Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

I'll admit it, I'm not an avid reader...at all. I can honestly say that I have never, ever read a book completely, other the second, third, and fifth Harry Potter novels. While I've read both of the other books halfway through, I just get lost and realize the fact that I could be doing something else. With movies, however, it is a whole new matter entirely. The previous two Hollywood-friendly adaptions were very enjoyable, but weren't very good films in the sense that it just isn't how I imagine the miracles & magic world to be, at all, least of all Harry Potter's world. Barely achieving a 4-star rating, the films bitterly suffered from overall poor child acting, and followed too closely to the book in the manner of scene-by-scene carbon copying. The third Hollywood installment in the series has done away with all of the said problems, and has become the year's best film, so far.

When I found out that Chris Columbus (director of the first two films) was not going to direct the third movie, I was happy, because I knew that the overly-kiddie and colorful Hollywood crap would be flushed away, but I was worried that a new director might make it even worse. Mexican director Alfonso Cuaron, takes a much different approach on J.K. Rowling's novel, and makes this film not only much more enjoyable than the previous two, but a far better movie in every way of looking at it. I know you're sick of hearing it, but this film is, I say it for the fans, a much darker movie. Granted, the novel from which it was adapted is a lot darker than its fellow installments, but the movie takes it to a new level.

When I saw the trailers, I figured all this "dark" hubbub was simply a great number of people being impressed by a dumb movie with a gritty look that you only need remove 60% of the color to see...ala Saving Private Ryan. Cuaron's take on the film is a lot more than that. The new roles that he cast add a much "darker" look to the film, and the acting is a lot darker as well. Cuaron's vision reminds me of films like Sleepy Hollow, and at times, his overall directing sets me dazzled in delight.

Every returning role in the film is played by the same actor, that is of course except Dumbledore (headmaster at Hogwarts School), who was previously played by the late Ed Harris. I'll open here by saying that Michael Gambon (The Insider) plays him. He has a lot more screen time in the movie than Ed Harris did in both other films, and takes on Dumbledore differently. Whereas Ed Harris was quiet and slow, Gambon is much preachier and poetic, and works through his lines and scenes much more quickly and more effectively. He works very well, despite what some say, dare I say it, but better than Harris did. Certain cast members get a different take altogether, as well. Lots of actors who worked for a memorable amount of screen time in the other films have little to no lines here, and some don't appear at all.

Dobby, an annoying CG character in The Chamber of Secrets, is never shown, not even mentioned, once in the whole movie. Emma Watson's Hermoine (the only consistently well-acted character between the movies) has a lot more time in the movie, and she works better than ever before. Thanks to the novel's layout, she has much more scenes, and works through them all without a flaw, particularly with her voice. Harry, played by Daniel Radcliffe, is a lot weaker here than he was in both other films, which was rather disappointing. Harry has a lot of scenes in the movie that Radcliffe just isn't experienced enough to do, particularly that awful crying scene. Rupert Grint, who plays Ron, got terrible reviews for the second film, and is blessed by redemption here. He plays his character superbly, without changing anything about the cowardice Ron that I know and love.

A couple of the teachers at Hogwarts return, some don't. Professor Snape (Alan Rickman), Professor McGonagall (Maggie Smith), and Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane) all have significant presence in the film. Hagrid, who becomes a teacher this year, has less importance, but is just as effectively played in this film as he was in the first two. The scenes with Hagrid were among my favorites in both of the other films, but he has been sadly cut a bit shorter here. The new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Lupin (David Thewlis) is a very counseling and wise character, particularly to Harry, and they have several effective scenes together. Emma Thompson (Junior) plays the new Professor of Divinity, Sybil Trelawny. She's the goofiest character in the film, and dominates several scenes of tongue-in-cheek laughter and important plot point. Lastly, the "prisoner of Azakban," Sirius Black, is played magnificently by Gary Oldman, who so happens to be one of my favorite actors. He has only significant screen time at the end, but when he's kicked in, he concocts probably the best two scenes in the movie. He's admittedly in it for a very small amount of time, but I was expecting that.

It is the third summer for Harry since he entered Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. A visit from Aunt Marge at the Dursley home puts Harry under uncontrollable rage, and leads up to him running off and being traveled to the Minister of Magic by way of the magical Knight Bus. He is warned that Sirius Black, supporter of the dark Lord Voldemort and evil wizard, has escaped from Azkaban Prison, and he has reasons to come after Harry himself. Dementors, guards of the hellish prison, are roaming through the magic world, particularly Hogwarts, in hopes of finding Sirius Black. Dementors are uncontrollably dangerous apparitions, however, and would not hesitate to drive mad or kill anyone in their way. With Black on the loose, the Dementors patrolling Hogwarts, and Hagrid's new problems as a new teacher, a much darker year is in store for Harry and his friends, and Sirius Black may just be the answer to certain questions. Harry has been warned that Black would kill him as soon as look at him, but we know very well that he has a knack for seeking, and finding, serious trouble...

The entire cast works magnificently together, which is really the only thing that gave strength to the prior two films. In watching the first two minutes of The Prisoner of Azkaban, you will automatically realize you're in a whole new ballpark. The superbly spooky second and third chapters of the novel were magically transferred onto the screen, particularly the wacky Knight Bus ride, and was a great way to kick off the film. Progressing through, excellent scenes dot the movie, such as the super-creepy Dementor encounter on the train, the choir at Hogwarts, and Albus Dumbledore's magnificent introduction of the third year at Hogwarts.

For those of you who have read the novel, as have I, I'd like to warn you that this film strays much more than the prior two films, which to me, is a very good thing. Still, great things from the novel, such as Harry receiving his birthday gifts at home, or the glorious Quidditch cup match, have been sadly cut out. The end is particularly rushed. Perhaps it would have been better had I not read the book first. Anyways, the more important "story" scenes are there, and they work better than I would have hoped.

The appearance of the film is ten times better than the other two. As in the novel, a dominant amount of time is spent outdoors, and every scene is nothing but pure eye-candy. Clouds, rain, and fog set a darker tone, and the "landscapes" that are chosen are breathtaking. Particularly Harry and Hermoine's travel through the woods is particularly well filmed. The special effects in the movie are to be taken seriously: they sum up the mood that we need, and are nothing short of spectacular. It is particularly interesting to see what fun Cuaron decides to have all the way throughout the movie. Excellent visuals are almost in every frame of the movie, and it is very surprising to see the humor that they added. It's a very weird, kooky kind of humor, but makes me laugh nonetheless and adds even further spice to a movie with such a dark tone.

In the scenes where the "kookiness" seems to reach the top, it is almost automatically blended through an important plot point, or a visual stunning, or simply a great acting. The especially well-done soundtrack adds more flavor to the magic than in the first two films, with bells, tingles, and chimes lining the landscape scenes, and working excellently. I normally wouldn't mention a soundtrack in any movie, but John Williams has done a very notable job here.

I can't really find a single thing to complain about in the movie, which is why I have taken such a liking to Alfonso Cuaron. It saddens me deeply to say that he won't direct the next film (Mike Newell will direct The Goblet of Fire). This is quite possibly Hollywood's biggest mistake to the franchise, but we'll see where it goes from there. As of now, I can contemplate on this exceptionally strong movie, and recommend it to anyone who crosses my path. I'm seeing it again this week, as I loved it so much, and more so because there were comparisons to the novel that I seem to have missed the first time through. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is Hollywood's best move of '04, and finally moved Shrek 2 down to number 2 at the box office. It's time to go watch the movie yourself, because you can't call yourself a moviegoer without doing so...period.