I haven't quite been able to figure out what is wrong with me, but I've been totally oblivious to the Harry Potter juggernaut in recent times. I loved Mike Newell's "Pushing Tin" from a few years back and was intrigued to see his angle on J.K. Rowling's franchise, so I took myself along to the cinema last night.

I fidgeted with my rosary beads as I managed to cut a path to my seat through the hoards of teenage occultists. Thankfully I made it without being turned into a toad.

This was one of the most thoroughly enjoyable 157 minutes I've ever spent in the cinema. From what I've read, the production team had their work cut out for them in fitting as much of the novel as possible into the film format. This resulted in the action coming thick and fast, giving the film a great rhythm. The only place they slipped up was with the Ball scenes which slightly jarred with the flow of the film and felt a little bolted-on to me.

I don't want to spoil anything for anybody yet to see it so I won't go much further. In any film I watch I always find that it's the small parts that make a film really stand out. In this regard, Ralph Fiennes' Voldemort and Brendan Gleeson's Alastor "Mad Eye" Moody were downright stellar.

My only concern now is that when I go back to watch the first three installments they won't live up to this one.

Fire up those broomsticks and get down to the cinema today!

Published by Paul.