Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) Review, Pictures, Trailer

At some time or another an odd thing happens to a child. They grow up. The changes are numerous and encompass both physical and psychological transformations. Since J.K. Rowling’s first Harry Potter novel went to print 1997, the boy wizard has grown up before the world’s collective eyes through five books now and three film adaptations, the latest of which is Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

As Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) enters his third year at Hogwart’s School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, a shroud of secrecy surrounds the escape of the dangerous murderer Sirius Black (Gary Oldman) from the previously inescapable Azkaban Prison. All signs point towards Black tracking down young Potter.

This is the loosest plot of the three Potter films thus far. And that’s a good thing as director Alfonso Cuarón, who takes over from Chris Columbus, opts to focus on the tumultuous transitions from childhood to adulthood. The young actors are the same, but they’re taller, a little pimplier and, for the boys, the voices have grown deeper. If you reflect back to the previous films, the changes are very obvious. But as I looked around the theater beforehand, the same changes are happening with its core audience. Those who started reading about Harry Potter when they were ten are now well into their teenage years. They’re going through the same things that the young adults on the screen are going through (minus the magic and Quiddich). Some are comfortable, while other changes are downright nightmarish. So it was with great delight that Cuarón used Azkaban to explore some of these issues, some bluntly, others with subtlety that youngsters won’t pick up on.

The film starts out with Harry playing with his wand under his covers. When his uncle bursts into the room, Harry is sudden in pretending to go to sleep, all the while the look on his face shows that he can’t wait to getting back to his wand. It doesn’t take a lot of reading into to see the subtext here. Later on, during a magic class, there are numerous references to stroking one’s wand. The thought of sexuality is starting to emerge in these young adults and Cuarón is sure to foreshadow towards future romantic twists. Herimone (Emma Watson) and Ron (Rupert Gint) share a couple of awkward moments that are all done in spontaneous innocence but hint towards growing feelings towards one another beyond the platonic friendship shared thus far.

In the previous two films, the environment surrounding Hogwart’s has been one of theme park proportions. There’s always a creature or spectre around every corner that although thrilling and magnificent is also happy and akin to a stuffed animal. The environment was merely a setting in these films but in Azkaban the setting is like another character. This film is much darker in tone that its predecessors. Much of the outdoor action takes place at night. And when it’s not night, then there’s bound to be a storm brewing. This reflects the tumultuous emotions the central characters are going through. Harry is slowly revealing more and more about his past and with that he shows signs of carnal anger to the point where he is willing to hurt people.

Anger, love, stroking one’s wand – where is the Harry Potter franchise headed? If Azkaban is any indication, I couldn’t be more excited. While I did find the final half hour to be a little dragged out, that was the part of the film that was devoted solely to the action. What I found so fascinating was Cuarón looking at what it feels like to grow up. He seemed like a bit of an odd choice to direct a family film such as this for his follow-up to Y Tu Mama Tambien but the coming-of-age themes are strikingly similar.

It’s going to be a shame if the rumor of Warner suits considering replacing the main cast in the future because of their age. Radcliffe, Watson and Grint are the soul and through line for the movie franchise. As they grow up, so do their characters. And so too are the young adults who comprised the vast majority of the audience at least one screening. This isn’t the Grade Three incarnation of Harry Potter anymore.