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Movie Forums :: Reviews :: Prisoner of Azkaban Enchants |
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Posted on 6/08/04
Prisoner of Azkaban Enchants
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Taking over as director of a successful franchise is no small feat. Neither is adapating a beloved book into an entertaining film. Especially if the book is routinely voted by fans as the best in its series.
Yet Alfonso CuarĂ³n took on all these challenges simultaneously when he accepted an offer to helm Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, and the critical response has been overwhelmingly positive. Well, add a few more kind words to the pile.
CuarĂ³n's task was unique, given the sudden shift in tone that Prisoner of Azkaban represents when compared to its predecessors. The third film in the series must not only achieve consistency with the book (to some degree), but also with the first two films. The challenge is to reflect the story's mood swing without detaching from the other films. In other words, Prisoner of Azkaban needs to be darker and more mature, but it still has to feel like a Harry Potter movie. It succeeds on both counts.
The most striking change is the scope of Harry's world. What once felt like an admittedly impressive set, now feels real, and surprisingly vast. Plenty of outdoor filming and a few choice vistas work wonders in conveying the impression that Harry's world is large and varied. This expanded world adds to the feeling of maturity and realism that the series (as fans of the books know) is headed for. The feelings reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland or The Wizard of Oz are gone, replaced by something that feels a bit more like Middle Earth. It is broad, and detailed, and it takes itself so seriously that we have little choice but to follow suit.
This is not to say that the film is without problems, of course. Diehard Potterites will notice that several loose ends (all of which could've been tied up easily, given just several minutes) are left dangling. Moreover, the film's pacing is a bit off: the Quidditch scene in particular feels rushed, as if it took place only so it could be checked off a list. Other reviewers have noted that Harry seems to faint far too often, leading to an obligatory scene where he wakes up and has the events that he (and, consequently, we) missed described or explained to him. This is, it's true, a bit sloppy, but it's in the books, as well, and is forgivable.
The most glaring flaw is with one of the film's climactic scenes, where the history of Gary Oldman's character (who plays the titular prisoner) comes out. It is somewhat rushed, and the things we thought we knew are not established firmly enough for there to be any real shock when they're turned on their head. This scene was a bit confusing in the book, as well, and it was inevitable that its cinematic equivalent would be a little muddled. Still, given the skill we've come to expect from these films, I was hoping for something a bit more elegant.
This is easily offset by two things, however: the improvement in special effects work, and in acting. Both are up to the task this time around, whereas they were somewhat lacking in the first two installments. The Marauder's Map (arguably the most innovative and clever invention in author J.K. Rowling's world) is crisp and clear, as is the much talked about Hippograff, a half-eagle, half-horse which looks fantastical without looking ridiculous.
Radcliffe still has a bit of awkwardness around him, but he's more at home here. Rupert Grint knows his schtick, and has it down to a tee. He's not had to do much in the way of serious acting yet, though; something which will change in the next film. Emma Watson, of course, has excelled in all three films, and is accordingly strong here.
The adult actors are similarly accomplished; Emma Thompson plays Professor Trelawney with skillful goofiness, Oldman could play Sirius Black in his sleep, and David Thewlis juggles impressions of determination, knowledge, and vulnerability as Professor Lupin. The most talked about change, however, is that of Michael Gambon, filling in as Headmaster Albus Dumbledore for the late Richard Harris. Gambon's Dumbledore seems to have taken a page from Tolkien's Gandalf; he is still wise and light-hearted, but firmer, stronger, and more menacing. His portrayal indicates a power and strength crucial to the character; something which was not as visible in Harris' "kindly old man" version of Dumbledore.
With an improvement in the quality of acting, enchanced special effects work, and eye-pleasing cinematography, CuarĂ³n has built a bridge to transport moviegoers from the fairy tale feeling of the first films to the darker, more grown-up stories that lie ahead. This combination of fantasy and reality makes Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban a film worthy of (and perhaps superior to) previous installments.
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