Movie Review :: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Movie Review :: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Posted :: Jun 5, 2004 by naniipo

Movie :: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Starring :: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint
Director :: Alfonso Cuaron
Rating :: 8.5/10

Under the direction of Alfonso Cuaron, "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" breaks through the existing genre of a children's film. Gone are the flashy special effects of the previous two films. Instead, they are replaced with breathtaking sets and visual scenery that capture the imagination and render the viewer in awe. The cinematography lends a more mature, art film like quality to the movie.

There is also increased emphasis on the actual characters of the movie. Cuaron, who has received acclaim for the coming to age tale of "Y Tu Mama Tambien", manages to capture the teenagers' internal turmoil and isn't afraid to dwell on the darker issues of J. K. Rowling's third book. It is for this reason that parents should use caution in allowing younger children to view the film. It is my personal recommendation that the movie is most suitable for children that are at least 8 years old.

Another reason "Prisoner of Azkaban" is more enjoyable than the first two is the mere fact that it is much shorter, coming in at 2 hours and 10 minutes. The movie does not bog the audience down with the desire to add in every detail of the book. No movie will ever match the quality of the book it was based on, but Cuaron's choices on what parts of the book to include are well selected and lend insight into the characters that are presented. Cuaron has managed to breathe life into what some predict to be a dying movie franchise by making this movie darker, scarier, more mature, and more enjoyable for the older viewer.

Impact's Thoughts: I came out of the theatre quite impressed. While the first two in the series were good movies, the third one was quite a bit better. I agree with Naniipo; "The Prisoner of Azkaban" is geared more toward adults, but will still be enjoyed by children of all ages.
Impact's Rating: 9/10