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Craig Younkin
Movie Review
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
By Craig Younkin Published November 21, 2005
US Release: November 18, 2005
Directed by: Mike Newell
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe , Emma Watson , Rupert Grint , Maggie Smith
PG-13
Running Time: 157 minutes
Domestic Box Office: $290,013,036
Directed by: Mike Newell
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe , Emma Watson , Rupert Grint , Maggie Smith
PG-13
Running Time: 157 minutes
Domestic Box Office: $290,013,036
B+
In many ways the most intense film in the series so far.
As a super-fan of J.K Rowling's "Harry Potter" series, it's hard for me to look at this fourth installment as just a movie. These characters and the amazing adventures and inventions they find themselves in have been a joy to read over the years; and watching the first two movies, it was basically just like watching a book on tape. Then came the third movie, which I liked, but not as much because it felt rushed and it deviated from Rowling?s ?sacred? text. Now we have the fourth movie, which I also like, but unfortunately also feels rushed and deviates from a book that I consider an even more ?sacred? text.
Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Hermione (Emma Watson), and Ron (Rupert Grint) arrive at Hogwarts in their fourth year to discover that the school will be playing host to the tri-wizard tournament. Other wizarding schools such as Beauxbaton?s, which is an all girls school with girls so beautiful that doves fly from their graceful open arms, and Durmstrang, which is located in Bulgaria, are competing. Names are placed in the Goblet, which picks the competitors. Viktor Krum (Stanislav Ianevski) is the Durmstrang champion, Fleur Delacour (Clemence Poesy) is the Beauxbaton?s champion and Cedric Diggory (Robert Pattinson) is chosen to represent Hogwarts. Then without warning, the Goblet throws out another name, Harry Potter. This is impossible, as Harry is too young to compete. Headmaster Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) knows that this must be a mistake, but must abide by the goblet.
Harry is then tossed into the world of celebrity even more, attracting the attention of a prying reporter from ?The Daily Prophet? named Rita Skeeter (Miranda Richardson). He has even bigger problems, though. In an earlier scene, we see the re-emergence of the death eaters, Lord Voldemort?s group of evil wizards. Many of them were placed in Azkaban, following long and extensive trials. Others went into hiding. The fact that they are now back tells us that Voldemort?s return is imminent.
"Goblet of Fire" is in many ways the most intense film in the series so far. The tri-wizard tournament is broken up into three tasks. Harry must evade a fire breathing horn-tail dragon and retrieve an egg, he must save Ron from underwater mer-people, and must get through a maze that either swallows people whole or turns them crazy. And that?s not even mentioning the return of Voldemort. The movie is exciting and again adds an even darker tone to what will eventually be a continuing saga of young innocence versus dark, evil magic. The special effects in these scenes are phenomenal as always, and the movie has a nice dreary look to it that sets everything up for Voldemort?s big return.
The movie lacks the enthusiasm and spontaneity of Rowling?s writing, however. As an example, Voldemort?s return in the movie is done with very little thematic effect. Rowling gave us a slow and suspenseful build-up to him eventually coming to full form. In the movie, Voldemort is just kind of carried out, dropped into a cauldron and suddenly a very scary-looking Ralph Fiennes appears. It just feels rushed and not as pivotal. In another example, the Quidditch World cup is a beautiful looking arena filled with light. My only expression upon seeing it was ?wow,? but that only turned into a ?wha?? when the game is never actually shown on screen.
Another scene cut was Hermione?s idea for the liberation of house elves group. This was one of the book?s best comedy bits and it also shows what I love about these books so much in that even with all the magic and enchantment, the characters in this world are humanized even more by dealing with the same social problems (slavery in this case) as the regular world. Something I?m glad they didn?t cut was the Yule Ball segment, where Harry, Ron, and Hermione get their first taste of interacting with the opposite sex in a more romantic way. This is where the comedy really shines, showing the discomfort of teenage adolescence. Ron?s dance practice with Professor McGonagall (Maggie Smith) and his ruffled dress robes are hilarious bits all on their own.
And, of course, you also have to hand it to the actors in these films, especially Radcliffe. This is becoming a very challenging role, especially for an actor this young, but he is doing a great job of balancing being a kid with the much darker emotions Harry is coming to realize. Grint continues to shine as comic relief and Watson revels in ?know it all? intelligence. The rest of the cast, including Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, and Robbie Coltrane have all settled into their roles wonderfully. And even Michael Gambon, who took over for Richard Harris in the third film, is growing on me. Harris was perfect and irreplaceable but Gambon?s Dumbledore is a wild card eccentric with unmasked intelligence and sympathy as a leader. It will be interesting to see where he takes the character in coming movies.
Two new actors to the cast worth mentioning are Ralph Fiennes and Brendan Gleeson. Fiennes gives an over the top portrayal of Voldemort, hyping up the tension at every turn. Voldemort?s bald white head, colorful eyes, and slits for a nose is also a really freaky make-up effect. Gleeson goes for a much more interesting approach, though, playing his character completely different from what I expected. He plays Mad-Eye Moody, an ex-auror (the wizarding community?s version of a cop) whose days of chasing evil magicians has left him a little edgy and alcoholic. Gleeson makes Moody an intimidator and a live-wire, something that leads to several funny moments between Moody and his students.
