Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban   

Opening credits:  Harry is doing magic under his covers in bed - “lumos maximus” or however it’s spelled.  Isn’t this considered illegal because he’s under-aged? Or is it only illegal if you do magic that affects someone else that counts?  Correct me if I am wrong, but I’m sure it’s supposed to be any magic performed by any under-aged witch or wizard is illegal.  That’s why Fred and George showed Harry how to manually pick the lock on the cupboard under the stairs in CoS because they’d have gotten in trouble with the Ministry if they’d used their magic.  But Harry didn’t get in trouble for practicing his wand lighting spell, just for blowing up Aunt Marge (and if anybody deserves to be blown up it’s Aunt Marge… and Uncle Vernon… and Dudley… and Aunt Petunia).  Okay, the one bit of magic has less adverse effects than the other but still…  Just wanted to let that float into the air for the rest of you experts on magical policies and procedures. 

Ah Hogwarts: up in the boys’ dormitory in Gryffindor tower Harry, Ron, Neville, Seamus, and Dean are all eating candy that allows them to mimic an animal. We never see what kind of thing Dean mimics.   Seamus jumps and chatters like a monkey; Neville trumpets like an elephant; Ron roars like a lion; and Harry blows steam out of ears like a train -- the Hogwarts Express or was that a boiling tea pot?  The thing each boy mimics reflects something specific about him.  

Seamus’s monkey-esk characteristics show a curious, albeit nervous, and even slightly distrustful attitude.  Monkey see, monkey do.  We really don’t see this hidden quality until OotP when tension bubbles over between Harry and Seamus because of the Daily Prophet’s articles about Harry's alleged instability.  Also of note is that the first time Professor Trewlaney speaks to Seamus she tells him to "broaden your mind." It all fits.  

Neville’s inner elephant never forgets.  One of these days soon, Neville will remember this and then what memories will he be trumpeting?  

Ron has the heart of a lion and yet quite often that lion seems strikingly reminiscent of the Cowardly Lion from “The Wizard of Oz.”  Not to worry, his courage is earnest and true.  And Harry --does he need to blow off a lot of steam?  Yes.  It has been building up inside of him for thirteen years as of CoS, and we see it really starting to blow twp years later in OotP.  The other thing about being like a train is that trains are powerful engines that carry many people in/along with them.  Trains are not reckoned with easily, but unless they are properly engineered they can derail or crash headlong into something or someone else causing harm not only to their iron-clad sevles but possibly to all aboard.  Is the film suggesting that Harry could get reckless and fly of his tracks?  Well it’s a possibility, yes. We’ve seen him skid with brakes sparking and squealing several times already in all of the films and books so far. Or he could run head on into someone or something else.  But I believe Harry is like the Hogwarts Express - always on time, reliable, and magically on track without fear of losing his grip. 

Where was Sir Nicholas in the film?  There were lots of ghosts galloping through the great hall enjoying their headless hunt and even though Nearly Headless Nick didn’t make the cut he was still sorely missed I can tell you.   

Another missing vip (very important pooch) is Fang, Hagrid’s Boar Hound.  Where’d he go? Instead of Fang in Hagrid’s Hut there was a giant snail! 

Also in the 3^rd film, Hermione makes a point of saving Harry from  Lupin, the werewolf, by howling and drawing Lupin’s attention away from Harry.  That means that Harry owes her one, just like his saving Wormtail from being murdered and now Wormtail is bound to Harry to return the debt.  How will Harry save Hermione?  What near-fatal fate is in store for our Hermioninny? 

In the 3^rd book and film Professor Trelawney asks Neville how his grandmother is.  Neville responds that he thinks she is okay.  Trelawney replies, “I wouldn’t be too sure, my dear.”  What does that mean? Even though Sybil Trelawney’s predictions are scoffed at, mostly by Hermione and Professor McGonagall, scrape away the umpteen layers of over done dramatics and you'll notice that several do end up basically coming true.  I think we should be worried about Gran Longbottom. 

Sirius tries to keep Lupin from transforming into a werewolf by reminding him that Lupin's true self lives inside his own heart.  Is there more than meets the eye hidden inside of Lupin?  Regardless, it doesn’t work and Lupin transforms into a werewolf. 

Later, near the end of the film, Sirius tells Harry that those we love never truly leave us; they live in our hearts forever.  Whether or not there is a hidden meaning here is up for debate.  It’s simply a beautiful sentiment.

CAST CREDITS