Rating: 
Summary: So close and yet so far
Review: "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" is a very well-made movie. Alfonso Cuaron, taking over the project from Chris Columbus, has done a remarkable job with every last detail of filming. Everything from the lighting to the cinematography to the musical score is breathtaking and amazing.The actors are all at the top of their game. David Thewlis, also a newcomer to the project, does a wonderful turn as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Lupin. Another newcomer, Gary Oldman, plays escaped convict Sirius Black to a tee. The character was completely believable, and just as I had imagined him. Michael Gambon, as the new professor Dumbledore, makes a seamless transition into the role left behind by the late Richard Harris. And Emma Thompson steals all of her scenes as the loopy Professor Trelawney. The film is shot with lots of dark colors and off-kilter angles, fitting the tone of the story perfectly. Harry is being stalked in this story, and Cuaron goes to every length to make sure the audience feels the discomfort Harry does when he thinks he's being watched. The only downfall of "Azkaban" however, is that it's somewhat of a poor adaptation. I got the feeling that Cuaron had read Steve Kloves' script, but neglected to read the book. Many parts important to the audience(and to later books) get left out, and while the audience won't miss some of the cuts(Gryffindor winning the Quidditch cup, for example) some aspects that should have been included in the film were not. Furthermore, some parts of the book were left out that later become important to the plot. As a faithful reader of the series since book one, I knew what was going on, and was able to keep up, but those members of the audience who haven't read the book might get confused. This film(especially at the beginning) is somewhat exclusive to people that didn't read the series. But the films have taken a big leap forward in quality with Cuaron at the helm. While the ones Colombus directed were glossed over and disney-fied, but very faithful to the books, Cuaron's movie makes several departures from Rowling's novel but, as a film, is much more ambitious and artistic than its two predecessors. So to those who have read the book: I urge you to go see "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban", but be prepared to take it with a grain of salt. To those who haven't read the books, or haven't read them in a long time: Read or re-read the novel before you see the film. It will make that much difference.
Rating: 
Summary: Bloody Brilliant!!!!!!!!
Review: Alfonso Cuaron has breathed new life and given a whole new feel to an already remarkable series of films. With "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban", Cuaron takes a beloved book and turns it into a beautifully filmed, fast paced story that will keep both old and new fans enthralled. The director of the sexy teen coming-of-age movie, "Y Tu Mama Tambien", seems to be completely in tune with the teenage mind. As J. K. Rowling's series of books begins to move into the troublesome years of adolesence, this movie definitely needed someone like Cuaron who could capture the angst and complexity that young people deal with as they begin the road toward young adulthood. New additions to the already superb cast include Michael Gambon who takes over the role of Professor Dumbledore for the late Richard Harris. Also new to the Potter films is Emma Thompson, a long time favorite of mine, who plays wacky Divination professor Trelawney. And, of course, there is David Thewlis and Gary Oldman, who play Professor Lupin and Sirius Black respectively, two major players in the life of our young hero. Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint also show continued improvement in their acting skills as they fall effortless into the characters that have made them famous. Alan Rickman continues, with perfection, as the mysterious and always grumpy Professor Snape as well as Dame Maggie Smith as Professor McGonagall, who we actually see very little of in this movie. The effects are incredible, especially Buckbeake, who is beautiful and pretty much flawless. The ride Harry takes with Buckbeake is a beautiful moment in the film, a complete treasure for the eyes! The dementors are exactly as one would imagine, giving the viewer the chills that they produce on anything that they come near. In order to keep the pace of the film, certain things had to be left out but overall it is not really important. Cuaron keeps all that is important to the story and adds a rich, new chapter to an already crowd pleasing group of films. The only downside is that now we must wait for the next installment, "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire". I hope the next director will live up to Cuaron's vision of Harry Potter and the world he lives in. He has big shoes to fill! GO SEE THIS FILM---YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!!
