Prisoner of Azkaban (movie news)

[RavenEye]

This is a very interesting article I've found on iHP.net, very interesting in fact. Describing all the changes that will probably occur in PoA, what with the new director and everything else. The article is a bit lengthy, but a good read, I thought it deserved its own discussion thread.

Filmmakers have taken the decision to cut the Quidditch Captain, Oliver Wood, and thus actor Sean Biggerstaff from the production. A site apparently affiliated with the actor who plays the Slytherin Quidditch Captain Marcus Flint, report that he will not appear in the film either.

A petition exists to keep Sean Biggerstaff (Wood) in the film that now has over 20,000 signatures, but there is no news of any change in the decision to exclude the actors as yet.

As the Captains are relatively important to the Quidditch scenes, many have come to logically conclude that there will be no Quidditch in the third film, probably due to time limitations.

However, filmmakers undoubtably realise what a huge disappointment this would be- not only to fans of Sean Biggerstaff and the character he portrays. Quidditch has proven to be the spectacular action showcase of the previous two films, second only to the climatic end sequences. The magical sport is a fan favourite, and especially during the third book, sequences relevant to the plot take place during Quidditch. It is also in the third book that Gryffindor finally win the Quidditch Cup, much to the relief of Oliver Wood himself, as the third book is his final year at Hogwarts, and as Quidditch Captain.

So why would [director] Alfonso Cuaron choose to exclude Quidditch if that is the case?

Judging by other decisions the director has made, I don't think he will, and I'm fairly sure we will be seeing Quidditch in Harry's third year on screen.

Controversially, Cuaron chose not to use authentic castles and antiquated buildings in Northumberland's heritage sites as sets unlike previous director Chris Columbus. Almost the entire film will be shot at Leavesden Studios, or other sites in London and the Sottish Highlands, such as Glencoe, where necessary or artistically preferable. This is probably because Cuaron has chosen to use computer generated sets as a spokesperson for The Northumberland Tourist Authority speculates.

Thus, I conclude that Cuaron intends to produce the Quidditch scenes entirely using computer graphics, and with good reason. Whilst most were duly impressed by the graphics employed to realise Quidditch in the first two films, on closer inspection, and when subjected to the scrutiny of film critics, the sequences had their downfalls.

Many claimed that the players didn't blend properly with their environment, and whilst not failing to amaze, the sequences lacked a certain polish that would have given them a greater sense of reality.

Computer graphics have now reached a stage where this would be easily accomplished, as exemplified to full effect in films like Star Wars II, and more subtly; The Lord of The Rings Trilogy.

The only character it is essential to see close-up in these sequences is Harry himself, and those segments could easily be filmed with Dan Radcliffe, leaving effects specialists to pay full attention to seamlessly integrating him alone, without having to worry about the other thirteen players.

Were the scenes fully computer generated, the issue of poor environmental integration would be of no consequence, as each frame is entirely computer generated, with no need for outside elements to be blended in. Each player would thus be perfectly sharp and realistic, and due to the tremendous effects budget for these films, and the near-perfect quality of modern computer graphics, Quidditch would have an incredible clarity.

Whilst the audience would be able to identify Oliver and his teammates darting around the pitch, and possibly even make out his facial expressions and other minutiae with complete realism, Sean wouldn't be required to act the part.

Nevertheless, it would be disappointing not to see Oliver in the celebrations having won the actual cup for many, and so the petitions that have sprung up may help to ensure his inclusion for post or pre-match scenes, and possibly voice parts to fully realise his computer generated counterpart if Cuaron does, as evidence suggests, computer generate Quidditch.

Very interesting indeed...no real castles this time...that was a bit disapointing for me actually. Feel free to discuss it.

[Sacred Guardian]

i didn't even know the castles were real in the first two

[RavenEye]

Yep, they used a number of castles across Europe.

[Sacred Guardian]

thats awsome

[MikeT]

thats sad that! But at least the films will be better!

[Sacred Guardian]

yeah, i hope they don't cut out important stuff (which quidditch is, b/c that is how Harry gets the Firebolt, which he uses to get through the first task in GoF, which they have to put it (any director would be out of there mind to not include 4 dragons))

[Lizzy Bennet]

A full YEAR before this movie comes out . . . thankfully, we'll have book 5 (which is *much* better) in the interim, but I'm really looking forward to seeing book three go to movie, provided they stick closely to the story! I'm looking forward to seeing Gary Oldman as Sirius . . . I think that was a good casting choice. It'll be interesting to see the time-travel, the confrontation between the Trio, Sirius, Pettigrew, Lupin, etc., as well as seeing Beaky and Hagrid's crazy "Care of Magical Creatures" class!

[Holly Golightly]

FINALLY!!! Lots of people have been saying that because teh actor who plays Wood wont' be in the 3rd movie there will be no quiddich,and I keep trying to tell people that they will just computer generate it in! but no one has ever believed me, so I had just given up on saying it!!!
*note, those people arent' in this forum!!!*

So now I'm all excited that people finally agree with me!!!

Oh yeah, and I didnt' know that the castles were actually real either, until I heard that hey wouldnt' be using them in the rest of the movies... whoops!!!

[Hermione Weasley]

i really hope they keep sean biggerstaff he is a great actor!and i think it really sad that they are not going to use actual castles in the film.It made it seem like they were really in hogwarts not a sound stage,but i guess the director is doing what he thinks is best not that i agree with some of it

[Holly Golightly]

It is quite dissapointing that they arent' using real castles anymore! I will be watching PoA trying to see if you can tell the difference! It does kinda take a little fo the mogic out of it though... because you can usually tell that somehting is CG...

[Hermione Weasley]

yea it does kinda suck,but it seems to me that the new director is going a little computer happy.

[Jay]

lot of the girls will be upset that Wood isnt in the next movie

[Lizzy Bennet]

lot of the girls will be upset that Wood isnt in the next movie

LOL--are you suggesting we females are SHALLOW?! haha

Hey, if they ever put Colin Firth or Ewan McGregor in the HP movies (or even Hugh Grant, as long as he plays a cad ), I'll be watching MANY times over! Whoo-hoo!

Seriously, I'm glad we have something to look forward to before the 6th book comes out!! I wonder how long the third movie will be, but I know I'll be watching it several times when it comes out...it's my favorite book of the series!


~ Lizzy

[Jay]

I would never suggest such a thing

[Lizzy Bennet]

I would never suggest such a thing

Oh yes, riiiiiight. Because hey, we girls never talk about anything but how hot the actors are from the movies...oh wait, that doesn't seem to happen too much here (but it sure does in other places! ). Something would be just too weird if I started having the hots for the male kid actors...that'd be such a 'robbing the cradle'/"Mrs. Robinson" (think the movie "The Graduate") type of thing!! That would be entirely too wacky! If I had to pick an actor--really, based mostly on talent--that I really liked from the HP movies, it would be Alan Rickman...he is so dead-on Snape, I love his deep voice, and he has such range as an actor. And where, pray-tell, did I mention his looks? hehe