Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban «««
PG, 141m. 2004
Cast & Credits: Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), Emma Watson (Hermione Granger), Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley), Richard Griffiths (Uncle Vernon), Pam Ferris (Aunt Marge), Fiona Shaw (Aunt Petunia), Gary Oldman (Sirius Black), David Thewlis (Professor Lupin), Warwick Davis (Wizard), David Bradley (Argus Finch), Michael Gambon (Albus Dumbledore), Alan Rickman (Professor Severus Snape), Maggie Smith (Professor Minerva McGonagall), Emma Thompson (Professor Sybil Trelawney), Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy). Screenplay by Steve Kloves based on the book by J.K. Rowling. Directed by Alfonso Cuarón.
I have always found it hard not to associate the Harry Potter movies with that of one’s early years spent in high school. Instead of courses in algebra, english, religion and science, the kids at Hogwarts Castle learn about everything having to do with magic and sorcery. It’s a place where the faculty instructors are a compilation of magicians and witches and where the principal himself looks exactly like an old wizard whose beard is half as long as Rip Van Winkle’s.
Physical education class or maybe it could also be called recess is relegated to games of Quiddich where the students fly around on broomsticks that go as high as jet planes. Potter fans will be more than happy to set me straight as to what exactly the object of the game is but from a critic’s perspective, I assume it’s to see which opposing team can be the first to capture a flying silver ball.
Every school year, perhaps I should say, in every Harry Potter movie so far, there is always a new set of instructors. In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, the most fun class is taught by Professor Lupin (Daniel Thewlis) who teaches students how to confront their worst fears.
With the flick of their wand and the utterance of the word “ridiculous”, wizards like Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) can make a giant spider slide around on roller skates and picture Professor Snape (Alan Rickman) in women’s clothes.
Then there is Professor Sybil Trelawney (Emma Thompson) who can see into her students’ future by just looking at the leftover tea powder sitting at the bottom of a cup.
Hogwarts Castle, this time, is surrounded with “Dementors”, hooded figures with gaping mouths who are a cross between the Angel of Death and The Ghost of Christmas Future. Their job other than sucking any happy thoughts from one’s mind is to learn the whereabouts of Sirius Black (Gary Oldman) who’s escaped from prison and is coming for Harry (Daniel Radcliffe).
I still haven’t read author J.K. Rowling’s mammoth fantasy books. Ever since the movie franchise began in 2001 with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, however, I wouldn’t be surprised if everything she wrote about came to life on the big screen exactly as she envisioned it as was transcribed by director Chris Columbus (Home Alone - 1990) and screenwriter Steve Kloves.
I found the comparisons to high school and Hogwarts Castle wildly clever. The problem with the first and second films, however, was for more than two and a half hours, I felt as if I had spent the entire nine months inside a dark theater. Like the sometimes rebellious but more often quiet high school student who was ready for summer to begin by the time January rolled around, I was ready to bolt for the doors of the theater the minute the end credits rolled.
The other problem I had was both movies were geared more to the loyal youngsters who’ve been reading Rowling’s books since the 1990s. I could be wrong but I am not sure this is a series for adults.
What makes Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, however, different from its predecessors is under the helm of a new director, Alfonso Cuarón, Harry, Hermione (Emma Watson) and Ron have reached the rebellious adolescent stage.
This third installment, which might as well be called “Junior Year” is a much darker, more ominous storyline where Radcliffe’s Harry must not only come to terms with his parents’ past but confront his personal fears as well.
It’s not just the plot but the entire movie itself is awash in gray colors. Rarely is there ever a moment that the sun is shining and when there is daylight, it’s always cloudy. When it’s not overcast, it’s raining.
Finally, a Potter movie for adults that still manages to exhibit the same traits the young ones can identify with. Kids can cheer for Hermione when she punches out Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton) instead of choosing to cast some spell on the school bully with her wand.
“That felt good,” she says and shaking her hand from the impact.
Who would have thought feminine wiles would come into play at a school where the students can simply cast spells on those who oppose them? When Hermione grabs Weasley’s hand during an outside session to ride a giant bird, you have to wonder, does she do it out of fear or is this her female hormones kicking in?
