A cry for help, what happened to emotional connection and tension? (spoilers)

Rating: Null/10 (6 June 2004)

Movies are challenging to make, everyone knows that. I offer my criticism as suggestions on how to improve the future films.
The movie is visually excellent and the music was great. Unfortunately, the same care or attention was not applied when it came to the direction. Unless, the director did not read the book or maybe just didn't connect with the material.
It's understandable that not everything can make it to the screen so let's focus on what did because many opportunities were missed or miss directed. Harry was under so much pressure, yet it was not apparent in the film.
Overall, even though it was darker, there was not much sense of danger or true connection with Harry or his feelings. As a director, one must think of what is the emotion that needs to be conveyed and then what's the best action/drama to translate and deliver it. Tension as direction to the actors and editing would have achieved greater connection to the characters and greater intensity.
Establishing how miserable Harry was at home without Hedwig or word from his friends was important. Harry wanting to hide / repel Aunt Marge or Uncle Vernon forcing him to be around would have raised the stakes. When he lost it and blew her up he was too one dimensional, there was depth and angst missing.
Almost getting run over by the Knight bus would have helped the audience feel his fear. Harry's anxiety and fear of expulsion at the Leaky Cauldron did not read. The scene with the Minister of Magic sucked because to the non-reader it seemed like underage wizardry was no big deal. Harry's confusion about this, totally missed - another tension building moment lost.
Harry's shame and feelings about being weak and not telling his friends what was going on in him as to not worry them was important to the character's development and why everyone relates with Harry - completely left out of the film.
A story is someone with a problem, that is the beauty of dramatic structure.
A character's inner struggles are what drives a film and what connects with the audience. Beyond the magic, J.K. Rowling's ability to illustrate her character's feelings is what makes the books so wonderful, satisfying, and globally accepted. The film conveyed that the patrons charm was easy for Harry - again inner struggle missed.
Not dramatizing that Hermione was stressed and overwhelmed lost another chance for tension. The tension between her and Ron - not there. Mentioning that blood was on Ron's bed would have raised the stakes and would have added depth to Ron's emotions.
When Snape runs into Harry in the hallway and their exchange about James missed the important fact that Harry has no idea what his Dad was like and Snape calling him on it - just one line of dialog would have added substance to Harry's struggle.
Harry being visible at Hogsmeade was dumb and those kids are not. Being seen by Malfoy and his troubles with Snape would have added to the drama.
While flying on Buckbeak Harry's line, "that wasn't my father, it was me" - we just saw that! Why use a redundant line that does not add anything to the scene? When a simple word or facial expression here and there would have added so much.
At the end, the count down to Sirius Black's kiss of death had no tension or sense of urgency. The presence of the Minister of Magic or anyone else like Filch or Mrs. Norris would have helped.
In all that was included in the third film, unfortunately too many opportunities to deepen or understand and connect to Harry were missed. Emotional depth, which is the director's responsibility, has lacked from all the films.
To the producers of the next films, PLEASE have your directors focus on performances and emotional translation versus cool effects that could have been discussed in preproduction and that the Effects Department can handle.
The material is wonderfully rich and deep, PLEASE do it justice!