Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
As we arrive at the third installment of the Harry Potter series, we find the familiar pieces of the puzzle still in place. Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) is disgruntled when he's away from Hogwarts. Some weird things happen at his home, forcing his removal, but alas, it's time for school. The school year is off to an inauspicious start as news spreads that Sirius Black (Gary Oldman) has escaped from prison. Harry is warned that Black is after him. But with his close friends Hermoine (Emma Watson) and Ron (Rupert Grint) by his side, those worries are far away from him until Black arrives on campus. The danger is so grave that the prison sent its guards, soul-searching Dementors to find him. A new professor of the dark arts (David Thewlis) helps Harry should he ever confront the Dementors or Sirius Black, but all are not who they seem to be.

The Harry Potter films have been characterized as too faithful to the source material, seeking to satisfy their fans' need to see what they've read come to life, sacrificing any dramatic tension the film would hope to drive itself. Those tendencies are still present in this film, catering to specific audiences little tidbits of eye candy mentioned in the story that will certainly thrill them. But it's limited, giving way to a grander and darker cinematic style for a production that is easily the best of the three. Credit goes to Alfonso Cuaron, director of the fantastic "Y Tu Mama Tambien", for this, showing that his creativity lends itself to both adult films and children's films. Extraneous pieces of the story were reportedly thrown out, keeping the storytelling tight and compelling. The cinematography was excellent, matching the darker tones of the story with scenes in dark corridors and dingy exteriors. The actors have certainly grown into their characters so to keep the high level of quality going in the Harry Potter series, all of them must be kept on to the bitter end. 3.5 stars