Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire - Official Review

Warning: This may contain spoilers for the ones who've not read the book or seen the movie...

The movie did not live up to my expectations. Although it was a good effort of trying to fit a 636 page book into a 157 minute movie, it left a lot to be desired. It might seem like a good movie for the one who's already mesmerized with the book, and doesn't bother much about the movie. But for the one who's not read the book - firstly, he/she would have a tough time understanding it; secondly, the pace is just too fast, and you're left asking for more as the closing credits start rolling; thirdly, the suspense and the mysticism that's created in the book is nowhere to be 'felt' in the movie.

The story's main plot has been shown as the Tri-Wizard Tournament, whereas although it is a major plot, there are many other scenes which have been omitted from the movie, and it's difficult to imagine how they're going to make the Order of the Phoenix without giving the much required background in this movie. The important scenes / plots that were left out were -

1. Not even a fleeting mention of Weasley's Wizard Weezes

2. House elves (especially Winky, at the time of the Quidditch World Cup, which was VERY important)

3. The House Elf Liberation Front and S.P.E.W (Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare)

4. Where's Ludo Bagman???

5. Blast Ended Screwts

6. Hermione finding out that Rita Skeeter is an animagus, and her capture

7. Harry giving away the prize money to the Weasley twins

8. Fudge (read: the Ministry) refusing to accept that Voldemort's back is omitted! How're they going to make up for that? How're they going to show the reason for Dumbledore's 'actions' in the Order of the Phoenix?

9. Sirius meeting Harry at Hogwarts

10. Hagrid's 'half-giant' humiliation

These scenes were almost indispensable for the movie, and made the movie complete. Believe me, Goblet of Fire is not just about the Tri-Wizard Tournament.
Some 'goof-ups' that I thought really bothered me were -

1. Sirius coming in the fire and seeing Harry...what have they shown there??? The special effects seem primitive!

2. Dumbledore getting angry and shaking Harry on Harry's name coming out of the Goblet...that's not Dumbledore at all! He seems to be a very out-of-control idiotic human, running aruond like he doesn't have any idea of what's going on, much less, one of the greatest wizards of all time! His character is absolutely different than what is shown in the movie.

3. When did Neville give the Gillyweed to Harry? It was Dobby who gave it!

4. When was Barty Crouch Jr. with Voldemort in the House of Riddle?

5. How come Barty Crouch Jr. shown conjurin the Dark Mark when it was kept a secret (Winky was blamed of doing the same) in the book?

6. In the book, Harry comes to know that Ron has been stolen from him for the second task. There is no indication of this in the movie. Then how does he come to know?

7. Never do you realize that Krum is under the imperius curse in the maze

8. Who was that naked mermaid on the window pane in the Prefect's bathroom?

9. There was hardly an classroom scene in the movie...

Also, I did miss the Dursleys and the Weasley family, including Bill, Charlie, and Percy at the start of the movie. I know that it's difficult to fit all that in a film, but they could've made the film in 2 parts...there was no question of not getting the return on their investment...most Harry Potter fans would've loved a 6 hour complete movie (broken in 2 parts, obv.), than a 2 1/2 hour 'trailer', showing glimpses of the book.

But again, I'm not blaming the director, as he had to work within the set constraints. Unfortunately, he had to do away with the 'magic' in the movie. It doesn't have a magical feel at all!