Terrifying, heartbreaking, and amusing, but a bit of a let down

Rating: 6/10 (17 November 2005)

I recently was able to attend a screening, and after the first few sequences I knew Mike Newell and the screenwriter had messed it up. I know it would be impossible to preserve all the greatness of the thick book into one movie, but from the beginning the biggest problem is clear - they cut many things that they should not have, and greatly embellished scenes that did not need them.
The editing in the first few sequences blatantly says "Let's get this over with as quickly as possible so we can fit the rest of the film in," with shots that are only a few seconds in length and choppy cuts. Amazingly, not even a round of the Quidditch World Cup is shown, it cuts straight from the opening of the game to after the game, with little mention of who won. If they'd cut even 30 or 40 seconds from the first trial, which drags on and on with ridiculous added scenes, they could have put in a little quidditch and given the other first scenes some more breathing room. Mike Newell also adds some ridiculously cheesy shots of overboiling tea kettles, and rain falling of stained glass like tears, trying to be symbolic but just ending up looking stupid.
It seems that either Mike Newell or the costumers just did not understand the Harry Potter universe that well. The Yule Ball was a mass of muggle clothing, complete with cheap-looking prom dresses.
The bathtub scene is somewhat appalling in the way it is sexualized. I'm sure they were trying to be funny, but it came off as completely sick. That scene may lead to some uncomfortable questions from small children seeing the film.
All that being said, there was quite a lot done well. The death eaters are terrifying, the sad parts are tragic and moving. The second trial is executed perfectly. Some of the added writing with the students is quite good and funny, and David Radcliffe and Rupert Grint have matured greatly as actors, and they help carry the film through some of its low points. Emma Watson also does well, but the writer and director make her more sad and whiny than indignant, which weakens her character. Most of the other characters don't get much screen time at all, which also could have been aided by cutting some of the needlessly long scenes to make room for more content.
I suppose all our hopes were raised when Alfonso Curon did such great work with the last one. This merely good sequel ends up coming off as a disappointment.