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• Closed-captioned
• Color
• DVD-Video
• Widescreen

Editorial Review:

In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry, Ron and Hermione, now teenagers, return for their third year at Hogwarts, where they are forced to face escaped prisoner, Sirius Black, who poses a great threat to Harry. Harry and his friends spend their third year learning how to handle a half-horse half-eagle Hippogriff, repel shape-shifting Boggarts and master the art of Divination. They also visit the wizarding village of Hogsmeade and the Shrieking Shack, which is considered the most haunted building in Britain. In addition to these new experiences, Harry must overcome the threats of the soul-sucking Dementors, outsmart a dangerous werewolf and finally deal with the truth about Sirius Black and his relationship to Harry and his parents. With his best friends, Harry masters advanced magic, crosses the barriers of time and changes the course of more than one life. Directed by Alfonso Cuaron and based on J.K. Rowling's third book, this wondrous spellbinder soars with laughs, and the kind of breathless surprise only found in a Harry Potter adventure.

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

Customer Reviews:

• Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0

• A very good movie.
  The movie, "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban", was a very good movie and I did enjoy it. Soon after the beginning, there is an odd bus ride that I did not enjoy as much as I did in reading about it in the book. Also, the movie overdoes the warnings of potential dangers from Sirius Black. Finally, there are some serious changes from the book that appear in the movie. And, there is a bunch of things in the book that do not make it to the movie.
  However, once we are past the first quarter of the... more info

• My Favorite Of The Harry Potter Film
  I thought this was excellent....better than the first two Harry Potter movies combined and better than what has followed.. That's my feeling, and I'm still sticking to it.....especially now that it's available with a great Blu-Ray transfer.
  This was just great fun, right from the opening. In fact, the early bus scene is the best in the film. Overall, the movie didn't have as mean an edge to it as the others, although it has a number of scary moments (which might have warranted a PG-13 rating). That was... more info

• Cuaron's Labyrinth
  Firstly, it should be noted that under most circumstances, this would not be my series of choice (books or movies) about which to write. I have enjoyed the movies moderately, and have some experience with the first-third books of J.K. Rowling's original series. Regardless of whether these facts validate or invalidate my opinion for those who read, I will commence with my critique.
  The exceptional circumstances that lead me to write this review are the other reviews already published. I was quite... more info

• This series is getting darker and more mysterious
  This series is getting darker and more mysterious. It continues with the history of Harry's parents and unlocks new characters. The characters are getting closer and working together as usual. AND the introduction of time travel!!! This is the best DVD of the series to date!