Good for the most part

Rating: 7/10 (31 December 2005)

For the most part this was really enjoyable. Despite what some people have said about two movies the movie loses nothing because SPEW, Bagman and Dobby aren't included. More Sirius would have been nice however. Also this is the first well- paced movie in the franchise. Something is always happening and they have cut out the irritating scenery shots from the earlier movies. There are thankfully no gratuitous shots of Harry and Hedwig. Radcliffe, Grint and Watson all play their parts well to the extent that Watson's over- enunciating didn't make me want to throttle her and I actually feel something when Harry is in the graveyard.
My major complaint is the way Michael Gambon portrays Dumbledore. He is atrocious. Instead of a wise, calm old wizard who clearly cares about Harry Gambon's Dumbledore is confused and bad- tempered, going so far as to attempt to strangle Harry when his name has come out of the goblet. Dumbledore is my favourite character from the book and he is unrecognisable in this movie. If Gambon continues to portray Dumbledore in this way the audience will be cheering when he dies in the Half Blood Prince. Recast. Recast. Recast.