Somewhat disappointing (Read only if you have read the book)

Rating: 4/10 (18 November 2005)

After reading the book I was very interested in seeing the Goblet of Fire, but as a fan of the books there were many things that were left out which are important to the story. Anyone following the movies only, will have problems following along as they move so quickly. You do not have a chance to enjoy the type of depth that the previous movies portrayed. For example, during the first 10 minutes, you go from Harry seeing the vision of the caretaker, to waking up in a bed at the weasly's. Then after being woke up they are out the door and going to the port-key. The Dursly's and Weasly's are to me an important part of tying the movies together and giving us a home base if you will. Compared to the book, you miss the weasly's trip via flu powder to get Harry and getting stuck in the Dursely's fireplace, and it exploding to reveal the Weasly's. And what about Dudley, eating that thing that makes his tongue get extremely long by one of Ron's brothers and then the showdown where Auther Weasly tells off the Dursleys. That scene would have been most enjoyable and would add a little comedy as well.
Granted there are some very funny moment's in the movie, but overall the movie in did not stick to the book. For instance, the book mentioned that Dobby was the one that gave Harry the Gilly weed which is stole from Snape. At the time, when the Dark Mark was conjured, winky was the one caught with Harry's wand (while sitting by winky Barty Crouch's house Elf near an empty seat during the quiditch championship match) behind a tree. In the book there was some time, for the students to settle before the other schools showed up, as this is not as important, but the book added tension to the fact that something was going to happen as Howarts this year that has never happened before. Ron brought his dress robes from home and did not arrive as a package.
As annoying as Rita Skeeter was, we did not get to see how much trouble she caused, and how Hermione got her revenge. Sirrus showed up only once when in fact he help Harry much more, and Dumbledor just appears not to be who he is in the book. He is easy to get upset, and does not have the mystical sense of power that is portrayed of him in the book. Basically, we no longer have the same sense that you really know the characters anymore. Regarding the end of the movie, the real talk that Dumbledore had with Harry did not come close to what really took place, which was very important to the story, and helped to transition us to leave the world of Harry Potter until the next book. This movie went so quickly that you had no time to enjoy any aspect for long.
I understand that they could not do everything that was in the book, but I feel that more care should have been taken in what was chosen to be in the movie, and that it should be more true to the feel of the previous movies. There is a lot of hype about how scary this movie is. My six year old went, and was more afraid of the last movie than she was this one. I will keep my fingers crossed for the next one.