Why Prisoner of Azkaban's Score is the Best in the Series

* In this episode of 'Listening in', I analyse John Williams' monumental and beautiful score for Harry Potter & The Prisoner of Azkaban, which I consider the best score in the series. Directed by Alfonso Cuarón, this film marks a departure from the first two instalments - towards a more naturalistic, realistic cinematic world. Williams' score matches this shift in approach by using longer, more expansive motifs that serve the action, instead of just accompanying it.

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FURTHER WATCHING

FURTHER READING/RESEARCH

MUSIC

[carny]

Prisoner of Azkaban is the only HP film that has such a different feeling and charm to it than the rest of the series. The characters truly act like real teenagers, Hogwarts feels much more lived in, the music often sounds much more medieval, the stakes are smaller than but feel that much more impactful and real.

[ohwellwhateverr]

The Buckbeak's Flight scene is such an overwhelming experience for me every time I watch it - my eyes start streaming and my heart swells. Williams' music (and Cuarón's superb direction) are just on a whole other level

[Mika-kana]

This movie also has the best end credits sequence ever

[lizamorgan]

Prisoner of azkaban
What I most appreciate is that they actually got the hair right

[maike__-]

I always loved all the "casual magic" in PoA, and if I was trying to explain this to someone, I'd always show them the clip in the leaky cauldron with the wizard stirring his coffee with magic, the owner wiping the tables and setting up the stools with he wave of a hand.. Love it

[LegioXXI]

Its really a shame that John Williams art is rarely teached in school. His music was my entry to the classic genre as a whole, and it shows that classic music is more than a relic of Mozart and Beethoven. Don't get me wrong, thos old pieces are very important to the history of music in general and should always be explored. But almost everyone watched Jurassic Park, Harry Potter or Star Wars. Its something that even younger generations instantly have a connection with.

[janetuss]

Double Trouble is such a bop. especially with the toads

[PineAppleChunkss]

PoA is by far my favourite film of the franchise. Cinematography, direction, shots, score etc. it’s all just on another level. I think for me it’s mostly the use of shots that sells me on the film. So well used.

[JOVONO]

Chamber of secrets made Hogwarts castle feel alive whereas Prisoner of Azkaban made the Hogwarts grounds feel alive

[InsidetheScore]

You're a brilliant presenter. Your videos are so engaging to watch! I feel like I've got to go through your whole channel now!

[Logan-ebwh]

A Window To The Past is for sure the best score in harry potter. I love it so much. Also Alfonso curon should have directed more movies, I think he was the best one. His style was so interesting.

[wraith]

I think I’ve waited my whole life for this video to come out. Thank you for bringing out that John Williams alongside Alfonso Cuaron neared perfection with this movie

[JYD_esign]

I will never forget the how I felt in cinema when watching Buckbeak's flight. I truly felt like I was as free as Harry

[denzelmendoza]

I can't help but to tear up everytime I watch the patronus scene. Harry is transforming a painful memory into happiness to battle all the dementors, musically represented by motif in an almost angelical chorus... It's just amazing! PoA is definitely the most beautiful movie in the series.

[MatheusRodrigues-hefn]

The aesthetics that Cuaron used in this film matches perfectly with John Willians' score. That's why I've watched it a hundred times when a I was a kid.

[thewaywardpoet]

'Prisoner of Azkaban' is, in my opinion, easily the most artistic and cinematic film in the entire series. As such, it remains my favorite of the lot. Hiring Alfonso Cuarón to direct was a bold choice and, boy, did it ever pay off! It marked a turning point for the saga, a shift in mood and tone that carried over, more or less, all the way through to the end. But, of all the Harry Potter films, this is the one I can absolutely return to again and again and not get tired of it, because there's always something fresh and new to discover with each successive viewing.

[christianpimenta]

Just want to say Lupin is my favorite character in all of Harry Potter. Out of all the teachers (besides Snape) actually tried to take the students problems into thought and tried to help and succeeded in teaching Harry one of the most important spells he ever needed. Also the only defense against the dark arts teacher who actually did his job.

[DevashishGuptaOfficial]

So great to revisit this from an adult's ear.

[georgonio]

"Love has a transformative power, even in the face of sometimes overwhelming darkness" ❤️ Wow!

[agamaz]

this just proves how important music is, visuals are just showing but music is the feeling