Unsatisified but entertained

Rating: 6/10 (18 November 2005)

As many fans of Harry Potter did, I flocked to the theatre tonight to see the newest in the Harry Potter collection. In attendance with me was another person well versed in the Harry Potter lore and someone who had never read the books. The un-read friend found the movie slow and floundering, as we, the well read, did. She found herself dozing and yearning for more of the Harry-Hermione-Ron interactions that this film lacked.
The well-read attendee and I felt that the movie was rushed. Fully realizing that a book that is as long as Goblet of Fire is cannot contain all of the fun and enjoyable plot points, many of the points that were included dragged the movie down. I would prefer to see a movie that stays true to the overall theme of the book rather than a movie that forces a story together and shouts "I hope you like what we did, we sure tried to get everything."
I left the theatre desiring to read the book again to regain the enjoyment I had and the anxiety I felt about the friendship and the tournament. Although there is no good place in the story to create a split, I would have preferred to have seen this movie split up into 2 films to get everything, rather than what Mike Newell and company forced together.
However, despite what I wrote, I did enjoy the film but do suggest that you be prepared for a long film and not be tired. I will try again at an earlier showing and hope to leave feeling better about the latest tribute to Harry Potter!