Review of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) by Karen B — 05 Jul 2013

"Turn to page 394.".

And that sounds like the beginning of another Harry Potter review. This time, it's the third chapter of the franchise, Alfonso Cuaron's Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

In Harry Potter's third year at Hogwarts, criminal Sirius Black (Gary Oldman), known for helping Voldemort in the death of Harry's parents, breaks out of Azkaban prison, and vows revenge on Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) for defeating his follower. Because of this, Hogwarts is heavily guarded by Dementors, Azkaban guards who can suck out a person's soul, and also have a huge craving for Harry. Harry discovers some twists and turns about Sirius and vows to kill him before his enemy does.

Continuing their appearances in the franchise include Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley, Emma Watson as Hermione Granger, Maggie Smith as McGonagall, Alan Rickman as Snape (he says the opening quote in my review, by the way), Robbie Coltrane as Hagrid, who is now a professor of Magical Creatures (the creature is the hippogriff, Buckbeak), Robert Hardy as Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge, Tom Felton as Draco Malfoy, Julie Walters and Mark Williams as the Weasley parents, and Richard Griffiths and Fiona Shaw as the Durselys.

New actors appearing in this film includes Michael Gambon replacing the late Richard Harris as Dumbledore, David Thewlis as Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher Lupin, who has a dark secret, Emma Thompson as Divination professor Trelawney, who's a bit of a creep, Timothy Spall as Peter Pettigrew, a mysterious man who turns out to be a rat, and Pam Farris as Aunt Marge, Harry's evil aunt who gets literally blown up by Harry after she insults his parents.

After Chris Columbus directed the first two films, in a decent way, he left and the franchise was taken over by Alfonso Cuaron, who's best known feature before this would be the fantasy classic which I've never seen before, A Little Princess. Cuaron took a more darker approach, even altering the outside look of Hogwarts to fit his vision. And I must say, Cuaron's direction is the best take on the franchise at this point.

One of the problems with the two Columbus films, particularly Sorcerer's Stone, was making the films stay 100% true to the book, resulting in a slower pace. It was fixed a bit in Chamber of Secrets, even though it was ten minutes longer. Prisoner of Azkaban, on the other hand, is 10 minutes shorter than Sorcerer's Stone, has some original things going on in this (meaning that it's not 100% true to the book, but still keeping the spirit of the book, which is how a great film adaptation should be), and gives us the quickest pace the franchise has given us so far.

Cuaron's direction is just brilliant. While darker, as evident in the change of looks in the outside of Hogwarts, it's the most realistic, with the three main leads, particularly Radcliffe, going in a mature direction. In one scene, when he discovers a shocking truth about Sirius, he hollers, "I hope he finds me, cause if he does, I'm gonna kill him," which is probably the darkest thing Harry's ever said. Rupert Grint also matures, while still in fear of everything, particularly the tree that nearly killed him in Chamber of Secrets. And Emma Watson? She's fantastic, and SHE' ONLY 13! Not only is her character the "brightest witch of her age", but has the most heart of everyone in the franchise. Say what you want about Radcliffe, Watson steals the show, kid actor wise.

As in the other films, the acting in the adult cast is brilliant. I'm still huge on Alan Rickman as Snape, and he has some of his best lines in this film (the page 394 line and "Turn out your pockets."). Even though she's not in it that much, Maggie Smith as McGonagall is another highlight in the film (Don't worry Maggie, you'll get your true potential in the final chapter). While I missed Richard Harris as Dumbledore, his replacement, Michael Gambon is so good in the role that you don't even feel a change of actors. David Thewlis is pretty entertaining as Lupin, and even feels like a father figure to Harry, which I enjoyed, while Emma Thompson is creepy and weird, but in a good way, as the Divination teacher. But of the new actors, it's Gary Oldman as Sirius Black who really delivers. His character has the most twists in him, and while I won't give it away to late newcomers, Oldman makes a complex character and turns it into something done easy.

Like in the other films, the visuals are phenomenal. From the aunt blowing up, to the fast and crazy Knight Bus, to an insane Quidditch match in a rainstorm, to the Dementors, to Buckbeat the hippogriff, to the crazy climax involving time travel, each CG effect is first rate and proves without a doubt that CG can be done right in good hands.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban would be the final film to be scored by John Williams, and his last score for the franchise is definitely the best score of the three. His score shows his dark side while keeping the traditional John Williams sound. When the time travel climax shows up, I love that you hear a clock ticking in the background when there's no clock around. Williams is a pure composing genius. Nuff said.

Thanks to Cuaron's darker and realistic direction, improved, mature acting from our three leads, first-rate visuals, and John William's best score in the franchise, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban proves that a third chapter can be done right and is one of the strongest films in the franchise.

"I solemnly swear I am up to no good.".