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Crazy ‘Bout Harry
Third Potter excites book fans and non-readers alike
by by Rosemary Nottoli
There are three types of people who see Harry Potter films: those who have read the books; those who have the books read to them; and those who have managed to avoid the books altogether. Where you fall among those groups in large part determines how much you enjoy the movies.
Those of us who fall into the first category are at a disadvantage; one of life’s overused, but generally applicable clichés is that the book is always better than the film. However, this newest addition to the fantastical Harry Potter series is a much more rich and artful movie than the two previous blockbusters. It’s a film that holds its own even with those who would be its toughest critics.
Leaving the director’s chair to Alfonso Cuaron (Y Tu Mama También), former director Chris Columbus (Home Alone, Mrs. Doubtfire) takes on the role as producer for the third film. While Columbus remained rigidly faithful to the text, Cuar�n takes the liberty of using a free hand to create a more visually entrancing piece.
Cuar�n’s dark and textured directorial style complements Harry’s increasingly angst-ridden journey into manhood. The Prisoner of Azkaban does not employ the Disney-inspired, child-approved feel of The Sorcerer’s Stone and the Chamber of Secrets, but a grittier, more realistic adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s literary marvel. You see the dirt under characters’ fingernails and the weather-beaten stone of Hogwarts; it’s a much darker work that leaves you with a silvery chill. Cuar�n’s approach highlights more detail of the wizard world, compelling your eyes to constantly scan the screen.
Some story sticklers may harp on Cuar�n’s choices in sacrificing certain elements of the plot and adding his own touches, but those choices allow the film to be judged as a movie, and not a big-screen replica of the book. Interpretation is a beautiful thing, one that Columbus previously chose to ignore.
Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson) are beginning to show signs of an awkwardly budding romance, while Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) learns to deal with his own demons. The whole series might easily be lumped in with other coming-of-age flicks, except that Harry seems to have much weightier—not to mention far more unusual—burdens than the average 13-year-old. The young actors have matured a great deal since the last film, which pushes this character-driven tale to another level.
The supporting cast is also superb. Gary Oldman plays Sirius Black, the mad murderer who recently escaped from the inescapable Azkaban prison. Though his appearances are few, he adds a great deal to his scenes and sets the stage for future cameos. Emma Thompson does an excellent job in the role of the quirky, nearly blind, yet all-seeing Professor Trelawney. David Thewlis plays the mysteriously odd Professor Lupin; he shares a few touching scenes with Harry, though his mousy mustache is a little distracting.
Despite there being only one Quidditch scene, which is very fast, cold and wet, there is plenty of digital imagery to satisfy lovers of computer enhancement. Buckbeak the Hippogriff (part eagle, part horse) is brilliantly designed and adds an imaginative element to the story. One character’s transformation into a werewolf seems a bit cliché, but the digital depiction of the greyhound-like werewolf makes it unusual.
Though the film glides seamlessly from one scene to the next, I did have a few complaints. One of the most integral plot points (the Shrieking Shack scene) is carelessly rushed and undoubtedly leaves non-readers with questions. This scene introduces new characters and should reveal more information to help viewers understand the back-story. And the final shot of the film is lackluster: a close-up of Harry’s face with an expression that looks as if he is going to eat the audience. It’s the scariest part of the film, for all the wrong reasons.
Be forewarned: Though guised as a classic tale of good versus evil, the evil parts of Prisoner are not sugar-coated, and may prove to be nightmare-worthy for the little ones; this is not an ordinary children’s movie. The Dementors, who bear a remarkable resemblance to the Grim Reaper, are the guards of Azkaban. They give an ice-chilling kiss while sucking out the soul of their victims. Those scenes may make the little tikes turn away, and perhaps a few adults as well.
But those are quibbles. Whether you choose to nitpick details or appreciate the film on its own merits, Harry III is certainly worth your time. In a world where wizards soar high above the clouds and ghosts on horseback gallop through the hallways, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban forces us to reach deep, brush the dust off our imaginations and succumb to the magic.
June 10, 2004 • Vol. 14, No. 24
© 2004 Metro Pulse
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