Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban
(B+ or 3/4 stars)
'Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban' is the 3rd adventure film based from J.K. Rowling's novels, & directed by Alfonso Cuaron. After arriving back at Hogwart's Wizarding School for his 3rd year, Harry (a gradually impressive Daniel Radcliffe) learns that dangerous criminal, Sirius Black, has escaped from Azkaban prison & wants to kill him to avenge Lord Voldemort. He also has to fend off some ambiguous soul-sucking shape-shifters, the Dementors. They're instructed to guard Hogwarts from Black's presence, but they have a mind of their own. By the end of the school year, Harry will have learned more about his checkered past & who his allies may be in the future. This film is deeper & darker than its predecessors. But a fair share of charm is sacrificed along the way.
Having just blown up (as a balloon) his loathsome Aunt Marge, Harry anxiously returns to Hogwarts to see his friends, Hermione & Ron (an improved Emma Watson & Rupert Grint). Sirius Black was believed to have kidnapped Potter's parents back in the day, hence his incarceration at Azkaban. Dementors are lurking around every corner, & 'The Fat Lady' reports, woefully, that Sirius Black (Gary Oldman) is in the castle. It 'appears' he's after Harry! Harry has to watch his back wherever he may go. Using Marauder's Map to trace other people's steps in the castle, he hopes to fend off Black and whatever other peril heads his way. Who's on his side? Why does Mr. Weasley want Harry to seek out Black!? Why are various witches & warlocks morphing into other beings at oddball times?
'Something Wicked This Way Comes' is the motto of this film. Wickedness sure is everywhere. Whether it's the menacing Sirius Black, or the black-cloaked Dementors; Draco Malfoy (nasty Tom Felton) or his viscious father, Lucius; Professor Snape (the fantastic Alan Rickman) or crystal ball-reader, Sybil Trelawney (a wonderfully neurotic Emma Thompson) ... evil makes its' presence known. To this point, the Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers have not been kind to Harry. What of Professor Lupin (David Thewlis)? He's either the nicest Professor around, or he's great at hiding it. By the end of this film, Harry will have been able to realize the truth about Sirius Black, & how that concerns the betrayal of his unfortunate parents.
'Prisoner of Azkaban' is chock full of interesting concepts & characters. Thanks to new director Alfonso Cuaron, the film takes a decidedly darker turn both literally & stylistically. Everything has a dark silvery blue hue; more shadowy ... even the white snow has an icy blue tinge to it. The camera work here is fantastic, almost dreamlike, at times. Just the Dementors, alone, are a triumph in special effects. The way Cuaron deals with the 'magic' in this installment is fluid and interesting (my favorite sequence is near the end when 'disappearing Hermione' retraces her steps). Most of the same actors are back & they provide their usual panache. But one Lead, sadly, has not returned. This is the gentle Lion that is now deceased, Richard Harris (who has played Albus Dumbledore so very well).
Michael Gambon steps in. And while I normally enjoy this actor, I don't think he slides into this particular role with nearly as much grandeur, sophistication, or heart; he's just a tad too loud as Albus. Other minor complaints? I would have liked a bit more joy about the campus (more Quidditch matches, romping around grounds, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Gryffindor antics, etc.). While exiting the theater, I was emotionally fulfilled, yet left feeling eerily chilled. And the pacing of the movie is quite slow (patience required) 'til it breaks away in the highly intriguing last 45 minutes. I enjoy the magic, the wonder, the whimsy of 'Sorcerer's Stone & Chamber of Secrets'. That doesn't make 'Azkaban' a lesser film; not at ALL. I just prefer the 1st 2 films, subjectively.
Having just blown up (as a balloon) his loathsome Aunt Marge, Harry anxiously returns to Hogwarts to see his friends, Hermione & Ron (an improved Emma Watson & Rupert Grint). Sirius Black was believed to have kidnapped Potter's parents back in the day, hence his incarceration at Azkaban. Dementors are lurking around every corner, & 'The Fat Lady' reports, woefully, that Sirius Black (Gary Oldman) is in the castle. It 'appears' he's after Harry! Harry has to watch his back wherever he may go. Using Marauder's Map to trace other people's steps in the castle, he hopes to fend off Black and whatever other peril heads his way. Who's on his side? Why does Mr. Weasley want Harry to seek out Black!? Why are various witches & warlocks morphing into other beings at oddball times?
'Something Wicked This Way Comes' is the motto of this film. Wickedness sure is everywhere. Whether it's the menacing Sirius Black, or the black-cloaked Dementors; Draco Malfoy (nasty Tom Felton) or his viscious father, Lucius; Professor Snape (the fantastic Alan Rickman) or crystal ball-reader, Sybil Trelawney (a wonderfully neurotic Emma Thompson) ... evil makes its' presence known. To this point, the Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers have not been kind to Harry. What of Professor Lupin (David Thewlis)? He's either the nicest Professor around, or he's great at hiding it. By the end of this film, Harry will have been able to realize the truth about Sirius Black, & how that concerns the betrayal of his unfortunate parents.
'Prisoner of Azkaban' is chock full of interesting concepts & characters. Thanks to new director Alfonso Cuaron, the film takes a decidedly darker turn both literally & stylistically. Everything has a dark silvery blue hue; more shadowy ... even the white snow has an icy blue tinge to it. The camera work here is fantastic, almost dreamlike, at times. Just the Dementors, alone, are a triumph in special effects. The way Cuaron deals with the 'magic' in this installment is fluid and interesting (my favorite sequence is near the end when 'disappearing Hermione' retraces her steps). Most of the same actors are back & they provide their usual panache. But one Lead, sadly, has not returned. This is the gentle Lion that is now deceased, Richard Harris (who has played Albus Dumbledore so very well).
Michael Gambon steps in. And while I normally enjoy this actor, I don't think he slides into this particular role with nearly as much grandeur, sophistication, or heart; he's just a tad too loud as Albus. Other minor complaints? I would have liked a bit more joy about the campus (more Quidditch matches, romping around grounds, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Gryffindor antics, etc.). While exiting the theater, I was emotionally fulfilled, yet left feeling eerily chilled. And the pacing of the movie is quite slow (patience required) 'til it breaks away in the highly intriguing last 45 minutes. I enjoy the magic, the wonder, the whimsy of 'Sorcerer's Stone & Chamber of Secrets'. That doesn't make 'Azkaban' a lesser film; not at ALL. I just prefer the 1st 2 films, subjectively.