Good, but leaves you hanging-sort of.......

Rating: 8/10 (12 December 2005)

First off...if you love Harry Potter, have seen all of them up until now, then you NEED to see this to set the stage for the next. If you don't really care about Harry Potter, then this movie is not the best one, and is actually different in a fews ways. But as a movie by itself, it would be a strange place to start if you have never seen a Harry Potter movie....it is:
Darker (Much!)
MUCH more serious, very little laughs....
Airier, but somehow seems a lot less scaled
Deals with Teen sexuality, or the beginning of it
Deals with pitiful jealousy issues, where Ron goes on a tantrum with Harry being in the spotlight, getting into the Tri-Wizard Tournament, etc...for starters, Harry Potter will never be a nobody, and Ron knows this. For two, it seems Ron easily forgets that Harry is one of the only people ever to treat him as an equal, being that the Weasley's are J.K. Rowlings version of hard working lower middle class people(wizards). Also, does Ron not remember all the times Harry has saved his neck along with everyone else? Even Hermione seemed to be angry, more reclusive, and the three would never be called best friends unless you saw them before. Strange also, they are his best friends, but abandon him when he needs them the most, where he stands the most potential threat he has faced yet. Friends just aren't like they used to be!
Is a transition piece, taking Harry Potter from small kids to young adults and beyond
The summary will make you wonder what all the other fuss is about!
This movie is almost IDENTICAL to the book, with the book having a little more drama and background material, as expected. I read the book first, and the only thing I can really remember that is different is that Hargid is more active in the book, and is having trouble with his love interest, who more rejects him in the book than in the movie. This is a good thing, and bad thanks to the strange and dry material. Like most transitions, some will like the change, some won't!
This movie just seemed...emptier...hard to explain. Plenty of thrills, and new material...but just missing some of the magic from the first 3...
Did I just see a nude scene with Moaning Myrtle and Harry Potter frolicking in a bath tub? NO WAY.....
The main concentration on this film is the Tri-Wizard Tournament, and if you have not read the book (which I can't suggest you do before or after, probably read it after the movie) hides the true plot of the movie, a confrontation between Harry Potter and Voldemort. The scene where this takes place is in a very nicely done Cemetery, and Ralph Fiennes does a perfect job as the dark lord himself (see devil). The first three movies failed to show Voldemort, at least not as his recent carnation. This movie does a great job of making it worth the wait!
The settings and special effects are top notch, and nicely done.
I never thought I would see DeathEaters (Devil worshipers), limb sacrifices, and so much sexual tension in a Harry Potter movie.
Richard Harris was the best suited person to play Dumbledorf, and I was saddened to hear he died, but I had trouble seeing a new person play as him (how I learned Richard Harris died) but I actually liked the way Micheal Gambon played as him in this movie (still not as good as Richard Harris would have done!)
The people from the other schools just seemed too lifeless, and it was hard to see what attracted Harry, Ron, and Hermione to them other than Fleur's looks (pretty for a younger girl). Also Cho, though cute, has a weird personality. Then again, in high school and grade school I also liked people who were similar so I guess it is very real!
I must also say that I like some things more about the last 2 Harry Potter movies, and something about the first 2....I like the creepiness of the last 2, with the Dementors, Voldemort, murder, and the more adult orientated movie type. The problem has been that the light hearted themes are becoming less and less. Sure, there is still laughs, but less wonder and maybe things are a bit too serious. A nice mixture of, hate to say it, "cuteness", laughs, and with plenty of dark material, creepiness, murder, lies, deceit...hopefully the next Harry Potter movies will live up to that. There again, if you love Harry Potter...see it!!! I cannot wait to read "Order of the Phoenix" and then see the movie, I have heard it's awesome!