Good enough movie, but all action, no intrigue

Rating: 6/10 (18 November 2005)

First off, I will say I enjoyed goblet of fire. If I wasn't a fan of the books I'd probably give this and easy 8 or nine as the movie moves along nicely, the plot is fun and entertaining, the special effects are exciting and splendid in a few places, all in all an exciting and enjoyable film.
What really disappointed me was that in the process of paring down a nearly 800 page novel into a manageable film the director and screenwriter left us with all plot and no intrigue. No suspense. No mystery. These aspects are what make Harry Potter special, and especially in this book as we are constantly wondering -who is the culprit?
This movie never gives us time to stop and wonder, just keeps shoving the plot along, full speed ahead. The movie opens with Harry and Ron asleep in their beds at the Weasly's, groggy and disoriented as Hermione wakes them. They are rushed out of bed to go who knows where to do who knows what. That is exactly how this movie left me feeling. The audience is grabbed by the scruff of the neck and thrust head first through a portkey. While the navel-jerking, head spinning ride through space-time that magic allows can be exhilarating, it leaves one breathless and at a loss for one's surroundings. Not exactly the mark of good film making, in my opinion.