Close enough, I suppose.

Rating: 7/10 (22 November 2005)

I am a rabid Harry Potter fan, as I'm sure most of the people who went out of their way to review this film are. I am also, however, a purist and therefore must take exception with certain aspects of this interpretation.
My main problem with the movie was that even though in an A&E special Newell complained about having only 120 pages in which to fit this 700+ page novel, he chose to add things. Granted, as my husband points out, we've never seen these kids dance, so the dances lessons scene was needed. Personally, I would have gladly sacrificed the graceful choreography of the Yule Ball for an extra scene with Draco Malfoy, the World Cup, the Dursley's, Snape, Sirius, or for heaven's sake - Molly Weasley! In a book of this size there will of course be omissions in the movie, but there were certain things missing that simply should not have been. Lessons, for example. This is still a school, yes? Could the trio's conversation regarding dates for the ball have taken place during History of Magic instead of what appeared to be a never-before-seen study hall? The first task was alright, but again, I could have lived without Harry falling all over the castle roof in exchange for another scene that was actually in the book. The second task was again not bad; however, since Dobby (and Winky and Ludo Bagman) was written out of the script there was no one to warn Harry as to what had been stolen from him - when he got the bottom of the lake how did he decide that Ron was his hostage and not Hermione? Are we supposed to believe that Harry likes Ron more? As for the third task - where on EARTH were all the magical creatures and spells?? Mist that forces the world upside down, Hagrid's blast-ended skrewts, giant spiders, and a sphinx scare me a lot more than wizard-eating roots and hedges that grow together rather quickly.
Cedric, Krum, and Hermione were completely out of character for half the movie. Cedric made a point of telling Harry that he'd asked people not to wear the "Potter Stinks" badges, but second before had laughed with his friends as they ridiculed Harry. Cedric in the maze attacking an obviously bewitched Krum? Forcing his way past Harry only to scream for his help when he was attacked by the roots? Granted, he came to his senses and told Harry to take the cup, but by and large he was not the sweet, noble Cedric portrayed in the book.
Krum's head is certainly NOT full of sawdust. He is not cocky. He REALLY isn't good-looking and graceful. Nor is he a "physical being" as in the book he tries non-stop to engage Hermione in conversation. And, speaking of Hermione. Collapsing in tears on the steps in the entrance hall - what the hell was that?! Hermione gets angry - and then cries in private, not out in the open like that.
Then there were the little things. Who is Nigel and where was Dennis Creevy? Where was Lavender Brown and why are both the Patil twins suddenly in Gryffindor? Where was the Ministry denial of Voldemort's return? All of that being said - in and of itself it was an excellent movie, if a little frantic pace wise. The SFX were flawless and the kids' acting has improved greatly over the years. I'll see it again and will add it to my collection when it hits DVD. And, to be fair as I told a friend - I probably wouldn't have been completely happy with a 6 hour version. I'm just that picky. In the end, it's still Harry Potter.