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Ian Stanley reviews

Harry Potter and The Prisoner Of Azkaban

Something wicked this way comes.

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Cover After the first two films in the series from Chris Columbus, the Potter franchise now changes hands to Mexican director Alfonso Cuaron (Y Tu Mama Tambien). He seems an odd choice to direct what is essentially a kid's movie, being best known for a sexually charged coming-of-age road movie, so what can we expect from him? Well, if I told you that the first shot of the movie is of the teenage Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) under his covers at night, hunched over and trying to squeeze some magic out of his wood, you'd think the director was up to his old tricks again (Particularly if you've seen Y Tu Mama Tambien)… Don't worry though, the above scene is all innocent stuff, Cuaron here has turned out some fine family fare but with an admittedly darker tint!

Harry's third year at Hogwarts gets underway after he runs away from home following his worst row yet with his Muggle (non-magic folk) guardians, the Dursleys. Once he gets back amongst the Magic crowd he starts to receive warnings that the murderer Sirius Black (Gary Oldman) has somehow escaped from Azkaban Prison (briefly mentioned in the second movie) and is heading Potter's way with the intention of adding him to his victims list. Sirius, it seems, is in league with Lord Voldemort and wishes to take revenge for Harry's part in his undoing. However in the usual Potter tradition there is more to the mystery than meets the eye and Harry, along with his chums Ron and Hermione, must uncover the truth about Sirius and the murder of his parents.

Regular 'Potter' screenwriter Steve Kloves once again comes through in style, there is material here that will keep both adults and children entertained for the movie's 142 minute duration. More than either of the previous two movies, Azkaban is structured in much the same way as a traditional whodunnit and, for the most part, does a good job of staying ahead of the audience. There are a number of questions (and a running joke) that are raised throughout the duration of the movie, and Kloves' screenplay does a good job of intelligently resolving most of them before the end credits. It also excels in keeping the various characters motives a mystery until it comes time for the final reveal.

In keeping with the book's change of tone, director Alfonso Cuaron has made the visual world of Potter a lot darker and with the aid of some sweeping camera moves and subtle CGI work, has also given it a more epic feel. Watching Cuaron's work here, Azkaban seems like the Potter movie that Tim Burton never made, the atmosphere seeming somewhat reminiscent of the haunting Edward Scissorhands. Good use is also made of the 2:35:1 Aspect Ratio, this movie contains some stunningly composed and moody shots.

Cover Much has been made of the darkness of this instalment and whilst it was always there in the first two movies, this is the first of the series to fully embrace it. Whilst there are scary monsters aplenty in this movie, giant spiders, werewolves and the like, the movies Trump Card comes in the form of the wonderfully realised 'Dementors.' These wraithlike creatures literally suck the happiness out of people, leaving them insane from misery and also, if they’re really annoyed, stealing their soul. These guardians of Azkaban Prison also look like the results of a DNA fusion between The Nazgul and The Grim Reaper. I can imagine these creatures could be quite unsettling for the young 'uns but I don't think that there is anything here that is going to give kids any sleepless nights, but then again, I grew up on John Carpenter movies so have most likely suffered from some desensitisation. If you have any worries about whether this movie might be appropriate for kids I'd advise checking it out yourself first, and hey, it gives you an excuse to watch it twice which is really no hardship at all!

Most of the cast make a pretty decent fist of their roles and whilst a lot of the adult characters are now nothing more than extended cameos, the players all seem to have settled into their parts very well. Emma Watson (above-right) and Rupert Grint, as Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasley respectively, are both great in this and seem very much at home with their characters. Hermione’s contribution is somewhat bumped up in this instalment making a pretty decent heroine and thankfully taking a lot of the emphasis off Harry. Some of the movie's best moments belong to her. Tom Felton as the thoroughly reprehensible Draco Malfoy is quite a highlight, the mask of his spiteful character quite often cracking to reveal the coward within.

Daniel Radcliffe is once again the weakest member of the cast. One definitely gets the feeling that he’s trying his best but his somewhat flat line readings mean that some of the movie’s more emotional scenes (of which there are quite a few) don’t pack the required punch. There seem to be growing rumours that the franchise’s Producers are mulling over changing the main cast because of their age. This would be (in this reviewer’s opinion) a very bad idea as Racliffe, Watson and Grint (sounds like a law firm) have now come to very much embody these roles. There’s no doubt that Radcliffe could do with some more acting lessons, but a new Harry and Co. would be too jarring a change now (I’ve even come to kinda like Radcliffe’s cyborgian line delivery).

Cover All the new cast additions to the Potter Universe fit in very well. Michael Gambon (right) makes a pretty good Dumbledore but Richard Harris' kindlier presence is very sorely missed. (I don’t know why, but Michael Gambon always seems to carry the residue of his more villainous roles wherever he turns up) and David Thewlis makes a welcome appearance here as Professor Lupin the new ‘Defence Against the Dark Arts’ teacher. He actually seems to gel pretty well with Radcliffe and the friendship Lupin and Potter strike up is quite touching. The casting of Gary Oldman as Sirius Black turns out to be quite an inspired choice, but I’ll say no more on that for fear of giving away any of the movie’s secrets, safe to say that he plays the role very well.

One of the failings of the past two movies has been the somewhat variable CGI, especially when it comes to the annual Quidditch match. Thankfully this entry addresses the issue somewhat as the special effects overall are of a higher standard than those in the previous films. This year’s match is mercifully shorter and also set in a thundering rainstorm, adding some much needed ambience and also making it easier to hide any CGI shortcomings.

All in all, I can confidently say that this is the best of the Potter series so far. With ‘Azkaban’, Alfonso Cuaron assuredly guides the young characters (and the franchise) from childhood into the first hesitant steps of adolescence. In keeping with the maturing characters, more adult themes are brought in and briefly touched upon such as prejudice and also (hinted at) romantic attraction. Existing fans of the series will have a blast and this movie is more than good enough to win some new ones.

Review copyright © Ian Stanley, 2004.

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