Reasonably dedicated to the book, but poorly structured

Rating: 5/10 (3 December 2005)

I have read the Harry Potter book series and rehashed on the other Harry Potter movies before seeing this movie, and after seeing Alfonso Cuaron's Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Askaban, I had expected great things from this movie.
After seeing the movie I must say I was disappointed at the structuring of the movie, and this music (which is the only Harry Potter movie without John Williams) was, to say the most, mismanaged. Had I have directed the movie, I would have gotten rid of the entire segment of Harry Potter trying to find a girlfriend for the Yule Ball, and used that extra time (given that the movie is slightly over 2 hours) to give more build-up towards events in the movie.
Oh, and if you were looking forward to the Yiddish world cup, you will be disappointed as there is a small amount of build-up, but you don't see any of the actual game.
On the whole it would have been better directed by someone else, but the movie was reasonably enjoyable. The main events of the movie are, although changed (from the book), worth waiting for.