Harry
Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Paul
Martin, 4 June 2004
Tonight,
I saw Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. I went with Beth,
Julie, Erin, April, Joe, and Scott to the 12:01am screening. Seeing
the movie with them was awesome, and a highly enjoyable time. Very
fun. I'd love to hang out with them again, because it was good company.
As
for the movie, Alfonso Cuaron and John Williams have crafted works
of art. The film moves at a steady, even pace, not focusing too
highly on things that have already been covered in the previous
two films. Namely Quidditch. While fun to watch, it's been done
twice before, and this time was used as a plot device, rather than
exposition.
According
to my film-going companions, they left out a few explanations. One
being the deer form, and the other being how the professor knew
how to use the map. Being the shortest of the three films, I'm sure
they had room to put both explanations in, but decided that pacing
and other things were more important to the story on film.
The
movie moves very quickly when it needs to, and the slower scenes
are just long enough to get the point across, to move on. They give
just enough clues and early foreshadowing that it makes you wonder
about some things. Having not read any of the books, so far, this
is my favorite of the film series.
Michael
Gambon fills the shoes of Dumbledore very well. Now he seems more
like the mischievious Dumbledore as written (so I am told) and not
as much like the fragile Dumbledore of the previous two films. That's
too bad in a way, it takes away some of the care and kindness of
the character.
Gary
Oldman gives a great performance as Sirius Black, who is quite possibly
my favorite new character of the series. What's in store for him
in book four, I do not know, save for what happens in book five.
The
Dementors were really frightening remixes of the Nazgul of the Lord
of the Rings. At least in appearence only. What they do, however
is totally different, and really something. The guards of Azkaban
Prison, they float around, and are incredibly powerful.
The
style of the film was very dark. The films, like the books, are
getting progressively darker in tone. This is most welcome, as it
keeps the story from becoming a parody of itself by the end. It
makes things scarier and darker.
John
Williams' score fit perfectly with the movie and I feel was better
heard in the movie, than on CD. But that's only based on the time
I listened to the score when it was available online for a free
listen a few weeks ago.
This
is a genuinely fun movie, and it held my interest from beginning
to end. The credits are really well made also.
9.5/10
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