Entertainment Weekly Looks Back at "Prisoner of Azkaban" and "Goblet of Fire"
PoA Film
Posted by: Mel
November 17, 2010, 11:38 PM
As you may recall, Entertainment Weekly is looking back at the first six Harry Potter films as a way of counting down to the release of "Deathly Hallows: Part 1." They now have articles on "Prisoner of Azkaban" and "Goblet of Fire." For "Prisoner of Azkaban" Entertainment Weekly writes:
Cuarón continued to shake things up well into production. He relocated
Hogwarts castle to the Scottish Highlands, forcing production delays due
to bad weather. He collaborated with screenwriter Steve Kloves on
inventing scenes whole cloth, like Harry’s solo joyride on a majestic
Hippogriff (part horse, part eagle). He encouraged actor Michael Gambon,
who replaced the late Richard Harris as Hogwarts Headmaster Albus
Dumbledore, to embrace the character’s eccentric sensibility, dressing
him more like a magical hippie than the classic wizard from the first
two films. He asked for longer, more complicated takes, challenging his
young actors to stretch past their limitations. “Sometimes, it took two
weeks for me just to get one shot right,” said Radcliffe. When the title
star approached Cuarón for help in nailing a particularly demanding
monologue railing against Sirius Black, instead of simply giving him
suggestions for facial expressions like Columbus would have, Cuarón
talked Radcliffe through Harry’s emotional life. Then he said, figure
this out for yourself. “I’ll forever be in his debt,” Radcliffe raved.
“It basically affected the way I approached everything after that.”
In discussing "Goblet of Fire" Entertainment Weekly pays particular attention to the choice of Mike Newell as director for the film:
Enter Mike Newell, the journeyman director of Four Weddings and a Funeral and Donnie Brasco. Like Azkaban‘s Alfonso Cuaron, Newell might’ve seemed like a left-field choice to make a boisterous fantasy romp, but Potter producer David Heyman explained to EW that Newell was actually his first choice to direct Sorcerer’s Stone. “[Heyman] had the following thought: Harry Potter’s British; perhaps the artistic sensibility translating him should be British too.” Although Newell turned down the original job, he took the gig for Goblet,
figuring that he could bring a note of realism to the film’s portrayal
of British school life. Regarding the first two films, Newell noted: “I
felt the children were rather…oh, Stiff. My view is that children are violent, dirty, corrupt anarchists.”
You can read both articles
here and
here.
17 Comments
10839 Points
Good Interviews :D
Love GoF, didnt know that Newell was considered for SS
10839 Points
“My view is that children are violent, dirty, corrupt anarchists.” Newell hahahaha wow
3149 Points
what de hell “my view is that children are violent, dirty, corrupt anarchrists.” is he talking about a corrupt government or children coz far as I know children are sweet innocent human beings.
667 Points
love newell for that quote!
421 Points
No, they’re not HarryGinnyfan. We just like to think they are. Children are little monsters! Ah, how I miss those happy days :)
5212 Points
“my view is that children are violent, dirty, corrupt anarchrists.” what the hell is he thinking?
226 Points
oh well that’s nice…that thing about children
5503 Points
Very interesting quote…. I have to say I disagree. Even though I am a teenager I babysit a lot and kids just want someone to listen and understand them.
799 Points
I think there is a happy medium between Newell’s view of children and the more socially acceptable view. I think they are innocent and beautiful but basically lawless and that is the great thing about being a kid. Any kid that isn’t basically lawless – and I mean that in the best sense of the word – is nuthin’ but a Percy. :)
94 Points
So, its his fault that Michael Gambon has his beard in a stupid ponytail!
And, Hogwarts isn’t supposed to be regular “British school life”. Its supposed to be magical and unreal!!!!
11990 Points
I remember being a child, and having no sense of property boundries if there was something interesting to see or do. I did have a sense of staying out of trouble, but usually only after being threatened. That may have been Newell’s meaning.
I don’t think Mike Newell meant anything bad by this – those are wonderful qualities for children. For ex. my son (who’s just about Hogwarts entry age!) never really thinks things through to the end. He’s very curious, so when we wonders what would happen if he threw something off the deck, he doesn’t just hypothesize – he goes ahead and does it to find out for himself! As for Violent – ever see a bunch of 11 and 12 year old boys playing in a field? Adults don’t act like that anymore. (And yes, he’s definitely dirty most of the time).
1258 Points
That thing about the children is … lovely :p
123 Points
really liked the third and fourth films, how could newell turn down directing the first film? after reading the book, i would’ve done ANYTHING for the chance :) :)
he did such a great job of the 4th film tho. loved the scene with snape hitting ron and harry on the head in the great hall :P
gotta love snape :) :) :) :) :) :) :)
1317 Points
So Cuaron decided to dress Gambon like a hippie. To quote Heromine “What an idiot!” This is supposed to be a respected higher authority figure. I’ll never forgive Richard Harris for dying! Gambon is not Dumbledore and never will be.
Good Interviews :D
Love GoF, didnt know that Newell was considered for SS