Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

—1. Overview (multimedia)
—2. Overview Basic (dial up speed)
—3. Reviews and Blogs
—4. Cast and Crew
—5. Photo Pages
—6. Trailers, Clips, DVDs, Books, Soundtrack
—7. Posters
—8. Production Notes (pdf)
—9. Spiritual Connections
—10. Presentation Downloads

Harry Potter fans will be happy to hear that the new film, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is the best film in the series so far and offers a faithful interpretation of the book without trying to cram in every last detail. Likewise, critics of Harry Potter will be happy to know that the new film has plenty of magic and wizardry, some of it quite dark, to help fuel their continued criticism and animosity for the series. Regardless of one’s feelings for the subject matter, this is a well made film that is technically and artistically accomplished, and entertaining as well.

While many have already made mention of the fact that this Potter movie is the darkest one so far with it’s PG-13 rating, a first for the series, I found it interesting that it was also the funniest thus far. I honestly don’t remember laughing so much during the first three Potter films. Now this isn’t to say that this film is a farce or a comedy, but it has many delightful moments that help balance the darker, brooding tone the permeates much of the film. Most of the comedy comes from the main characters new found discovery of the opposite sex (they are fourteen by this point, after all.) There were some points that the audience was laughing so loud that I couldn’t hear how the dialogue on screen continued, meaning, I suppose, I’ll have to view it again once it’s on DVD to catch the parts I missed. In fact, it’s these more light-hearted, comedic parts that I think first-time Potter director Mike Newell handled the best, which should come as no surprise as he was also the director of Four Weddings and a Funeral. Some of the action sequences seemed a bit contrived and stretched out for no particular reason, and some of the darker, scarier moments, while handled well, still seemed like they took more effort than the lighter moments. There were times where it felt like you were watching two completely different movies with two completely different tones. In one scene you’re laughing uproariously at some antic, in the next you’re supposed to feel tension and dread, but there isn’t any real transition between the two. However, for those of you who have read the book, let me put to rest any fears about the ending; it’s just as scary, intense and dreadful as you would expect, and just as in the book, it’s the satisfying and shocking payoff for the entire adventure.

One thing that I was disappointed about being left out from the movie was a theme that I found very fascinating in the book. At the end of the book, there’s a lot of exposition given to the fact that the Ministry of Magic doesn’t want anyone to know that Harry saw Lord Voldemort return. They go to great lengths to ignore and pretend that such thing couldn’t, and in fact, didn’t happen. Of course Dumbledore recognizes the danger of not letting people know of the threat that has returned, and the tension between the Ministry and Dumbledore sets up a lot of what happens in the next story. I wish this had been explored more in the movie because so many people react to evil in the same way, they’d rather ignore it and pretend that it isn’t there. Why? Because that’s so much easier and more comfortable to do than to have to actually confront or do anything about Evil. Unfortunately, such wishful thinking only ends up causing trouble and pain. Eventually, everyone will see their very real need for someone to save them from the sin and Evil of this world, but the question is; will they realize that need in time, or will they ignore it until it’s too late? The movie only briefly touches on the fact that the Ministry of Magic doesn’t want anyone to know or believe that Voldemort has returned, and of all the things left out of the movie, that was the only one I really felt should have been included. The movie also touches on themes such as the power of sacrificial love and the importance of having friends that will stand with you even in the darkest of times. I’ve always appreciated how in the books and movies Harry, Ron and Hermione have always stuck together and helped each other out. Sure they’ve had their spats, but when things turn dark and dangerous, they’ve always been there for each other; and important quality to celebrate in friendship as opposed to just knowing people who like to hang out the mall.

One of the fun parts about the movies is that we’ve not only been able to see the characters mature in age, but all three have matured in ability as well. Daniel Radcliffe adds some weight to his performance as Harry Potter; especially necessary considering the darker tone to this story. I was also pleased to fined myself much less annoyed at Rupert Grint’s portrayal of Ron Weasley. His first couple outings as this character were basically just him whining and looking scared or dumfounded...all the time. This time around, his character was actually quite entertaining. Of course the strongest performance in this group has always come from Emma Watson as Hermione Granger. She once again does an extremely competent job, and handles the blossoming maturity of her character quite gracefully. Brendan Gleeson steals several scenes as Mad-Eye Moody, bringing his character to life almost exactly they way I had pictured him while reading the book. The rest of the cast continue their excellent jobs as well, with Ralph Fiennes giving a unique flair to Lord Voldemort and Maggie Smith in some golden moments as Professor McGonagall.

Harry Potter is one of those movies where all the elements have to come together just right in order to truly be successful, and this fourth film had most of those elements combine perfectly. From direction to special effects to performances to the brisk pacing of the story, this isn’t a book on film like the first two Potter movies tried to be, this is an excellent interpretation of a beloved novel. Most people chose sides in the Harry Potter controversy several years ago, and this new movie won’t do anything to change anyone’s mind. If you’re a fan of Harry Potter, you’ll find a fun adventure in store for you with the characters you’ve grown to love supported by some competent directing, strong performances, and excellent special effects. If you’re not a fan, you’ll find plenty here to continue your dislike for the series, especially because of some of the darker elements. If you’re some where in between and aren’t very familiar with either side of the Potter debate, you’ll discover Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire to be a fun, entertaining adventure that makes for a good time for a night out at the movies. One thing’s for sure, if you think that the who Pottermania craze has died down, the $101.4 million opening weekend - the fourth-best opening weekend of all time - shows that like him or not, Harry Potter is here to stay.

Overview