Number 4 disappoints :(

Rating: 5/10 (18 November 2005)

I'm new to the Harry Potter world. I just read all six books over the last two months. In fact, it was the third movie, and its excellent direction and overall theme, that convinced me to give the books a go. And I became a true convert. I engaged in HP discussions over dinner. I convinced many jaded friends to give the series a go, especially since book four, arguably the second-best to book six, was about to be released on the big screen. But alas, the new Harry Potter movie was a disappointment. The book was massive, and creative license was necessary to condense so much action into a 2.5 hour movie, but the screenwriter/director team failed to bring the fullness of J.K. Rowling's vision to the big screen.
For instance, its easy to forget that the backdrop of the action is Hogwarts School of Magic since it has become a mere set and there is no mention of the classroom aspects of this year in Harry's life (so where does he learn to do the things he manages in the great feats of the Tri-Wizard Championship?). The subplot concerning Miranda Richardson's character is cut and her character is fairly unimportant to the storyline (unlike in the book, where she is integral to Hermione's character development). But the worst offense in the movie adaptation is a blatant contradiction concerning Ron, dragons and Mad-Eye Moody (I won't spoil it for non-readers, but be prepared for an addition by the screenwriter that is contradicted later on by Rowling's original writing and the adaptation!).
This adaption did not "move" me - you know, that feeling you get when a movie makes your heart race or skin crawl. This Harry Potter did not deliver and I am sad :( - But I won't lose hope that Mike Newell is replaced for book five!