Entertaining, but too rushed and choppy

Rating: Null/10 (18 November 2005)

I went to see this film at Vue at 4:00 today and I was really hoping for entertaining Potter film - I got one but the price for it was a very rushed film. My main criticisms for this film other than it was too choppy is that Emma Watson's acting became a bit too over-the-top at times, and as much as I admire the girl, it just has to be said. I also found some parts to be laughable(mostly with Emma in them) when it wasn't meant to be. An example of this is the over emphasising of her points she makes with her eyebrows and how she acted in the Defense Against The Dark Arts lesson scene when she answered the question of 'Unforgivable Curses'.
Apart from the above, the film was very enjoyable and exciting, especially the three Triwizard Tournament tasks, like the third task that made me jump in my seat a couple of times when the hedges closed in around Harry. The first task was particularly thrilling when Harry's fingertips held on for dear life on the rooftops turrets of Hogwarts castle as the Hungarian Horntail tries to kill him. As for the second task, that was just as I imagined it when I read the book, and was also really fun to watch.
The parts about the realisation of the opposite sex was particularly funny as it was so true to life, although this is a fantasy, as when the boys were asked to dance they declined. Same with Ron(played wonderfully by Rupert Grint) who translated so well onto the screen the ways teen boys have problems dealing with the opposite sex. Another good example is when he argues with Hermione after the Yule Ball and when he sees the Beaubatons girls for the first time.
Dan Radcliffe's performance was moved up a notch from Prisoner of Azkaban(I hated the cringe worthy 'He was their friend, and he betrayed them - He was their FRIEND!'). I, for once, couldn't find a fault in his performance - He IS Harry. The final scenes with Voldemort were spectacular(like when Voldemort's and Harry's wands joined together by a red light) and Dan didn't fail to impress. Ralph Fiennes is chilling as Lord Voldemort himself and I literally cowered in my seat - my only complaint about him is Voldemort's eyes weren't red, more blue to me. Not forgetting, the scenes with Moody at the end are also acted well on Radcliffe's and Brendan Gleeson's part.
On a whole, I did enjoy the film and it was mostly worth my £5.50 ticket price, I only wish that the next film, Order of the Phoenix isn't as choppy and perhaps in the case of Goblet of Fire, a longer running time would have been better. As a Potter fan since 2004, I recommend the film for Potter and non-Potter fans.