Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (DVD, 2004, Full Screen - 2 Disc Set)

"Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" is the third movie in the Harry Potter franchise, based on the very popular children's book series. Please do keep in mind that this movie is based on the book, which means that as good as the movie is, reading the book is better.

That having been said, our hero Harry and his school friends are entering their third year of education at a magical high school named Hogwarts. There is an undercurrent of fear circulating in the wizarding world, as a notorious killer has become the first convict to escape from prison and is on the loose. For the most part, Harry has a good year at school. He has an excellent teacher (who was also a dear friend of Harry's deceased parents), Harry gains possession of a magical map, and he gets to visit the nearby town on a day-trip. However, when Harry learns that the escaped convict (named Sirius Black) is suspected to be the man whose treason led to the death of Harry's parents, he becomes consumed with anger and revenge. Harry is other being bothered by another problem...terrifying spectral beings (called Dementors) whose job it is to hunt down Sirius Black...but they will attack any student who gets in their way (Harry included).

The first half of the movie sets the tone and mood and motivations, and the second half packs the punch. Director Alfonso Cuaron does a very good job of bringing to the screen the rather difficult and confusing concept of time-travel, in which the lead characters occupy the same time frame, but we see the action from a different point of view. The second half of the film has the most action, with chills, spills and spells...then we discover the important truth that "seeing is not always believing" and that not everything is as it appears to be. The end of this film draws all the characters even closer together in terms of a shared history and previous relationships and gets you excited for the next film!

The movie moves along nicely; the pace just at the right speed...not too slow and not too fast. Although it is not 100% loyal to the book, it does maintain most of the spirit of what the author was trying to convey. This is the first time we really get a visual look at just how large an expanse of land the Hogwarts school is occupying...it's just immense! I was not happy at the portrayal of the Dementor characters (flying around like Casper the Ghost) but that is a small complaint. I also felt that certain scenes were over-dramatised, just for the movie (ex. the Hippogriff-class) which may be exciting to watch, but I didn't feel was necessary to the story.

Now in addition to the way that the movie was written, I feel I mist also tell you that with this DVD comes a second "bonus feature" DVD, and it is EXCELLENT! Hours of behind the scenes information, interviews with cast and crew, games and trivia...the bonus material alone was worth the purchase price.

Whether you are an avid fan of the Harry Potter book series, or whether you have never read a book in your life, you will enjoy this movie. While it may not be approriate for younger viewers (slightly scary material) it is not profane, excessively or explicitly violent, or have any sexual content. It is rated PG, but even as an adult, you will like it!

I hope that this review was halpful to you. I feel that "review writing" has become a lost art. If you enjoyed this review or found it useful, kindly vote YES (it was helpful). Thank you!

We are a house of Harry Potter fans...right down to the toddler, who likes the fact that Harry 'talks like mommy' (the accent not the tone!!) and personally for us, this is the favorite of the series so far!
The Prisoner of Azkaban is perhaps the darkest of the series - albeit without the unsettling ending of Goblet of Fire; but the darkness is interlaced with humor and a good entertaining storyline!
We follow Harry, after a funny home based scene where he gets a tad carried away with some magic - with very funny consequences - back at school for his third year - and along with him, the regulars from the previous two episodes; his friends Ron and Hermione, along with new faces that take from a talented pool of actors - Gary Oldman, David Thewlis, to name but a few.
This time Harry is facing danger from a Prisoner that escaped from - and hence the movie's title - Azkaban; and with this, the school is surrounded by hideous creatures that seek the escapee - the Dementors!
We follow Harry through twists and turns, new magic tricks and new challenges, through an action packed two and a half hours, that remains entertaining through the whole duration!
I highly recommend this movie!

This by far is the best Harry Potter movie yet. Prisoner of Azkaban was also my favorite book, so I'm glad that they did justice to the book.

The special effects in this movie were great. The Quidditch scene was very well done, I just wished we had seen more of it. The time changing scene was also very well done.

One disappointment was that it didn't explain the significance of the creators of the Marauder's Map. It should have been mentioned who Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs actually were. That's the only thing I didn't like.

If you're a fan of Harry Potter you'll love this movie!

The Harry Potter series is AWESOME! I am a huge fan of Harry Potter and am glad they are making the movies. This movie was different. For one, the original Dumbledore died so they had to get a new actor to play Dumbledore. I don't like him AS much, but he is still good all the same. And what happened to Chris Columbus? Alfonso Cuarón (I apologize if I spelled it wrong) had a WAY different view at the Harry Potter movies than Columbus did. It was good, the problem was there weren't that many classes, it felt like one second they were at Hagrid's first lesson and the next in the Shrieking Shack. Some new characters, such as Prof. Lupin, Buckbeak and Sirius Black. It was a lot darker than the first two, but that's the way it is for the movie so.... All well. This is still a great movie. Not the best so far, but great all the same. Watch this movie! (Not before the first two though.)

