Movie - Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (IMAX)

This one is definitely better than the last Harry Potter movie. I had a chance to watch that one on HBO a couple of weeks before seeing this one, and the overwrought time symbolism just about crushed me underneath. In this movie, the darker Hogwarts introduced in the prior film has become more homey. It still seems more like a cavernous special effect than a school where kids spend six years of their lives (or is it seven?), but it seems very fitting that a teacher would be at her most intimidating partnering students in a dance lesson. Watching the film on IMAX wasn't as life transforming as I was expecting, but it was as good as seeing it in the very best theater, with ideal sight lines, a great print, and a bitchin' sound system. It showed the CGI effects (like the dragon duel) off to advantage. Harry isn't a very handsome adolescent (as opposed to Hermione or Ron) but he might yet grow into himself, and anyway, having him be pre-accident Mark Hamill isn't the point. He's got his burden of talents and tragedy which makes him interesting enough as long as he's not a complete toad. (drafted 12/19/05)