darth_ender said:

Also, and here I give a SPOILER WARNING, but as I wrap up the fourth book, I can't help but take issue with the clever plot. Yes, it is clever how Barty Jr. tricks Harry into grabbing the portkey and teleporting right into Voldemort's clutches, but I ask myself, if that's really all it would take, why didn't he simply turn a pencil in Harry's backpack into a portkey? It would have saved time and been just as effective.

Yes, technically he could have done that, but Voldemort's aim was to make a dramatic and grand re-entrance to the wizarding world, by killing 'The Boy Who Lived' after having abducted him in a startling and public manner from under the noses of everyone who believed he had power over the dark lord. Had he been successful in doing so, he would have been able to announce his return with the death of his perceived nemesis, and immediately terrified everyone who had ever feared him all over again.

As for the issue of books vs films, speaking as someone who began with the books back in 2000 and was utterly enthralled by them, the Harry Potter series is one best experienced in written form, both for completeness and for storytelling style. The only exception is the final story, Deathly Hallows, which at times is a bit dull and is actually improved upon by its film adaptation.