My Dogs Come First: Goblet of Fire? Smokin'.... SPOILERS

This movie is hands down best of the lot to date in spite of it's being abbridged. It had to be, geez, the book is 734 pages long...

The book was reviewed, trimmed down of what was not necessary for the plot to run smoothly at racing weight and it was still 2 hours and 37 minutes long.

If you haven't read the books, there is a bit of a "huh?" reaction. For example... Death Eaters really weren't explained as to who they are, what their tie in is, the viewer just sees them on the rampage after the World Cup.

Now, that being said: MIND YOU... there were pieces of the story I would have liked to have seen:

Purely humour - the wizard staffer in the kilt/poncho, and Archie of the flannel nighty.

How would they have portrayed the Veela.

I wanted to meet Bill, of course, the rockstar-looking, Gringotts-employeed Weasley and his brother Charley the dragonmaster.

Rita Skeeter busted and captured by Hermy as a bug in a jar.

I did not miss not seeing Dobby again, or Winky at all. Missing the House Elf thread was no problem. Not having Winky however, knocked out the Minister's Box scene at the World Cup.

I would have liked to seen Harry working through the Imperious curse.

The critical parts that are in the movie, not necessarily listed in order:

Frank and the meeting at Riddle House. [First question that came up at that time was - who is that other person in the room with Wormtongue and Voldemort?

The Portkey transport.

The Tent. [I want one!]

The Game - we only get to see prior to the umpires loosing of the quaffle. We don't get to see 'the game,' that would have added a good 30 minutes to the movie.

The post-game terrorism - the chaos and fear portrayed was very convincing and even put me on edge.

The initial Goblet of Fire introductions to include seeing the ship surface and the carriage glide in.

Moody's introduction to and demonstration of the three Unforgivable Curses was very well done.

Fred and George's attempt to put their name into the Goblet.

Champion selection.

THE FERRET!

Dragon viewing.

Informing Cedric about the dragons.

Dragon baiting.

The angst of having to ask girls to the ball - though Fred's asking of Angelina was well done.... the twins are maturing handsomely.

Cedric paying Harry back for the Dragons.

Bathroom scene - be sure to watch the mermaid in the stained glass window. And yes, People magazine has it right to refer to the vision of Harry sans shirt as "calfcake."

Neville and the gillyweed - not 'by the book.' Who cares, it was a good scene. I like Neville.

The Lake - that, in all it's glory was very, very well done.

The pensive scene. Different twist.

The maze. No nasties except Krum.

Voldemort's rebirth was awesome and the entire cemetary scene was perfect. Ralf Fiennes was superb! The joining of the two wands in the Priori Incatantem scene was well done. Missed the webbing bit though it wasn't really necessary. Was there Phoenix song? I don't remember.

The return with Cedric and the Cup was what I hoped to see, so of course it was perfect.

Moody's exposure. Different, but worked out OK. Was really looking for a view of the foe glass.

All in all - I will go see it again at least twice.

For the record.... I refused to be interested in the Harry Potter books through all of the initial rage until my sister told me that they were good. We have approximately the same taste in books so I decided to read them just before Goblet was published and before the first movie. I have been a fan ever since.