Not as good as third, but better than the first two

Rating: 7/10 (26 November 2005)

In my opinion, this fourth installment of the series is good, but not great. What struck me as its most obvious weakness is the script. Of course, there is far too much material in the book to put it all into the movie, things had to be left out. But what is now left is nothing more than a series of highlights from the book without a proper connection, characters are not given enough screen time to develop and to really make an impression, their motivations are often left unexplained, etc.
Take, for example, the argument between Harry and Ron. It is never really explained, why Ron would have wanted to be a champion (the tournament being very dangerous, after all). Then after the first task they are friends again. What made Ron speak to Harry again is not really made clear, either. It is not explained why Barty Crouch is lying around in the forest, killed for a reason we don't know, and, as far as I remember from the one time I saw the film, we don't even learn who killed him. Rita Skeeter is in the film, but her brief - and admittedly, very well played - appearances are of no real use to the plot. This screen time could have been used to better develop the characters of the other champions.
Other things that might be hard to understand for people who don't know the book are left unexplained as well, e.g. how Barty Crouch junior came to be the Impostor of Alastor Moody, how the Polyjuice Potion works, Krum's behavior in the maze, etc. The film just lacks some quiet scenes, it is too rushed to really explore the depths of things. It also lacks the rich atmosphere of the third movie and the score by Patrick Doyle is - though really not bad - not as varied as the three previous ones by John Williams.
There are, however, many really good moments. Harry and Myrtle in the bath - hilarious. The scenes around the Yule Ball, finding partners, dancing lessons - these seemed to have been real fun for the team. The atmosphere in the World Cup stadium gave me goose-bumps (if only the audience were allowed to see something of the actual game). Also the dark and claustrophobic feel of the maze and the horror of Voldemort's 'resurrection' afterwards. I was very pleased with the performance of Ralph Fiennes there. The special effects are really good, too.
All in all, the film suffers from a weak script, but is brilliantly visualized and pleases with solid performances from the cast.