Review: A+
Yes, we attended last night’s showing of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, at 12:01am. And, despite some suggestions from my work mates, I did not play dress-up.
My reactions and excitement after seeing the 3rd installment on the big screen, directly parallels what I felt a few years ago when I dug into the 3rd Potter book — Azkaban is where the series takes a much darker turn. The Dementors are frightening in the film, though the new director Alfonso Cuar?n devotes far more energy to stoking fear of Sirius Black, than of the prison and it’s soul-sucking guards.
Overall, Cuar?n’s vision is a breath of fresh air — the film is scarier than Chris Columbus’s two films, (it’s a mystery to me how films like this manage to receive a PG-rating), but it’s balanced with a few whimsical moments courtesy the Whomping Willow, and by Michael Gambon’s quirky take on Dumbledore.
How long do I have to wait for the Goblet of Fire?
UPDATE: Capn saw it last night too
After not expecting much, I was surprised at how I enjoyed it! Although not perfect, it shored up my opinion of movies that ANYONE can enjoy.
Wizards, magic, dragons and potions aren’t really my thing.