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I work for Time Warner and just saw a Warner Bros. trade screening of POA this morning. I don't want to spoil anything ... but do want to give you a quick assessment of my initial impressions.

First, let me just say that the movie is BRILLIANT. Finally - a Harry Potter movie that captures the true spirit of the books without being so literal that it might bore those unfamiliar with the books. The look, the feel and the approach are completely different from the two previous films. The sets and settings are very realistic. No more kiddie stuff. The movie is very GOTHIC. Loads of atmosphere ... it almost seems as if Tim Burton might have directed it.

I liked the first two films - don't get me wrong ... but, I never felt that they were as good as they should have been. A lot of that I believe came from Chris Columbus' slick "Hollywood" style directing. I always thought that a director with more of an "Indie" film background would be better suited to direct these movies. Alfonso Cuaron delivers ... BIG TIME! Everything is better! The storytelling, the acting, the music and even the special effects.

The three principals have grown as actors ... none of their lines are the slightest bit forced or overdone ... every line is delivered in very natural way. Michael Gambon does a great job as Dumbledore ... very different from Richard Harris' soft spoken approach ... but, equally effective. Some people may be bothered by the Alfonso's re-imagining of Hogwarts, The Leaky Cauldron, the Hogwarts Express, Hagrid's Hut, Professor Flitwick (new younger look), etc. But not me ... I loved it. I think Alfonso got it all just right. The movie moves and keeps moving ... there are no slow exposition scenes .... everything that needs to be there is there ... no essential plot points are sacrificed.

This is the work of a truly great filmmaker. I can hardly wait to see it again.

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