Loading ...Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Every once in awhile I do a movie review. It has been quite some time since I have. So here it is.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
I have always liked the Harry Potter movies. I can’t say that I have read the books. I know my brother swears by them though. Or at least he used to. It could be that he is just trying to promote them since he is the assistant manager of a Barnes and Noble.
Anyway…
I haven’t read the book. I am just not that interested in the Harry Potter books so we won’t be discussing how well it follows the book or where it diverted. Nothing like that. I just want to give a good review of the movie from an unbiased source.
I have to tell you up front, I knew nothing about this movie going into it. I hadn’t seen the commercials or anything. Don’t watch Television all that much.
The actors have certainly gotten much older. I’m not sure how much longer they can continue with the movie if they are all supposed to be school age. It is almost to the point where it isn’t belieable that they are still in school. At least that age. I do find it rather difficult to believe that they are supposed to be 14.
The movie itself was good. The graphics and effects used make the movie quite believable. The plot seemed kinda thin though.
You can see the development of several characters this time around. They are maturing. Finding out that they really kind of like each other but are supposed to be at that awkward age where they are afraid to ask. This seems to be one of the plotlines throughout the movie.
The Goblet of Fire is a competition. The major plotline uses this. While the idea is great and the movie follows it quite well, it seemed to be lacking in substance. The major points are not well defined. Not all of the characters as shown in each competition. I’m sure that was done on purpose but I kinda like dragons. I would have liked to see more on those. I was not real happy with how Harry completed the Dragon portion of the competition.
The groups in the competion were sort of extreme as well. One was from Bulgaria. They were all boys and were very militant. The other was from France. They were all girls and were waif like. Hogwarts was protrayed as the diverse group.
It was obvious from the beginning which were going to do better than others. Almost predictable. I just couldn’t say where it would happen.
The movie concluded without much of a bang. It just kind of ended. Nothing was resolved. The wizards cup wasn’t awarded to anyone. Information that Harry learned wasn’t shared. The bad guys weren’t captured. No fanfare in the end. Just promises to write every week by the three main characters.
Overall, the movie was good. Since it didn’t leave me satisfied at the end though, I will have to give it a Matinee Rating. Go to the Matinee. Save just a little bit of money. It isn’t worth full price in my opinion.
November 27th, 2005 at 7:08 pm
Just to let you know, you get awfully lost if you don’t read the books. (Not saying I told you so, I’m saying these points should be made within the movie. Many people haven’t read the book) Its intresting to hear how someone who hasn’t read the book reacts to the movie.
For the schools, Its supposed to be that way. Beauxbatons is a school for highly talented and intelligent girls, and well Durmstrang is for the richer, and talented Boys. Fleur and Krum are the best of their classes, so Its more showing that they’re important, rather than the obviously to be chosen. Unless, WB is making stupid mistakes . . . again.
As to the Dragons: they were amazingly accurate, and many HP fans are highily happy with this, but with the “Accio Firebolt” . . .
There is a scene in the book in which Harry goes to Hermione with the dragon problem and she tells him to use the summoning charm–no one knows about this charm yet. Its a mistake that they didn’t make it longer and put more scenes in. They could’ve done intermission. But they do have a budget.
However, I know for a fact that there will be a few deleted scenes, so renting (if not buying) the DVD to get some more info (unless of course they’re empty headed scenes) would be highly suggested. And if you’d have read the books (which I highly recommend) You’d know that this is the best they’ve stuck to the book. They left alot out–but they stuck to it.
Erm, this has turned into more of a review of my own, sorry, I just wanted to comment. I got carried away.
Just out of curiosity, did you feel sad at the end when the major point of the story happened with Cedric?
Elda
(from LoGD)
November 27th, 2005 at 7:33 pm
The comments about the schools is actually more directed at the way that the book is written. I know that it probably is supposed to be that way but it seems a bit strange to see something like this appear in a movie.
I actually have several of the books. I just could never get into reading them. And I love to read. Don’t know what it is about that particular author that just doesn’t turn me on.
I’ve been very happy with how the movies turned out though most of them have left me wanting a bit more(probably by design). But this was the worst one for endings that I’ve seen yet.
I do like how they tied in from the last movie as well. That did turn out pretty good.
I’ll be anxiously waiting the DVD for certain. The kids will kill me if I didn’t get it.
Not sure how they are going to do the next movie. The actors are starting to show their age.
Yes, it was quite sad but I wanted to leave that out for the review. Just in case those hadn’t seen it read the review. Hopefully they won’t read the comments
January 1st, 2006 at 10:29 pm
I have read all the books and seen all the movies so far. From what I noticed on the fourth book, they did not stick to the book as well as the first three. The two schools had boys and girls attending, even though it was more evident that Beauxbauton’s was geared more for the girls and Durmstang’s for boys. Also, there was a lot more cut out than ever, which left even those who have not read the books wanting more.
I’m an avid fan of Harry Potter, and I have all six books in the American and Children British versions. There are two versions in British for Adults and Children, and I’m working on getting the adult version of the first five.
I’ll give a big example of what was evidently wrong at the beginning of the movie: There was no mention of Ludo Bagman anywhere!! That altered where Harry, Hermione and the Weasleys were sitting…as well as Harry’s dreams and how Bart Jr. got the wand to make the Dark Mark. It also got rid of the whole Elf Liberation Front with Hermione. Granted, that, in and of itself wasn’t necessary, but Dobby should have still been in to give Harry the Gillyweed as well as to introduce the girl house-elf that Dobby helps later in book 5 and gives Harry the clue to finding the Room of Requirement (and if you haven’t read the books, you won’t know what that’s about until the next film).
Just my two cents…and I have more if you want them all.
Sasha
(from LOGD)