Hugely enjoyable, overall - some important flaws, alas.

Rating: 9/10 (5 June 2004)

**Spoilers ahead**
First, Alfonso Cuaron's personal directorial stamp is clear for all to see, and his aesthetic sensibilities shine through in this film  for example, the sweeping vistas of the Scottish landscape place Hogwarts in its stunning, breathtaking, natural context. Eye-candy for sure, and something I missed in the earlier films.
Second, I thought Sr. Cuaron's re-placement of Hagrid's hut and the whomping willow was entirely appropriate, as was his inclusion of Callanish-like standing stones, which bring a sense of the ancient Celtic presence in the Hogwarts world more palpable. The earlier films were far too cardboard, claustrophobic and (for a movie) too stage-bound in this respect.
On acting, Daniel, Rupert and Emma have clearly matured and developed. A lot of the wooden-ness has been shed, whilst Daniel hasn't yet acquired the skills to emote convincingly, except in his angry scenes, which were passable. I was happy to see Rupert lose much of his limited repertoire of facial expressions and to rely instead on his natural comic abilities. Equally glad to see Emma turn in a persuasive, sensitive performance.
As for the adults, predictably excellent, if brief, contributions from the regulars.
Sir Michael Gambon to my surprise didn't quite capture Harris' feel for the contradictory character of Prof. Dumbledore  whimsical and yet authoritative, wise and yet apparently innocent, careworn and yet fresh and childlike. Maybe his undoubted range as an actor was circumscribed by the screenwriting?
Emma Thompson's Prof. Trelawney was perfect - at once hilarious and winning, facial tics, big glasses and all. Wonderful indeed  Emma certainly bones up on her characters!
David Thewlis' Prof. Lupin was absolutely spot-on. His portrayal of the tragedy, the humanity, of this man was touchingly-captured by David in his understated, gentle way. A performance one can savour and learn from.
Gary Oldman as Sirius was, as one would expect, highly successful. An inspired, if all too brief performance, alas!
Timothy Spall as Peter Pettigrew depicted that appalling character with aplomb. His rodent-like demeanour as Peter, rather than his animagus alter-ego Scabbers was especially effective.
Regarding CGI, Buckbeak the hippogriff was a massively successful and endearing CGI creation  utterly convincing. I was very moved during the scene where Harry and Buckbeak bow to one another, and by the thrilling section where Harry rides with the hippogriff over the Scottish countryside, and the loch. Unfortunately, the moment was somewhat spoiled by the gratuitous inclusion of the clichéd Titanicesque scene where Harry opens his arms in the wind. I mean, please - what was Cuaron even THINKING?
Finally, the most signal and unaccountably AWFUL let-down in this otherwise highly enjoyable adaptation was the Patronus scene, where Harry conjures the silver stag  his Patronus. This is undoubtedly THE high point in the entire book, of good against evil - yet against all expectation, the combined forces of the film-makers succeed in DESTROYING this scene completely. A brief glimpse of the silver stag (stationary at that) followed by a completely meaningless CGI wash of white after Harry and Hermione had travelled back in time to undo the damage. I couldn't believe it! How absolutely unforgivable! Again, one wonders how this pathetic visualization of Rowling's extremely potent and touching moment could have been trashed thus?
The Patronus scene notwithstanding (UGH and grrrr) I give Azkaban 8 stars.