re: goblet of fire

First the book

• I know they explained it, but I still don't get Krum catching the snitch when it means Bulgaria loses my ten. You have to at least try and score an extra Quaffle so you can tie, right? I have to say it: only a woman could rationalize an athlete purposefully doing something that literally clinches his team losing. YOU PLAY TO WIN THE GAME. /Herm Edwards.
  
• Maybe Draco gets a bad wrap. You ever notice how Draco only talks trash, but and its the Gryffindors who respond physically? To my knowledge, the only times Draco has physically bullied anyone is during a Quidditch match.
• Binding magical contract my foot. Don't tell me they "have to" compete, because, well, they have to, you know! They have to or what, Rowling, what are the consequences. Contracts get breached every day. What makes the breach of a "magical contract" so ostensibly impossible? Especially when it applies to Harry, who never made or accepted a contract offer. You can't just force a kid to risk his life for a damn contest, completely against his will. /Slams head against keyboard.
• Let me get this straight - Moody's eye can look through clothing? He's a teacher, at a school, and he can look through clothing!?!?!?! Hello? Is this thing on?
  
• Neither Harry nor Ron thinking to ask Hermione to the ball is a bigger plot hole than the previously mentioned acid drops. I mean, Jesus, man, ARE THEY BLIND!?!?!?!??! And Ron wasn't even aware of her gender ("Neville's right - you are a girl")!?!??! Stop the madness!!!!
• Ok, ok, so maybe Rowling's original vision on the attractiveness of Hermione might not have been up to Watson's standard, but the fact both Harry or Ron never even considered asking their closest female friend to the dance really is absurd.
• Harry's trip to the Prefect bathroom made me realize that there was yet to be a mention of anyone taking a shower or bath at Hogwarts.
  
• I am continuously blown away by the common use of mail bombs by wizards. Yes, I said mail bombs. Howlers explode if you don't open them immediately remember? And they get sent out to the Ministry and Hogwarts and everyone's like "whatever." Terrorism happens every year at a FREAKING SCHOOL FILLED WITH YOUNG CHILDREN and NOBODY CARES.
• I was very disappointed that Hufflepuff wasn't given the House Cup in honor of Cedric.
  
• Uh, Hermione, I know Rita Skeeter is a total bitch and everything, but you do realize what "kidnapping" and "false imprisonment" are, right? Beetle form or not.
• And what's up with there being so many unregistered animaguses? I'm really tired of that as a plot twist.

And the movie..

First off, let me share my amusement about having to go to the "family" section of Best Buy to get a PG-13 movie. Roffles.

Now, to the actual film: wow, they cut out a lot. And it was still over two hours long. I suppose that's a testament to how long-winded Rowling can be. A lot of what they left out was understandable and probably for the best - pointless stuff like Winky and Dobby, the whole SPEW business, most of Rita's stories, and Hagrid's skrewts. But one thing I could not believe was left out: Dumbledore's plan at the close of the story. His instant exposition on how to respond to Voldermort's return - getting Lupin and the rest of the "old crowd" back together - left me flat-out giddy with anticipation about what lies ahead. See, that's the coolest thing about Dumbeldore. He's The Man With a Plan. They left that completely out, and it would have worked brilliantly on film. Damn. And where was Fudge's head-in-the-sand war strategy? That was pure Neville Chamberlain and I loved it.

By the way, what the hell were Cedric and Harry wearing for the third tasks? How am I supposed to take the duel with Voldermort seriously if Harry is dressed as a court jester?