I think it would have just taken up extra time without adding much to the plot of the movie. DD just mentioned before they went in that while they wouldn't meet any terrifying creatures in the maze, they would all be changed.

That rumor was flying around during Goblet as well.

Funny... my friends have been saying the opposite because book 5 is a bunch of Whiny Teenage Angst Harry... and that'd get old after a while.

But there are a lot of things in book 5 alone, even without the angst. Backstory for one. But the movies have never been great with backstory, so that'll probably cut out an hour. :rolleyes:

I don't think it'll be that long.

I loved the movie...sure things were left out, but overall, I'd see it at least 3-4 more times in the theater.

I saw it last night!!!! It was definitely the best movie so far! I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. I even jumped at a few parts.

I thought the special effects were amazing. I only wished that there was more of the Quidditch World Cup! I know that there was tons cut out of the book. For the first 2 movies that kind of annoyed me. Now, it doesn't bother me. I have read the book and I know the whole story. These movies are designed for people who are far to lazy to read the book. They're designed to give the jist of the story in about 2.5 hours. I know a few people who complained about this movie, but they also hadn't read any of the books or seen the other movies. Without that, the story doesn't make sense.

For a movie, it was fantastic and I would definitely go an see it again.

yah - as a movie i think it is excellent and pretty easy to follow if you DIDN'T read the book. i can see if i had read the book where i might be cranky.

kinda like - i absolutely love stanley kubrick movies but i HATE the original "shining." I can't believe how much they left outta the book. it took a freaking mini-series to even begin to get everything.

- marissa
- and that was just one book. i can't even imagine how the harry potter production team feels.

You know, I saw it on Friday and again on Sunday, and I still enjoyed it the second time. I distinctly remember walking out of the theatre after PoA feeling extremely disappointed because of all the pertinent information that was left out. While I definitely noticed that there was a lot missing from the GoF movie, I wasn't hugely disappointed with it. I guess I just didn't feel that the missing parts this time were really all that important. I mean obviously book 7 has yet to be released, but so far SPEW and the twins' joke shop antics have been nothing more than cute side stories for comic relief. No, the movie they really screwed up with was PoA, hands down.

You hit the head right on the nail for me SSS1365. I thought it was such a let down...maybe because I was expecting so much more because it was my favorite book.

My thought exactly!! I was also so wrapped up in the special effects I didn't even remember which parts where missing and which weren't because they were not important to the main storyline. I also really feel that this director did a wonderful job with the ending...it's just like I imagined it when I read the book.

The only thing I was kinda upset about was that I don't think they emphasized enough how people didn't believe Harry about Voldemort being back.

This is a good point. It is definitely something that they should play up in the next movie.

The one thing I remember clearly was Igor Karkaroffs teeth. That was just gross.

Also, I didn't care for Michael Gambon's interpretation of Dumbledore. I don't remember Dumbledore being this weak, angry, etc. It bothered me.

That wasn't Potions class -- it was Prep, the British boarding-school version of study hall. Some reviews have talked about how Mike Newell's background as an alumnus of a British boarding school informed the details of this movie, and I think this is one example. (There's a great description of Prep in Roald Dahl's great memoir "Boy.")

Re important things being left out: JK has the final say on what goes into the movies and what doesn't. If either the screenwriter or the director try to cut something that's essential to the story, she puts the kibosh on the cut. So anything that's missing will either be going in another movie, or else JK, knowing what happens in Book 7, decided it wasn't essential to this version of the story.

Now, the fun part: squeeeeeeee! I saw it last night in IMAX, with three other big HP fans. It was awesome! The teen actors have their limitations, but as an experience, it's spectacular.

Book 5 is by far my favorite, so I'm nervous about the upcoming movie. Has a director been chosen? The "Snape's Worst Memory" chapter and the Umbridge/McGonagall showdowns are going to make awesome movie scenes.

I was trying to explain the movie to my co-worker who's a big Star Wars fan, and the way I put it is that the seven-book series has three middle acts (Books 4, 5, & 6), each of which are like The Empire Strikes Back. We no longer have the innocence and joy of the 3 introductory episodes; characters are growing and changing as they're faced with tests they aren't ready for; each middle episode ends with loss and confusion about how to get out of the worsening mess. We won't get resolution until Book 7, which will (we hope) tie up the loose ends like Return of the Jedi.

P.S. *small voice* am I the only 30-year-old out there who has to admit that she wanted to jump into the bubble bath with Harry? He's growing up so damn hot -- Cedric Diggory was stunning, but I have a mad illegal crush on Harry.

Ohhh. Thanks for the clarification.

Don't feel bad...I have a "thing" for the Weasley twins. I justify it by rationalizing that they're probably only a few years younger than me, though...definitely legal. ;)