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| Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban [2004] | ![Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban [2004]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41PVN5DBGTL._SL160_.jpg)
 enlarge | Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Actors: Daniel Radcliffe, Julie Christie, David Bradley, Warwick Davis, Tom Felton
Studio: Warner Home Video
Category: DVD
List Price: £9.99
Buy Used: £2.99
You Save: £7.00 (70%)
New (12) from £4.90
Avg. Customer Rating:  23 reviews
Sales Rank: 1485
Format: Anamorphic, Pal
Languages: Arabic (Subtitled), English (Subtitled), English (Original Language)
Rating: Parental Guidance
Running Time: 136 minutes
Number Of Items: 1
Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.4 x 0.6
EAN: 7321900588171
ASIN: B000BO5U0K
Theatrical Release Date: 2004
Release Date: October 24, 2005
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 traitorous February 3, 2007
2 out of 4 found this review helpful
This time there is nearly nothing wrong with the movie in itself: we have a neat, consistent, well crafted adventure, not a masterpiece but highly enjoyable, a movie to be watched again and again, which is good because I use DVDs to better my English and therefore appreciate movies that bear re-watching.
This time yet the film completely betrays not only the plot, altered everywhere, but the spirit of the book it comes from.
The third episode of Ms Rowling's saga is flawed (see my review of the book), packed with disorderly events and emotions, difficult to screenplay, but the movie not only simplify the plot, it disfigures the characters.
In the book many of them are given interesting depths and or looked upon with cutting sarcasm, among them Hermione, Snape and Professor Trelawney but the movie does not allow us to glimpse them: the actors are all good but they cannot play what is not on the script and this time the script has hatched roughly.
I find this a severe disappointment but the film in itself is quite good, therefore the four stars.
 The Whole Hogwarts July 7, 2006
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
They did leave out a lot, but since they even overstepped the two hour mark with this one, I'll let it pass.
For an adult, this is one of the better HP films - the director has played up the darker elements of Hogwarts and the milieu is all the better for it. Gone is the whimsy of the first film, which set the scene well but ended up as just another "jolly hockey sticks" British public school flick, the 2000s version of St Trinians or - worse still - Enid Blyton. There is much less emphasis on Quidditch (despite the book's insistence on chronicling yet another Inter-House Tournament, the only game included in the movie is the vital one to which the Dementors decide to go) and much more maturity in Harry and Hermione's characters, particularly at the end (Ron doesn't really get much of a look in with his leg conveniently in plaster, and Harry has bigger fish to fry than Draco Malfoy this time).
Although the book was much more detailed and the film skates over the plot - missing out much of the Sirius-James Potter-Harry relationship which becomes more important in the Goblet of Fire, as well as the reason for Snape's ambivalence towards Lupin and his hostility towards Black and his gang - the characterisation and effects are much more powerful than the rather twee design of the first film. Thankfully the Dursleys only really make a cameo appearance; with so much horror to face at school I find them a rather irritating sideshow. Although I can appreciate Rowling's motives for including them in the books, they got in the way somewhat in the first film and the less we see of them in future films, the better (though Aunt Petunia is rumoured to be more than she seems; this has evidently been left by Rowling for the finale though, a bigger secret even than the climax of book 6!).
What I like is the way we see the boys and girls of Hogwarts growing up into "normal" adolescents. This is probably the first film in which they behave like teenagers should do (having not seen the second film) and - why shouldn't Hermione care about her looks? Most normal teenage girls do at that age, even nerdy ones. This is the noughties, not the fifties. A girl - or dare I say it, a woman - like Hermione need not choose between geekiness and taking a normal healthy interest in her looks. Hermione is intelligent and quite powerful herself, not a wilting, etiolated weed. And she looks better in a pink hoodie than a grey school uniform.
A mark off for the continued typecasting of Timothy Spall and Dawn French and the lack of some important clues in the story, but this is nowhere near enough to rip a whole star off. Looking forward to watching the rest of the trilogy.
Dementors, Mad Dogs and a Howling Wolf June 3, 2006
Based on J. K. Rowling's book, "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" covers the boy wizard's third year at Hogwarts and hit the big screen in 2004. The film opens at Privet Drive with the end of the summer holidays approaching. The previous summer, at the start of the Chamber of Secrets, Harry had been blamed by the Ministry of Magic for a spell performed by Dobby the House Elf in Dursley's house. This summer, Harry panics as he accidentally casts a spell on Uncle Vernon's thoroughly obnoxious sister. Knowing he's in trouble, he decides to go on the run - but, following a bumpy ride on the Knight Bus, the Minister for Magic corners him at Diagon Alley. Harry is somewhat surprised to be let off, given the trouble he got into the previous year - but relieved all he same.
The Magic Community seems to be much more concerned with a very dangerous criminal called Sirius Black, the first person to escape from Azkaban (the wizard prison). He had been sent there after being found guilty of murdering thirteen people - twelve of them muggles - with a single curse about twelve years earlier. Widely believed to have been a big supporter of Voldemort's, the rumour is he's hunting for Harry. As a result, some Azkaban guards (terrifying creatures, known as Dementors) have been posted at Hogwarts for the protection of the pupils and staff.
