|
 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2-Disc Widescreen Edition) (Harry Potter 3) :: 0790783517
Description
| Product Description |
|
| Some movie-loving wizards must have cast a magic spell on Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, because it's another grand slam for the Harry Potter franchise. Demonstrating remarkable versatility after the arthouse success of Y Tu Mamá También, director Alfonso Cuarón proves a perfect choice to guide Harry, Hermione, and Ron into treacherous puberty as the now 13-year-old students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry face a new and daunting challenge: Sirius Black (Gary Oldman) has escaped from Azkaban prison, and for reasons yet unknown (unless, of course, you've read J.K. Rowling's book, considered by many to be the best in the series), he's after Harry in a bid for revenge. This dark and dangerous mystery drives the action while Harry (the fast-growing Daniel Radcliffe) and his third-year Hogwarts classmates discover the flying hippogriff Buckbeak (a marvelous CGI creature), the benevolent but enigmatic Professor Lupin (David Thewlis), horrifying black-robed Dementors, sneaky Peter Pettigrew (Timothy Spall), and the wonderful advantage of having a Time-Turner just when you need one. The familiar Hogwarts staff returns in fine form (including the delightful Michael Gambon, replacing the late Richard Harris as Dumbledore, and Emma Thompson as the goggle-eyed Sybil Trelawney), and even Julie Christie joins this prestigious production for a brief but welcome cameo. Technically dazzling, fast-paced, and chock-full of Rowling's boundless imagination (loyally adapted by ace screenwriter Steve Kloves), The Prisoner of Azkaban is a Potter-movie classic. --Jeff Shannon Editorial Descriptions are usually submitted by the manufacturers, publishers and authors. Contact us if you are one of them, and wish to change the above description. |
Reviews
Customer feedback
|
|
Voting |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Author: Guest
Fans will love it.
Children will be a bit scared by it.
Abject wusses will have Dementor nightmares *raises hand*. Jeeze Lordy. (I walked into my bathroom without turning on the light that night? I walked into my towel (which is large and dark and draped across the shower pole so it looks all suspended and floaty in midair) and nearly had a stroke.)
Ambivalent folks will be amused and also able to follow the plot without becoming hopelessly confused, (unlike the previous movie) and/or sleepy (unlike the previous movie).
Book purists will be annoyed. Then again, book purists should have known they'd be annoyed ever since they cast an actress with perfect teeth as Hermione. They may also be somewhat miffed that the Powers That Be went so far as to INTRODUCE and CALL ATTENTION TO and POINT OUT the character Parvati Patil and the proceeded to DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WITH HER.
Then again, they may not.
Critics will (and have) attributed this to a variety of things.
Persons of color will... uh... hmmm... persons of color will be used to it. ^_^ (The HP franchise is by far and away NOT the worst offender.)
Unless the persons of color are also book purists.
Persons who simply like Parvati (primarily for the fact that she got to diss Harry) *raises hand* will be INCENSED.
And the actress they got to play her was really cute! And they kept putting her at the front of the crowd and leading us on!
Fantasy-lovers *raises hand* will adore the hippogriff.
Confirmed Harry-haters *raises hand* will enjoy the cinematography, the spectacular British countryside vistas, the hippogriff, spotting awesome British stars under their makeup, the near-absence of Malfoy, and the pleasant and satisfying fact that Daniel Radcliffe looks like he might actually grow up to be a babe instead of the sort of odd gawkfest we feared he might be sprouting into. (I SO dislike this franchise, but I cannot help but love these kid actors! May they grow up to do great things)
Viewers in general should make a concerted effort to see it on the largest screen possible.
|
Author: Guest
I thought this movie was much better than the theater version because the deleted scenes add so much back into the plot from the book. Also, the games and interviews are well done and entertaining.
|
Author: Guest
The greatest magical feat by the Harry Potter world is that it has made readers out of millions of children of all ages. It doesn't take a wizard to know that means the stories would be interpreted for the big screen. The first two films in the series came across well, each a pretty but overly-plotty document of the book. The films tended to be slavish to their appropriate books which resulted in a two and a half hour running time. Of course, fanatics of the books would take the opposite view, that the films were lacking as elements of the books were abridged or eliminated. As the books double or triple in size, the filmmakers have to face facts. These movies are going to have to abridge the stories not only better, but more. And the more that is cut, the angrier fans will get.
