Monday, May 31, 2004

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban


And so, Harry Potter, that famous wizard from Privet Drive, known all around the world in god knows how many languages, is back. But this time there's a catch - and not a rubbish catch like 'this time there's a giant snake'. No, for once, a film has a tagline that you can really believe - 'Everything Will Change'. Because even though Prisoner of Azkaban has mostly the same cast and mostly the same crew as the first two in the series, it's a completely different movie, and that is thanks to one man - Alfonso Cuaron, who has taken over the reins from Chris Columbus as director of Harry's third adventure. So, for once, everything will change.

First off, it's far better than the first two, for many reasons. Both Radcliffe and Watson have grown as actors and made the roles their own - unlike Grint, who feels like more of a spectator to the other two's big adventures. I would have preffered it if he'd just put a paper bag over his head and hid behind Hagrid for the whole movie. All the new additions to the cast - Emma Thompson, David Thewlis, Michael Gambon - make themselves at home immediately, particuraly Gambon, who brings a much needed spark to Dumbeldore's character. Meanwhile Gary Oldman waits impatiently in the wings, appearing for most of the film only on newspaper covers and 'Wanted' posters, before making his grand entrance near the end and showing up everyone else on screen with his disturbingly perfect portrayel of Sirius Black. Even his voice feels right, somehow.

Cuaron brings a darker feel to the movies, but also a much needed dose of humour. Columbus' movies were too consistently light for most of the comedic lines to really be noticed - but in Cuaron's movie, they provide a laugh and a smile even in the darkest of scenes.


Visually, everything seems more illuminated somehow - like the scenery was always there, but you never properly noticed it before. The darker tone is complemented by creepier music and much improved visual effects, the dementors being an especially strong point, but perhaps more important are the smaller, magical touches that Cuaron has not only kept on, but added to, and made to look better than ever. Finally, Radcliffe, Grint and Watson's new costumes and more realistic vocabularies emphasise their transformations from children to teenagers, just as many of the fans turn from children to teenagers.

Overall, this is a much needed spicing up for the Harry Potter franchise (mostly thanks to Cuaron) and a fantastic, truly magical film. Bring on the fourth - though I
have no idea how Newell is going to improve on Cuaron's effort.

**** out of 5.

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