Harry is, once again, joined by Ron and Hermione at Hogwarts. There's a bit of trouble between Harry's two friends, however. Much of that is caused by Hermione's new pet Crookshanks - a crazy cat, who seems determined to kill Scabbers, Ron's rat, at every opportunity. This year's Defence Against The Dark Arts teacher, is Professor Lupin who - like the Dementors, the three friends meet him for the first time on the Hogwarts Express. Despite the fact he dresses rather shabbily and gets strangely ill from time to time, Lupin actually seems to know what he's doing. He also proves to be highly popular with the majority of pupils, particularly Harry. There are a couple pf other new teachers introduced this year - one of them is Hagrid, who has taken over the Care of Magical Creatures class. Unfortunately, his first lesson leads to a bit of trouble with a Hippogriff. Another is Professor Trelawney, the Divination teacher - who seems to be a bit of a crackpot. In their first lesson, she somehow picks out the Grim (a death omen) from Harry's tealeaves. Harry probably wouldn't have been too worried, only he'd already seen something of a death omen just as he was boarding the Knight Bus.
The movie is very enjoyable, though a good deal darker than I had imagined. Despite the criticism I've heard of their performances in the previous films, I thought Daniel Ratcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint were very good in their roles. (Draco, Harry's arch nemesis, would've stolen the show had his role been any bigger : Tom Felton plays the part of a strutting, arrogant, little twerp superbly. One of the most enjoyable scenes came when Hermione puts him firmly in his place). Professor Trelawney was also an enjoyable addition, played by the barely recognisable Emma Thompson. (Her ex-husband, of course, was also once on the teaching staff at Hogwarts : Ken Brannagh played the part of Gilderoy Lockhart in "The Chamber of Secrets"). For fans of the Stone Roses, meanwhile, Ian Brown stops by the Leaky Cauldron for a quick drink. The film's effects are hugely impressive, especially the Dementors : their first appearance on the train was the best scene in the film for me. Parts of the book have been minimised or dropped - particularly the 'history' of the Marauder's Map, its authors and how Lupin knew how to use it. However, it's a very enjoyable movie and is highly recommended.
not the best of the 4 April 21, 2006
6 out of 8 found this review helpful
Primarily, I quite enjoyed this film. I thought it was the best of the three. however, I have recently re-read the book, and realise that the film is a shadow of it ink and paper friend. the story has been whittled down the the bare minimal, with the script being a world away from the clever and witty words of the wondeful J.K Rowling.
The performances are better this time round, with an impressive Daniel Radcliffe, and great performances from David Thewlis (Lupin) and Gary Oldman (Sirius Black). these two actors, along with Alan Rickman (Snape)Dame Maggie Smith (mcGonagall)and Robbie Coltrane (Hagrid) are what truly holds the film together, and makes it miles more enjoyable than it would be otherwise.
Steve Kloves' script, does injustice to some characters, such as Hermione Granger (portrayed by an extremely posh Emma Watson) who has been altered from a book loving academic to a snobbish vain teenager, who is, on occasion, dangerously preoccupied with her appearance.
The film misses out some of the fascinating background of Sirius Black, James Potter, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew, a reationship which is very important in some chapters in Book 5. (Snape's worst memory), as well, as the true nature of the Marauder's map, and the significant form of Harry's Patronous. but perhps i am being Picky.
This film, is also the first film without the wonderful Richard Harris as Albus Dumbledore, instead employing the questionable interpretation of the character from Sir. Michael Gambon. Personally, i cannot stand what he has done to the character, and feel truly sorry for those who have seen the film , but have not read the books - you are missing out on one of the funniest, cleverest, magical characters in fiction.
The special effects are, as ever, marvellous with the Aunt Marge scene being brought to life in the most vivid way imaginable!! The werewolf...well. I might go off on a tangent, so I will keep quiet.
However, the film is enjoyable, and is worth buying, warts and all.
First film, Second film, Third film is the best so far!! April 17, 2006
3 out of 9 found this review helpful
Harry is about to start his third year at Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardy. When his terrible uncle Vermon's sister arrives Harry casts a spell on her and she floats into the air like a balloon. Harry goes out in the street to find a new home after a strict bring her back! from uncle Vermon he hears a wolf growl. Harry falls over. it just if about to pounce when a speeding bus stops on front of Harry. The man at the steps says come on come and Harry goes in. Eventually he arrives at leaky cauldron in London and meets Ron and Hermonie arguing whether Crookshanks [ Hermonie's new cat] ate Scabbers [ Ron's 12 year old rat] Eventually everyone gets on the train and it stops. Dementors swoop in to check for Sirius Black [ an escaper from Azkaban for a murder] The dementor tries to suck live from Harry but Lupin [ The new dark arts teacher] casts a spell and the dementor flies back. When they arrive at Hogwarts after a few days Lupin gives the class a lesson. They have to fight a boggart by thinking of the thing that scares them most and then chanting a spell and making it funny. The next dark arts lesson is handles by Snape Harry's least favourite teacher who usually teaches potions. Later on Harry breaks into Hogsmeade, has a fight with the whomping willow and reliases Lupin is an animagus [ person who turns into an animal on a full moon] Sirius Black threatens to kill Harry and after Lupin turns into a werewolf he chases them around the forest. Siriys Black admitts that he is Harry's godfather and dementors swoop over them on the lake . Harry wakes up in hospital later on and Hermonie tells him Sirius is being put to death by dementores. His soal will be sucked out. Hermonie uses her time turner so they manage to save Buckbeak from murder. [ A large feathery beast a hippogriff who bit Malfoy's arm and gave Harry a free ride across the lake earlier on in the film] They take Sirius out of Azkaban using Buckbeak. They give Buckbeak to Sirius. Sirius escapes and goes into hiding. On the last day if school Sirius sends Harry a firebolt a really fast broom. I didn't adnit the really exciting bits so try it out
It's Excellent
Chloe age 8
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