Just like in high school where the closer you get to finishing, one realizes he or she is no longer a kid anymore, the young wizards in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban are making that journey into adulthood.
Perhaps the ingenious message behind this third installment is you got to grow up some time.
©6/4/04
PG, 141m. 2004
Cast & Credits: Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), Emma Watson (Hermione Granger), Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley), Richard Griffiths (Uncle Vernon), Pam Ferris (Aunt Marge), Fiona Shaw (Aunt Petunia), Gary Oldman (Sirius Black), David Thewlis (Professor Lupin), Warwick Davis (Wizard), David Bradley (Argus Finch), Michael Gambon (Albus Dumbledore), Alan Rickman (Professor Severus Snape), Maggie Smith (Professor Minerva McGonagall), Emma Thompson (Professor Sybil Trelawney), Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy). Screenplay by Steve Kloves based on the book by J.K. Rowling. Directed by Alfonso Cuarón.
Physical education class or maybe it could also be called recess is relegated to games of Quiddich where the students fly around on broomsticks that go as high as jet planes. Potter fans will be more than happy to set me straight as to what exactly the object of the game is but from a critic’s perspective, I assume it’s to see which opposing team can be the first to capture a flying silver ball.
Every school year, perhaps I should say, in every Harry Potter movie so far, there is always a new set of instructors. In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, the most fun class is taught by Professor Lupin (Daniel Thewlis) who teaches students how to confront their worst fears.
With the flick of their wand and the utterance of the word “ridiculous”, wizards like Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) can make a giant spider slide around on roller skates and picture Professor Snape (Alan Rickman) in women’s clothes.
Then there is Professor Sybil Trelawney (Emma Thompson) who can see into her students’ future by just looking at the leftover tea powder sitting at the bottom of a cup.
Hogwarts Castle, this time, is surrounded with “Dementors”, hooded figures with gaping mouths who are a cross between the Angel of Death and The Ghost of Christmas Future. Their job other than sucking any happy thoughts from one’s mind is to learn the whereabouts of Sirius Black (Gary Oldman) who’s escaped from prison and is coming for Harry (Daniel Radcliffe).
I still haven’t read author J.K. Rowling’s mammoth fantasy books. Ever since the movie franchise began in 2001 with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, however, I wouldn’t be surprised if everything she wrote about came to life on the big screen exactly as she envisioned it as was transcribed by director Chris Columbus (Home Alone - 1990) and screenwriter Steve Kloves.
I found the comparisons to high school and Hogwarts Castle wildly clever. The problem with the first and second films, however, was for more than two and a half hours, I felt as if I had spent the entire nine months inside a dark theater. Like the sometimes rebellious but more often quiet high school student who was ready for summer to begin by the time January rolled around, I was ready to bolt for the doors of the theater the minute the end credits rolled.
The other problem I had was both movies were geared more to the loyal youngsters who’ve been reading Rowling’s books since the 1990s. I could be wrong but I am not sure this is a series for adults.
What makes Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, however, different from its predecessors is under the helm of a new director, Alfonso Cuarón, Harry, Hermione (Emma Watson) and Ron have reached the rebellious adolescent stage.
This third installment, which might as well be called “Junior Year” is a much darker, more ominous storyline where Radcliffe’s Harry must not only come to terms with his parents’ past but confront his personal fears as well.
It’s not just the plot but the entire movie itself is awash in gray colors. Rarely is there ever a moment that the sun is shining and when there is daylight, it’s always cloudy. When it’s not overcast, it’s raining.
Finally, a Potter movie for adults that still manages to exhibit the same traits the young ones can identify with. Kids can cheer for Hermione when she punches out Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton) instead of choosing to cast some spell on the school bully with her wand.
“That felt good,” she says and shaking her hand from the impact.
Who would have thought feminine wiles would come into play at a school where the students can simply cast spells on those who oppose them? When Hermione grabs Weasley’s hand during an outside session to ride a giant bird, you have to wonder, does she do it out of fear or is this her female hormones kicking in?
Just like in high school where the closer you get to finishing, one realizes he or she is no longer a kid anymore, the young wizards in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban are making that journey into adulthood.
Perhaps the ingenious message behind this third installment is you got to grow up some time.
©6/4/04
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