Grass is greener in the theater next door

Rating: 2/10 (19 July 2007)

Went to the movies yesterday and because nothing else on the bill looked palatable I took a chance and saw the new HP film. As an outsider to the series of Harry Potter books, haven't read them, I was only vaguely familiar with the characters and nature of the series. So I watched the movie with bated anticipation as one would for a new release not based on a book. Impression: where's the plot? Where's are the lives in peril if the antagonist isn't thwarted? Who's crisis was it? Obviously, by HP constipated expressions he was on the throes of disaster. But what about the others? His two partners - as charming as they were - followed HP around like lapdogs as he aimlessly ( to me at least) dealt with a confusion of forces. The scenery and costumes and make-up and music etc were superb!! The actors were no doubt skilled in their trade but seemed wooden and detached from the whole project. I mean, I felt no bonding between any characters. So many scenes seemed lifted from other famous movies; the red phone booth from Dr Who, Sirius' little Gollum-like guy, etc. I won't say it wasn't creative but the devices were not gripping and most I had seen used before, like old ideas tossed in a hat and pulled out at random. Don't want to blast this movie, nor do I want to believe that the books are just a cliché but all I know is that for over two hours I was wondering if I should've gone to see another movie at the multiplex.