Unlike Peter Jackson, who directed the The Lord Of The Rings series, Christopher Columbus has not directed all the Harry Potter films.

After directing The Sorcerer's Stone and The Chamber Of Secrets, Columbus [Home Alone, Home Alone 2 and Stepmom] decided to step down from directing the third. He chose to remain a producer of the film, though.

That is when Spanish director Alfonso Cuaron, of the Oscar-winning films, Y Tu Mama Tambien and A Little Princess, came in. J K Rowling's brief to the Spanish director was clear: Be faithful to the spirit of the film, but don't be literal.

Cuaron did that by zeroing in on the theme of the film and concentrating only on those elements of the book that adhered to that theme. That is why the movie plunges straight into the action, without any of the exposition that marked the first two movies to establish Harry's world. It also means that those new to the world of Harry Potter may find the proceedings confusing.

About working with the kids, the plainspoken director said, 'When you work with kids, people tell you to be very delicate. But that's the last thing you want to be with kids. They feel patronised if you're like that. They just want you to be normal.'

Apparently, he was at a disadvantage when working with the kids because he could not curse -- it was specified in his contract. Cuaron later enlightened Radcliffe with a few choice Spanish phrases, about which Radcliffe is said to have remarked, 'It's nothing I can repeat for the Spanish audience.'

Cuaron may or may not direct the next Harry Potter films, but for now, he says he is, 'tired. I can't imagine how Chris Columbus or Peter Jackson did it.'

The director was accompanied by wife Bo and their child for the UK premiere.

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