Harry Potter returns to my list with this 2004 release and the third movie in the story. Budget had increased to $130m to which it in the form of the three main stars namely Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson, joining them were Robbie Coltrane, Michael Gambon, Richard Griffiths, Gary Oldman, Alan Rickman, Fiona Shaw, Maggie Smith, Timothy Spall, David Thewlis, Emma Thompson & Julie Walters (and breathe!). A lot of story is squeezed into 2 hours and 22 minutes and this I will get to in the middle section with the plot. But before I get to the plot and I know I haven’t mentioned the usual scores yet which I will get to now but I know this film will not be making a mark on the Tri-Critic Sync Challenge Scoreboard but with a few exception the Rotten Tomatoes scores have gone… erm, well should I just say a bit weird from here to the end of the section i.e. number 100. There are the odd one here and there that are ok and even do get back on the scoreboard. However, from here on be prepared for a roller coaster with Rotten Tomatoes scores. Sorry I went off at a tangent there! but this film got a 7.9/10 from IMDb and a massive 90% from Rotten Tomatoes which it must of deserved. But for the next 11 movies all I can say is, that you have been warned…
Harry has again spent the summer at his adopted parents house the Dursleys. When an Aunt insults his parents he loses his temper and accidently makes her inflate like a balloon and she floats away. Harry flees taking as much luggage as possible when he is picked up by the Knight Bus that takes him to the ‘Leaky Cauldron’ where he is pardoned by the minister of magic for using magic outside the magical world. He goes to the Weasleys where he is reunited with Ron & Hermione and he learns that Sirius Black has escaped from Azkaban. Sirius had been convicted of being a supporter of ‘Him’ and Azkaban is the wizard prison which is really not very nice and the security is the Dementors. The Dementors are now searching for the escapee and stop the Hogwarts Express with our three heroes on board to search for Sirius. Coming face to face with a Dementor for the first time Harry passes out and is rescued by Professor Lupin using a Patronus Charm spell. At Hogwarts Dumbledore announces that the Dementors will be guarding the School because Sirius is still at large, Hagrid is promoted to Care of Magical Creatures teacher and introduces Lupin as the new prof of the Dark Arts teacher. Meanwhile in his first lesson Hagrid introduces the class to a Hippogriff who makes friends with Harry but knocks Draco over so he exaggerates his injuries and with his dad complaining ensures that it is sentences to death. Later Harry learns that Sirius is his godfather and most people believe he is out to try and kill Harry. Harry is attacked again by the Dementors and is unable to go to the village for the break and the twins help him by giving him the marauders map. With Sirius on the loose and Dementors looming around every corner and an innocent creature being sentenced to death, Hermione attending every lecture going, Ron innocent stupidity and Harry scared that he is going murdered at any moment. That is enough plot.
I feel that many of the Harry Potters stories blur into one and I am concerned that my reviews will become the same as the others. I have seen this movie more than most as it seems to be the time when I switch the movie channel on. This is another step into the darker side of the wizard world. With the first two movies in the bank the beginning of the dark side kicked off in this movie before the fourth took a much larger step at the end. This one was quite dark but was dealt with in a nicer way, the creatures of the night were not the bad guys, the Dementors are pretty scary but are on the good side (apparently). There is little of ‘him’ in this movie although his presence is felt this movie is about the movements and working of his henchmen as they prepare to bring him back which doesn’t happen in this movie but the plans are coming together. This has some funny moments and exciting moments with it so is another great HP movie that you can enjoy. For the record of the 8 HP movies I have this one listed as 7th but bizarrely I really like this movie so it feels strange that I am saying this is the second worst HP movie. Which should be reversed by saying the others are so good that even this great story is behind them.
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