Wow, what a let down.

Rating: 2/10 (18 November 2005)

Let me just start by stating, I love all the potter movies... all except this one. That out of the way, here's my synopsis: Acting and character portrayal -- Decent. Most of the movie seemed like it was done on take one. The actors seemed rushed in their parts to finish lines, but overall not too bad for a harry potter movie. (although much different from the previous movies.) Casting -- Some of the new characters looked way out of place, but i guess there wasn't really anything wrong here..
Plot line -- Wow. This was a problem. Most of the book was left out. that would be OK i suppose, if the plot remained the same. the other movies were different from the book and i didn't have a problem with them. this one somehow really just didn't work. It seemed like most of the plot was left on the cutting room floor, or maybe just wasn't filmed at all... which brings me to:
Directing -- Honestly, this is the reason I gave this movie a 2. The director obviously didn't want to film the kind of movie that the harry potter movies are and should be. Instead, this one was really mostly a comedy, and I'm not sure how he accomplished it. Most of the good bits were rushed or skipped completely, and NOTHING was explained properly, if at all. The only reason I knew what was going on (or what was suppose to be going on) is because i have previously read the book, and even then i was confused a little. I was sure to remember the name of this director, and believe me, I'l never pay to see another of his movies.
In closing, I'll say this: The book is not at all an action novel. It was not meant to be so. If you want to direct a pure action movie, Mike Newell, please do it with the appropriate material. I really feel awful abou this series now. There's 1, 2, and 3, getting better as they go, and hopefully 5, 6, and 7 will do the same. Then there's 4 stuck right in the middle with no continuity and no point. If I had money I'd go make the movie myself just to make it fit in the series properly. (and also to make it not suck)