Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban (DVD)

When the Harry Potter films first came out, I was absolutely ecstatic! I loved the idea of the wonderful world that J.K.Rowling created on the big screen and went to watch the first film. After that, I couldn’t stop jabbering on about it and how good it was. However, I didn’t go potter crazy and buy every electronic wand or t-shirt that was for sale, I just appreciated the movie and then went to watch the second one. The second was quite good, but ...
...DVD collection……

HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN

***ACTORS AND ACTRESSES***

Daniel Radcliffe - Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Rupert Grint - Thunderpants, and the first two Harry Potter films

Emma Watson - First two Harry Potter films

Gary Oldman - The Fifth Element, Lost in Space, Hannibal

more

When the Harry Potter films first came out, I was absolutely ecstatic! I loved the idea of the wonderful world that J.K.Rowling created on the big screen and went to watch the first film. After that, I couldn’t stop jabbering on about it and how good it was. However, I didn’t go potter crazy and buy every electronic wand or t-shirt that was for sale, I just appreciated the movie and then went to watch the second one. The second was quite good, but as the books got bigger, so did what was left out. When this third movie came out, I wanted to watch it, but held a certain amount of caution as to what it would be like. Here is my review, now months later and having the DVD firmly stacked in my DVD collection……

HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN

***ACTORS AND ACTRESSES***

Daniel Radcliffe - Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Rupert Grint - Thunderpants, and the first two Harry Potter films

Emma Watson - First two Harry Potter films

Gary Oldman - The Fifth Element, Lost in Space, Hannibal

David Thewlis - Dragonheart, Engame, Timeline

Sir Michael Gambon - Ghost Hunter, Being Julia, Path To War

Robbie Coltrane - Van Helsing, Ocean's Twelve, From Hell

Tom Felton - Anna and the King, "Home Farm Twins", Seond Sight

Alan Rickman - Galaxy Quest, Love Actually, Dogma

***CHARACTERS***

Harry Potter
Played by actor Daniel Radcliffe. The Boy Who Lived. Harry is one of the most famous wizards in the world and for all the wrong reasons. When Harry was just one year old, his parents were murdered by the most evil wizard in the world….. Lord Voldemort. Voldemort killed Harry’s parents and then tried to kill Harry. Fortunately for Harry, Voldemort’s killing curse backfired and nearly killed him. Having been wounded so badly, Voldemort fled the scene and left Harry with a lighting bolt shaped scar on his forehead as a constant reminder of that fateful night. Harry then went to stay with his aunt and uncle until he found out at the age of 11 years old, he was to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and that his parents were also wizards. Having never known his parents and being treated like a criminal in the house of his aunt, uncle and cousin, Harry finds solitude at Hogwarts. Harry carries a deep sense of longing for his parents as well as anger towards Voldemort, but is a very talented wizard. Harry looks most like his father, wearing glasses and having untidy black hair but has his mother’s bright green eyes.

Ronald Weasley
Played by actor Rupert Grint. Ron comes from a huge family of people with freckles and red hair. Ron has one younger sister and five older brothers as well as his mother and father. Being so many, the Weasley family never has much, which is something that embarrases Ron. He’s afraid of spiders and is a funny character, sarcastic, tall and lanky. Ron has a kind heart and is one of Harry’s best friends.

Hermione Granger
Played by actress Emma Watson. Hermione Granger was originally a Muggle (non-witch) who got a letter from Hogwarts to attend the school. When meeting Harry and Ron, she forms an unlikely friendship with two and is often the voice of reason. Hermione plays by the rules and there isn’t a question in the world that she doesn’t have the answer to, nor a spell that she can’t master in no time. Whilst shy at first, Hermione came out of her shell, whilst still keeping that bushy brown hair!

Sirius Black
Played by actor Gary Oldman. Black’s first appearance in this third movie. Sirius Black is a dangerous criminal with more than a few surprises up his sleeve. Black resides in Azkaban, a prisoner there for 12 years and is just waiting for his chance to escape……….

