Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Movie
From LoveToKnow Sci-Fi
Director: Alfonso Cuarón
Screenplay by: Steven Kloves
Genre: Adventure/Family/Fantasy
Released: June 2004
Rating: PG for mild language, scary moments and creature violence
Runtime: 141 minutes
"Something wicked this way comes..." is the perfect tag line for this movie not only because of its literal symbolism of the film, but because it also foreshadows what is to come in the future. In previous films, the threat that Lord Voldemort presents has always played second fiddle to what the evil wizard's followers are willing to do to help him regain his power. While the dark lord himself is not what threatens Harry in this film, it is very clear from the ominous tone that things are finally being set in motion for what will surely be an epic battle between good and evil.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Plot
No one has ever escaped Azkaban prison - until now, and the prisoner that has slipped past the nightmarish Dementors that patrol the grounds of the magical prison is none other than Sirius Black, former friend to James and Lily Potter, convicted of consorting with "He Who Must Not Be Named". As Harry begins his third year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry he learns that Black, having been in prison for twelve years, is most certainly out to end Harry's young life in order to finish the work started by the his dark lord so many years ago. Once again, Harry's safety at Hogwarts is being threatened and he must race the clock to sort fact from fiction and bring justice to those who deserve it while dealing with the emotions that are set ablaze within him as he learns more about the darkness of the events that happened to his family in the past.
Film Adaptation Notes
The story of Harry Potter is an intricately woven tapestry, carefully planned and brilliantly executed on the pages of J.K. Rowling's novels. By far, the third film stands as the most accurate screen portrayal of its literary counter part, which is ironic because Prisoner of Azkaban is the shortest Harry Potter movie yet, while the novel, at the time of its release, had more pages than either of the two novels that came before it. As usual, not everything from the book is in the movie, but the longer you waited between reading the book and watching the movie, the less you miss what is only on the page and appreciate more what you see on screen.
For a non fan, this film should have a little more drawing power, perhaps because this is the first installment of a "darker" Harry Potter experience. The cast has two films under their belts at this point and under new direction the story takes a very definite turn in a forward direction, setting the scene and mood for Harry's future. This is the film in which you really see evidence that Harry has the potential to be the most powerful wizard in the magical world. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is truly a non fan's Harry Potter because its soul purpose isn't just the pleasing of fans, but is focused more on the telling a great story.
Cinematography & Sound
From the first scene to the last, this distinctly new vision of Harry Potter's world is the artistic triumph that non fans have been longing for in the films. There are loads of new places to see and the hills of Scotland provide a majestic landscape for the grounds of Hogwarts. This is not a hand-me-down sweater of a film; this is a brand new, hand-sewn garment made from the most expensive fabrics and carefully designed to be a one-of-a-kind style worn with class. It is a perfect fit for the story.
Special effects are the best yet and although some animatronics were used it's not easy to spot when the mechanical creatures were cast aside for CGI animation. The Dementors, flawlessly designed and perfectly animated, are the most beautifully horrifying visions on the screen and will put a chill in the spine of anyone who sees them.
Music, while carrying the same familiar melodies, has been kicked up a notch and lends to the ear a whole new atmosphere of sound that is still playfully magical and yet is still so darkly mysterious. Special effects are as great as the were in the first two films and continue put the icing on the deliciously baked cake that is Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
Performance
The portrayals of Harry Potter's characters continue to be spot-on in Prisoner of Azkaban. Once you see him in the role you can't imagine anyone, but Gary Oldman as Siris Black. With new direction and actor Michael Gambon taking over the role of the school's headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, the character is a very new wizard with more than a few secrets in his eyes, which comes as a welcome change from the fatherly figure he was in the previous films.
Oh, the children, they grow up so fast. Their inexperience is still clearly visible in the more emotional scenes and sometimes you just don't feel "it" from them. There is still definite growth here and one has to see that by the time these kids deliver their final scenes as their Harry Potter characters they will be giving the most emotionally powerful performances of their lives.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Final Thoughts
At this point I feel I must make it known to readers that the Harry Potter films always spark a very, very strong emotion in me because I am so in love with the novels and the story as a whole. I've waited in line on opening day for each of the movies and my excitement over what I am about to experience in the theater always rivals that of the all the cape clad kids in the crowd.
Having said all that, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban puts the previous films to shame with it's no-nonsense approach to the telling of the story. Because the film-makers are not catering to a well read, child filled audience there is more depth in this film, there is more turmoil and more emotion and it makes for a much better viewing experience. If you only see one Harry Potter movie, make it this one and I promise you'll be more curious about the next.
Harry Potter Links
Related Fantasy Links
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban book
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets book
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Movie
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Movie
- The Golden Compass of the His Dark Materials fantasy book series
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