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Review:
Harry
Potter
and
the
Goblet
of
Fire
(spoilers)
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It has been a boon to the Harry Potter series that director Chris Columbus stepped down from the series, since his influence distinctly lacked inspiration for the first two movies. Bringing on a new (and better) director for each movie, has kept the movies from going stale.
Plotwise, this is the movie that strays the furthest from it's source material. Numerous details have either been changed or eliminated, and very little dialouge from the book remains intact, unlike the first movie, where most of dialouge was lifted directly from the pages of the novel. This is a good thing, in my opinion, that the movies have lost their strict adherence to the novels, since movies and books are two entirely different mediums, and what works well in one doesn't always work as well in the other.
Hogwarts the wizarding school that is attended by Harry Potter and his friends Ron and Hermione, has been selected to host a magical contest called the triwizard tournament, where one student from each school gets to compete in a series of very dangerous challenges. The three champions are Cedric Diggory for Hogwarts, Fleur Delaceur for Beuaxbottom, and Victor Krum for Durmstrang. Unexpectedly Harry Potter is entered into the contest by someone who probably wants him dead.
Since most people here probably know, (at least those who've read the books do) Lord Voldermort, the dreaded dark wizard, returns to the power he had before he tried to kill Harry Potter. In a certain irony, the climax of the movie is the part that adheres most strictly to the book, and is also the weakest part of the entire movie. The lack of tension in some of the final scenes is surprising considering the intensity with which Mike Newall directed earlier parts of the movie. Quite clearly this is a case of something working much better on the written page then on the screen.
Of the four movies so far, this is easily the fastest paced and most action orientated of the bunch, which probably is the result of trying to cram the huge novel into a two and half hour movie. As has been true of the previous entries, there is a twist, that I won't reveal here, needless to say, apearences can be deceiving.
On the acting front, we still have Rupert, Watson, and Grint. These aren't seasoned thespians, and it shows at times, but through a certain amount of charm and charisma, they have become Ron, Hermione, and Harry. It would be a shame to replace any one of them at a later date. Of the adults, few have more than a handful of lines. Those that do include Michael Gambon (Dumbledore), and newcomer Brendan Gleeson (Mad Eye Moody). Both do a very good job with the material that's given to them.
All in all, with the exception of the climax, this is the strongest entry in an already strong movie series. Well worth the trip to a movie theater.
Jeremy Redlien
The blog...
"You are not your bank account!"
- Tyler, from Fight Club
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AUTHOR OF THIS MESSAGE
The Red i
MESSAGE TIMESTAMP
22 november 2005, 17:56:34
AUTHOR'S IP LOGGED
72.227.13.126
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