Movies 2007 #44 Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Two-Disc Special Edition) (Harry Potter 3) My favorite movie in the series so far (remember, I’ve yet to see Order of the Phoenix, so my opinion isn’t fully formed yet,) it didn’t fail to impress. What a career Alfonso Cuarón has had so far- this genius bit of Hollywood blockbustering, the science fiction goodness of Children of Men (my favorite film of 2006) and the Mexican indy hiposity of Y tu mamá también. On the surface, the only thing tying them together might be their quality, but what quality.

In specific reference to this film, Cuaron here importantly captures the suspense of this pivotal entry in the series. Oh, there’s wonder and all that, but the important part of this film is the mystery. The whodunnit and the whosgonnadoit. It’s on this book/film that the entire series turns and the veil really begins to be lifted and Cuaron handles it all perfectly. It’s exhilarating stuff even for a grizzled veteran of th series like me. I know what’s coming and it’s still a fun ride over the last forty five minutes.

It should be mentioned that having Gary Oldman playing the role of Sirius Black certainly didn’t hurt matters. He’s as near perfect a Sirius Black as I can imagine. He’s not quite the perfection that is Alan Rickman’s Severus Snape, but he’s pretty damned close.