Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Directed by Mike Newell
Starring Daniel Radcillfe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Michael Gambon, Robbie Coltrane, Maggie Smith, Gary Oldman, Alan Rickman, Brendan Gleeson, and Ralph Fiennes.
So, I haven’t read them Harry Potter books yet, but when the first film was being made about 4 or 5 years ago, I started following its development online. This was also around the time that Goblet of Fire was originally published. Naturally, everyone was wondering about this fourth book. At over 600 pages, many felt that it was too long to be a kids book, let alone adapted into a major feature film. Many people – even Harry Potter screenwriter Steve Kloves – lobbied that Goblet of Fire be cut in half and made into two films. But, the studio said one book, one film. And now, here we are, four years later, and we see if Goblet of Fire could indeed be adapted as a single movie.
It looks like things are finally looking up for Harry Potter. For this summer, he’s managed to ditch his muggle aunt and uncle and he’s hanging out with Ron Weasly and Hermione Granger. They’re off to see the Quidditch world cup. It looks like a great summer, but…. The World Cup is busted up and brought to a halt by the Death Eaters, the followers of Lord Voldemort. That starts off the fourth year at Hogwarts on a rather ominous tone. But, soon, it’s replaced by revelry, as Hogwarts is host to the Tri Wizards Tournament, a tournament between Hogwarts and two rival schools where the winner will be promised eternal glory, and the losers will most likely die. (Not to different from most high school sports.) Everyone who wants to enter the tournament is to drop their names in the Goblet of Fire, and at the appointed time, the names of the three entrants will be spit out. But, something odd happens. The Goblet spits out a fourth name…Harry Potter. The race is now on for Harry to survive the tournament. And, along the way, he gets help from the newest Defense against the Dark Arts teacher, Mad Eye Moody. Can Harry survive the tournament? Will he still have his friends afterwards? What does all this have to do with Voldemort? And throw in some healthy doses of teen angst.
Very fine movie! That’s all I can say. Probably, the most unique aspect of this film is throwing in the teen angst. The whole mid-section revolves around a school dance, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione’s typical teenage problems that come with a first dance. It really adds a new dimension to these characters, and really hammers home the fact that these kids are growing up. Oh, but don’t worry. There’s still lots of nifty special effects and things blow up real good. But the characters come first, and that’s always good. I’m more interested than ever to read the books now. I know that they had to cut a lot, but exactly what was cut…well, I need to know.
3.5 Nibs
