Potter-Watch (31 of 77) Review: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

After a rough start, we finally get the Potter film that we wanted from the beginning. Having kicked Chris Columbus to the curb, Alfonso Cuaron takes the reins of the series, giving us the first beautifully rendered and emotionally satisfying episode in the series. As the wizarding world takes on a murkier hue, foreshadowing the darker times ahead, Harry discovers hidden secrets about his parents, and how they eventually met their demise. The early secrets from the series are being answered, and even though these are questions we don't ask today, it's nice to look back at a time when we did ask them.

The wizarding world is in a constantly alert state, as one of Voldemort's key supporters, Sirius Black, has broken free of Azkaban. Who he is, and what motivates him isn't important. All that matters is his goal: Killing Harry Potter. Or at least, that is what we're lead to believe. The good guys have been pretty dim concerning who is behind the ultimate evil each year, but this time around, there's actual reason to believe that Sirius Black means to do our hero harm. It's not just our teenage trio who are worried about this guy. It's the entire wizarding world, but things clearly aren't as they appear. Alright, the hell with subtlety. Sirius Black is Harry's godfather. Figure the rest out for yourself.

It's been six years since the film came out, so everybody should know by now all the different twists and turns this film takes. Alfonso Cuaron does a brilliant job of creating an atmosphere of uncertainty over every frame of this picture. Even the smallest pixels of color are uncertain about where they're going to rest. For the first time since the first film, John Williams has come up with an original score for a single installment. I actually prefer the new themes introduced in this film to the hokey themes from the first two. The visual effects are fully realized for the first time in the series, with spectacles that are truly remarkable such as Harry's first time riding Buckbeak.

What sells me on this film are the script and the cast. There's something very personal about this film, in that it chronicles Harry's specific journey. We get that it's his story, and we understand how sad and miserable his story is. The first films, fun and whimsical as they are, ignore the fact that Harry's parents were murdered, and he spent the first eleven years of his life with three unlikable people who hate him. Add on to that the fact that his parents were betrayed by one of their best friends, and you've got a really complex character to deal with. Daniel Radcliffe doesn't quite rise to the challenge, but he's likable enough. He doesn't suck. Lets put it that way.

And then we have the only Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher who isn't plotting the downfall of Harry, Remus Lupin. David Thewlis gives the best performance out of this film, and Remus Lupin is a very ambiguous character in this one. He adds another layer of prejudice onto this world, with both werewolves and mudbloods being discriminated against publicly. In this case, it's a lot more reasonable to be afraid of a werewolf, but prejudice is prejudice. Coming in second is Gary Oldman as Sirius Black. He's spent years rotting in jail, and that has had its toll on his mind, but he's still as sharp as he's ever been. Michael Gambon stumbles into his first job as Albus Dumbledore after Richard Harris' death, and he does well enough.

Finally, the best part about this movie is the extended climax, which involves one of the greatest twists in cinema history, some nicely paced continuous shots, and then mesmerizing time travel. It's all very thrilling in a way none of the films have been before or since. Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe carry the last thirty minutes of the film, and Watson especially does a good job here. In regards to the ongoing mythology, Hermione seems to be a lot less annoying and a lot more mature since she woke up from being petrified. I guess she had some time to think about all her regrets while she was in a paralyzed state. Bottom line, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban raised the bar for the series, and is considered amongst many to be the best in the series.

A-