Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban

Production year: 2004

Fantasy/Adventure PG   Running time: 2:22 

IMDB rating:   7.8     Aspect: Wide;  Languages: English, French, Spanish;  Subtitles: English, French, Spanish;  Audio: DD 5.1

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 Mama Tambien, director Alfonso Cuaron 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.

Director

Features

Deleted/extended scenes
DVD-ROM content
Featurettes/Behind-The-Scenes/Documentaries
Interviews
Trailers/TV spots

Special features

"Creating the Vision" interview with J.K. Rowling and the Filmmakers
Interviews with the cast lead by Johnny Vaughan and the Shrunken Head
Three challenge games
"Conjuring a Scene" making-of featurette
"Care of Magical Creatures" animal trainer featurette
Self-guided iPIX tours into Honeydukes and Professor Lupin's classroom
Choir Practice: sing-along with the Hogwarts choir
Hogwarts Portrait Gallery
Hogwarts Timeline
DVD ROM Features: Wizard Trading Cards
Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban