Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

In this third installment of the lucrative franchise, the main characters remain the same. The biggest changes occurred behind the scenes with a new director. Chris Columbus, who directed the first two Potter movies (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets), is a more family-friendly, happy-making guy than is Alfonso Cuaron. Of course, author J.K. Rowling also bears some responsibility for the changes we see onscreen as Harry and friends rush headlong into adolescence with all of the changes and angst that can bring. The bottom line is that, while the first two movies were very, very good, the third is even better. But in what could prove a drawback, the darkness of both the film and its storyline make this movie the least suitable for the smallest children.

Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) has once again been forced to spend his summer vacation with his horrible Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia, and cousin Dudley. But as this particular summer draws to an end, he's insulted one too many times and he finally fights back. Despite fearing his use of magic outside of school has landed him in big trouble, he refuses to spend another moment in the Dursley household and leaves for London, courtesy of a spectral triple decker bus that stops to help those witches and wizards who find themselves stranded. In relatively short order, Harry is reunited with his closest friends, Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson). But the relief of being once again among people who love and understand him is short lived when the Hogwarts Express is boarded by dementors (those creatures who are charged with guarding prisoners held at Azkaban) searching for the escaped murderer, Sirius Black (Gary Oldman).

The train does eventually reach Hogwarts where the new year's classes are about to begin. New instructors include the latest Dark Arts teacher, Professor Lupin (David Thewlis), who has a dark secret of his own; and Sibyll Trelawney (Emma Thompson), the apparently scatterbrained woman who teaches Divination. Of course, Professors Snape (Alan Rickman) and McGonagall (Dame Maggie Smith) are back, as is Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane), who has now been promoted to teacher of Care of Magical Creatures at the school. On arrival, the school's headmaster, Aldous Dumbledore (Michael Gambon, who takes on the part originated by the late Richard Harris), tells the children they must take extra care this year because of Black's escape, and he warns them that the terrifying dementors will be guarding the school grounds. Harry's less than thrilled with developments, especially after he learns that he's in particular danger from Black given a previously unknown past connection with the man. But he refuses to let his fears get the best of him, and he shows both courage and determination as he works to ensure he can defend himself while he works to discover the mystery behind Sirious Black.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is beautifully rendered. The sets and the cinematography are superb; the special effects are unparalleled. One of the magical creatures - a hippogriff (half horse, half eagle) named Buckbeak - is so real you'll want to see one for yourself on your next visit to the zoo. A brief game of Quidditch is lacking only in length. And a series of time loops are brilliantly overlayed one on top of the other. I was also quite enamored with the use of short vignettes featuring that old villain, the Whomping Willow, as a bridge between disparate scenes. More liberties were taken with this script than those for the previous films (at two hours and twenty-one minutes, this is the shortest of the Harry Potter movies), and I frankly wasn't too happy about some of the omitted details or consolidation of incidents. As actors, the kids are all right; in this particular movie, the standouts are Oldman (who's rarely less than brilliant) and Thompson (who must have had a great time playing the blind-as-a-bat in more ways than one Trelawney). The direction and editing are nothing less than brilliant throughout, and some of the set up for the coming movies (The Goblet of Fire is already being filmed) are handled well. Taken as a whole, despite wishing it were longer and that there was substantially more Quidditch action onscreen (I would have happily watched more of Buckbeak and much more of Professor Trelawny, too), I'd definitely recommend Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban without reservation.

POLITICAL NOTES: There are unquestionable comments here on a justice system that, good as it is, can still make mistakes, as well as on whether or not following the rules precisely is always necessary. While these may not be the best lessons in the world for kids, some of us who are, well, not kids, would do well to think a little on them.

FAMILY SUITABILITY: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is rated PG for "scary moments, some creature violence, and mild language." I attended the movie with the 14 year-old son of a friend of mine, and we both enjoyed ourselves immensely. There were a number of smaller children in the theatre with us, though, and I didn't hear a peep out of any of them during the movie. That's usually a good sign and a good recommendation for any movie. I'd suggest that Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is suitable for anyone old enough to read the books (as an added caution, you do need to have read the books - or at least seen the previous films - to understand some of what happens in this third installment).

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