Not even half the story this time--and certainly not the important part

Rating: 6/10 (18 June 2007)

An intro: I am a Harry Potter fan and I hated this movie.
Just so people who read this review will understand where I come from, I have to say I'm a Malfoy-booster. It's not that I think they're good-hearted or anything like that. I just don't think they need to be turned into cardboard cut-outs. I was thrilled we got to see them at the World Cup, but even though they had lines, they just seemed too flat. I wanted Lucius and Arthur glowering at each other. I wanted a Harry/Draco faceoff!
And the Ferret scene? Just painful. Why did he go into Crabbe's trousers? And we were completely robbed of Draco in dress robes. But it was the graveyard scene that really upset me. In the book, that scene is chilling, and Lucius still managed to somehow hold his own against Voldemort. I was glad he was there, but he just sounded like a whiny kid.
Snape fared better, but his best scenes were completely disposed of. I did enjoy him knocking Harry and Ron's heads while they studied, and his scene threatening Harry with the Veritaserum was nicely done. But even so...We needed to see that Snape had the Mark on his arm, and to see him shove it in Fudge's face.
I came away from the movie thinking "There's no way they'll be able to keep going...They've dropped too many threads." No Bella. No explanation for how Barty Jr escaped (or why the guards wouldn't have noticed...). No blackmailing Rita Skeeter. No explanation of WHY Moody's lesson affected Neville so heavily. And, of course, there's no absolute certainty that Snape's a Death Eater! Or how about Fudge's utter denial that Voldemort is back? They've left so many of the pieces unmentioned that the next movie will have no cohesion at all.
Oh, and the major subplot--Barty. Now, I knew this would make or break the movie, because it's the central part of the plot. And they totally failed. I know they were trying to avoid having to explain certain things, but honestly, this is getting ridiculous. In the book, there's a lovely ambiguity to Barty Jr in the Pensive scene. It's utterly important to have that to show how he and his father interact, in my opinion. And that not everyone is JUST good, or JUST bad. It's part of JK's message. They made Barty into this total caricature, and it really didn't work.
Other bits:
* The pensive scene: I can understand why they did only one scene, but it should have been Barty & Co's. That would have been much more effective to show the Crouches's relationship. If they didn't want to deal with the Lestranges, they could have cut them out. It would have worked fine without them. And it would have made both characters far less ridiculous than they became.
* I do think that Fiennes was excellent. Not creepy so much as subtly evil, and I think that was exactly what we needed--a slow build to the fight. The cauldron changing with him was a bit much, but walking around barefoot was a nice touch. When he moved Cedric's head with his foot, I shivered. The end of the scene--the fight and escape--came too abruptly, though I'm thrilled they showed the "shadows" at least. Lily and James actually got to speak... And speaking of parents, Amos cheering for his son when they appeared... I think my heart nearly broke...
* I loved Cedric. I think some of his scenes seemed a bit much, but when it came down to it, we got all of his character in one movie, so they did a good job, considering. I did want to have Amos going on about how his son beat Harry Potter, though. It seemed rather central to his character. He seemed too bland in this one.
* The DE costumes: I can see how they could take those tall pointed hats as sort of the ultimate wizarding accessory, but they looked ridiculous. Couldn't someone have said, do we really want them to look that idiotic, or that much like KKK members? I did like the way Voldemort whisked the masks off their faces, though.
* I wasn't sure about Gambon in POA, but now--I don't like his Dumbledore. He's too angry throughout this film, and it really bugged me. Harris would have pulled it off so much better.
My favorite bit: Neville. Neville and all his reactions, particularly Neville and the gillyweed! Nev actually got to help Harry for once. And Neville dancing. Neville and Ginny forever, man! He was so adorable. I just wanted to give him a big kiss on the cheek.