Featured Film Review
'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban' © 2004 Warner Bros.
Starring: Daniel Radcliff, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Michael Gambon, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith and Robbie Coltrane Written by: J.K. Rowling (novel), Steven Kloves (screenplay) Directed by: Alfonso Cuarón Runtime: 141 minutes Rating: PG for frightening moments, creature violence and mild language Tagline: Something Wicked This Way Comes
Messers Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs, offer their compliments to Professor Snape and request that he keep his abnormally large nose out of other people's business.
A new year at Hogwarts, a new director and a new Professor Dumbledore. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is the beginning of a different approach into J.K. Rowling's world of this young wizard.
In Harry's third year at Hogwarts School for Wizardry and Witchcraft his life is in danger once again. A convicted murderer called Sirius Black has escaped from the Wizard's Prison Azkaban, and the wizardry world is convinced he will come after Harry. Yet this is not the only peril our young hero faces – since Black's escape the guards of Azkaban, the dementors, have been released into the world to capture the dangerous criminal. These creatures are supposed to protect Hogwarts, but instead they display an unusual interest in Harry to the point where it may actually cost him his life. Fortunately, Harry has a new defence against the Dark Arts teacher, Remus Lupin, who comes to his rescue on several occasions.
Director Alfonso Cuarón skilfully shows us the threats and the darkness surrounding Hogwarts School of Wizardry and Witchcraft almost in a film noire manner, artistically this film exceeded all my expectations. The camera glides over the grounds of Hogwarts, giving us a view of the castle we've never seen before. Where the previous Harry Potter films were typically American in their set-up, this one changes to a more European style of filming. The darkness and the artistic view-point of the director make this Potter movie a pleasure to watch in my humble opinion. Fortunately for the viewer, it's not just darkness in this film; there is also time to giggle at Ron Weasley's not-so-smart remarks, and the whomping willow's actions.
As for the new Professor Dumbledore, Michael Gambon; I have to say I was afraid to watch this movie because of the change of Dumbledore. For me, Richard Harris will always be the embodiment of Hogwart's Headmaster, and it takes some person to follow in his footsteps. Michael Gambon definitely has what it takes to step into Harris' shoes and does an excellent job replacing him. Still, I had that nagging feeling in the pit of my stomach throughout the film that kept on saying I miss Richard Harris. Truth be told though, I can get used to Michael Gambon's interpretation of Dumbledore. In this part, Emma Thompson takes on the part of Professor Sybil Trelawny, the divination's teacher, which she does brilliantly, and David Thewlis does an outstanding job in playing Professor Remus Lupin, the new Defence against the Dark Arts teacher. As always Alan Rickman's performance as Severus Snape is eerie – I think it has to do with the voice. Once again the viewer is able to tell, he is annoyed he's been passed by for the position of Defence against the Dark Arts teacher. And, considering the poor choice in teachers for that subject in the past, I can't blame him.
All in all, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is a film I can watch over and over again. I'm certain I can discover new things in every viewing. However, the new director and his artistic approach are not for everyone. My own mother claimed she preferred the first two parts to this one. It's been two days since I've seen the film as I write this review, and the effects have finally sank into my brain. I'm ready to see it again. Not to see what was missing from the book, because after all if you want everything that's in the book – you have to read the book.
Reviewer: Athena
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