Moody masterpiece (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (DVD))

Member Name: thehud

Product:	Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (DVD)
Date:	08/04/05 (82 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Dark and brooding

Disadvantages: Some minor gripes

J K Rowling certainly was on to a very good thing indeed when she came up with the idea of a young trainee wizard making his way in the world in the modern day. Since the release of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in the latter half of the 1990’s the Potter brand has become one of the biggest phenomena of the modern day, with its unique blending of the sorts of stories which Enid Blyton made famous with a substantial splash of today’s sophistication.

Five books have now been written about the teenage wizard with more to follow, and we’re now onto the third movie in the franchise, with the exceedingly wonderful Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. The book of the title saw Rowling stretching and expanding her theme, with a look into the horrors of Azkaban Prison and the appearance of a character from the past of Harry and his parents, the mysterious Sirius Black. There was a new depth and darkness with the third episode in the series, with the book easily outstepping its two predecessors and the film version likewise breaks new ground, with a change of director and an altogether more sinister staging.

It feels like an authentic film noir, and there are several cinematic tricks used to create some gorgeously bleak atmospheres and scenarios. There’s a tension and monochromatic feel to this modern day epic which sees the Potter world move on in leaps and bounds from the technicolour and vaguely immature world painted in the first two movies.

HPATPOA enjoys the grim horror of the Dementors at its icy heart and, although they don’t quite match the terror of the written creation in your imagination, they certainly introduce a bleak new feature to a new and terrible world.

The feel of this film is quintessentially wintry and bleak, unlike the spring and summer which characterised the first two movies, and there’s definitely an impression of our Harry growing up and discovering how terrible life really can be.

The mood is set right from the off when Harry flees the morbid little home of the Dursleys to happen across a large and ferocious black dog, although it’s the fuzzy hint on the dog which is offered rather than anything more concrete. It’s this mood painting and subtle nuance which is so special about HPATPOA, like all truly great horror. And that, in many ways, is what this film is, a genuine horror movie, laced throughout with thrills, and even some wry and grim humour at its heart.

Not that this film is entirely successful. There are still some rough edges and life at Hogwarts is just that little bit too comfortable. There wasn’t a lot that could be done when Richard Harris died, other than to find a new actor to play Dumbledore, and I dare say that Michael Gambon will grow on you as he manages to mould the part to fit himself, but it’s still a bit of a jar to find the headmaster replaced, a bit like when the actor playing Dr Who kept changing. Gambon should be better at the role than Harris, because he has more impressive credentials, but the latter certainly created Dumbledore to perfection and will take some erasing from the memory.

On the up side, David Thewlis as Professor Lupin is a great success, with his dishevelled and slightly whacky approach, while Alan Rickman as the abysmal Snape is as strong as ever.

It’s not the acting, however, which is the secret with Harry Potter, but the story, the mood, the set pieces, the racy pace and the, well, magic of it all. The seedy characters and darkly comic bit parts, supported by a wonderful Best of British cast, are nice touches and keep you hooked, but they’re only symbols to stop you’re attention wandering while J K Rowling’s extraordinary tale telling wraps itself around us.

Many of the strange camera tricks and fades in and out are reminiscent of Tim Burton’s Sleepy Hollow fairy tale, but director Alfonso Cuaron doesn’t get hung up with his homage, weaving an intricate and gripping work stylishly and smoothly, easily up to your expectation.

Even the ads for the movie are in keeping with the new, eerie mood, painting a gorgeously brooding piece which never fails to see the opportunity for self deprecating humour.

This is easily the best film of the three films, just as the book was the best so far. It’s going to be one of the biggest films of this year, which it would have been even if it had been quite dire, but it’s a lovely surprise to find a film living up to its hype.

I found Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban a rare and intriguing delight. You’re bound to hear all the whinging Potterphiles moaning about what’s been missed out, and really they do grate a little. Listen, guys, this is a film, a recreation of the book, not a slavish restaging. Editing and sharp realisation are facts of life, and I, for one, find this film a wonderful treat.

PS I know I haven’t mentioned the contributions of the young actors at all in this review, but really I don’t think that we should dwell on their functional and limited acting. They’re by no means bad, but they could be so much better.

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