My GOF Movie Review - very minor spoiler

[Steve]

Just saw the movie and it was very good. The Three tasks of the
Tournement were very good although they changed the story slightly.
Part of the problem with the movie is not so much the story they told,
but the fact that everything moved so quickly. The arrival of the
competing schools was very good, but it lasted mere seconds. 

Further, I agree that if you don't know the story, you'd be somewhat
lost. In order to cut time from the film, great leaps in plot are
made. For example, when Harry finds Crouch in the woods, he's really
just out for a stroll, sees Crouch by a tree, and we are immediately
back in Dumbledore's office. I understood the intent of that, but I'm
not sure people who haven't read the books can figure it out. 

Key points- 

The Quidditch World Cup is VERY short, but the Quidditch stadium is
spectacular.

Harry/Dan does an excellent job of emoting underwater. His reactions
are very clear. A task that I'm sure is extremely difficult under the
circumstances.

The scenery of the Scotish country side is also stunningly spectacular.

All characters show a much greater range of emotions than in any of
the previous movies. They have all really been given the chance to
show what they can do, and come through spectacularly. Really, I think
everyone will not just be pleased, but actually very impressed at the
level of improved acting by every single character, but of course,
most especially by the primary actors.

I like the change to Neville's story in the movie. I'm a big Neville
fan, and I think he comes off exceptionally well as both a character
and as an actor. I can't believe that anyone will have a problem with
these changes since they show Neville in such a positive light. I
can't wait to see Neville in OotP.

Stan/Viktor has an amazing stage presence. He doesn't have many lines,
but I think he may have the potential to be a good character actor.
Really, he commands the screen whenever he is on it.

Now to the most critical character, Michael Gambon. I was really
afraid that Gambon as Dumbledore couldn't make the transition from
whimsical to ferocious, but, like all the other actors, he does an
excellent job at displaying a range of emotions, and Gambon has a much
bigger part in this movie, so we really get to seem him take on the
role of Dumbledore.

>From Gambon's performance, it is clear that he is an excellent actor
with an excellent range, and as a (figuratively) generic actor playing
a (figuratively) generic part, he does a corrospondingly excellent
job. But it is clear that he really doesn't understand his character,
nor do I think Mike Newell understands Dumbledore since it is
ultimately his responsibility to make sure the character is portrayed
accurately. In one particular scene, Gambon/Dumbledore shows
significant anger toward Harry; something Dumbledore would never do in
just that way. 

Of course, lots of parts of the story were changed, other character's
roles and responses were modified for the movie, and I can easily
accept that, but this one scene of Dumbledore's anger at Harry really
was disjointed. It simply didn't fit with Dumbledore.

I guess he has the role for now, and Gambon really is a good actor,
that can't be denied, and further, he is likely in it for the long
haul since they probably want as few major character cast changes as
possible. I can accept him in the role, but seriously, I don't think
he 'gets' Dumbledore at all.

Just a few thought, and hope I didn't give too much away. 

steve/bboyminn