Hail to the third film, under the helm of director Alfonso Cuaron (Y Tu Mama Tambien). We are now flying the most streamlined broom yet. Little time spent on introduction; the story comes across more focused, less episodic, darker and scarier.Most importantly, this film best captures the fun of the books.
The superb cast remains intact here with the exception of Michael Gambon filling in Dumbledore's shoes, vacated by the passing of Richard Harris. His Dumbledore is a different take on the role. He comes across a bit younger, not as wise, sort of a 120 year old flower child. Emma Thompson joins the cast as Professor Trelawney, her coke-bottle glasses worth many a laugh. David Trewlis takes on the duties of the abandoned Defense Against the Dark Arts professorship, a job that always comes under scrutiny within each Potter story. Finally, and most relevant to the entire series is the introduction of Sirius Black, portrayed by perennial lunatic Gary Oldman. He is a welcome addition to the legend.
As expected, the special effects are better this time around, less rushed and already established. Beyond that the darker, grainier cinematography and creative camera work make the film less pristine, more real. After the third film, you have a much better idea the dangers of Quittich.
The adaptation of J.K.Rowling's storyline by Steve Cloves is a marked improvement on the first two, successfully eliminating more details without hindering the story process in any way. (Calls for scenes to add depth are erroneous, that's what the book is for). The story hinges on time and time travel and is well executed on screen. The largest weakness here involves a large important battle between a dog and a werewolf, neither of which are fully introduced into the story until late in the film.
One of the most amazing elements in the whole film series is watching the three young leads, Daniel Ratcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Gint, grow up... quicker than any potion or spell would allow.
The bonus materials in this particualy disc are hit and miss. Most valuable are interviews with cast and crew but the world could do without the ridiculous shrunken head as a running theme.
HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN is solid entertainment, hopefully opening into even more streamlined films in the franchise.
|
Author: Guest
Year three hits the DVD shelves thanks to this DVD and again, it does not disappoint.
First, the direction was amazing. Alfonso Cuaron did a marvelous job in showing the story with a consistency that makes it beautiful. The visuals he has done were all breathtaking and truly spellbinding, giving me goosebumps everytime i watch this DVD. The serentiy and that forboding mood he has given the story and the new development he has taken in telling Potter's 3rd year was impeccably done.
Acting wise, with top rating actors, there was no shortage of talent in this film. The three protagonists gave their best performances to date, especially Emma Watson, and made me feel satisfied with their acting abilities. The new casts members were good, too. Emma Thompson was absolutely hilarious. The Dementors and Buckbeak were marvelously done and rendered. Amazing.
The DVD also is full of bonus stuff, behind the scene footage, and other fun extras every Potter fanatic would die to have. So, what else can you ask for? A good movie, great extras, fabulous direction, I give this DVD 5 stars.
|
Author: Guest
The third part of the Harry Potter series is better than its predecessors, but still lacks the emotional resonance of other literary adaptations (e.g. "Lord of the Rings"). Moments of awe abound, but the plot and sub-plots seem disjointed and superficial. The problem is still the source book. Rowling books contain a series of peaks to be digested in several sitting sessions, each chapter or group of chapters being sometimes radically different adventures that together conform a plot. Those books don't have the scope of Tolkien work, or the movie-minded shallowness of, say, Dan Brown's "The DaVinci Code". So, their translation to the screen present progression problems that Cuaron hasn't solved.
|
Send to Friend
Send to friend
|
|
