LEGO's Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban Knight Bus
by Lando da Pimp

LEGO provided us with an early look at the first playset from the new movie Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban. The third book in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series begins with the young wizard "accidentally" inflating the awful Aunt Marge into a monstrous balloon. Fearing punishment from the officials at Hogwarts School for casting a spell in the non-magic world of Muggles, Harry sneaks out at night with his heavy trunk and his owl Hedwig. Because of the recent escape of Sirius Black—an escaped convict from the prison of Azkaban—is on the loose and after Harry, the magical triple-decker bus, called the Knight Bus, provides transport and escape for Harry as he again battles the forces of evil. The bus and conductor Stan Shunpike are willing to take stranded Harry to any destination; as long as it is not underwater.

The Knight Bus LEGO set is an excellent interpretation of the triple-decker bus. The set includes the Knight Bus, conductor Stan Shumpike, Harry's trunk, Hedwig the owl, a light post, a shrub, a dog, and of course Harry Potter. Harry also comes with a magic wand along with the recognizable scar on his forehead, Harry is also now peach colored instead of the traditional LEGO yellow color. At Toy Fair this year LEGO informed us that all future movie line characters would no longer be yellow.

Building the bus took about 30 to 40 minutes including the time where I didn't pay attention to the instructions and went back to fix my mistakes. The bus is built in three different levels. Each level of the bus contains a bed in the back that slides back and forth dramatizing how violently the driver Stan Shumpike drives. The bottom of the bed is attached with smooth pieces refraining the beds from sticking to the floor of the bus. Each level comes apart very easily making it simple to place a character in each level. The first level features a door in the back for entrance on and off the bus and the front, a driver's seat for the conductor, Stan.

Overall the bus is a decent set sure to appease Harry Potter fans. I like how LEGO solved the problem of not having a staircase lead to each level. Having the levels come apart with ease works very well without the bus falling apart. I also like the flesh-toned faces of the characters. It gives the characters a more realistic look.

The Knight Bus set will be available in stores everywhere this May and retails for $29.99.

You can read more about at the official Harry Potter Homepage on LEGO.com

You can read about upcoming LEGO toys on our visit to LEGO at Toy Fair.

All characters and likenesses are copyright their respective owners. Photographs copyrighted 2004 by MillionairePlayboy.com