Very weak..

Rating: 1/10 (16 December 2005)

I was so looking forward to this fourth instalment, but was so so disappointed, the script, editing and direction were all appalling at times, what on earth Mike Newell thought he was doing I have no clue, the story was completely dumbed down, all the subtlety of the book was lost, and the inclusion of the Barty Crouch character so early on was a disastrous choice. The movie could have been longer, but it did not have to be, Newell took so many liberties with the book, extending key scenes unnecessarily, ( task one- the dragon was ridiculous ), when he instead could have developed the "story" more... funnily that's what I thought a directors job was!! The scene with Sirius in the coals of the fire was not only wrong, completely, but overly long with a 30 second end that could have been used elsewhere, I just cannot put into words my despair at seeing the might of Hollywood fail so utterly in continuing what has become one of the most eagerly awaited and popular series of films for years. I can only hope that the next in the series is a step back to PoA which was masterful. And that whoever directs keeps sad old Michael Gambon in line!!