Some major annoyances, but the rest fabulous

Rating: 8/10 (24 March 2006)

For all the things they had to cut out, the director really had his nerve throwing in the stupid things he did - specifically the goony dance numbers of the entry into Hogwarts of the other schools (to say nothing of the disgustingly gratuitous breast/rear shots of the Beauxbatons girls). I understand the cinematic need to differentiate the schools, but was it really necessary to change the other 2 schools to same-sex schools? That struck me as a weak, cheap ploy. The costumes and attitudes (which were terrific choices) enough would have worked - the director should have had some faith in himself.
However, using Neville instead of Dobby was a fabulous idea, both cinematically as well as plot-wise, because it helps show Neville's growth & sets his character up for the next movie.
Visually, the dragon sequence was the best in the film - as it was doubtless supposed to be. I suppose it would have been too much to ask to have Harry's scene be shorter so we could see the other champions fight their dragons - especially given that it was all CGI & not animatronic, but let's not be greedy! I disagreed with the way Diggory was portrayed, & not just from a fangeek perspective. If the director was going to add/change things to differentiate between foreign schools, he should have kept in characterization that delineated the different Hogwarts Houses. He took out everything that made Cedric as special as he was written - thereby at least slightly undercutting the devastation of his loss.
The setting for the Ball - incredibly gorgeous! Everyone gave sterling performances - no surprise there :-)