Jun 04, 2004 03:32 PM
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(Updated Jun 04, 2004 03:32 PM)
God, I’m sure having my thoughts racing all over right now. I type this as I’ve just had lunch after the movie. Now I’m in the comfort of my home much after breaking from the sluggishness of a good vacation to rush to an over-crowded theatre. Also, I’m writing in MS after months, hoping no rust has really settled on my skills.
Getting straight to the point, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (henceforth HP – 3) takes an unlikely turn to a more bloodcurdling, darker and a much mature adventure. No flashbacks, the film hits in a straight line – lecture after lecture, an escapade after escapade. The film moves in a hasty and flash-forward like recounting though with some spoonfuls of a bit exaggerated humour. Have I to tell you the story? Well, in a nutshell Harry Potter (Radcliffe) and friends Ron Weasley (Grint) and Hermione Granger (Watson) enter their teens begin their third year in Hogwarts. And no sooner Harry smells danger. For the ferocious criminal Sirius Black(Gary Oldman) escapes out of the Azkaban prison and the sadistic hooded Dementors will leave no stone unturned to get hold of him. Then begins another year of breaking rules, taking risks coming face to face with danger, and of course wizardry and magic.
After Chris Columbus did a muddled job with the first two films (I don’t need to remind you of that), Mexican director Alfonso Cuarón aces in a sharp twist to the tale. His direction is far better in a word. With a crisp script, he wields a much darker, teenage movie with much superior special effects and camera work. But he seems to have neglected the lighthearted moments straightaway – there’s less of quidditch, gryffindor and the good ol’ hogwarts bonhomie. The creatures are prettier, noticed in the beautiful tactile hippogriff, Buckbeak. The Marauder’s map is pretty well sketched and illustrated too.
Radcliffe, Grint and Watson seem to have had a good learning experience, I could tell you that with their apparently better acting. Surely they’ve grown up with Radcliffe looking a lot developed and Watson no less a lady. Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton) sports a funky look with his neater haircut than the older greasier one. However, Prof. Lupin(David Thewlis) and Sirius Black’s characters are shoddily done. These must have received prime importance, however they fail to weave any sensational performance. Lupin is even worse than his digitally- mastered animagus, which should have been more life-like. His vulpine transformation seems like a more- ferocious version of Gollum from The Lord of the Rings. Sirius Black does a nosy job balancing the geniality of being Harry’s godfather and the frightening criminal. The new Dumbeldore(Michael Gambon) sticks close to this role, making hardly a difference from the former played by Richard Harris.
I know it’s a pretty short review (for the pretty short film and not much to write of) but it does justice to my acuity. Scarier and darker as I anticipated, it would have been better if stuck close to the book. I’m no potter fan as the title quotes; in fact I’m an anti-potter purveyor. Dunno, what made me watch the movie though. And yeah, it didn’t really shake a nerve within me.
