Cinema review: Harry Potter: The Prisoner of Azkaban (From Barry And District News)

Cinema review: Harry Potter: The Prisoner of Azkaban

AS JK Rowling's extraordinary series of books progresses, the subject matter grows increasingly darker; a reflection no doubt of Harry and his friends as they enter their adolescent years. It is not surprising, therefore, that this third instalment throws a new director into the mix.

The introduction of Alfonzo Cuarn, who gave us the modern adaptation of Great Expectations with Gwyneth Paltrow, is an interesting choice. He is a more complex director and not as child friendly as the series' previous director Chris Columbus.

We also have a new Dumbledore, with Michael Gambon replacing the late, magical Richard Harris.

As you will remember, Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe), now 13-years old, is forbidden to use magic in the non-magic world. But while staying with his ghastly relations the Dursleys, the arrival of Uncle Vernon's (Richard Griffiths) horrendous sister Aunt Marge (Pam Ferris) causes him to reach the end of his tether.

In a weak moment he accidentally inflates her and she floats away like a massive balloon. Knowing he will be in terrible trouble, he legs it into the night, but as luck would have it the Knight Bus is passing and picks him up. This amazing, purple, triple-decker magically deposits him at the Leaky Cauldron pub, the place where you "eat the pea soup before it eats you".

On arrival he is taken to see Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge (Robert Hardy), who oddly enough doesn't punish him, but insists on him staying the night, before heading back to Hogwarts for his third year. Harry is amazed there are no repercussions for his magic misdemeanour but it soon comes to light that the mysterious Sirius Black (Gary Oldman) has escaped from Azkaban prison.

The story goes that Black was responsible for leading Lord Voldemort to Harry's parents, and their ultimate deaths. Now it is believed he is looking for Harry with murder in his heart. Harry so hates the Dursleys that it is a great relief to return to school and his friends Hermione (Emma Watson), Ron (Rupert Grint), and the giant Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane). The latter has a new position at Hogwarts as the Care of Magical Creatures teacher. The term holds much jolly excitement for them with a magical Hippogriff, a half-horse, half-eagle creature called Buckbeak, and also much terror, as the soul-sucking Dementors are guarding Hogwarts in case Black tries to kidnap Harry.

I hoped Gambon would bring a fresh interpretation to Dumbledore, rather than a carbon copy of Harris, but they are so alike most people won't notice the change of actor at all. For the first half hour, up until the unfortunate ending to Hagrid's Hippogriff lesson, the film is absolutely fantastic and streets ahead of the other two.

However, it then becomes atmospherically darker, but unlike the book, visually darker as well. Without the use of one's own imagination this has an oppressive rather then frightening effect.

The adaptation is fine given the length of the book, but there is even less character development than in the first two films. Only Professor Lupin (David Thewlis) and Professor Sibyll Trelawney (Emma Thompson) have any lines to speak of.

Thompson has been badly cast; Trelawney was tall and gangly, the sort of person you wouldn't warm to on first meeting, but Thompson plays her like some cosy, middle-aged hippy.

The only child that can actually act is Watson, but they have all improved immeasurably. Unfortunately, the film is really all about them, so their lack of experience has always been a bit of a drawback. There are a few amusing moments and a wonderful turn from Dawn French, as the Fat Lady In The Painting, and the effects work brilliantly. There is much to admire here, but give me the book every time.

Clare Shepherd 8/10