Parents need to know that Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, the third movie in the fantastic Harry Potter series (all based on the books by J.K. Rowling) is growing up with the Hogwarts crew. The themes are darker, the peril is more intense, and the images of some magical creatures are grotesque and Halloween-ish. For most of the school year, Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) believes that he’s marked for death and being stalked by an escaped prisoner. He also battles a creature straight out of kids’ worst nightmares: The Dementors are black-robed floating beings that suck out happiness and feed on your worst fears, which is why Harry hears the sound of his mother’s last scream when he sees them. While this can be tough for younger and sensitive viewers, the bright spot is the Boggart lesson in Defense Against the Dark Arts. Boggarts can turn into what a person fears most, but the kids learn to yell “Riddikkulus!” and turn it into something to laugh at. Characters demonstrate courage, perseverance, and teamwork, as well as compassion and empathy. In addition, friendship, love, bravery, and loyalty are always major themes in the series, as is the idea of making good choices.
