FOR
BEST NON-ROMANTIC CHEMISTRY, RUPERT, DANIEL, AND EMMA.
It
has been three years since Harry Potter discovered he was a wizard. He is
still living in the home of his contemptible cousin Dudley (who watches
television and eats peanuts all day long) and has restrictions placed on
his magical skills. Studying is difficult since he can only sneak out his
books at night, and worst of all, his Aunt Marge has come to visit. Uncle
Vernon's sister wastes little time in
demeaning Harry, insulting his father, and likening his mother to a female
dog. Unable to control his rage, Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) inflates his
aunt and sends her flying out the window into the wild blue yonder.
Knowing he'll be expelled from Hogwarts for using magic outside of school,
and also aware that he cannot remain on Privet Drive for fear of his
uncle's wrath, Harry packs up his
things and goes out into the world. Not a block from home, he experiences
two peculiar adventures. The first is glimpsing a large, vicious black dog
in the hedges, and the second is the appearance of the Knight Bus,
"transportation for the stranded witch or wizard."
The
violently purple triple-decker takes him to the Leaky Cauldron in London
where the Minister of Magic (Robert Hardy) assures Harry he won't be
punished for the "accidental use of magic," and encourages him
not to leave Diagon Alley. Happily reunited with
his friends Hermione (Emma Watson) and Ron (Rupert
Grint), Harry then learns what has everyone so
concerned. A criminal by the name of Sirius Black
(Gary Oldman) has escaped Azkaban Prison, a wizarding
fortress guarded by dementors, black, wraith-like
creatures that can suck all the joy, happiness, and
life from your body, replacing it with sorrow. Harry
encounters one of these terrible creatures on the
Hogwarts train. His protection comes in the form of a
wan figure curled up in the other end of the coach.
Remus Lupin (David Thewis) is Hogwarts' new Defense
Against the Dark Arts teacher. His gentle nature and
intelligent lessons soon make fans of much of the
student body, but he appears to have an enemy in the
school's potion master, Professor Snape (Alan
Rickman).
While
attempting to learn a powerful charm to ward off
dementors, Harry must contend with his best friends
constantly quarreling. Hermione has come into the
possession of a large orange tabby cat who would very
much like to consume Ron's pet rat, Scabbers. In the
meantime a series of minor mysteries has the trio
puzzled. Why is Professor Lupin regularly ill? Will
the predictions of the Divination teacher (Emma
Thompson) come true?
Can Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton) manage to get Hagrid
(Robbie Coltrain) sacked from his new teaching
position? Why is everyone so concerned that Harry will
chase after Sirius Black? It appears the escaped
murderer may be trying to break into Hogwarts. The
result is an exciting adventure of magic, mystery, and
even a little puppy love the trio pull together to
protect Harry from a grave danger.
It
is quite clear that another director is at the helm of
this film, for while it maintains the cheerful
characters of the first two installments, The
Prisoner of Azkaban is far more cinematic. It
moves more rapidly, covers more ground, and is much more enthralling to look at. There are
wide, flowing shots and many pan-ins for close-ups. The
book has been highly condensed, which leaves viewers
unfamiliar with its pages grasping a bit at the end.
(Most notably absent is the explanation for where the
Marauder's Map originated, and who they were.) The children have grown up,
particularly Emma Watson. She can hold her own with
the best of them. One of the final scenes in the
Shrieking Shack displays some of the most incredible
talent in the British Isles... a dramatic showdown
with six exceptionally talented players. The production is
ingenious with a different side of Hogwarts than we've before
seen... the exterior grounds, the unswept courtyards,
and the delightful village of Hogsmeade. But
compliments aside, parents
should bear in mind that there are many thematic and
dark elements interwoven with the humor, and very
young children will be frightened.
While
there is no actual content to be concerned about, the
film is very dark. The presence of dementors, who
"suck the souls" from those who stand in
their path, is intimidating and fierce. They take
advantage of weak children on the train, cause Harry
to fall from the skies during a Quidditch match in the
rain, and almost succeed in killing two primary
characters. Hagrid's hippogriff Buckbeak bites Draco
Malfoy on the arm, and is sentenced to death. The
children watch the execution from a distance. There is some mild
language; Aunt Marge, referencing Lily and Harry
Potter, says you can always tell what the pup is like
by the b**ch. Ron's favorite exclamation is
"bloody hell!" Two grotesque transformations
are seen. Computer-animated animals (a werewolf and a
hound) violently battle one another. Buckbeak likes to
consume dead ferrets and fish. The Whomping Willow, a monstrous,
bad-tempered old tree, likes to snap birds out of the
skies and gives both Hermione and Harry a
thrashing.
Much
darker than the first two films in terms of dramatic
intensity, The Prisoner of Azkaban has the same
overall content issues, plus the introduction of
Professor Trelawney, the Divination
teacher. Her students are instructed to read tea
leaves and gaze into crystal balls. As with the novel,
Trelawney is over the top, seriously paranoid, and
rarely do any of her predictions come true. Hermione
actually quits her class, calling it
"rubbish," but Harry and Ron stick it out
for boredom's sake. The movie's most questionable
scene has her "channeling" a prediction
about Harry's life (she doesn't remember it an
instant later) in a low, growling voice. If you can overcome this aspect in the
knowledge it's a mockery of fortune-telling rather than
encouraging us to embrace it, the rest of the film is
an enjoyable romp. It is not only very touching but
hilariously funny. You won't soon forget Professor
Snape wearing Neville's grandmother's hat, or Harry
contending with his violent Monster Book of Monsters.
It's a gorgeous spectacle from beginning to end, and
another solid glimpse into Harry's world.
HARRY
POTTER &
While
attempting to learn a powerful charm to ward off
dementors, Harry must contend with his best friends
constantly quarreling. Hermione has come into the
possession of a large orange tabby cat who would very
much like to consume Ron's pet rat, Scabbers. In the
meantime a series of minor mysteries has the trio
puzzled. Why is Professor Lupin regularly ill? Will
the predictions of the Divination teacher (Emma
Thompson) come true?
Can Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton) manage to get Hagrid
(Robbie Coltrain) sacked from his new teaching
position? Why is everyone so concerned that Harry will
chase after Sirius Black? It appears the escaped
murderer may be trying to break into Hogwarts. The
result is an exciting adventure of magic, mystery, and
even a little puppy love the trio pull together to
protect Harry from a grave danger.
Much
darker than the first two films in terms of dramatic
intensity, The Prisoner of Azkaban has the same
overall content issues, plus the introduction of
Professor Trelawney, the Divination
teacher. Her students are instructed to read tea
leaves and gaze into crystal balls. As with the novel,
Trelawney is over the top, seriously paranoid, and
rarely do any of her predictions come true. Hermione
actually quits her class, calling it
"rubbish," but Harry and Ron stick it out
for boredom's sake. The movie's most questionable
scene has her "channeling" a prediction
about Harry's life (she doesn't remember it an
instant later) in a low, growling voice. If you can overcome this aspect in the
knowledge it's a mockery of fortune-telling rather than
encouraging us to embrace it, the rest of the film is
an enjoyable romp. It is not only very touching but
hilariously funny. You won't soon forget Professor
Snape wearing Neville's grandmother's hat, or Harry
contending with his violent Monster Book of Monsters.
It's a gorgeous spectacle from beginning to end, and
another solid glimpse into Harry's world.