'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban' Review
Nominated For: Best Visual Effects and Best Original Score.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is the adaptation of the third installment in the Harry Potter book series that tells of Harry's third year at Hogwarts of Witchcraft and Wizardry, if you aren't a fan and haven't figured it out the series focuses on a year-by-year look at Harry's time at Hogwarts. This installment finds Harry once again in danger as the unhinged murderer Sirius Black has escaped Azkaban, the Wizarding World's equivalent of Alcatraz, and is intent on finding Harry Potter.
Prisoner of Azkaban stands out as a unique entry since the protagonists are growing up and therefore the tone of the series begins to darken. Another source of change derives from the ongoing developments behind the scenes as Alfonso Cuarón took the reigns from Chris Columbus. Everything Columbus established in previous installments remains intact, but Cuarón ventures further into depicting magic with technical proficiency, showing all the sheen and splendor found in modern blockbusters, an incredible feat that the effects held up to 2016 standards considering the film was released in 2004.
Cuarón and cinematographer Michael Seresin paint a pristine picture of Hogwarts and other fantastic locales while the visual effects artists both improve and add onto the expansive Wizarding World with a stormy Quidditch match, the mysterious Marauder's Map, some frightening dementors, and a high spirited hippogriff named Buckbeak.
Steve Kloves returns to adapt J.K. Rowling's novel, once again maintaining accuracy from page to screen, and John William's compositions are as magical as ever with his third foray into the sounds of the Wizarding World. The performances evidenced in Prisoner of Azkaban show the character growth throughout the series as our protagonists become more gutsy and daring.
Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint bring the charming sensibilities of Harry, Hermione, and Ron in addition to exploring the newfound confidence their characters now possess as teenagers. Radcliffe has a tough balance as Harry Potter this time around, bringing out some of Harry's restrained darkness while maintaining heroism.
The trio's professors and peers consist of Maggie Smith's responsible Professor McGonagall, Robbie Coltrane's kind Hagrid, Alan Rickman's calculating Severus Snape, Matthew Lewis' problematic Neville Longbottom, and Tom Felton's dastardly Draco Malfoy. The wicked Dursley's are replied by Fiona Shaw, Richard Griffiths, and Harry Melling respectively. Newcomers include David Thewlis' dodgy Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher Remus Lupin and Gary Oldman's misunderstood Sirius Black while Michael Gambon steps into the role of Albus Dumbledore, seeing as Richard Harris passed away prior to filming.
Prisoner of Azkaban's outstanding direction, spellbinding visuals, magnificent score, and charming cast make it among the more magical films of the series. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban may stand out among the series as the most visually striking installment but it still fits in snugly with the established world serving as an effective tonal transition for the upcoming darker entries.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is the adaptation of the third installment in the Harry Potter book series that tells of Harry's third year at Hogwarts of Witchcraft and Wizardry, if you aren't a fan and haven't figured it out the series focuses on a year-by-year look at Harry's time at Hogwarts. This installment finds Harry once again in danger as the unhinged murderer Sirius Black has escaped Azkaban, the Wizarding World's equivalent of Alcatraz, and is intent on finding Harry Potter.
No comments:
Post a Comment