Professor Remus J Lupin
Played by actor David Thewlis. The newest Defence Against The Dark Arts teacher. Although the job is said to be hexed, he takes up the challenge. A dishevelled looking man with shabby robes and more than a few scares. But Professor Lupin has a past and a secret that could endanger the students at Hogwarts…….

Professor Albus Dumbledore
Played by actor Sir Michael Gambon. The all-powerful Dumbledore. The headmaster at Hogwarts and a very powerful wizard who oozes kindness and commands respect of nearly everyone he meets. He cares greatly about the students under his protection and knows more than any wizard, due to his age! You can’t help but trust this man……

Draco Malfoy
Played by actor Tom Felton. The slimy Draco Malfoy is Harry’s arch enemy. Malfoy is in Slytherin house (the sign of a snake) and takes every opportunity to make fun of Harry and just otherwise be a nasty, spiteful little boy. Malfoy feels that his has a priveldged position as he is a pureblood wizard and despises all muggles, including Hermione. With more money than sense and a father as a school govenor, Malfoy is not an enemy to mess with.

Professor Severus Snape
Played by actor Alan Rickman. The slick haired potions master. Snape is head of Slytherin house and is the potions master at Hogwarts. He has a deep hatred towards Harry for reasons unknown and takes every opportunity to impose too much homework and take points from Gryffindor house (Harry’s house). In this third movie, Snape just emphasises how nasty he can be and seems to have a score to settle…….

***PLOT***

We come to the third year at Hogwarts and the film begins with Harry trying to practice his magic in the dead of night at Number Four, Privet Drive, whilst avoiding his Uncle’s ever watchful gaze.

The next scene involves Uncle Vernon’s horrid sister (Aunt Marge) to stay at the house. After insulting Harry’s parents, Harry loses control and actually blows her up and sends her flying out of the house and into the distance. Feeling so much rage inside him, Harry packs up his belongings and flees Privet Drive along with the Dursley clan.

But in the shadows….Harry sees something….a giant black dog. Having no time to even consider what he saw, Harry is saved by the appearance of the Knight Bus, the driver of which, takes him straight to the Leaky Cauldron in Diagon Alley. There he meets the Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge who seems to be very happy that Harry is safe and well….but why is that?

Harry soon learns that a mad criminal by the name of Sirius Black has escaped from the wizard prison Azkaban and that the guards of Azkaban (the dementors) are looking for him. Having been warned to steer clear of Black at all costs, Harry makes his way to Hogwarts and finds out that the dementors will be guarding Hogwarts but why? It’s because everyone seems to think that Sirius Black has escaped to find Harry and kill him. But this isn’t Harry’s only worry as it’s not just Sirius Black he has to worry about. For some reason, the dementors have taken quite an interest in Harry and for all the wrong reasons.

Now, having a talent for getting himself and his friends into trouble, Harry wants to know why Sirius is after him and gets awfully curious……now in the third movie, Harry uncovers another piece of the puzzle to his past but he has several questions…

Why does Sirius want to kill him? Why do the dementors affect Harry so badly? It’s another difficult year for Harry and Hogwarts, along with his best friends Ron and Hermione, it’s up to them to help Harry.

***MY PERSONAL OPINION***

I'm always thrilled to see a Harry Potter movie come to the big screen but I must confess that I was a little disappointed! Many people I've spoken to, have said that the third book the J.K.Rowling has churned out was their favourite and I must admit, it was mine too. In a way, I think I was expecting a lot from this movie, as where a lot of other people.

But like I say, it wasn't what I was expecting. The second movie was over 2 hours and 30 minutes long, so I was expecting this movie to be about the same length. It wasn't. It was about 2 hours and 20 mintues and they've cut a lot of the story out. I understand that book 3 was much bigger, so they have to be seleective and they have been. They have the core of the story in the book, but there are a few things mixed up. Not wishing to spoil it too much for those of you who have not seen it, one "event" that was in the wrong place was when Harry gets his firebolt broomstick. In the book, he gets it at xmas which is smack in the middle of the book and in the film....it's just plonked in at the end without much thought.

On the plus side, the CGI effects were awesome. You read about the incredible creatures that J.K.Rowling has envisioned and then seeing them brought to life on the big screen is well worth a watch. Buckbeak and the dementors were the best of the bunch, with the dementors scoring 10 out of 10 for maximum scare!

