Looks Great, Less Filling

Rating: 7/10 (14 November 2005)

I think of all the films I've seen this year, I was the most excited to see this one. Unfortunately, it did not live up to Cuaron's Prisoner of Azkaban.
For the first time in an HP film, it felt like they were just going through the motions, as if there was simply a checklist of events that had to happen in the screenplay which were leading the film to its ultimate goal, of course being the return of Lord Voldemort.
Unlike the last film, there was no cohesive theme, no attempt at a character arc for poor Harry. In Cuaron's Azkaban, Harry had to really come to terms with the tragedy of his parents' deaths, and he did so by conquering his fears of being alone. In that respect, it was much more than "just another Harry Potter movie", unlike this new one. Director Newell removes the inner journey in favor of cramming in as many plot points as possible.
The best thing about Goblet of Fire was by the end, there is even more anticipation for an excellent fifth film.
Just imagine if they gave this adaptation screen writing job to Fran Walsh, Philipa Boyens and Peter Jackson. Wouldn't that have been awesome?