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Video Review: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
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Wizard uses humor in times of horror
Your family is headed to the mountains, where you’re excited to teach your kids to ski. But as you’re about to start up the slope, your son breaks out in a sweat. He’s afraid he’ll fall off the ski lift. After you struggle to get him up the mountain without disaster, he starts to sob. He says the drop is too terrifying—even though you’re only on the bunny slope. He’s worried about broken bones. You’re worried about his broken spirit.
The newly released film Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban can help your kids learn to lick their fears using laughter. After watching the movie, play our “Broom Bowl” game to bring the lesson to life.
The movie features Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe), who’s returned for his third year at Hogwarts—a grooming academy for wizards and witches—only to find trouble brewing. Sirius Black (Gary Oldman), the criminal supposedly responsible for the murder of Harry’s parents, has escaped from Azkaban prison and is headed for Hogwarts looking for Harry. Everyone at Hogwarts is afraid that Sirius is coming to finish off the young wizard.
The school employs the protection of grim-reaper guards called Dementors to protect Harry and the students. But the Dementors are so daunting, students become paralyzed with panic in their presence.
Surrounded by frightening Dementors and the criminal’s impending doom, Harry must learn to overcome his fears in order to survive and get back to his life of flying broomsticks and magic wands.
Family Activity: Broom Bowl
Your children don’t need to cast secret spells to conquer their worst fears. After revealing what gives your family the willies, play our “Broom Bowl” game together to help sweep away insecurities.
Share!
Take turns sharing things that scare you—from dark, creepy closets to presenting a book report in front of the class. Why do these things seem so scary? Imagine the worst outcomes possible—from a closet monster gobbling you up to forgetting the book’s plot and having your classmates laugh at you.
In the movie, Harry and his schoolmates learn to transform fears into something funny—like spiders sliding around on skates. How does hilarity help the students cope?
Try to think of how you can add humor in times of horror. For example, instead of picturing plummeting off a ski lift onto a cold, hard mountain, think of yourself as king of Marshmallow Land down below. The soft marshmallows must never let you fall, or you’ll banish them to the Land of Squished S’mores.
Humor is one way to help face your fears. Take turns sharing some other ways that have worked for you. Listen to each other’s tips and try to use them in the future!
Play!
Materials needed:
- Six empty water bottles
- Colored tissue
- Masking tape
- Marker
- Tennis ball
- Broom
Stuff the empty water bottles with tissue. Place a piece of masking tape on the center of each bottle. Using the marker, write on each bottle something that scares you—from bugs in your basement to thunderstorms.
Line up the water bottles like bowling pins with the labels facing front. Stand across the room. Your goal is to try to bowl over the bottles by hitting the tennis ball with the broom.
While the ball is rolling, you must shout out a funny way to deal with the scary situation on the bottle you’re trying to hit—such as picturing the bugs in your basement dancing the hula. Take turns—the next person shouts out something silly for the bottle that’s her target. Continue until all bottles are knocked over.
Your kids will learn, just like Harry, that humor can help strike down fear, and spare their sanity!
Go to cinematters.com for more film fun!
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