Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

Release date: 2004-09-10
Country: UK|USA
Language: English
Director: Alfonso Cuarón
Production Co: Warner Bros., 1492 Pictures, Heyday Films
Genre: Adventure, Family, Fantasy, Mystery
Rating: 7.9/10
Length: 2h 22min

Storyline

Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) is having a tough time with his relatives (yet again). He runs away after using magic to inflate Uncle Vernon's (Richard Griffiths') sister Marge (Pam Ferris), who was being offensive towards Harry's parents. Initially scared for using magic outside the school, he is pleasantly surprised that he won't be penalized after all. However, he soon learns that a dangerous criminal and Voldemort's trusted aide Sirius Black (Gary Oldman) has escaped from Azkaban Prison and wants to kill Harry to avenge the Dark Lord. To worsen the conditions for Harry, vile creatures called Dementors are appointed to guard the school gates and inexplicably happen to have the most horrible effect on him. Little does Harry know that by the end of this year, many holes in his past (whatever he knows of it) will be filled up and he will have a clearer vision of what the future has in store.

Plot Keywords

framed for murder, magic, wizard, wrongful conviction, imprisonment, based on young adult novel, year 1993, year 1994, magical potion, strong female lead, traitor, serial killer, 1990s, sequel, time travel, boarding school, friendship, good versus evil, racial slur, returning character with different actor

Short Review

Cuarn's Prisoner of Azkaban, while a touch less faithful to the details of Rowling's oeuvre, captures far better its mood, the constant sense of wondrous discovery and lurking danger.