Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

The third in the film series based on the popular Harry Potter books. Directed By:  Alfonso Cuar�³n Starring:  Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Michael Gambon, and Gary Oldman Length:  2 hours, 21 minutes Content Filters:  None

Harry, Hermoine, and Ron are in their third year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. They’ve grown to be sometimes-irritable thirteen-year-olds. The prisoner of the title is Sirius Black, who has escaped the wizard prison of Azkaban and is supposed to be trying to kill Harry. He’s Harry’s godfather, and he betrayed Harry’s parents to their deaths. Frightening Dementors—black, ghostlike creatures from Azkaban—surround the grounds at Hogwarts, trying to catch Sirius but not very choosy about whose soul they suck or about Headmaster Dumbledore’s edict that they can’t enter the grounds. A terrific movie is about to begin.

So—the kids are older (Hermoine grows smarter and more beautiful; Harry is a good-looking but angry boy), the stakes are higher, and the entire movie has a darker feeling, thanks to new director Alfonse Cuárón, who replaced Chris Columbus. The late Richard Harris’s excellent portrayal of Dumbledore has been taken over by a somewhat different portrayal by Michael Gambon. Emma Thompson is true comic relief—when she’s not predicting Harry’s death—as the ditzy Divinations teacher, Professor Trelawney. David Thewles is excellent as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Lupine, who actually knows what he’s doing. And Hogwarts has had a facelift, having relocated to the Scottish Highlands and remodeled a bit. All this change, plus the seldom-seen previous favorites, Professor Snape (Alan Rickman) and Professor McGonagal (Maggie Smith), may be more than an child, used to familiar things, can handle.

As with the other movies, I recommend that the moviegoer read the book—all three if that hasn’t been done—before seeing “Azkaban.” This movie is in some ways scarier and in other ways less frightening than the first two. Ron relishes a high-profile “bloody hell,” but there’s not much inappropriate language otherwise. I can’t wait to see this movie again and will certainly purchase it when it comes out on DVD, but because of the frightening moments and complexity of the wizarding world, I stand by my rule for this series of movies—if you’re not old enough to read the book yourself, you don’t get to see the movie. And I can’t wait for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, next in the series.

Reviewed By:  Lisa Hawkins
Screenplay Writer:  Steven Kloves
Author of Book:  J. K. Rowling
Production Studio:  Warner Bros.
Musical Score:  John Williams