HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN (2004)

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"YEAR THREE."

WOW! This third installment of the "Harry Potter" film franchise is awesome! Why is it awesome? Well, read my review below:

For twelve long years, the dread fortress of Azkaban held an infamous prisoner named Sirius Black. Convicted of killing thirteen people with a single curse, he was said to be the heir apparent to the Dark Lord, Voldemort. Now he has escaped, leaving only two clues as to where he might be headed: Harry Potter's defeat of You-Know-Who was Black's downfall as well. And the Azkaban guards heard Black muttering in his sleep, "He's at Hogwarts...he's at Hogwarts." Harry Potter isn't safe, not even within the walls of his magical school, surrounded by his friends. Because on top of it all, there may well be a traitor in their midst.

In this 3rd "Harry Potter" movie, we all know that this evil Azkaban prisoner plans to look for Harry at Hogwarts somehow. But the story actually has more than just that! Something more happens! But I'm afraid I'm not going to spoil it to those who haven't seen the movies or read the books! Oh yes! IT'S MAJOR! But I will only say this one hint: Harry learns a little bit more about Sirius Black.

This movie has a great storyline compared to the book except with only some MINOR parts excluded, including this: there was no choir singing a song at the beginning of school in the book; but in the movie, there is a choir singing a song at the beginning of school, and it's called "Something Wicked This Way Comes."

But I love it how they made the Azkaban guards, the Dementors, look so dark and interesting while they look for Sirius Black in this movie. Just like in the book, the Dementors look a lot like the hooded Ringwraiths-AKA: the Nazgul-in "The Lord Of The Rings" trilogy. We also get to see some third-year students, those who have permission, in the snowy village of Hogsmeade buying candy and stuff in this one. And since Harry has no permission to go, he uses his Invisibility Cloak, which Harry received as a gift in the first film, and his new Marauder's Map, which shows all of Hogwarts, to sneak in. That part is a lot like the book. Next, Harry needs help from his new teacher, Remus Lupin, on how to get rid of the Dementors who are so into Harry because of his dark fears! The Dementors can also perform a kiss, which brings the cold inside your body and it can literally suck out your soul! Harry trains by using a Boggart, a shape-shifter which transforms into the thing you fear most, and he must think of a happy memory in order to perform a spell to draw the Dementors away. For which as a Dementor Boggart, it's called a Patronus. There's also Hagrid's flying pet creature named Buckbeak, and we get to see how Harry will be while flying on him during Hagrid's class. And last, let's not forget the first prediction of Voldemort's return by Harry's wierd gypsy teacher Ms. Trelawney. That's it for the plot. Now, onto my opinion:

This movie still has a perfect cast! We all still know that Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson continue playing the main characters, but Emma Watson now starts to look hot from this movie. This movie includes new characters from the book except Peeves who's so annoying and completely excluded from the movies! Michael Gambon, now that Richard Harris is dead, plays the new Albus Dumbledore, he's okay but a little different than what Richard Harris did; Robbie Coltrane returns as Hagrid who now becomes a professor in this one; David Thewlis as Harry's new teacher Remus Lupin; Emma Thompson as Ms. Trelawney; Alan Rickman, once again, as the crooked Snape; and last, Gary Oldman plays a perfect role as the dark and freaky Sirius Black! GREAT JOB ON THAT! Anyway, moving on:

Some guy named Alfonso Cuaron, instead of Chris Columbus, directs this movie. MAN! What is it with these unknown directors I've never heard of? Well, this new guy still did a fantastic job directing this movie, way better than Chris Columbus did on the first two movies.

Anyway, what did I say about this film before? Oh yeah! IT'S GREAT AND DARK! And guess what else? It's NOT for kids! It's actually an enjoyable movie for teenagers and adults to watch too! The story, the acting, the directing, the visuals, and the overall all deserve 5 stars! I now say this to everyone, even to the teenagers and adults out there: during this third year at Hogwarts, "Something Wicked This Way Comes."