Rating:
Summary: Best Movie of All Time
Review: Alfonso Cuaron has created the best of all the Harry Potter movies. The acors and actressses have grown up and have done fantastic job. Steve Kloves has written an excellent screenplay and Alan Rickman is back and ready for action.
Rating:
Summary: Well Done!
Review: I am an avid Harry Potter fan and I have read all the books at least four times each. I think that the "Prisoner" movie was done much better than the first two. To start, it shows how the magic world is changing for Harry and how it will continue to change as the story unfolds throughout the future novels. It's important to point out that the new director has been known in the past to put a dark spin on his interpretations in movies. But I thought that this dark point of view is what is needed at this point in order to show that Harry and co. are no longer children and are entering into more dangerous territory. Although the director did edit some parts of the book that I would have like to see, I think the movie overall does a great job in showcasing the future of the series. I think the actors are really starting to come into their own and showing more depth in their interpretations of the characters. I love to see how comfortable they are with each other in this film and to see how they are growing with these characters. Overall, I think this movie is great and I can't wait to see "Goblet". Although I do agree that "Goblet" should be longer or made into a two part movie because to edit book four too much will ruin the movie and movie goers that don't read the books will be completely lost then.
Rating: 
Summary: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Review: I eagerly anticipated the release of the third film in the Harry Potter series for more than a year. But, when I finally got to see it I was more than a little disappointed. Although the standard of acting has improved greatly since the first two films, I felt this film lacked the magic of Philosopher's Stone and Chamber of Secrets.
This film, like the book, sees Harry Potter become a teenager and enter a much darker period of his life. Harry's first two years at Hogwarts saw him battling a weakened Voldemort, whereas this year he must face the Dementors and escaped prisoner Sirius Black, forcing him to discover more about his past.
The book was fantastic, so I had high hopes that the film would be too. But somewhere between evil Malfoy becoming a coward and Hagrid's Hut and the Whomping Willow changing location, the storyline seemed to get lost. That's not to say it isn't a good film - the part at the beginning where Harry blows up his Aunt Marge was hilarious, and David Thewlis is excellent as Professor Lupin. It's just that the changes distract from the story. Michael Gambon has kept none of the mannerisms that the late Richard Harris brought to Dumbledore; Hogwarts had changed so dramatically I spent half the film wondering if Harry and his friends had transferred to a different school; and important parts of the story had been ignored or left out. (Gryffindor winning the Quidditch cup; how Lupin knew how the Marauders Map worked; who Messrs Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs were; why Harry thought the Patronus was his dad etc..)
I couldn't help but feel that the new director was trying too hard, making the movie very 'artsy' and taking it somewhere it didn't need to be, and before the end was insight I found myself wishing Chris Columbus would come back.
Harry Potter fans can only pray that Mike Newell (Four Weddings and a Funeral) will do a better job with Goblet of Fire.
3 stars - ultimately, to understand this film you have to read the book.
Rating:
Summary: Best film ever
Review: I thought it was great, thrilling and exciting! It keeps you on your toes the whole time. However it does not include everything in the book so watch out. I still think that it is one of the best Harry potter film ever as the special affects are great!
Rating:
Summary: new look to a changing story
Review: I thought the newest Harry Potter movie was VERY WELL DONE. A new look for an ever changing story line. Why would anyone want to watch a movie thats done exactly like the first two? Change it up a bit and keep the audiance wondering how their favorite books are going to be brought to screen. It doesnt hurt to have many peoples different views bring a great book to screen in another way then the first two. As long as the story gets told, isnt that all that matters?
