Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

this is my favorite movie from Harry Potter always <3

The movie is filled with amazing cinematography

One of my favorites of the franchise ! The atmosphere is different (sinister) and the introduction of the dementors adds to the danger felt in this movie. Time is a central theme with new interesting characters establishing a link between the past and the present.

I really liked it. Everything but I think what I like the most about this story is that Hermione and Harry had the major adventure without Ron, I don't hate him but the friendship between Harry and Hermione is fantastical.

Mexican director Alfonso Cuarón was exactly what the third chapter of the amazing Harry Potter franchise needed. Sure, Chris Columbus did a good job building a tense, urgent tone in “Chamber of Secrets,” but Cuarón takes it even further: not only does he make Hogwarts feel BIGGER – practically changing the layout of the school and its surroundings – but he also gets that he’s dealing with a story where the main characters are pre-teens, on edge, facing even bigger dangers.

His skill in portraying how teenagers act is on point throughout the film, showing students hanging out and having moments of relaxation together. What’s even more fascinating, if you check out the bonus material, is that Cuarón let the actors and extras choose how they wanted to appear in terms of clothes and hair, which gave a more realistic and relatable vibe to the whole thing.

Beyond that, Cuarón is way more creative than Columbus when it comes to the magic. Notice how the characters’ wands are more detailed, and he pays more attention to the way the spells flash and the sounds they make – something that Mike Newell built on in the next chapter. The expansion of Hogwarts, like I mentioned earlier, is one of the director’s most important and successful moves – and this layout was pretty much used for the rest of the series. From Hagrid’s hut and the path leading to it, to the clock tower, and even the big entrance doors of the castle. That brief moment where Hogwarts is being locked down creates a whole new level of tension for the audience. As for the special effects: Buckbeak the hippogriff looks even more real than Dobby from “Chamber of Secrets.” The attention to detail on Buckbeak, from the feathers to the way he flies, is incredible – and the scene where Harry feels completely free as he soars over Hogwarts on Buckbeak’s back is easily one of the most beautiful and memorable moments of the whole franchise. The same goes for the design of the Dementors.

Once again, the script by the great Steve Kloves nails it in every way. Sure, it might have a lot of dialogue, but there’s not a single scene that feels unnecessary, because the main plot keeps moving forward while we also get to see the students’ daily lives (they’re at school, after all), attending classes and so on. The twists come at just the right time, along with the big reveals about Harry’s past and his parents’ death.

Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson seem even more comfortable playing Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Radcliffe, in particular, shows how much he’s grown, as he handles a much more dramatic and intense role with ease. Gary Oldman steals the show in the final act with a powerhouse performance, David Thewlis is super likeable as Professor Lupin – easily the best professor in the series – and the ever-amazing Alan Rickman gets more chances to show Snape’s hatred and bitterness. Plus, Michael Gambon steps in as Dumbledore, replacing the beloved Richard Harris. This is a topic that sparks a lot of debate among book fans (myself included), but I’ve always liked Gambon’s more energetic take on the character.

“Prisoner of Azkaban” is the chapter that starts to show there are, in fact, real dark dangers in the wizarding world – and, more importantly, that they exist beyond Hogwarts’ walls. It’s a flawless film from start to finish.

>Snape: *"Turn to page 394."*

Without a doubt the best in the franchise. The Dementors have affected the tone of this one because it's more serious, mature, dark and even scary at times. I love the storyline with Sirius Black and the Dementor/Werewolf looming threat throughout the movie. Best story yet, best score yet, great cinematography, great acting (kids are better now) and the third act is bonkers. David Thewlis is such a great addition as Professor Lupin. Alan Rickman (Snape) was the standout once again, favorite character. The white neon lighting at night is something I hate in movies and this one has a lot of it, although it makes sense because of the moonlight so fair enough. The time travel is the icing on the cake, amazing use of it. I wish they had kept Cuarón as director for the next few movies.

