HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN

UK, 2004, 142 minutes, Colour.
Daniel Radcliff, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, David Thewliss, Gary Oldman, Timothy Spall, Michael Gambon, Emma Thompson, Maggie Smith, Robbie Coltrane, Pam Ferris, Richard Griffith, Fiona Lewis, Julie Walters.
Directed by Alfonso Cuaron.

Part 3. The first two films in the series were directed by Chris Columbus, efficiently effective versions (so readers of J.K.Rowling's books acknowledge). They were straightforward stories with the flair coming from the plots and the exciting special effects. Columbus has stepped back to a producer's role and the Mexican, Alfonso Cuaron, has now achieved the seemingly impossible of pleasing audiences (the most important role) and pleasing the critics (no mean feat!) Cuaron made a version of A Little Princess during the 90s as well as an odd updated version of Great Expectations. He also made Y Tu Mama Tambien (And Your Mother Too), a rather energetic road movie of Mexican youth and sex, which would not suggest him as a director for Harry Potter! However, he has done it - and well.

Talk shows have shown how the three young stars have grown since the first film. They are growing in age with their development in the films. Daniel Radcliffe's voice has broken so Harry is now a teenager. He does very well this time and is more effectively centrescreen. Rupert Grint is still humorously down-to-earth support as Ron. Hermione is called a know-it-all by Professor Snape. She is, but has become a little more attractive.

While the old staff are still around (with Michael Gambon making a very smooth transition from Richard Harris as Professor Dumbledore and Hagrid becoming a teacher), there is the welcome addition of David Thewliss as Professor Lupin and a hilarious cameo by Emma Thompson as the short-sighted professor teaching discerning the future. Gary Oldman is good as Sirius Black, the actual prisoner of Azkaban.

The plot is not simply a confrontation between good and evil. Rather, there are more sinister aspects: Harry's life is under threat from Sirius Black; he is well tutored by Professor Lupin; the powers of evil are not those we might expect, so there is a certain suspense, especially in the final part where there is a play on time travel and rectifying situations. There are also some sinister creatures (especially werewolves) and a very agreeable Griffin (or Hippogriff, half horse, half eagle), called Breakbeak.

1. The popularity of the first two films? The story continued? Audience knowledge of the characters, the school, families, magic? The fresh aspect of characters as teenagers? The transition from children to teenagers?

2. The themes of children, education, imagination, magic, power? The struggle between good and evil? Family, memories, grief? Heroism?

3. The opening in the Potter family setting, the contrast with Harry on the street, the Knight bus and its special effects through the streets of London, the inn, the countryside, train travel, the Scottish beauty, Hogwarts School, the vistas of the school, the aerial shots, the interiors, the rooms, classrooms, the moving stairs, Hagrid's hut and the other locations, especially for the confrontation with Sirius Black?

4. The special effects, magic, the aunt inflating like a balloon and floating above London, Harry and his various spells, the notice about Sirius Black and its being alive, the newspapers and the photos being alive?

5. The classes and the spells, Professor Lupin?

6. The Dementors, eerie ghosts, evil, protecting the school, the sequences of their sucking the soul out of Harry and other characters? The Ridiculus spell? The Hippogryph, Breakbeak? The werewolves? The transformation of the characters into werewolves? The fights, the Quidditch in the rain? The musical score - and the a capella singing of the text from Macbeth?

7. The title, the focus on Sirius Black, expectations of his evil, wanting to destroy Harry - and the reality?

8. Harry and his family, the teenager, being rude to them, their discourtesy towards him, especially his large aunt, her commands? The ineffectiveness of his uncle and aunt at home, his fat cousin? The spell, the being inflated, her flying over the London sky? His going out on the road, the Knight bus, the driver, the interior and the dormitory, their flashing through the streets of London at night, the feeling (filling?) of the bus? Arriving at the inn? People welcoming Harry?

9. The discussions with the minister, his warning about Sirius Black, the notices in the inn? The meeting with Ron and with Hermione? The happy reunion, their growing up? The travelling to Hogwarts, Professor Lupin asleep in the corner? Harry and his telling them the story? The train ride, stopping on the bridge? Their getting to the school, the arrival, the welcome, settling in, friends? The clashes with Malfoy and his friends?

10. The staff and the familiarity? Dumbledor and his managing the school, his caring for Harry, the help, especially at the end and the issue of the execution of Breakbeak and the intervention of the minister? Miss Mc Gonagle and her rare appearances? Professor Snape, his classes, his being used as an example, with the women's clothes? At the end, his helping? Emma Thompson as the eccentric mistress, her classes, tea leaves etc., trying to tell the future while not being able to see the present very well? Hagrid and his presence in the welcoming, his being on the staff, his class with Breakbeak, Harry and his ride, Malfoy and his being arrogant and being injured?

11. Professor Lupin, his class, the spells, with Harry, people imagining their fears, their being ridiculed? His advice to Harry? The revelation of his relation to Sirius Black? Their friendship with Harry's parents? The meeting, Lupin as being the werewolf, the threats to Harry, preserving Harry? Ron and his pet mouse, its being lost, chased by Hermione's cat? The irony that it was Pettigrew, that he was the villain, betrayal? The map and the steps on the map to discover the truth (and this being used for the final credits)? The transformations, pursuits, the end, on the lake, the role of Lupin, his moving away from Hogwarts, Sirius Black and his being more of a hero?

12. Hagrid, the giant, on the staff, his lecture, Harry and Breakbeak, Breakbeak flying? The trial, Malfoy's influence, his father? The building up to the execution? Audiences thinking that the Hippogryph was killed - and then the time travel and the revelation of what actually happened? Breakbeak and his helping in the finale?

13. Sirius Black, his appearance, the Dementors? The truth about him, his memories, the fight, being wounded, Harry saving him? His being his godfather, offering to adopt him? Going?

14. The importance of Harry as a teenager, the memory of his parents, all those who spoke about his parents, his building up a picture, his mother's death, his mischievous father, the good memories?

15. Ron, his age, acting as usual, his pet rat - turning into Pettigrew? Hermione, taking charge, her appearing in two places at once, the explanation? Professor Snape calling her a know-it-all? Her helping Harry, her inaugurating the time travel?

16. The dangers, Harry on the lake with Sirius Black, his seeing the vision of light, assuming it was his parents? Hermione, the possibility of going back in time, changing history? The replay of all the activities, the fact that Breakbeak was not killed? Dumbledor and his intervention? Breakbeak and his saving Harry - and the reality that Harry saved Sirius Black?

17. Harry, personal development, age, his inner angers, his magic abilities, his quest about his parents, fear, heroism? The impact of this story, the darker side of the Harry Potter saga - and a transition to the next chapter?