Review of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) by Anthony S — 22 Sep 2014

Mexican director Alfonso Cuaron takes over as director, though Chris Columbus stays onboard as producer. While some fans have been displeased with this film, feeling that Cuaron wasn't as close to the novel and excised several important elements, I found it to be a good film, despite the fact that several major plot points were left out. Still, the film is good.

Harry returns to Hogwarts, finding out that Sirius Black, a former servant of Voldemort, has escaped the wizarding prison Azkaban to find and kill him. Harry also encounters Dementors, Azkaban guards who have been placed around Hogwarts for protection and can take joy away from anyone who gets to close, while he also meets the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Remus Lupin.

Unlike the first two films, this film is darker, while we also get a different look at Hogwarts under Cuaron's direction. Michael Seresin's cinematography adds to the dark feel of the film, at times making unsettling and very dreary. John Williams's score is also a little different, with it being a little darker, though a little jazzy feel at times. This would be the final Potter film for Williams to score, since he would than go onto score other films.

David Thewlis, Gary Oldman and Timothy Spall are welcome additions. Thewlis depicts the mysterious Lupin, adding a great sense of mystery to many of the character's scenes. Oldman depicts Sirius Black, where he wonderfully goes against type. This time Oldman doesn't depict the usual villainous character, but instead someone who turns out to be Harry's godfather who escaped Azkaban for another purpose, partly to protect Harry. Spall depicts Peter Pettigrew, the true servant of Voldemort, wonderfully playing upon the weak feel of the character.

Michael Gambon takes over the role of Albus Dumbledore, following Richard Harris's death. Gambon depicts Dumbledore differently, though he pays homage toward Harris with an Irish accent. Gambon is jazzier, but still creates a memorable and terrific Dumbledore.

While the film drops some important plot points: the creators of the map, how Black escape Azkaban and how Pettigrew managed to fake his death, the film is still well made. While it is my least favorite of the Potter films, it is still good film. The film has real heart, while you can tell that Cuaron really enjoyed making the film. The film is different, but still enjoyable. Well done.