Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

As we come to the third instalment of the movie franchise, it has become clear that the whole `boy wizard` concept is taking off like mad.

And I know start to understand the images of the long rows and hysterical fans when the later books where released when Pottermania was in full swing (and still hasn`t died down).

With the third movie, we see an intresting rise in budget for the movies, as well as lessons learned from the previous ones.  The special effects have gone up a notch (okay, not WETA, but okay) and more big names are drawn to the series.

Gary Oldman... `nuff said.

And as the kids are growing up, so is understandably their acting level taking a rise for the better, especially with Rupert (who plays Ron Weasley).

In this instalment, we learn about Dementor`s, about a villain names Siruis Black who betrayed his parents to Voldemort resulting in their deaths, and about the Azkaban prison where he escaped from.

Sirius, who is Harry`s godfather, is out to kill him and finish the job that Voldemort started, all set in a background of mistrust and a hippogriff, Buckbeak, set to be executed due to the Draco malfoy stupidity and arrogance.

But then the truth about Sirius is revealed, and Harry goes to save him, barely escaping with his life when he is saved by the Patronus of his father.  Or so we are led to believe, because in truth, Hermione has gotten hold of a time altering watch, and they travel back in time to aid themselves and preventing the execution of Buckbeak.

As a result of this, Sirius can be saved, and it was actually Harry who saved Harry.

You do see that this is a `setting up` movie, to mark the transition of little children movies to a more darker and grisly universe.  I kind of like to think of it as the first two being the Ewok movies, and from now on we are moving in Empire Strikes Back territory.  It isn`t a bad movie visually and on a performance level, but the truth is, for a non-Potterhead like me, this movie doesn`t really have a real story tied into it, rather a hotch potch of small storylines from before being wrapped up and fresh ones opened up for the future films.

But then again, Gary Oldman!