Harry Potter: Freed at Last (rated 5 stars)
I never wrote a review of the first movie, but I loved it, certainly compared to the second one (see review here). Though I do like Christopher Columbus, Alfonso Cuarón took the Hogwarts series in a different direction.
Yes, I’m still re-reading the book, but what I loved about Azkaban is the fact that most of the story was told through the amazing cinematography; imagery. Notice all of the clockworks, clocks, the pendulum in front of the huge oak doors that lead out of the castle, none of which were in the other movies, or if they were, none of which were emphasized. Cuarón skillfully uses falling leaves and flight (of birds and/or the hippogriff) to smoothly change from one scene or season to another, a unique way to signify time changes within the movie.
Absolutely brilliant.
