Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

Alfonso Cuarón

Writers (WGA):

J.K. Rowling (novel)
Steve Kloves (screenplay)

Release Date:

4 June 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Family | Fantasy | Mystery

Tagline:

Something wicked this way comes.

Plot:

It's Harry's third year at Hogwarts; not only does he have a new "Defense Against the Dark Arts" teacher, but there is also trouble brewing. Convicted murderer Sirius Black has escaped the Wizards' Prison and is coming after Harry.

Plot Keywords:

Magic | Wizard | Dark | Muggle | Serial Killer

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 10 wins & 31 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sat. July 11	8:00 PM	FAM
Sun. July 12	4:30 PM	FAM

Cast

Daniel Radcliffe	...	Harry Potter
Richard Griffiths	...	Uncle Vernon
Pam Ferris	...	Aunt Marge
Fiona Shaw	...	Aunt Petunia
Harry Melling	...	Dudley Dursley
Adrian Rawlins	...	James Potter
Geraldine Somerville	...	Lily Potter
Lee Ingleby	...	Stan Shunpike
Lenny Henry	...	Shrunken Head
Jimmy Gardner	...	Ernie the Bus Driver
Gary Oldman	...	Sirius Black
Jim Tavaré	...	Tom the Innkeeper
Robert Hardy	...	Cornelius Fudge
Abby Ford	...	Young Witch Maid
Rupert Grint	...	Ron Weasley

Also Known As:

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: The IMAX Experience (USA) (IMAX version)

MPAA:

Rated PG for frightening moments, creature violence and mild language.

Runtime:

141 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Malaysia:U | Iceland:L | India:U | USA:PG (certificate #40749) | Hungary:14 | Netherlands:9 | Germany:12 | Argentina:Atp | Australia:M (original rating) | Australia:PG (re-rating on appeal) | Brazil:Livre | Canada:G (Quebec) | Czech Republic:U | Finland:K-11 | France:U | Hong Kong:IIA | Ireland:PG | Israel:PG | Italy:T | Japan:U | New Zealand:PG | Norway:11 | Peru:PT | Philippines:G | Singapore:PG | South Korea:All | Spain:T | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Zurich) | Taiwan:GP | UK:PG | Greece:K

Filming Locations:

Dowding Way, Watford, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

Executive producer Chris Columbus (who directed the first two films) offered the role of director to Alfonso Cuarón after watching Cuarón's A Little Princess (1995).

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Hermione angrily knocks over the crystal ball during the last Divination scene, a red and black tube can be seen jutting out of its side.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Harry: Lumos Maxima!
[five times]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Beverly Kills (2005)

Soundtrack:

A Winter's Spell

The best of the Harry Potter films so far

This third Harry Potter film is the best one yet. Director Alphonso Cuaron (Y Tu Mama Tambien, A Little Princess) has taken over from Chris Columbus and has stuck less slavishly to the original JK Rowling Books.

Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson are back as Harry, Ron and Hermoine, with Hermoine in particular getting to do a lot more. There are less Quidditch matches, and more menace, in keeping with the improved complexity of Rowling's third novel. Hogwarts is not safe, Draco Malfoy is no longer a menace, but just a pain in the ass. And the new CGI-scripted character Buckbeak the Hippogriff (half eagle, half horse) looks fantastic and has personality.The kids are all supposed to be thirteen but look older - hey we'll forgive them. Neville Longbottom has lost so much weight he's almost unrecognisable.

Great performances from Emma Thompson hamming it up as the ditsy professor of foretelling, Prof Trelawny, Michael Gambon as the new Professor Dumbledore (not as magical but good), David Thewliss as Prof Lupin, and Gary Oldman as the Prisoner of Azkhaban.Thrilling, complex, menacing, ****/***** stars.