Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - Movie Review</A>
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Harry Potter (Dan Radcliffe) left the Dursley's house on Privet drive after accidentally blowing up his Aunt Marge (Pam Ferris), who was talking badly about his parents. Harry caught the Knight Bus to the Leaky Cauldron, where he met the Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge (Robert Hardy). The Minister told Harry that he wasn't in trouble and that he should wait at the Leaky Cauldron until the next term started.
Before school started, Harry met up with friends Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) and Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint). They were fighting because Hermione's cat Crookshanks had attacked Ron's rat Scabbers.
On the Hogwarts Express to School the trio sat with the mysterious Professor R.J. Lupin (David Thewlis). Dark, evil creatures called Dementors were aboard the train in search of the escaped convict Sirius Black (Gary Oldman). Harry learned from Mr. Arthur Weasley (Mark Williams) that Sirius Black worked for Voldemort and betrayed his parents to him. Now Black has escaped from Azkaban and everyone believes that he is after Harry. When the Dementors enter the carriage, Harry faints.
At school Harry meets up with his old pals Neville Longbottom (Matthew Lewis), Seamus Finnegan (Devon Murray) and Dean Thomas (Alfred Enoch). The Trio also learn that Lupin is going to be the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, and Hagrid is going to be the new Care of Magical Creatures professor. Lupin's classes are very exciting and Harry becomes friends with the teacher quickly. Lupin agrees to help Harry defend himself against the Dementors.
At Hagrid's first class Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton) annoys a hippogriff, a large magical animal, part bird part horse and is injured. Thanks to his father's connections at the Ministry, Buckbeak has been ordered to be destroyed.
The night of Buckbeak's execution, Harry, Ron and Hermione get attacked by a furious dog and Ron is dragged into the Shrieking Shack, the most haunted place in Britain. Harry and Hermione follow and so do Lupin and Professor Snape (Alan Rickman). After many flashes of magic, Harry learns that Sirius Black didn't betray his father, it was Peter Pettigrew (Timothy Spall) an Animagus that takes the form of a rat, Ron's pet Scabbers to be exact. Pettigrew manages to escape and in the confusion Harry and Sirius are attacked by Dementors. They almost perform the Dementor's Kiss on Sirius which would have sucked his soul out of his body. It is Hermione's secret that will determine if Sirius, Buckbeak and Hogwarts will all be ok.
I thought this movie was excellently done. Compared to the other movies it seemed much more realistic. Alfonzo Cuaron really did a good job filming. The wizard portraits really were taken to an all new level that was quite amazing. I liked spotting Sir Cadigan when I could. The scenes with Buckbeak flying were visually quite amazing. The whole feel of the movie has become much more dark and realistic. They really changed some of the previous characters like Professor Flitwick. The Dementors were just as terrifying as I imagined them, but I didn't think they could fly so high. I think all the actors do a great job especially the ones that are more comfortable in their roles. The new addition to the cast were done very well. At first from the previews I didn't like the actor that played Lupin, but after watching the movie I think he did a good job. Sirius Black, Peter Pettigrew and Trelawney were also very well done. This movie is very good and I think people of all ages will enjoy it. The only criticism I've heard about it so far is that it is hard to follow. For fans of the books this should be no problem though and we're the only ones that really matter right?
More Reviews
Best Book/Movie Series
Prisoner of Azkaban at IMDB
Home