat says:
The shortest HP movie out of the three???????? I really want them to put as much from the book into the movie. even if it makes the movie 10 hours! l.o.l
Posted Jan 21, 2004 at 8:08 PM EST
Curse Breaker
(Moderator)
Points: 3786
Galilea says:
Oh how sad! This is the book I liked the best in the series (so far). Let's hope the director doesn't cut too many scenes. I want a nice long, long movie!
Posted Jan 21, 2004 at 8:22 PM EST
Editor of the Squibbler
(Moderator)
Points: 2031
eudaemonia says:
Spazzingduck: I thought Order of the Phoenix would count as the longest book in the series so far? Did I miss a memo...?
Anyway, I'd rather have a shorter film that, somehow, has all the good stuff included (characters and plot faithfully depicted) than a long film with eye candy, bland characters and no substance. In order for everything in the books to be included, it'd have to be a miniseries... and even then there's no guarantee they couldn't mess that up. Nothing's ever going to beat reading the book.
Posted Jan 21, 2004 at 8:29 PM EST
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