Not bad at all

Rating: 7/10 (20 November 2005)

I give the movie seven stars. It did what it was supposed to do, and it did it well. The third movie was spectacular AS A MOVIE, but this was simply a well done adaptation.
From the very beginning, I thought, "Oh my goodness. This is not John Williams." This was unfortunate as the score lacked the cohesion with which the first three films were blessed.
Moving on. The acting is fine, but I felt at times both the script and the direction were a little off. Some dialogue just didn't fit together like it should. Hermione would say something, and I'd just feel awkward about it. To be fair though, all three of the teenage trio had some absolutely phenomenal moments.
The pace at the beginning was enough to make anyone dizzy. So much was happening and so quickly, I felt as though the film makers were being too careful to include EVERYTHING in the book and at the expense of the cinematic effect. I felt like I was watching a book and not a movie. What's more, the middle of the movie, the dance that is, actually began to drag! I can appreciate exploring adolescent awkwardness, but it felt as though the one stupid dance took up a third of the movie's running time.
As much as I can criticize the movie, the final climactic scene was near perfect. Ralph and Rupert stole the show. I was terrified and mesmerized. Still Harry was pried from Cedric's body the confused pace continued.
Enjoyable? Yes. As good as Azkaban? I wonder if even the seventh installment will be as good a MOVIE as the third was.