FILM: HARRY POTTER and THE GOBLET OF FIRE
DISTRIBUTOR: WARNER BROS.
DIRECTOR: MIKE NEWELL
PRINCIPAL CAST: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Sir Michael Gambon, Maggie Smith, Alan Rickman MPAA RATING: PG-13 For sequences of fantasy violence, and frightening imagery (and not without a little bit of language too)
RUNTIME: 2hrs, 30 mins.
Story: 5/5
Acting: 5/5
Sound: 5/5
Visuals: 5/5
Endorphin Factor: 5/5
Big Screen Experience: 5/5
Scoring system:
Average: 5/5
MOVIES IT COULD BE COMPARED TO: Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, LOTR Trilogy
DETAILS: Well....the first two films were great. The third film broke the mold of the first two, and produced a real winner. This fourth movie not only broke the mold, but rumor has it it kicked the living pogees out of the mold-maker too.
That said, this movie completely ROCKED!!!! Even if they did have to cut out half the book to make it fit the traditional runtime of 2 hours and 30 minutes. Even though I loved Goblet of Fire in its entirety as a book, I found that I did not miss certain subplots, including a major one involving Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) trying to liberate the house elves of Hogwart's.
The movie does have the same beginning as the novel, but does not contain the Dursley's (Harry's less-than-kind Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia, and the spoiled cousin, Dudley) at the beginning as did the previous three films. Instead, the film starts (after the opening scenario) with Harry and Hermione at the Burrows (where his nearly destitute friends, The Weasley's, live).
Together, they go to the Quidditch World Cup....a visually stunning set up. After an attack by the Death Eaters (minions loyal to displaced, evil Lord Voldemort) on the festivities, the story pretty much goes right to Hogwart's, where Professor Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore (beautifully played by Richard Harris' successor, Sir Michael Gambon) announces that Hogwart's will host the Tri Wizard Tournament, and host two guest schools of magic. The Beauxbatons (supposedly a charm school for magical girls.....and NO, not the Japanimation kind
), and the Proud Sons of Durmstrang, whose champion, Viktor Krum, is supposedly the world's best Quidditch Seeker.
The pacing of this movie is NEVER boring. There is always something interesting happening, and the kids (the principals who are now in their early teens) are just tackling their roles with continued vigor. Daniel Radcliffe, (who in some ways reminds me of a teenage Michael Shanks from Stargate SG-1) who plays the titular role, was at his finest in this stunning film. He runs the emotional gamut far more convincingly than he has in the last three films...and he did quite good with those too. ( I always hate it when I hear someone say "Kids can't act!" I would love to point them to this movie as an example of how to prove them wrong most viciously.)
Fred (James Phelps) and George (Oliver Phelps) Weasley were the comic relief in the film, as they were up to their usual antics, and actually got a hell of a lot more screen time than they had in previous films. (They kinda look like rockstars too,...LOL!) These two gave me (and the rest of the packed house) a LOT of laughs.
Emma Watson is blossoming into a real Hollywood darling....and she is stunning in her Yule Ball dress. As an actress, Emma has rapidly become one of my all-time favorites.
Rupert Grint, who plays Harry's best friend, Ronald Weasley, is always fun to watch.
There is so much going on in the Harry Potter universe in these films, that it is hard for all the kids, and teachers to get the screentime they deserve. I really wish they would've been able to film the story in its entirety, but as it is, the movie plays out nicely. One sequence in the film (which I knew was coming because I had read the book) had me damn near crying...it was so beautifully played.
The visual effects were simply amazing, and truly worthy of the big screen experience.
The themes of John Williams were beautifully adapted by Patrick Doyle (who also seemed to write quite a bit of his own original score for the film). And it was also nice to hear some pop-rock styled music in the form of the Weird Sisters (who are actually guys?). The music during the end credits was nice, and it even ended with a ballad from the Yule Ball "Magic Works". (Yes, I am another one of those who likes to stick around through the end credits of films I thoroughly enjoy.)
BOTTOM LINE: The Harry Potter movies (and everything about them) just keep getting better. I am anxious for the next film, The Order of the Phoenix, and I pray that the original kids will still play their respective roles. You cannot go wrong with this film, even if you are NOT a Harry Potter fan.
Respectfully,
Martok2112
Review of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (movie)
