Ryan Finn
Staff Writer

Harry Potter is in trouble. Yes, again. Besieged not by monsters, nightmares, or curse-wielding wizards, but by something far worse: adolescence. The little scamp is finally 13.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, the third cinematic outing derived from J.K. Rowling’s uncommonly popular book series, is certainly the best. It is more serious, far darker, and definitely edgier than anything Chris Columbus (the director of the first two) could have cooked up.

Stepping up to the helm this time is Mexican wonder Alfonso Cuarón, the director not only responsible for the steamy, excellent Y Tu Mama Tambien, but also for A Little Princess, a terrific children’s movie.

The dark Lord Voldemort is out of the picture for the first time in the series. In his stead, the story revolves around the escape of the titular prisoner and Voldemort-supporter, Sirius Black, as well as his presumed attempts to find Harry and eliminate him. However, as with everything else in Rowling’s world, nothing is quite what it seems.

Joining Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) are his friends Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson). The trio of actors still has the same charming chemistry between them. While none of the three actors have individually impressed me, they are getting better, and Radcliffe has a few good moments this time.

The staff turnover at Hogwarts must be astounding.Thankfully, there are enough British character actors to go around. Alan Rickman, Dame Maggie Smith, Robbie Coltrane and Michael Gambon all do as well as their limited screen time can realistically afford them.

New to the school and series is Professor Lupin, a “Defense Against the Dark Arts” teacher. Winningly played by David Thewlis, Lupin steals a lot of scenes. Emma Thompson straps on a frizzy wig and an enormous pair of eyeglasses to play the batty, quirky “Divination” teacher, Professor Trelawney. Finally, though his scenes are short and late in the film, Gary Oldman gives Sirius Black real definition and a dark bite.

Cuarón and his screenwriter, Steve Kloves, dispense with the exposition and jump straight into the story. Although Harry first has to escape his tormenting relatives, he eventually finds himself both at Hogwarts and in the center of a mad search for Black. Harry and friends try to mind their own business, but, well, bad things seem to have a way of finding them.

Dementors are such things. Flying, wraithlike, ghastly creatures, dementors are the fearsome guards of the Azkaban prison, and they are “welcomed” to Hogwarts as pseudo-bodyguards, Assigned to protect the school from a snooping Black.

Prisoner somehow manages to feel less episodic than the previous Potter films. The script is fairly well written, fast-paced and exciting. However, the film is not always complete. Some of the book’s elements are given short shrift, glossed over, or plainly ignored. Rather than hurting the film, however, this actually streamlines the story, keeping in everything that is critical and leaving out most of what is not.

The film has its failings as well, though. There are moments worth a head-scratch or two if you have not read the books, and Sirius Black does not actually seem that scary nor does he appear enough in the film to produce a true feeling of terror. However, the film works well despite these things.

I should probably mention that I did not quite love the first two films. They were admirable attempts at kick-starting an obviously challenging series, but director Chris Columbus possessed a sense of subtlety rather akin to being slapped upside the head with a fly swatter.

Alfonso Cuarón, however, remembers that many older folks derive enjoyment from this series, too. While Columbus’ world was a sugary fairytale, Cuarón gives us a shocking nightmare by comparison. The sky always seems to be overcast, and the words “death,” “murder,” and “kill” seem to be spoken almost as often as “Harry,” “Ron,” and “Hermione.”

More to the point, I was a little surprised to discover genuine darkness and violence in the film. Prisoner can be downright unnerving at times.

The special effects are inspired, the score is outstanding, the sets look better than ever, and the fun factor is still there in spades. Prisoner is shorter than the previous films, but feels longer, bolder, and more mature. Even should you be one of those people unimpressed by all of this Harry Potter silliness, I would still recommend Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban without thinking twice. You will find more to it than you might expect at first.