Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004): United Kingdom – Directed by Alfonso Cuarón

Rated PG by the MPAA – contains scariness and British swearing

Aimee and I just finished reading the third book of the series, so figured we ought to watch the third movie before heading into the next book.  I must admit, I did enjoy the third book more than either of the other two.  That in addition to a new director gave me slightly higher hopes for this film.

Not only is it a new director, but it’s Alfonso Cuarón.  The first time I saw his Y Tu Mama Tambien, I loved it, though time has dimmed my view of it a bit.  Still, I was impressed, and since he also made Children of Men I knew he had a special talent.  And I must say, here he definitely does not disappoint.

For this film they moved away from a more literal interpretation of the book and veered more into adaptation territory.  Nearly all of the same events take place, but some are melded into others while others are skimmed over.  Sometimes this approach can be devastating, but here it is a resounding success.  While they trimmed and modified they also streamlined.  But, unlike the first two movies, they made it seem more natural.  It flows much better from scene to scene, aided by short little clips, often utilizing the impressive Whomping Willow.

Well, since this is a film review, we probably ought to briefly mention the plot.  However, since I am about five years late to the party I shall not bore you with too many plot points you already know.  To begin with, Harry gets in trouble at his summer home, as usual.  He arrives at Howgarts for his third year, but there’s a murderer on the loose.  Sirius Black (Gary Oldman) is renowned for killing another wizard and some Muggles, and has been in the dreadful wizard prison of Azkaban for the past twelve years.  Now he has escaped, and there are indications he may have some ties to Harry’s past.  He may also have an inclination to murder Harry.

Well, since you’ve most likely seen the film, you know what happens next.  If you don’t, I won’t spoil it for you.  Suffice to say that there are some twists and turns, most of them delightful.  Everything about the production this time seems more mature.  The primary actors seem to have settled more into their skins, particularly the youngsters.  There’s a new Dumbledore this time around, with Michael Gambon hiding behind the beard.  His performance is a far cry from his role in The Cook, the Thief, His Wife, Her Lover, for which I know him best.  He plays Dumbledore a little differently than Richard Harris did, but I think it’s fine.

The special effects have matured, too.  The effects are a little more low-key, making the entire aesthetic more effective.  That brings me to the direction, which is superb.  Cuarón has a knack for adding small flourishes that enhance the plot and action, making the whole film more exciting and fun.  On the flip side, they are never too obvious to distract or be a detriment to the film.

If you are a diehard Potter fan you might be upset at some of the changes.  However, if you look at it as an adaptation, it still stays remarkably close to the book while forging its own identity.  It doesn’t hurt that the production is top-notch, making it certainly the best of the first three films.