HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN
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When a certain thirteen year old wizard returns for his third year at
Hogwarts it is under the guard of the terrifying dementors who look for
the
return of escapee Sirius Black (Gary Oldman, "The Contender") the man who
betrayed the Potters to Lord Voldemort and may now be out to kill their
son
in "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban."
Mexican director Alfonso Cuarón ("Y Tu Mamá También") takes the reins for
the third, decidedly darker and more mature edition of the Harry Potter
series and delivers a suitably gloomy looking, more serious film. While
the lack of colorful amusements make the film's long running time
occasionally flirt with tedium, an influx of terrific British actors, the
oncoming adulthood of the film's three young stars and the fabulous effect
that is the Hippogriff Buckbeak sock this one over into new territory.
After an extended prologue featuring Harry's escape from the Dursley
household aboard a magical purple triple-decker bus, Cuarón sets the tone
within a rain-drenched train compartment. As water streams down the
windowpanes (all beautifully shot by new director of photography Michael
Seresin, "The Life of David Gale") the eerie dementors attack Harry
(Daniel
Radcliffe), who is saved by a mysterious occupant who turns out to be none
other than Hogwarts's new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor
Remus Lupin (David Thewlis, "Timeline").
Albus Dumbledore (Michael Gambon, "Gosford Park," taking over for the late
Richard Harris) addresses the Sirius Black gossip with warnings about how
to behave around the dementors. Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton) tries to needle
Harry about fainting in their presence, but he's shown up during Hagrid's
(Robbie Coltrane) first class as the new Care of Magical Creatures
teacher.
Malfoy Senior retaliates by obtaining a death warrant for Buckbeak.
Hermione (Emma Watson), whose sudden appearances have been perplexing Ron
(Rupert Grint) and Harry, pops Draco one in the kisser. Meanwhile Harry
is
discovering that many people are not who they seem as Snape (Alan Rickman)
lectures on werewolves and the Marauder's map supplied by the Weasley
twins
shows Peter Pettigrew, the presumably deceased former friend of Harry's
parents, walking the halls of Hogwarts.
Cuarón subtly introduces adolescent changes within his stars' dynamics.
Hermione is less talk and more action, including small physical
indications
of an attraction to Ron. Ron, in turn, lets his annoyance with his female
friend slowly turn into appreciation. Harry is less victimized. If
things
continue in the direction J.K. Rowling has taken and Cuarón has adapted
the
series to, it is likely that Radcliffe, Watson and Grint could last
through
the franchise. The quality of actors drawn to this project continues to
amaze as well. In one shot alone, I was astonished to realize I was
watching Alan Rickman, Gary Oldman, David Thewlis and Timothy Spall ("The
Last Samurai") all lending to the Potter mystique. Rickman continues to
be
the single most intriguing element of the Potter series. Here the actor
makes a great entrance into his classroom, slamming a trio of huge
shutters
one by one with a point of his wand as he heads to his podium. Emma
Thompson ("Love Actually") joins the cast as Divination Professor Sibyll
Trelawney and she's a jolt of eccentric hilarity, this film's only true
comic relief, although Dawn French (TV's "French and Saunders") has her
moments as the Fat Lady of Gryffindor Tower. Gambon gives a slightly
different interpretation of Dumbledore from Harris's more benign
interpretation, but rightfully so - the stakes are being raised. Cuarón
opted to change the head wizard's appearance for this outing as well,
giving him a more organic, less magical look. Watch closely for Julie
Christie ("Troy") as a pub owner in what amounts to a few seconds of
screen
time.
Cuarón's production accentuates the wildness of Hogwarts' surroundings.
The Whomping Willow is a touchstone for the passing of the seasons and
Scotland's Glen Coe is used as a majestic backdrop. The de rigueur
Quidditch match is darker as well, held in the driving rain. A scene
where
Harry flies on Buckbeak's back is stunning, particularly as the
fantastical
creature skims the water between two peaks. The Hippogriff is amazingly
realized, but the dementors, for all their initial eeriness, have a
tendency to look like a Halloween edition of Charm Pops thereafter. A
time
travel element is neatly handled and edited.
"Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" marks a distinct change of
tone,
but hopefully the next film will blend back in some more of the magical
moments.
B
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X-Language: en
X-RT-ReviewID: 1285928
X-RT-TitleID: 1132921
X-RT-SourceID: 386
X-RT-AuthorID: 1487
X-RT-RatingText: B
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