?Goblet of Fire? is a very good movie made by skilled people, but as a super-fan I have to admit that I was disappointed by a few of the choices, especially Voldemort?s big entrance. The book had me on the edge of my seat when I read it but the movie never quite reaches that level of suspense. Here?s hoping that the producers finally do decide to turn each book into two movies. This would allow more time for the story?s elements to progress without feeling so rushed. Nonetheless, holding ?Goblet of Fire? up as an individual effort apart from Rowling?s brilliance, this is an entertaining and exciting film to the series that definitely has me panting for ?Order of the Phoenix.?
Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Hermione (Emma Watson), and Ron (Rupert Grint) arrive at Hogwarts in their fourth year to discover that the school will be playing host to the tri-wizard tournament. Other wizarding schools such as Beauxbaton?s, which is an all girls school with girls so beautiful that doves fly from their graceful open arms, and Durmstrang, which is located in Bulgaria, are competing. Names are placed in the Goblet, which picks the competitors. Viktor Krum (Stanislav Ianevski) is the Durmstrang champion, Fleur Delacour (Clemence Poesy) is the Beauxbaton?s champion and Cedric Diggory (Robert Pattinson) is chosen to represent Hogwarts. Then without warning, the Goblet throws out another name, Harry Potter. This is impossible, as Harry is too young to compete. Headmaster Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) knows that this must be a mistake, but must abide by the goblet.
Harry is then tossed into the world of celebrity even more, attracting the attention of a prying reporter from ?The Daily Prophet? named Rita Skeeter (Miranda Richardson). He has even bigger problems, though. In an earlier scene, we see the re-emergence of the death eaters, Lord Voldemort?s group of evil wizards. Many of them were placed in Azkaban, following long and extensive trials. Others went into hiding. The fact that they are now back tells us that Voldemort?s return is imminent.
"Goblet of Fire" is in many ways the most intense film in the series so far. The tri-wizard tournament is broken up into three tasks. Harry must evade a fire breathing horn-tail dragon and retrieve an egg, he must save Ron from underwater mer-people, and must get through a maze that either swallows people whole or turns them crazy. And that?s not even mentioning the return of Voldemort. The movie is exciting and again adds an even darker tone to what will eventually be a continuing saga of young innocence versus dark, evil magic. The special effects in these scenes are phenomenal as always, and the movie has a nice dreary look to it that sets everything up for Voldemort?s big return.
The movie lacks the enthusiasm and spontaneity of Rowling?s writing, however. As an example, Voldemort?s return in the movie is done with very little thematic effect. Rowling gave us a slow and suspenseful build-up to him eventually coming to full form. In the movie, Voldemort is just kind of carried out, dropped into a cauldron and suddenly a very scary-looking Ralph Fiennes appears. It just feels rushed and not as pivotal. In another example, the Quidditch World cup is a beautiful looking arena filled with light. My only expression upon seeing it was ?wow,? but that only turned into a ?wha?? when the game is never actually shown on screen.
Another scene cut was Hermione?s idea for the liberation of house elves group. This was one of the book?s best comedy bits and it also shows what I love about these books so much in that even with all the magic and enchantment, the characters in this world are humanized even more by dealing with the same social problems (slavery in this case) as the regular world. Something I?m glad they didn?t cut was the Yule Ball segment, where Harry, Ron, and Hermione get their first taste of interacting with the opposite sex in a more romantic way. This is where the comedy really shines, showing the discomfort of teenage adolescence. Ron?s dance practice with Professor McGonagall (Maggie Smith) and his ruffled dress robes are hilarious bits all on their own.
And, of course, you also have to hand it to the actors in these films, especially Radcliffe. This is becoming a very challenging role, especially for an actor this young, but he is doing a great job of balancing being a kid with the much darker emotions Harry is coming to realize. Grint continues to shine as comic relief and Watson revels in ?know it all? intelligence. The rest of the cast, including Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, and Robbie Coltrane have all settled into their roles wonderfully. And even Michael Gambon, who took over for Richard Harris in the third film, is growing on me. Harris was perfect and irreplaceable but Gambon?s Dumbledore is a wild card eccentric with unmasked intelligence and sympathy as a leader. It will be interesting to see where he takes the character in coming movies.
Two new actors to the cast worth mentioning are Ralph Fiennes and Brendan Gleeson. Fiennes gives an over the top portrayal of Voldemort, hyping up the tension at every turn. Voldemort?s bald white head, colorful eyes, and slits for a nose is also a really freaky make-up effect. Gleeson goes for a much more interesting approach, though, playing his character completely different from what I expected. He plays Mad-Eye Moody, an ex-auror (the wizarding community?s version of a cop) whose days of chasing evil magicians has left him a little edgy and alcoholic. Gleeson makes Moody an intimidator and a live-wire, something that leads to several funny moments between Moody and his students.
?Goblet of Fire? is a very good movie made by skilled people, but as a super-fan I have to admit that I was disappointed by a few of the choices, especially Voldemort?s big entrance. The book had me on the edge of my seat when I read it but the movie never quite reaches that level of suspense. Here?s hoping that the producers finally do decide to turn each book into two movies. This would allow more time for the story?s elements to progress without feeling so rushed. Nonetheless, holding ?Goblet of Fire? up as an individual effort apart from Rowling?s brilliance, this is an entertaining and exciting film to the series that definitely has me panting for ?Order of the Phoenix.?
Craig's Grade: B+
Craig's Overall Grading: 340 graded movies
| A | 10.9% | |
| B | 41.8% | |
| C | 31.8% | |
| D | 15.3% | |
| F | 0.3% |