Rating:
Summary: Great Adaptation
Review: I very much liked Cuaron's vision of the books, particularly in POA, where the story takes a good hard look at the darker side of JK Rowling's detailed world. It's easy to forget that Voldemort does not make an appearance in POA - the darkness comes from fear, prejudice, and allowing yourself to become evil in order to fight evil. Daniel Radcliffe simply is Harry Potter. He is an amazing young actor. Rupert and Emma have grown into their craft, which must have something to do with exposure to fine directors and some of the greatest actors in British theater. Michael Gambon, Emma Thompson and Gary Oldman are excellent additions to the cast, and I'm looking forward to seeing them in future installments. David Thewlis is a great actor, but just did not fit my picture of Lupin. Oh well. Although I generally didn't miss the Quidditch (there are 3 matches in the book and 1 in the film,) I did miss the scene where Harry unleashes his Patronus against what he thinks is Dementors, but is actually Draco & cronies. The Dementors were wonderful - really frightening. The use of ice to mark their passing, and the blurring of Harry and Sirius when they are attacked by the Dementors was very effective. I wasn't very happy with the werewolf or the Grim. The Grim looked more like a wolf, rather than my vision of a large bear-like dog (I was thinking scruffy Newfoundland), and the werewolf looked like a thing, obviously not something that would take some observation to distinguish from a real wolf. Back to Cuaron, he paces POA much more briskly, a desperately needed change from the stately (okay, slow) first two installments. Evil's menace and wizardry's potential for chaos are much more evident in this installment. Finally, the grace notes he's added are completely in keeping with Rowling's world.
He would be an excellent choice to direct Order of the Phoenix.
Rating:
Summary: Some people just don't get it...
Review: One of the joys about the Harry Potter series is that the style of the books matures with the characters. This is finally true with the movies as well. Yes, this is a much darker film than the first 2...so is the book. Yes, Harry, Ron and Hermione act more like real teenagers and less like 1950's television children. There were choices made in this film that were risky, but in my opinion the risk paid off! This is the perfect progression in the films of Harry Potter!
Rating:
Summary: A magical fun-ride
Review: The third Harry Potter book was bound to be more difficult to bring to the screen, simply because there is so much more in it than the first two books. Give Alfonso Cuaron credit for a very good film adaptation. With a few glaring omissions, he's kept almost everything of substance. The film, like the book, starts off with Harry blowing up his obnoxious Aunt Marge and lamming it out of there to hole up in Diagon Alley for the remainder of his summer vacation. This time, instead of a monster in a hidden chamber, Harry has to contend with the Dementors, vicious entities so evil they suck out one's very soul. The Dementors are guarding Hogwarts because a supposed mass murderer named Sirius Black has escaped from the wizard prison at Azkaban. Just who Sirius turns out to be, everybody and his great grand-uncle knows by this time, but the movies stays pretty faithful to the book. The kids are growing up; they're not children any more, they're teenagers, and pretty cool at that. We can see a relationship growing between Ron and Hermione, and she's a pretty tough little lady for all her goody-goody attitude, not averse to punching Malfoy's lights out when he needs it. Malfoy, in fact, is one of the bigger disappointments in this film; he's a one-note character with a perpetual sneer on his face and nothing else to do. He was much better in the second film. One of the most egregious omissions in this movie is the quidditch final; even if it had added another ten minutes to the film, it should have stayed in. And the ending, with Harry zooming off on his brand-new Firebolt, is something of a cop-out; we know Harry received his new broomstick in the middle of the term, in time to win the quidditch final, so why did Cuaron see fit to change it? But the new faces give an added dimension to the movie. Gary Oldman as Sirius Black and David Thewlis as Professor Lupin are both excellent, and Emma Thompson as the ditzy Divination teacher Sibyl Trelawney is a hoot. A major disappointment for this reviewer was Michael Gambon as Dumbledore, replacing the late Richard Harris; whereas Harris conveyed Dumbledore's wisdom and authority, Gambon plays him as a slightly nutty professor with dirty fingernails. He doesn't make Dumbldore seem nearly as compelling a presence as he was in the first two films. And the werewolf figure that Lupin turns into looked more like a cartoon than anything remotely scary. Paging Steven Spielberg. Of the three films so far, I'd give the second film an A-plus, the first a B-plus, and this one an A-minus. It's very good indeed; it could have been better.
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