Harry Plot Holes! Shouldn't have to read a book to "get" a movie!

Rating: 5/10 (22 November 2005)

This one had its moments, but almost nothing was explained, and I'm of the opinion that shearing unnecessary plot points entirely is a much better idea than leaving in just enough to satisfy the readers, because by splitting the middle you please no one. I haven't read the books, (before it is suggested I should tell you that I have absolutely no inclination of ever doing so) and it seemed to me that the filmmakers took it for granted that everyone in the audience had read them. Film and literature are different mediums and books and movies must each stand on their own, so in this respect particularly the film was a failure. The movie was overly long and yet there were a ton of plot holes, which are almost mutually exclusive problems in general; it felt both rushed and run down at the same time. This is a shame following on the heels of the last entry in the series which was an excellent piece of juvenile fantasy, no doubt owed to director Alfonso Cuaron, who directed A Little Princess, which is one of the single greatest children's films ever. He was a natural choice for the material. Mike Newell's only asset seems to be that he is British. While he did direct Four Weddings and a Funeral, everybody seems to forget that he also directed Pushing Tin and Mona Lisa Smile and a half dozen other real duds. Spielberg had expressed interest in directing this entry, and his offer was declined. Say what you will about Spielberg, but the guy knows how direct juvenile fantasy films better than just about anyone on the planet. I think they bungled it on this one. I didn't hate the film, but I was severely disappointed as the subject matter could have touched on a myriad of important life lessons, but came off like a soap opera for kids, composed of hackneyed ideas, snail paced and missing footage. I'm sure most will disagree, as this is a series of films that lures sycophants like pollen does bees. I say the emperor wears no clothes. I'll go see the next one probably, but I hope that they get the right director for the material, and they hire a continuity person who has not read the book, and allow that person to sit with the editor thus allowing for a truly objective eye to uphold the integrity of the piece.