Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban celebrates 20 years since its release and time has consolidated the film as the most important of the saga
It was June 4, 2004 when Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, the third film in the film saga that adapts the wizard series written by JK Rowling, has arrived in US cinemas. Written by Steve Kloves and directed by Alfonso Cuarón (Severity), the film was, like its predecessors, a blockbuster, grossing more than $800 million globally and confirming that the Warner Bros.. I was really on the right track.
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Twenty years later and with eight films released (considering only the main series), Harry Potter continues to be a cultural phenomenon. In addition to establishing his name in the entertainment industry, spawning theme parks, thousands of licensed products, a new film series and an upcoming reboot TV series, there’s an inexplicable magic to the plot of the “boy who lived” that continues to span generations.
For many people, the 2004 film, which shows the adventures of Harry Potter in his third year at Hogwarts, is even the most important of this whole journey. With a very different language from the previous ones, it stood out for having dictated a new rhythm and aesthetic to the films of the saga, arousing the curiosity of many adults and taking away HP From story stigma for children.
In honor, therefore, of the twenty years of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and as a way to celebrate his influence, the Canaltech has decided to reveal its relevance, underlining all the reasons that make this feature film the most important of the entire saga. Check it out and see if you agree with us.
The film is darker and more adult
It’s not an exaggeration to say it Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban it changed the image audiences had of the film series. From the technical aspects to the construction of the script itself, the film featured much more complex, dense and heavy elements than its predecessors.
For starters, this was the first and only film directed by Alfonso Cuarón (Oscar winner, it’s always nice to remember that) for the series. Although he was tasked with adapting a story that was already very popular and had a huge fan base, Cuarón decided to put his own stamp on the plot.
After the departure of Chris Columbus (They forgot me), who was in charge of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone AND Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, the director presented a darker aesthetic in the film’s settings and colors, while simultaneously opting for a darker tone for his narrative. Unsurprisingly, this was the first feature film in the series to apparently use sets built in real locations and to have a longer production run, lasting eighteen months.
The idea was to show that the characters had grown, the dangers deriving from Voldemort and his retinue of Death Eaters (here represented by the figure of Sirius Black) were increasingly real and the events experienced by the protagonists at this point in the story were irreversible , definitively marking the end of his childhood and his naivety.
Iconic characters and elements were born here
But it’s not just because of its darker, denser aesthetic Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azakaban has become so popular and important within the franchise. The title was responsible for introducing some of the Wizarding Universe’s most popular characters and elements, which would become fan favorites for years to come.
Sirius Black himself, mentioned above, appears here for the first time, initially as a fugitive from Azkaban, who betrayed the trust of Harry’s parents and now wants to take revenge on the boy. As his story develops throughout the film, Sirius goes from bad to good and becomes Harry’s only family still alive.
The character, which has become one of the most beloved by the public, was played by Gary Oldman in the films and, together with Professor Lupine (David Thewlis), also present in the feature film, brings with it some of Harry’s strongest links with the past of his times. parents.
In addition to them, it is in the third film of the saga that we are presented with suggestive objects and places from the world of Harry Potter. In addition to the Marauder’s Map and the entire story of the friendship between Remus Lupine, Peter Pettigrew, Sirius Black and James Potter, it is Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban that we know the village of Hogsmeade, the importance of the Time Turner and the beginning of Snape’s story.
The professor, always frowned upon by Harry and his friends, here discovers part of his past, even if only later will his sacrifices and loyalty be truly demonstrated.
Furthermore, it is worth remembering, it is in this third chapter of the series that we meet a “new Albus Dumbledore”, played by Michael Gambon, after the death of the actor Richard Harris, in 2002. Much more energetic and outspoken than his predecessor. — Who created a more serene and welcoming version of the director of Hogwarts —, Gambon even became a meme on the internet due to the different interpretation of him, but which certainly marked the imposing image impressed by the character in the rest of the saga.
Harry finds himself having to look inside himself
Another crucial point that cannot be forgotten when dealing Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is that the story is one of the most important in shaping and building the character of the protagonist. Although the little wizard had already experienced some good things since his birth, it was at this time that Harry matured and began to appreciate the greatness of his story. And, at the same time, the dimension of his loneliness.
Terrified by Dementors who remind him of his parents’ deaths, unable to go to Hogsmeade with his friends and targeted by a mad wizard who has just escaped from prison, Harry finds himself alone, scared and having to carry a name and a responsibility which is not his right. not chosen on his shoulders.
This is also the reason why, for the first time, the character can direct his hatred towards someone in flesh and blood: Sirius Black. Although Voldemort is the great representation of evil in the wizarding world, in the early films the villain hovers only as an idea, a representation of all this evil. Which leads Harry, after discovering his godfather’s betrayal, to finally have someone to “blame” his tragedy on.
For the first time the boy finds himself confronted with hatred, the desire for revenge and bitterness, feelings that demonstrate that nothing will ever be the same again. A narrative that gains even more strength when Harry discovers that Sirius, in fact, has always been faithful to his parents and truly loves him. A revelation that makes him dream, at least momentarily, of the possibility of having a family, a home and a common life.
Complex, intense and visually stunning — as if that weren’t enough, the film features unforgettable scenes such as Harry flying over Hogwarts with the hippogriff Buckbeak — the title is a watershed in character building, which at the end of the story, when surrounded by Dementors , finds himself powerful and courageous enough to save himself.
With twenty years of history, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban can be watched today on very limited film sessions Throughout Brazil. For those who can’t go to the cinema, but still want to miss the little wizard, it is possible to see the film in the Max catalogue.
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Source: Terra
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
