An Expensive Mess

Rating: 4/10 (5 August 2007)

To whom it may concern, I also reviewed 'HP and the Goblet of Fire' and gave it 8 stars. Read it if you like because I sort of touch on the same issues here.
As we know, the first few Potter films were widely criticised for being absolutely stuffed with everything from the books. As the books got longer, though, it would be inevitable that heavy trimming would have to be done. They did well with 'Goblet of Fire.' They didn't do well here.
Remember the threesome scene in 'A Clockwork Orange?' The mechanical and acrobatic sex captured as if it was in fast-forward? This is what this movie is like. The whole name of the game here is expediency and efficiency. A lot of the major scenes from the book are here except they are whittled down to the shortest time possible and include only a couple of lines. There's no build up or pleasure. Potter has his Arthur Weasley vision and 30 seconds later Shacklebolt is saying 'You can't deny, Dumbledore's got style.' Yet nearly everything stylish about Dumbledore's escape in the scene has been cut. All the fun has been drained out just so everything can be crammed in. The task of trying to balance making a good movie and put in everything essential to the whole Potter mythology has clearly taken its toll. Though I was able to keep up, the casual movie-goer by now is going to be hard-pressed keeping up with all the talk about prophecies, floo-networks and Padfoots.
So because of the overriding tone of speed, slash and burn, I couldn't enjoy the story, and therefore, the film. As for the good points: This is a major franchise movie and the money put into it clearly shows. Art direction like the Ministry of Magic and the Department of Mysteries is glorious to behold, but even here, there is a sense of overkill. The duel between Dumbledore and Voldemort would have been much better if it was like in the book but here its a huge amount of flashing sparks. As for the acting, all the main actors are quite comfortable in their roles. Daniel Radcliffe has improved a lot though I don't think he'll ever entirely banish the wood from his performances. What is most pleasing about the entire film is the new characters. Imelda Staunton is most entertaining as Dolores Umbridge, and the chick who plays Luna Lovegood did her perfectly. I smiled every time she was on screen. And Helena Bonham Carter has a lot of fun as deranged sexy death eater Bellatrix Lestrange. Marry me, Ms. Carter, I'll be good to you.
4/10. Don't bother seeing it. And good luck to the people who have to put the 6th and 7th books on the screen. They'll need it.