Why Wouldn't you see this? Do you not like fun?

Rating: 8/10 (11 July 2007)

he film seems to come from an angle that wishes to allow the viewer unfamiliar with Harry's tribulations through his fifth year at Hogwart's to catch on and enjoy the over-the-top, action riddled film. Simultaneously it is designed to give special winks and nods to the, probably larger, demographic of viewers who are familiar with the novels and are forced to accept that films, inherently, must negate some of the smaller plot lines of the book in order to be successful.
New director to the Potter series, David Yates, seems to enhance the growing sensation of darkness in the films. Even more so than the Alfonso Cuaton directed 'Prisoner of Azkaban." The film works as most of the series does: loads of suspense, long action sequences where the 'good' do battle with the 'evil,' and slightly nauseating emotive sequences in which Harry falls in love and gets Connor Oberst angsty with Dumbledore.
The film is fun. It's a great summer blockbuster film, don't expect anything new from the series, it's the old tricks in new settings, but this is the best blockbuster film to come out this year. What is interesting to note is the maturation of the direction of these films. The more intricate and brooding plot lines have allowed the film to be shot a little hazier, straying a little from the well worn formulas of filming action. It feels less and less like a young adults film and more like a Terry Gilliam film sans sex and drugs.