“It was choppy. It cut out the development of secondary (and primary) characters and other important aspects. The Death Eaters looked like Klan members ... quite laughable. It was good though. No really, I liked it.”

 

Hmm. I’m usually slow to react to anything, but my response this common review of the forth Harry Potter movie installment from fellow Potter fans was always immediate, “Sounds awful ... Did they at least get the water scene right? You guess? Well then, I guess I need to check it out ... eventually, maybe.”

 

 

Right or wrong, when Harry was selected into the tri-wizard tournament, Ron, Harry's best friend, felt deeply betrayed by Harry. Harry then felt equally disillusioned by Ron’s lack of trust in him. As brothers apart, they were missing everything. They were no longer themselves. From the lyrical genius of Cake, friend became a four-letter word.

 

Harry’s success at the tournament’s first task and Hermione’s leaning did finally bring Ron and Harry around to forgive each other, but there was now a sense of awkwardness and hesitation in their friendship. What they had, had lost a pureness, an innocence. Forever???

 

Elements of this damage made it into the movie, but without the tri-wizard prize and without highlighting Ron’s insecurity and anxiety over his rubbish wear and belongings, the craze between once best friends was somewhat flat, dull ... seemingly just a glitch, a non-factor. What??? How could they read it so poorly to exclude such crucial details???

 

The first challenge proved Dumbledore’s words. The tournament’s danger was real and extreme. The song-riddle hint to the tournament’s second task included phrases like, “the prospect’s black; stays here to rot,” etc. The movie’s verses weren’t as bleak, nor was its framing context as dire. Again, it was flat with little emotion. Either way, the movie missed something immensely important during this three month intermission between tasks – Harry’s divergence from himself, his withdrawal, his low, his depression.

 

There was this fast approaching threat that Harry would normally face with full focus, passion and seriousness. Instead, the still present distance from Ron led to an absent minded, lack luster, procrastinating Harry. Ready to give up, Dobby (not Neville) wakes Harry up minutes before the start of the second task and supplies him with the cure to 'water-filled' lungs and the news about Ron trapped under water.

 

Dobby’s gratitude to Harry for gifting him a mere sock (featured in the second book and movie) was eternal allegiance. No friend too small for the famous Mr. Potter. Good thing, because Harry needed the undying determination of his loyal little helper.

 

Although it was nice to see my favorite character, Neville, get some screen time, the answer Harry needed wasn’t given by random chance from a random classmate, as illustrated in the movie. It was earned from a friend he earned. He wasn’t lucky; he was deserving.

 

Replacing Dobby deleted the sensation, the excitement that was building within Harry to remind him what was important – his friends. Before Hogwarts, he had none. He had nothing. He was an orphan raised by unloving and unwilling guardians, useless degenerates.

 

Ron was trapped. Harry wasn’t. Not anymore. He found again what he’d lost. His reason for living passionately was renewed. With the lust returned to his Mother’s green eyes, Harry was of course the first to reach the hostages ... under water, deep.

 

He quickly freed Ron, but without any sight of the other tournament challengers (slackers) he sought to free the other captives, including his other best friend, Hermione, and his crush, Cho. The merpeople (underwater soldiers) instantly denied him. No ... just your own. Harry was furious and raised his wand. None of this was in the movie. What???

 

He didn’t say it, but in those pages you felt it to the pit of your own goblet of fire, your heart, that Harry’s urgent and immediate action fiercely declared, “I will not take the lives of those I love for a game. They are all I have ... and have ever wanted. I am willing to die right here beside them, where I’ve always belonged. You will not stop me, but if you must, go ahead and try.”

 

The merpeople backed-off. Again, not in the movie.

 

 

“Wet, isn’t it?”

 

In a single simple observation of the lake’s touch, the innocence returned (as my mind must now do). The aftermath of a life and death situation could once again be taken lightly because they had each other again, completely. No lingering friction, faults or judgments. In each other’s absence, they discovered that true friendship, as with any true love, requires no apologies. Forgiveness is a given ... and what they have had from the beginning was true and didn’t need to be perfect.

 

Harry’s immediate thoughts were as lighthearted ... and selfless. He decided for the next trip to Hogsmeade, he was going to buy Dobby a pair socks for every day of the year. He was himself again - grateful, fun loving and happy.

 

If you’re going to replace Dobby with Neville to save on the production costs of including a CGI goblin, which is understandable, then at least have Harry thank Neville after the water scene, after saving Ron. Why show Harry so carefree, independent ... seemingly lucky and detached like royalty??? He doesn’t even comfort Cho after Cedric (Cho’s boyfriend) is killed. Why??? The Harry portrayed in this movie is unconditionally ridiculous. Whoever directed/produced this movie is officially on my manure list.

 

The books aren’t just about Harry. They’re about his family of friends. They’re not about fighting evil with imagination and magic, but about the reason why you must always fight it, the reasons you overcome it – your friends, your loved ones. I’m not inferring this or even allowing my oversensitive, very emotional engine to find in those wanderous pages a message this strong. “Love is old, powerful magic,” is the wisdom repeatedly professed by Dumbledore and carried out by Harry (and not Lord Voldemort’s wisdom. C’mon, that scene in the movie was utterly insane).

 

In the end, there was absolutely no point in making that movie without Ron’s line (and all the lead-ins to it). None. The forth book was about a breaking point and Harry not breaking. His magic, his goblet, his heart, his love, his friendships were too strong. All told, the book was about the water scene. Missing this, the movie completely missed everything I love about the books ... but it was Harry, his Wheezy, and his Herm-own-ninny ... so it was all I could ever want on the big screen ... so somehow, I still enjoyed the ... popcorn.

 

J.K. Rowling... you’ve surely cast a spell on me and the rest of the Potter-heads.

 

Thank you ... always,