SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES
Some might say that all you would need to do is have a film title with the words ‘Harry Potter’ in it to have the masses flocking to see what it is. There is no denying that dear old Harry and his chums have became a phenomenon and that it would not matter what is said here on these pages as it would not deter the above mentioned. Slipping that aside for a moment and at the possibility of upsetting some of those young practising wizards, witches and warlocks, to whom I beseech you not to put a spell on me, I am just about to go out on a limb. ‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’ is by far the best we have seen so far from this wizard and the walls of Hogwarts.
not all is what it seems
We return to Hogwarts for the third year in the lives of Harry, Ron and Hermione with Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson & Rupert Grint reprising their roles and this time something wicked is not just lurking in the dark corners or slithering inside the walls of the witching and wizarding school, it’s coming right for Harry with murder in mind! Sirius Black has escaped from Azkaban, something that was thought impossible and he’s after Harry. Rumoured to be a devoted follower of ‘you know who’ Sirius has done the impossible, he’s survived Azkaban and escaped the clutches of the Dementors, the death like wardens of the prison. So sets the scene for this thrill ride of the third instalment of J. K Rowling’s invention. But the crowning glory here does not belong to J. K. alone, director Alfonso Cuaron (Y Tu Mama Tambien & A Little Princess) has imbued his own touch and darkness does seem to be very much around. Some statues within the grounds show eagles and snakes nodding to the director’s home turf and even Hogsmeade is full of Mexicana but never does it seem out of place. This time too they have enlisted the help of illusionist Paul Kieve to get some slight of hand up close and on screen.
Harry and Co. are not the kids they once where and now the precocious teens have very much what all teens suffer from and Cuaron exploits that this is a coming of age too. We have everything here from lights under the bed sheets to hints of affections yet to come and then who has not thought of literally blowing up their Aunt? Even Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton) plays a more irritatating and cowardly teen than normal. No sooner than you can say patronus that our plucky hero is running away from home unaware of the forthcoming dilemma and heading for Hogwarts and blindly into the arms of the Dementors. The wardens and soul stealers have been unleashed to search for the murderous Black. These creatures are by far the most fearsome things to float into a Potter story and it’s not in their nature to be forgiving. As if that wasn’t bad enough the full moon has a few surprises too.New members of staff at Hogwarts include David Thewlis as Professor Lupin and Emma Thompson as Professor Sybil Trelawney. One of the problems that you have with such a popular series as the Potter books have become, when reading those enchanted pieces of parchment you do imagine the characters portrayed, but in this case Emma is a true delight and now it is impossible to think of anyone else playing the part.
On display everywhere on screen are the 'Wanted' posters for a tattooed and sunken eyed Sirius Black and Gary Oldman seems menacing right from the start, again a perfect casting. As is Timothy Spall as a rather snivelling and trecherous nine fingered Peter Pettigrew. The only casting doubt of the new faces is one for an old and beloved character, Professor Albus Dumbledore, this time played by Sir Michael Gambon. I have trouble taking him away from his previous roles of the nasty mobster in ‘The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover’ or the maniacal and maimed titular character in ‘The Singing Detective’ but he does have large shoes to fill. Richard Harris passed away before this movie and his warmth that he gave his character is sadly missed. For the UK audience, the additions of comedians Lenny Henry and Dawn French are added treats. Paul Whitehouse playing Sir Cadogan was mostly cut from the movie but can be heard in the DVD’s special features escorting you through a quest.
I do not want to go into the movie’s time travelling magical storyline in depth here as that has been done, I am sure, in a thousand other places but I do need to make one small comment in comparison to the book upon which it is based. The movie has an omission of a crucial part of the novel in the guise of the genesis of The Marauder’s Map and who Messrs Mooney, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs are. This leads to some very important background story points of Harry’s Father and the patronus itself, why has it been left out? When Professor Lupin takes the map and uses it you wonder how he knows this and this is never revealed. A small grumble I know but an important one.
The movie itself is the darkest invite we have had at Hogwarts, there is a feeling of age and grime and mystery that has not been with us before. The look has had subtle changes and even places have seemed to move but since we are in a magical world these are not criticisms but adds to the feeling that we are muggles only looking on to a world not of our own. The filming location of Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland is put to particular good use as Hagrid’s cottage. Credit here must be given to Cuaron, Steve Kloves writing his third Potter screenplay and cinematographer Michael Seresin. This is also the most polished and ambitious for the special effects team and the realisation of Buckbeack is a true marvel. John Williams scores for the third time too with his usual award winning flare and his song for the Hogwart’s choir ‘Double, Double, Toil and Trouble’ owes more than a nod to Shakespeare’s famous witches.Now to the DVD itself, which strangely has a different packaging from the previous two of which I will need to ask Professor Trelawny to find out why and like it’s previous partners it is packed to the brim with wonderful magical items. Some of which will be particularly entertaining to the younger age groups for many an hour. Thankfully you do not need to play the game to get to the deleted scenes this time and there are gorgeous animated menus based on the Marauder’s Map with footprints (and paw prints) walking around the grounds, so too are the end credits in the movie. The movie is in it’s full 2.40:1 (if viewing the widescreen version that is) which makes those grey and cloudy Scottish skies look enchanting and has a 5.1 Dolby digital soundtrack.
A full list of special features can be found on the DVD page but the Care of Magical Creatures is definitely worth a look.
Available in full or widescreen versions and as a Harry Potter 1 to 3 movie boxset.
All in all Warner Bros. Ent. present a dark, magical, humorous and thrilling movie and a worthy addition to your DVD and Harry Potter libraries.
Mischief managed……….
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