I have turned into a Harry Potter fan. I have collected all the movies in the series save one and am in the process of winning it on ebay. It is a very wonderful family movie and it brings out the child in all of us. I use it with my son for movie time. We sit down and watch a movie togather and it must be one that we both can enjoy. There are only 2 movie series that can fascinate a 33 yr old woman and a 4 yr old boy and the Harry Potter series is just one of those. Excellent..they are true classics before they are even released to dvd.Good wholesome family entertainment.

I love all the Harry Potters but I must say I gave this a 4/5 because it is not as well done as the others. The books is actually better than Harry Potter 3. They left out some things leaving you kind of left hanging. But then when you read the book you understand it better, then the movie becomes more fun.

Also, it is the first film were he starts to become himself. He sees he is not alone and comes out of his shell some.

I will own all of them and recommend the same for you.

PLEASE CLICK IF YOU FOUND THIS REVIEW HELPFUL, THANKS!

Entering his teens, Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) is back with the dreary Dursleys for his holidays when a vile visiting aunt provokes him into an act of magic, which is forbidden outside the magic world. Fearing retribution, he runs away, to be picked up by the Knight Bus and taken to the Leaky Cauldron pub, where he learns that the dangerous wizard who supposedly led Lord Voldemort to Harry's parents and was thus responsible for their deaths, Sirius Black (Gary Oldman) has escaped and is said to be after Harry himself. His third year at Hogwarts thus proves to be extra fraught, what with the soul sucking Dementors - Azkaban guards - and strange new creatures, amazing adventures and the looming confrontation with Black. Just what is Professor Snape (Alan Rickman) so eager to reveal and just what is the real link between Sirius Black and Harry Potter's past?
Enjoyable for all ages, Harry Potter And The Prisoner of Azkaban is a wizard of a tale, and chances are you will be humming John Williams' haunting theme for days to come.

These movies just keep getting better and better. I set and watched through all of the movies out so far and have to say I was blowed away. Each movie just got better and better, very entertaining for the whole family.

I BOUGHT HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN ON DVD. I LOVED THIS ITEM. IT WAS EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED WITH ABSOLUTELY NO FLAWS! I DEFINITELY RECOMMEND THIS BUYER/SELLER!!!!!!!!!!!

What is so great about the harry potter films is that they grow with your child, they become more intellectually stimulating and more emotionally involved. This film is definately is fun and enjoyable for virtually all children 8 and up. as the Third film in the series it is you sould watch the first two first for background, and rest assured all the subsequent films will leave you wanting more as well. As this film is a bit scaryier than the first two you shouln't introduce it to you child untile there a bit older, but Your 8+ year old should be very much glued to the tv threwout... heck you'll be glued to the tv!!

I was pleased with the condition of the dvd and the interaction with the seller
Will do business with them again in the future

What can I say. I think J. K. Rowling is a really imaginative author and I have read and listened to (audio books) all of the Harry Potter books several times. Although the movies don't do justice to the books, (they would have to be 8 hrs long to do that), this one is one of the best. The special effects are great as well as the lighting for the darker moods represented are really good. When the movies are shown on TV, they are shortened and cut which is a pity. I prefer to own mine so I can watch every moment with no interuptions and cuts.

Love the book, love the movie. Only DVD missing from my collection. Fast Easy and priced right. I look for convience -- I found it!

Harry Potter and tne Prisoner of Azkaban was the only movie in the Harry Potter series that I didn't own. I love movies and usually watch one each evening. As I seldom watch television because of the never ending stream of commercials, movies are my primary entertainment. eBay has been a valuable resource for buying movies and it would have been difficult for me to complete the Harry Potter series without it.

I love the Harry Potter series! It is all about the triumph of good vs evil and about finding good in even the worst situations. No matter your age, you will love the movie.

It came so fast and in excellent condition. I am soo very pleased. I will definitely be ordering from you again.
Thank you

I like this film as much as the others. It's the only one I didn't have on DVD hence the reason I bought it. It's got the great effects and storyline that we've come to know from the author....whatever her name is...I forget

I LOVE HARRY POTTER!!! EXCELLENT MOVIE. THIS MOVIE IS VERY EXCITING, CURIOUS, INTERESTING AND ESPECTACULLAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love the movie! I am collecting all of them and this is the only one I didn't have. All the movies are wonderful! This one in particular has a lot of extras on the second disc.

I received the order very closely after I submitted the order and it was in excellent condition, and was still in the wrapper.

THIS MOVIE WAS THE ONE THAT I DID NOT HAVE TO COMPLEATE MY SET.
I DECIDED TO BUY IT BECAUSE IT WAS BRAND NEW. AND THE PRICE WAS RIGHT.

I loved the movie - it arrived in good time and excellent condition. Thanks! Perhaps I will run into something that you hav4e for sale.

This Harry Potter was excellent! I loved everything about the movie especially the part were they go back in time. This movie was excellent. I bought this movie because i have read almost all the books and wanted to see some of the movies to compare them.