By Angela Pometto
HERALD Staff Writer
(From the issue of 6/17/04)

The third Harry Potter movie is here, full of magical special effects, a few new faces and another challenge for the loveable characters. Sold-out theatres prove that the stories have not lost their charm or popularity.

"Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" brings several new faces to the big screen. Alfonso Cuaron replaces Chris Columbus in the director’s chair and Michael Gambon steps in as Dumbledore for the late Richard Harris. Cuaron ought to be most congratulated for his editing job that kept the movie rolling while abandoning unnecessary details. Gambon’s Dumbledore is more assertive and strong — an appropriate touch to the wise headmaster.

New characters include Professor Lupin (David Thewlis), Sirius Black (Gary Oldman) and Peter Pettigrew (Timothy Spall) — whose histories link with Harry’s dead parents — and Emma Thompson enters as the strange Professor Trewlaney.

Exciting special effects include a magical ride on the hippogriff, with the head and wings of an eagle and the body of a horse; a fleet of evil dementors, the guards of Azkaban prison who look vaguely akin to the ringwraiths from "Lord of the Rings"; and the transformation of man to werewolf under the light of a full moon.

Despite its on-screen charm and wide popularity, there are many Catholics worried about the books and movies — especially the use of witchcraft. The Church views involvement in sorcery or witchcraft in the real world as a great evil and not something to be taken lightly. While the Harry Potter books are fictional, this kind of magic may point children in the wrong direction. While there are many opinions on this topic, there are other moral dilemmas presented in the stories that parents should note.

In one of the first scenes of the movie, Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) asks his uncle to sign a permission form that will allow Harry to visit Hogsmeade, the muggle-free town. The form goes unsigned as Harry leaves for Hogwarts. Even after asking Professor McGonagall (Maggie Smith) for permission, he is not allowed to go. Later in the movie, dressed in his invisibility cloak, Harry makes his way to Hogsmeade. This utter disregard for the rules has been a recurring theme throughout the series thus far. The children partake in an "end justifies the means" philosophy that contradicts Catholic teaching.

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, "The morality of human acts depends on: the object chosen, the end in view … and the circumstances of the action. … A morally good act requires the goodness of the object, of the end, and of the circumstances together" (1750, 1755).

In Harry Potter terms, the end is usually the ongoing battle with Voldemort and his equally evil companions, which is a good end to pursue. But the circumstances they choose go against the rules.

There is another rule that Hogwarts students shouldn’t work magic while away from the school. The movie opens with a scene of Harry practicing magic in his room while trying to hide it from his uncle. Besides this, he inflates the mean Aunt Marge (Pam Ferris) after she insults his parents. And instead of getting in trouble and feeling the consequence of his actions, the minister of magic clears Harry of his offense in light of the greater problem of the escaped prisoner of Azkaban, Sirius Black.

In the earlier two films, there is a lack of adult involvement in the children’s lives. Harry, Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson) solve problems on their own without asking for or accepting help from the professors. While this tends to play up the fact that children can accomplish great things on their own, it cheapens the role of adults who would probably help the children accomplish their goals.

In the "Prisoner of Azkaban," this begins to change. Harry befriends and trusts Professor Lupin, the new defense against the dark arts teacher. He confides his problems in Lupin and asks for his help in learning how to defend against the dementors that are guarding the school.

This slight change in the characters shows how they are starting to grow up. Perhaps some of the moral questions can be answered by the fact that they are still children who are learning how to live as a person and as a wizard. The signs that they are maturing are encouraging.

At the end of the movie, Harry proves that he is seeking the truth. He is willing to abandon what "everyone" believes in order to discover what is really true — another example of his growing up.

Overall, the Harry Potter books and movies should be enjoyed by parents and children together. Children obviously enjoy the magical world of Hogwarts and parents ought to be pointing out both good and bad situations that the stories present.

The USCCB Office for Film and Broadcasting classification is A-II — adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG — parental guidance suggested.