Reviewed by: Becca & Kris

Directed by: Alfonso Cuaron & Chris Columbus

Produced by: Chris Columbus & David Heyman

Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Gary Oldman, & David Thewlis

Action/Adventure, Kids/Family and Science Fiction/Fantasy 2 hrs. 19 min. Starting during the summer before Harry's third year at Hogwarts, this is the adventure that happens when he has to go on the run after an incident where he was unable to control his anger... getting on a bus, he hears about Sirius Black, a renegade wizard who was a Prisoner at Azkaban. What Harry doesn't suspect is that Black escaped to look for... him.

Let me start off right away by saying I have never read that books, not one. My boyfriend on the other hand has, and there were a few things in the movie that I needed him to explain. Mostly because I wanted to get an indepth feel for it. Without reading the books, I understood the movie and I am so sick of the reviews with people saying you won't understand if you haven't read the book. Actually, if you passed the first grade I am pretty sure you'll get it.

One of the things I didn't understand was the map that Harry comes to hold, don't worry I am not going to spoil it for you. But just as an FYI it was his father and his friend's map that they created, that is something they don't explain in the movie. I found the ending a little confussing about how Harry saved himself, but a little chat with my boyfriend and I understood.

So basically, anything you don't get, I hope you have a Harry Potter freak for a friend. Even if you don't, it doesn't really matter, the story is awesome. It's darker cause as Harry ages he has to deal with darker subject matter, and the books go along with the age of it's readers. Alot of people are throwing fits about how it was too grown up, and too confusing for kids. But with the other movies they were saying they were too kiddie, so I wouldn't worry much about what other people say. People are never happy with big movies such as this, everyone is a nit picker.

I enjoyed this movie and I will watch it again, I am sure. The story was darker and I liked that, I think the actors over acted a bit, but the directing was fantastic. The darkness made the CGI look more real, then the happy land that the school was in before. There is one thing I didn't like, Micheal Gambon, the guy who plays Dumbledore, just didn't fit in right. As you may know Richard Harris, the man who played him before, past away. Gambon just didn't have the friendly demeanor that the previous Dumbledore had, but not only that I think they made him look a bit to hip. But, hey if thats my biggest problem, the movie has to be good right?

The next chapter in the Harry Potter saga continues with Warner Brothers’ Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, the first film, made 90 million dollars it’s first weekend. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, the second film, made 88 million dollars in its first weekend. So there were a lot of high expectations for the third film in the series especially since Potter fans have been waiting for almost a year and half for the third film to be released in theaters. I must say that the wait was well worth it. I’m glad that the filmmakers took so much time to put this film together.

I happen to be one of the biggest Harry Potter fans and so I was anticipating the release of this film for a very long time. I had extremely high expectations for this film because it took so long to be released and my favorite character from the books is introduced in this film. I was not disappointed by this third film. It had almost everything I expected from it, and a little more.

The best part of this film is the acting. Each cast member does such a remarkable job in the role given to him/her, and each character looked as I had pictured in the books. Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint reprise their roles as the Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley in this film, and they have grown so much since the first film. They have all become much better actors, and their lines don’t seem to be as forced as they previously were. Emma Watson takes on a much bigger part in this film, and I was thoroughly pleased with that. Rupert Grint was the comic relief of the film, and watching him and Watson interact on screen was electric. They seem to have a sincere connection and it translates well on screen. I also have to comment on the performance of Michael Gambon. Michael Gambon took over for the late Richard Harris as the headmaster of Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore. This was the biggest question I had when I first went to see the film. I wanted to know how Gambon would measure up as the new Dumbledore and I was pleased that Gambon didn’t give in and adhere to what Harris had set for the character. Dumbledore has a new hippie look and Gambon stuck with his own style of acting in the role. After a little bit, I was used to seeing Gambon as Dumbledore and took it in stride.

The highest expectations I had for this film were for the role of Sirius Black played by Gary Oldman. Sirius Black is my favorite character in the series and I did not want to be disappointed by his performance and appearance in the film. Gary Oldman was absolutely fantastic in the role of Black. He doesn’t have a very large part in the film, but his presence is always felt. I love the way he delivered his lines, the way he looked, and just everything about the way he played his part.

There are several things from the book that are not in the film, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Upon my first viewing, I was a little disappointed that a few things weren’t in it; after my third time of seeing it, I realize that the film is perfect just the way it is. I still feel that a few things could have been explained a little better, but that is my only complaint about the film.

If you like the Harry Potter series, you will certainly enjoy this film. If you saw the first two films, then you have to see this one to see how the children have matured and how the storyline progresses. I’m still not sure if it’s the best film of the series, but it is very close to being so if it isn’t. Definitely give this film a shot; the kids will love it and adults will love it as well. If you aren’t a Harry Potter fan before the film, you probably will be after.