Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Review

starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Gary Oldman
director: Alfonso Cuaron

After the whole Dobby fiasco, Harry Potter seemed to be content with how his life was going. Until a man named Sirius Black escaped from Azkaban prison (kind of like Alcatraz in San Fransico), which no one had ever done before because it is heavily guarded by surrounding Dementors.

I felt nice and warm watching another Harry Potter movie again for the first time (which was a very long time ago). The moment that the Monster Book of Monster's started to open it's eyes and become alive underneath Harry's bed made me feel happy that I had finally fallen into another Harry Potter adventure.

Hogwarts never looked better, since after this movie, the whole series would take a completely drastic turn. I love watching the classroom scenes, the Quidditch matches, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione hanging out together. I wonder if this movie got approved for a bigger budget because it seemed like this movie looked more like an epic film compared to the first two, in a good way. The Whomping Willow, Sirius as Padfoot, Buckbeak, the Dementors, Remus Lupin, and the Marauder's Map all looked incredibly well done and fit perfectly with the setting and lighting of the movie.

I thought the director did an amazing job at portraying the whole back-in-time sequences. At first I was a little confused when Harry and Hermione were actually back in time watching themselves. I would question whether the dialogue that was being said coincided with what they were seeing, and after re-watches of the movie, they were perfect. Everything fit amazingly well, I thought it was completed spot on for how complex the story-line was for that particular portion of the film.

I really love the fact that John Williams (whom I am a big fan of) composed the music for the first three Harry Potter films. The scene where Harry was riding Buckbeak over the Black Lake with John Williams's music in the background was simply refreshing and touching. You could just 'feel' that Harry began to trust Buckbeak when he spread his arms out and shouted with excitement. I also thought the point where Buckbeak glided over and touched the water was a brilliant shot as well.

Some of the more powerful scenes to me in this movie was when Professor Snape got Expelliarmus'd by Harry while in the Shrieking Shack. Harry finally taking control and being the powerful wizard that we all wish for him to be glistened in that part. Another part was, of course, the scene where Harry used his Patronus Charm and blasted away hundreds of Dementors coming down on him and his godfather Sirius Black. Harry realizing it was himself that he saw saving them was spectacular, Daniel Radcliffe made me a believer.

The whole movie is amazing, and I wonder what the other Harry Potter movies would look like if either Chris Columbus or Alfonso Cuaron directed the remaining films. I believe they would have more of a sense of loving between the relationship of Harry and the audience, but I am not complaining at all, I cherish the movies immensely.