Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Review
by Jerry Saravia (faustus_08520 AT yahoo DOT com)December 13th, 2005
HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN (2004)
Reviewed by Jerry Saravia
RATING: Three stars and a half
I must say that I am slowly becoming a Harry Potter fan (and
will decidedly read the books since my girlfriend has). "Chamber
of Secrets" was far superior to the original film but "Prisoner of Azkaban," helmed by Mexican director Alfonso Cuaron, is an
unpredictable, odd and extremely sinister new film in the series - it won me over tenfold.
This time, Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe), our intrepid wizard,
can't wait to begin a new semester at Hogwarts because his
stepparents, the Dursleys, are driving him nuts. He is so incensed with them that he literally changes one of his aunts into a flying balloon! Before you know it, Harry's school friends whisk him away in a flying car back to the prospective school of learning wizardry. It is business as usual although something wicked this way comes
(a choir even sings the words to make sure we get the point). Something far darker and more sinister than Harry has ever confronted before is making its way. A convicted murderer named Sirius Black (Gary
Oldman) is on the loose and purportedly after Harry since he allegedly killed Harry's parents. There is also a rat-faced human named Peter Pettigrew (Timothy Spall), who can change into a rat and who may
not appear to be what he first seems. Added to the mix is the unseen, evil force known as Lord Voldemort and a host of ghostly manifestations known as the Dementors, who emit negative energy and can make
you feel depressed (It is high time for Potter and company to start prescribing anti-depressants). The Dementors are after Sirius Black and are attempting to protect the school from Black, though they
seem to do more harm than good.
So let's see: who are the new members of the teaching faculty?
We have the creepy Professor Lupin (David Thewlis), who may be
trying to protect our youthful wizard with no pimples. There is also newcomer Professor Sybil Trelawney (Emma Thompson, almost
unrecognizable), who sees death in Harry's future thanks to tea
leaves in tea cups. Everyone seems standoffish, including the usual members of the faculty such as the sneering Professor Snape
(Alan Rickman), Professor Dumbledore (reliable Michael Gambon
replacing the late Richard Harris), the sagest of all and, if you are alert, you'll note the all too brief appearance of Maggie Smith as Professor McGonagall. And if you are real quick, you'll spot Julie Christie in a cameo as someone who knows the truth regarding
Harry's real parents.
"Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" is certainly chock full of characters and situations that require a little note-taking to keep track (post-its might help for the DVD viewer). What is of special note in this film is the glumness and darker tone. Director Alfonso Cuaron (who helmed the underwhelming "Y Tu Mama Tambien")
brings a level of playfulness to it, as should be required of all fantasies, but there is also a sense of unease. Thanks to stunning art-direction and fluid camerawork, the film is just as uninviting as it is inviting. Cuaron sweeps us away into a world of time travel, ominous
incantations uttered before an ominous mirror, werewolves,
misty fog by the moonlight, wraiths (Dementors) that resemble
the Ring-Wraiths from "Lord of the Rings," flying cars, magic wands, a little more Quidditch play with flying brooms, a spectral bus, a talking shrunken head, need I say more?
"Prisoner of Azkaban" remains the oddest Harry Potter film by far, evoking more dread than whimsy (which is not a bad thing). Its look and feel resembles Nicholas Roeg's equally dark and foreboding
"The Witches." "Azkaban" is the one film in this series that makes me feel rather uncomfortable, despite how entertaining and dazzling it often is.
Everyone in this grand cast performs up to expectations but it is
Daniel Radcliffe who surprises me the most. Radcliffe has brought
a sense of urgency and empathy to his role as Potter - this is not some effects-filled bombast with characterless ciphers. In "Sorcerer's Stone," Radcliffe was a bland, undefined little tyke. Now he has
consumed the role and made it his own and I am proud to say it is
the best performance in the film.
"Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" is unique, inventive,and tantalizing. Its sense of dread may scare away the tykes, though
they probably have the read the book and know what to expect.
Knowing that the books encourage kids to read makes me like this
film even more.
For more reviews, check out JERRY AT THE MOVIES at:
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