Harry Potter – Houghton STAR

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Written by: Caleb Tiedemann (’25)

With the autumn season in full swing, there is no better time to rewatch that Harry Potter series! There’s just something about those beautiful multi-colored leaves flitting through the air, the overcast skies, and rainy atmosphere of western New York that screams at me to sit down and binge the popular eight film series. Now I realize this fantasy series happens to be quite controversial among Christians for its use of magic and light-hearted representation of magical arts. I am not here to dissuade or sway your opinions–just to offer mine on what I believe to be the best film in the franchise.

Spanning eight movies, directed by four different filmmakers, and running from 2001 to 2011, it is one of the most impressive series for its consistent excellence, special effects, beloved characters, and depiction of the battle between good and evil. Regardless of how you may feel towards the series, Harry Potter has maintained an iron grip on pop culture for the last thirteen years since the series concluded. One of the most surprising aspects is the success the series has faced while changing directors during the first four movies. The beginning of any series is monumentally important and the sheer fact that Harry Potter maintained its tight schedule of production and release while being passed around by Warner Bros. is impressive.

The movie I want to focus on is the third—Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban—a film that always stands out to me for its focus on the people closest to Voldemort, shedding more light on past events in the Wizarding World rather than focusing solely on He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. This movie was directed by none other than Alfonso Cuarón. While his name might not be immediately recognizable in mainstream media, he is a four-time Oscar winner and six-time Oscar nominee. Needless to say, he knows his craft well, and his unique touch in Prisoner of Azkaban is what makes it stand out so distinctly from the rest of the films.

This movie is simply awesome. It shifts focus away from Voldemort, exploring the dynamics of the people closest to the Potters and offering deeper insight into these Wizarding World martyrs. The performances are fantastic, with Harry and company delivering more grounded performances as the antagonist hits closer to home. Plus, Gary Oldman is always a charming addition. Cuarón managed to create a darker, almost emo version of the Wizarding World, replacing sunshine with overcast skies and pouring rain. This hauntingly beautiful weather creates a more aesthetically pleasing and intricately shot environment. His camerawork is pure genius, utilizing the intricate design of Hogwarts castle and incorporating what looks like PowerPoint transitions between scenes.

Upon a couple of Google searches, I found out that John Williams is the composer of the score. Williams, most famous for conducting the Star Wars scores, is a welcome addition to any movie and his score perfectly suits the tonal shift that Cuarón made. The two work together perfectly ushering in this newer and mature age of Harry Potter. For most franchises, the third film is where things begin to go downhill, but the time travel, mythical creatures, and beautifully reimagined, masterfully captured environment elevate this movie to the top of my mind whenever I think about the series.

So while many of you conduct your studies in this gloomy weather, I will be comfortably procrastinating mine and losing myself into this intricately designed world year after year. ★

Last year, businesses in Ithaca, New York banded together to create a magical, Harry Potter themed event called the “Wizarding Weekend.” Business owners re-imagined their shops, cafes, and restaurants into locations straight out of J.K. Rowling’s bestselling series. According to online news website The Ithaca Voice, event planners initially thought they would draw a crowd of about 200. However, by the end of the weekend over 8,000 people had attended.

facebook.com/wizardingweekend

Planners this year are better prepared for the onslaught of Potter fans. Increasing the schedule from one day to a four day celebration, Downtown Ithaca will be transformed into a haven of wizardly goods from October 27 through October 30. Several streets will be turned into iconic streets from the Harry Potter series, including Diagon Alley, Godric’s Hollow, and Knockturn Alley. Life’s So Sweet Chocolates on West Green Street will be creating confections inspired by Honeydukes, Tompkins Trust Company will become the wizard bank of Gringotts, and businesses throughout the town will be embracing the Harry Potter theme.

Melissa MacLean ‘17, who attended the event last year, that the best part of the weekend for her was “the feeling of being in an environment where everyone is geeking out at the same thing.” She described it as an atmosphere which fostered conversation and shared space between people who may otherwise walk very different paths in life. MacLean also commented on the food trucks and the “legendary butterbeer” which she assured is “community covenant approved.” When asked if she would attend the Wizarding Weekend again, she replied that she would, saying, “I wouldn’t want to let my Ravenclaws down!”

Although events are scheduled for each day of the Wizarding Weekend, the greatest number of activities will be available on October 29, the event’s “Festival Day.” According to the official website, some activities include a Horcrux Hunt, a “Dark Arts Coffee Crawl” through local coffee shops, several Quidditch matches, costume contests, live music, and a Tri-Wizard Ball. A number of local artisans will be selling their wares, including everything from jewelry to quills to handcrafted wands. Additionally, acceptance letters to Hogwarts will be handed out by characters from the series.

Some events require tickets or reservations, but many are free and open to the public. As of October 25th, the “Ithaca’s Wizarding Weekend” Facebook page reports over 3,500 people will be attending and some 11,000 are interested. For any of the ticketed activities, it is recommended that tickets be purchased soon as there are a limited number available for most events.