Rated PG-13 (for frightening moments, creature violence, and mild language). 136 minutes. Ok for kids 8 and up, if they’ve seen and not been bothered by menacing, dark-movie moments.

This third installment of the Harry Potter series finds the young wizard running away from home and back to Hogwarts, where he hangs with magical buds Ron and Hermione. Along the way, he learns some startling news: sinister Sirius Black (Gary Oldman) has escaped from Azkaban Prison – he was convicted 12 years ago for his part in evil Voldemort’s plot to murder Harry’s parents. Word has it that Sirius is searching for Harry to finish the job. This plot-line gives the movie a darker feel than the first two, exemplified by Wuthering Heights skies, slate-Gray landscapes, and Harry himself, who’s angrier about his lot in life – and not afraid to show it.

When the gang returns to school, they’re greeted by grim wraiths called Dementors stationed at every entrance to ward off Sirius. But they’re hardly your average guardian angel – they specialize in sucking souls out of people and flying creepily around with black-hooded, shredded-goth attire trailing out behind. The plot revolves around when Sirius will get there and what he’ll do when he does.

WHAT WE LIKED: Everything. The special effects are spectacular, especially the scene where Harry takes a thrilling, “I’m king of the world” ride on a hippogriff – a flying creature that’s half-horse, half-eagle. When you see this scene, you’ll believe it!

The characters are evolving with each movie. Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) has grown out of a geeky, bespectacled kid into an edgy teen heart-throb. Red-headed Ron (Rupert Grint) is everybody’s next-door best friend. And it’s like old-home week to see faves like Dumbledore (Michael Gambon, who replaces the late Richard Harris), Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane), and even the snippy Professor Snape (Alan Rickman).

New to the school are Professor Lupin (British character actor David Thewlis) and the daffy Professor Sybil Trelawney (Emma Thompson, who seems to be channeling Miss Hathaway from “The Beverly Hillbillies”).

My favorite character is Hermione (Emma Watson). Yeah, she’s a Miss Smarty-Pants, but she’s strong, doesn’t flinch from danger, and will do whatever it takes to defend her friends. A real girl’s girl! Idea: let’s have her and Harry grow up, get married, and continue the series with their baby witches and wizards.

What makes this movie fun for both kids AND adults is that it allows us to live out our fantasies. Just for starters: a multi-tiered castle with moving staircases, secret tunnels, mile-high steel doors, playful ghosts, and real-life pictures on the walls (a giraffe wanders from one pic to another).

WHAT WE DIDN’T LIKE:  Nothing really, although if your kids aren’t used to dark images in movies, this might be too scary for them. I’d say it’s ok for ages 8 and up, if you tell them ahead of time there might be scary parts. My 7-year-old was fine, but she’s a “Lord of the Rings” fanatic, and there’s nothing in Harry to rival Shelob, the cave-dwelling spider who wraps up Frodo for dinner.

Also, I wonder if people who haven’t seen the first two movies will understand what’s going on. The film-makers assume that everyone on the planet knows the series, which may be true, but a bit more back-story couldn’t hurt.

THE WRAP-UP: Wildly entertaining. Enough to make you forget about your troubles for a few hours. I didn’t look at my watch once!

SCORE: 4 out of 4 Reels.

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Jane's Reel Rating System:

One Reel – Pathetic. Even The Force can’t save it.

Two Reels – Tolerable. Coulda been a contender.

Three Reels – Pleasant. Something to talk about.

Four Reels – Wow! The stuff dreams are made of.

E-chat with me at jane@reellifewithjane.com - I LOVE to talk about movies! For more about me, check out my writer’s Web site, www.janeboursaw.com.

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