AICN scored a big scoop

AICN scored a big scoop today – thanks to ‘FredNGeorge’ for the alert. The Harry Potter movie is over two hours in its present form – YAY! most of you might say, but Warner Bros. will probably want to tighten it down to a more family-friendly 90-110 minutes – we hope they don’t! We quote “The Walkabouter” who is involved in “part of the film’s post-production”

It runs long — over two hours — but as is, it’s not overlong. So, as the book is so adored by readers young and old (myself included), the questions are these: Can a film adaptation properly live up to the source material? Can it do it faithfully and yet condense it down into 2 hours’ time? Can the director tread into darker waters, keeping the edge, moodiness, as well as the playfulness of the book? Can the young cast adequately personify the characters, and make them come to life on screen? The answer to all of these questions is, indeed, yes.

Many of the special effects have yet to be completed, and were in a very crude form. But the production design of the sets (the Hogwarts’ school and its infinitely high ceilings are a wow) are right on the mark. John Seale’s cinematography is right on the mark, with Ridley Scottian “shafts” of light, smoke, and atmosphere…

From what I’ve seen, I feel confident in saying that little Daniel Radcliffe will become synonymous with Harry Potter, just like Chris Reeve was with Superman, Harrison Ford with Indiana Jones… Radcliffe certain LOOKS like Harry Potter come to life. But he also FEELS like Potter.

As for the supporting players, the dream cast is also right-on: Rupert Grint is wonderful as Ron, Emma Watson is funny as the uber-prissy but good hearted Hermoine. Maggie Smith is the perfect stuck-up professor of witchcraft (but in a charming way, as she always does in every English role she’s ever played). Richard Harris is the eccentric but wise and kindly Albus Dumbledore. Alan Rickman is perfectly mean and nasty, sneering and spooky. And Robbie Coltrane steals his scenes with a lot of loud and humorous energy.

If Warner Bros. gives a little more flexibility in the editing process by not forcing the movie to be condensed to the Reader’s Digest/Cliff’s Notes version, the film could be good enough to give LORD OF THE RINGS a run for its money…

Read the full article over at AICN — we here are with Harry… we might have something extraordinary….