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**Magical Creatures Ranked** (by favorite):

1. *Hippogriff (Buckbeak)* - who wouldn't want to take a ride on one of those.
2. *Dementor* - a monster that feeds on human happiness and eats your soul.
Straight out of a horror movie.
3. *Werewolf* - so cool, so deadly, one of the greatest moments of the franchise. The transformation scene was epic.
4. *Animagus* - not quite a Werewolf but still deadly.
5. *Boggart* - a shapeshifter that takes the shape of your greatest fear. Mine would probably be spiders too.
6. *Whomping Willow* - one hell of a ride.
7. *The Monster Book of Monsters* - reading will kill you.
8. *Shrunken Talking Head* - that was a thing.
9. *Singing Toad* - that was also a thing.

This part of franchise is best

“Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.”

Prisoner Of Azkaban is an absolute masterpiece and is one of my favourites from the franchise. I love this film so much and I think it really stands out compared to the other movies (well nothing against them of course).

The story here is even more darker than the two previous films as it’s way more mature but it still manages capture that magical feeling we are all know and love.

Harry, Ron and Hermione are as super as always and the same goes for the other totally amazing characters like Hagrid, Snape and of course the beast himself Dumbledore. I loved Remus Lupin a lot and I’d probably say he is the best defence against the dark arts teacher out all of the one’s we’ve had as it just suited him I think.

One of the biggest stand outs of this movie was easily Sirius Black who was absolutely awesome and he’s actually one of my all time favourites in this whole franchise (I even own his wand). It’s a pretty cool twist when we find out that he is not actually this vicious murderer that people made him out to be as he was framed by Ron’s bloody pet rat of all creatures.

My favourite part of this film was easily the time travelling scene at the end as I think it is so cool and even after a million watches I still think that it’s such a insanely cool moment and it is like so damm creative. I also like the night bus scene a lot as it’s simply way too iconic and it’s so funny with those crazy talking heads.

Another massive standout is the super adorable Buckbeak who i think is so bloody cute and he’s easily my second favourite creature just behind Dobby of course. I love him so much.

I am gonna give Prisomer of Azkaban a expecto patronum sized 10 out of 10 as it’s just amazing and it is easily my second favourite Harry Potter movie and my first may very well surprise you (I solemnly swear I’m up to no good).

10/10

“Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.”

On my latest Harry Potter Marathon we’ve come to my personal favourite out of the entire franchise the Prisoner of Azkaban the movie does very well to shift too a much darker tone while still keeping the magical essence and comedic aspects from the first two that made them so great it also does a great job with character development and introducing new ones.

Just by the start you could it was going for a more mature style Harry blowing up his Aunt was funny though FairPlay to Pam Ferris she really knows how to make her hate her, even with the dark parts of this film they still got a lot of comedy too loved the Ghost night bus especially the talking head “Yeah, take it away Ernie, it’s going to be a bumpy ride... Little old lady at twelve o’clock!”.

The Dementors are some creepy looking fuckers wouldn’t like to bump into them at night but at least I’ve learned how to get rid of them I guess “Expecto Patronum!!!”

Remus Lupin was great addition his connection with Harry was really good they did make it so obvious that he was a werewolf though lol 😂.

Sirius Black was a vocal point of the film even though he was only properly in it the second half but they did a great job at trying to make out that he was the villain it was a good twist with Ron’s rat who’s actually Peter Pettigrew who was actually the one betrayed Harry’s parents not Black tbh it was kinda obvious half way through the film when you seen his name on the The Marauder's Map but still was interesting to see how it played out.

To make up for not having the Legendary house elf in this one we get the crazy, but adorable Buckbeak the scene where Harry is flying with him was amazingly beautiful definitely had a bigger budget for this film.

The main thing I liked about this film was the time turner part there are hints throughout the film with Hermione just turning up out of nowhere but when they eventually go back in time to retrace their steps I find it a really cool idea just makes the film feel connected Dumbledore acting like he didn’t have a clue was hilarious aswell sad that Richard Harris passed away in between the second and third film he was brilliant in the first two films but Michael Gambon was also a fantastic Dumbledore two icons.

I caught up before I watch the 4th movie in the cinema for the anniversary but until then I’m afraid "Mischief managed".

there has never been a better director for a Harry Potter movie than Alfonso Cuarón. ever.