Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

Alfonso Cuarón

Writers (WGA):

J.K. Rowling (novel)
Steve Kloves (screenplay)

Release Date:

4 June 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Family | Fantasy | Mystery

Tagline:

Something wicked this way comes.

Plot:

It's Harry's third year at Hogwarts; not only does he have a new "Defense Against the Dark Arts" teacher, but there is also trouble brewing. Convicted murderer Sirius Black has escaped the Wizards' Prison and is coming after Harry.

Plot Keywords:

Magic | Wizard | Dark | Muggle | Serial Killer

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 10 wins & 31 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sat. July 11	8:00 PM	FAM
Sun. July 12	4:30 PM	FAM

Cast

Daniel Radcliffe	...	Harry Potter
Richard Griffiths	...	Uncle Vernon
Pam Ferris	...	Aunt Marge
Fiona Shaw	...	Aunt Petunia
Harry Melling	...	Dudley Dursley
Adrian Rawlins	...	James Potter
Geraldine Somerville	...	Lily Potter
Lee Ingleby	...	Stan Shunpike
Lenny Henry	...	Shrunken Head
Jimmy Gardner	...	Ernie the Bus Driver
Gary Oldman	...	Sirius Black
Jim Tavaré	...	Tom the Innkeeper
Robert Hardy	...	Cornelius Fudge
Abby Ford	...	Young Witch Maid
Rupert Grint	...	Ron Weasley

Also Known As:

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: The IMAX Experience (USA) (IMAX version)

MPAA:

Rated PG for frightening moments, creature violence and mild language.

Runtime:

141 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Malaysia:U | Iceland:L | India:U | USA:PG (certificate #40749) | Hungary:14 | Netherlands:9 | Germany:12 | Argentina:Atp | Australia:M (original rating) | Australia:PG (re-rating on appeal) | Brazil:Livre | Canada:G (Quebec) | Czech Republic:U | Finland:K-11 | France:U | Hong Kong:IIA | Ireland:PG | Israel:PG | Italy:T | Japan:U | New Zealand:PG | Norway:11 | Peru:PT | Philippines:G | Singapore:PG | South Korea:All | Spain:T | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Zurich) | Taiwan:GP | UK:PG | Greece:K

Filming Locations:

Dowding Way, Watford, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

In order to acquaint himself with his three lead actors, director Alfonso Cuarón had each of them write an essay about their characters, from a first-person point of view. Emma Watson, in true Hermione fashion, went a little overboard and wrote a 16-page essay. Daniel Radcliffe wrote a simple one-page summary, and Rupert Grint never even turned his in.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Harry is in Lupin's office in the second to last scene, the Marauder's Map is on the desk in one shot and isn't in the next, however, there is no indication that Harry has picked up the map.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Harry: Lumos Maxima!
[five times]

Movie Connections:

Featured in You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story (2008) (V)

Soundtrack:

La Cumparsita

Darker but still Humorous

I thought this movie was a massive improvement from the previous two films, I enjoyed and got to love this movie while the other two I'm even sorry I have them in my DVDs list. When I was watching this movie, I was watching it with three of my friends, one of them was sitting next to me, and in the middle of the movie when she couldn't take it any longer she said in an almost desperate way "This movie is LOADS better than the previous two" maybe she said it in a desperate way because I had been telling her that I'd heard the movie was going to be much better than the others...

Radcliffe's acting improved a lot, and I was very relieved when I saw in one of the first scenes in the movie when he hits his bed, in that moment I said "Now THAT is Harry Potter", but of course Radcliffe's acting wasn't perfect, but now I have total confidence in his improvement in the future. Watson's acting I found it a bit over-acted, but I never thought she fitted Hermione anyway, Grint's acting, as always, is a great comic relief, and great acting as well, as he was from the beginning. What can I say about Michael Gambon, Gary Oldman, Maggie Smith, and all of those brilliant British actors? only they didn't have enough screen-time, Thompson was great and David Thewlis was awesome as Lupin. Even in the Soundtrack you can see how great is the influence Alfonso Cuarón has in the film, is great and positive. All I can say is I'm sorry he won't be directing the fourth movie, but after this movie we can be waiting in peace the fourth one.

5 out of 5 stars to Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.