From the book by J K Rowling. Directed by Mike Newell. Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Eric sykes, Timothy Spall, David Tennant, Mark Williams, James and Oliver Phelps, Bonnie Wright, Jeff Rawle, Brendan Gleeson, Michael Gambon, Ralph Fiennes, Mirander Richardson and many more.
Well the soonest tickets we could get were on Sunday at 4:45 and our family took up the whole row! First of all, don’t worry about all the scare-mongering about taking kids. If yours were fine for the last film, they’ll be fine for this one – especially as they’ll be older now. Yes there are scary bits- the dragon scene; and intense bits – the maze and the graveyard, but you certainly don’t feel all the emotions that you feel when reading the book. That said, I did shed a tear or two when Cedric died.
The film began too quickly and I’d be surprised if those who don’t know the book, understand what’s going on; and those who do; feel slightly like your stomach does when going over a humped back bridge. It took a while for my brain to catch up. And then later on there were sequences that could easily have been cut shorter (like the flying on the hippogriff bit in the previous film) there was the dragon scene for the first triwzard challenge that was seriously indulging the special effects team. It went on for ages!!! That said, the special effects were amazing.
I felt it was a shame; amongst all the romance between the other characters, that Dobby didn’t even appear; let alone Winky. I was also surprised because I have suspicions that house elves are going to be important in the final book!
I thought Rita Skeeta was played perfectly, although her part in the film didn’t match her importance in the book. Mad eye moody was more-or-less how I imagined him to be. Harry was literally in the film the whole time and many of the other regular cast could probably finish their scenes in a day. I ecpect the legal limits to children working probably held up the film loads this time round.
Anyway, I have to have a rant about Michael Gambon. He really isn’t the right man for the job, and although he is an amazing actor, the director really needs to have the courage to point out to him that he is playing Dumbledore all wrong. Either that, or it is the director’s fault of course. Dumbledore is clearly portrayed in the books as someone who is always calm and rational; always the voice of reason with no indication of fearing anything; and with a twinkle in his eye. However this film saw him losing his temper, and was clearly worried, anxious, and cross most the of time. I feel the Gambon is playing a perfectly good headmaster; but not Dumbledore. Has he still not read the books?
Of course there is tonnes more to say, but I really must go to bed now.
