Fri., Nov. 18, 2005 12:00 AM PST
With more melodrama, meatier magic and much malevolence, the latest film foray into J.K. Rowling's wizard world proves the fourth time can be a charm, too. The biggest trick here is how the series' first British director, Mike Newell, turned the 734-page book into a streamlined movie. Some plot elements have been banished (sorry, Potterphiles), but essentially, our boy wizard is participating in a potentially life-threatening wizard tournament, learning about girls and dealing with returning evil dude Lord Voldemort.
The aging actors actually act like real, rambunctious teens; the heavy special effects are dazzling, and there's a wicked sense of humor intertwined. And it's a relief to loosen up the series like that. Just be warned, Muggle parents: This one gets deadly dark, and when Ralph Fiennes perfectly overdoes it as Voldemort, it can get scary for the little ones. Overall, though,
Harry is maturing just fine.
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