Over the course of the films, we've watched the three main characters grow up and yes, ok there performances have improved and they have gotten more confident but still have a lot to learn. It's not exactly an oscar winning performance in this film, but Daniel, Rupert and Emma are starting to take this more seriously and are exploring a wider scope of emotions when they act. It has certainly shown in this film.....even if it is slightly unbelievable.....like Hermione laughing for instance.

Of the three movies, this is certainly the darkest one of all and I'm not just talking about the lighting. The characters themselves argue a bit more, which makes for some light entertainment when in contrast with the rest of the story.

But you have to give credit to Alfonso Cuarón. He had a certain vision for this movie and he seems to be ecstatic with the result. His involvement with J.K.Rowling has been nothing but a blessing in disguise and she has been with him every step of the way, providing him with her vision for Hogwarts. Alfonso Cuarón has had to follow in the footsteps of Chris Columbus but overall, he hasn't done a bad job. Chris Columbus has also stayed on with the Harry Potter films as one of the producers.

Overall, I thought it was good, but I'm warning people not to get too excited or expect too much from this movie.

This seems to be a huge hit with most of the critics in the film world today! Here's what a couple think.......

"[Alfonso Cuaron] has never made a special-effects movie before, and he's careful to balance the ooh-ahh moments with human interaction."
Lawrence Toppman, CHARLOTTE OBSERVER

"Stretching the PG rating to its breaking point, Mr. Cuaron has directed the creepiest and scariest Potter picture yet -- and to my mind, the best."
David Sterritt, CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR

"The best book in the series is now the best film in the series. We all have a better movie in our heads, but I had a blast seeing what lurked inside Curon's."
Collin Souter, EFILMCRITIC.COM

"The third Harry Potter movie is the best yet, seemingly less dependent than its predecessors on cinematic gadgetry, and stronger in conveying its characters and story."
Brian Webster, APOLLO GUIDE

I would like to add however, that if you read the books as I have, you will expect a heck of a lot from this film as I did. I was disappointed but don't let that put you off from watching it please! It's nice to see this book come to life!

***TECHIE BITS***

Title: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Running time: 2 hours and 22 minutes
Director: Alfonso Cuarón
Certificate: PG (barely!)
DVD/VHS: Both including the two disc collectors edition.
Where to buy: Amazon, HMV
Price: £14.99 for two disc collectors edition DVD and £13.49 for the VHS tape from Amazon. Prices will be higher in HMV
Soundtrack: Yes
How much: £8.99 from Amazon
Games: Yes and on various platforms
Posters: Several
Trailers and clips: Loads!

***DVD EXTRAS***

I don't know if there is a single disc edition of DVD as I got the two disc collectors edition. The movie is on disc one and the following extras are on the second disc with a little explanation from me on each of them. Haven't seen all of them mind you!

Exclusive Never Before Seen Footage
This was just deleted scenes from various points in the book......you even see Professor McGonagall in PJ's!

Creating The Vision Interview With JK Rowling
Just an interview about what the author of the books thought of the latest film!

Three Interactive Challenges
Little games to play like remembering spells and magic throughout the film, a catch Scabbers game and can't remember the other one!

Self Guided IPIX Tours
Tour Lupin's classroom and Honeydukes I think.....

Interviews With The Cast Led By Johnny Vaughan And The Shrunken Head
Interviews with the cast and film makers. The shrunken head is actually really annoying in all interviews!

Meet The Animal Trainers From Care Of Magical Creatures
A short piece on all animals in the movie and how they were trained.

Choir Practice Sing Along With Hogwarts Choir
Follow the words and sing: Something Wicked This Way Comes!

Hogwarts Portrait Gallery
Haven't looked at this one yet!

Conjuring A Scene
Backstage at creating a scene.

Theatrical Trailers
That's pretty obvious isn't it folks!

Electronic Arts Game Preview
Preview for the third game, although not sure what platform the trailer is for.......

That's all folks! Enjoy the movie!

Happy trails kids!

Leila :) 

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