Great flick! but... - Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Reviews

This is it, the return of Voldemort. The Triwizard Tournament! All exciting, but somewhat rushed. Now don't get me wrong...I REALLY enjoyed this movie, but I would have to agree with the Entertainment Weekly review that the movie felt put together like Lego blocks with no real organic flow to the story. In a word, it felt "rushed". There were too many litlle things that make Harry's world magical that were left out. I understand the need to keep the movie time short, but I think after Lord of the Rings that audiences can handle a 3 hour fantasy movie. And an extra half hour is exactly what was needed. For example, I loved the action set pieces in this movie...the Dragon challenge was exceptional, and the underwater sequences were perfect, but the maze... (oh the horror)... what was Mike Newell thinking? It could have been so much scarier. The beasts and creatures that challenge Harry and the others....missing. You can argue that the Director stayed on course and kept the story tight, but this is the final challenge to the tournament and it felt like it was over in 5 minutes. No drama, no feeling of danger. A huge disapointment so close to the end of the movie left many I was sitting near, who knew better from reading, feeling that we (the audience) were robbed. The acting is getting better and bettter. I do love all the adult characters and there is quite a bit of high school fun that I think everyone can relate to a little. Kudos to the director for that bit of reality. The effects were all quite good. The biggest lose of all was a John Williams musical score. I bought the album and enjoyed it alot out of the context of this movie, but in the movie...no. I don't know why John Williams wasn't envolved. In my mind his music is the glue that holds the movies together. The themes, the emotion were both lost in this. Few moments were scored perfectly, most felt like recycled Danny Elfman music from a reject Tim Burton flick. (Yeah, I know that was harsh). Now, I have pointed out the bad. But these elements don't make it a bad movie, just disappointing to anyone who has read the books. Like I said I went in hungry for a breakout Potter movie, I left satisfied, but wanted a second serving. I would be very curious to hear what someone thought of the movie, who had only seen them and not read them. I'll bet they loved it and felt satified. I'm heading back to see it again, to find out if I'm just a person who can't let go of the books or if my first impression was right... the movie was rushed. If so, a word to David Yates, director of The Order of the Phoenix...Don't be affraid to let us soak up a bit more of J.K. Rowling's fantastic world. Deliver a 3 hour movie...we'll be okay. P.S. ... call John Williams and reserve your time with him now.