Review
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
- Director
- Mike Newell
- Year
- 2005
- Rating
- Reviewed by
- Gon Curiel a.k.a. Groucho
- Review date
- Tuesday, February 20, 2007
This one deals with Potter’s (Daniel Radcliffe) fourth year at Hogwarts. The boy, now 14, is cheated into being chosen for the legendary tri-wizard tournament, which is as exciting as it’s deadly. He couldn’t have been chosen by the magical goblet of fire, first because he’s underage and second because he didn’t apply. But there’s no way of turning back now and he’s on for the game. In the way, the boy is envied by friends (including Ron (Rupert Grint)), ridiculed by schoolmates, and disrespected by other contestants. These include Viktor Krum (Stanislav Ianevski), Fleur Delacour (Clémence Poésy), and Cedric Diggory (Robert Pattinson), the “official” goblet’s selection from Hogwarts.
There’s a lot of subplots going on at the same time – not as many as there’s in the book, which is ridiculously long mind you – but the film weaves them admirably. Besides the contest, there’s romance—notably Harry falling for a cute girl called Cho Chang (Katie Leung), as well as Hermione’s (Emma Watson) coming-of-age and the unraveling of her feelings towards clueless Ron (Rubert Grint)—, the appearance of terrifying “Death Eaters” (Voldemort’s servants of evil), Harry’s bad dreams about a decrepit Voldemort and his evil plans, and the introduction of new and (as usual) colorful characters such as Barty Crouch (Roger Lloyd-Pack) and Alastor ‘Mad-Eye’ Moody (Brendan Gleeson), as well as the return of well-known ones like suspicious Lucius Malfoy (Jason Isaacs), strict Severus Snape (Alan Rickman), kind Minerva McGonagall (Maggie Smith), and of course wise Albus Dumbledore (Michael Gambon), just to name a few.
Wow, this film does have A LOT of threads! You only come to realize that when thinking back. Steven Kloves’ adaptation of the book is again very impressive in conveying a piece that combines so many subplots and still doesn’t disappoint as a movie experience. To be fair though, this one’s more episodic than the previous entry, and some segments seem too long and not very consequential in what concerns the main story. The same as the book, I felt an unnecessary overlength here and wished some parts were trimmed (even though I daresay more than half the book was skipped!). Yet, the main interest is never lost and everything that’s added here and there contributes to the magical world we’re easily immersed in. Everything works out as well thanks to the visual effects, constantly impressive and surprisingly combined with the storytelling to an extent that one depends on the other but they work together seamlessly.
This film is also notable for the cameo of a renowned actor playing a very important role towards the end.
The rest of the performances are as good. The whole cast works wonderfully as an ensemble and the kids keep getting better, especially Radcliffe, who was mildly wooden the first and second films and he’s now Potter himself. The other two (Watson and Grint) are outstanding as usual, and their understanding of their characters is unbelievably natural. Gambon is given a lot of juicy material this time and he does it very well, though the question of how Richard Harris would’ve done it is more than a little haunting.
John Williams’ score is sorely missed, replaced by a more serious but not-by-far-as-haunting one by Patrick Doyle. The sense of awe is intact however, and so is, I’m glad to say, the sense of humor. I found myself laughing often, always a welcome reaction. I think the film’s 157 minutes running time is, as I said, too much, but to be fair it’s a fun trip all the way, so who cares! That’s the film’s greatest asset, I think… That despite its few flaws and lulls, it manages to entertain like any great movie.
“How lies have fed your legend, Harry!”
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Review
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
- Director
- Mike Newell
- Year
- 2005
- Rating
- Reviewed by
- José Ruiloba a.k.a. Morris
- Review date
- Monday, December 12, 2005
This year Hogwarts is host of the Triwizard Tournament, a legendary championship between the three main wizard schools in the world. Three champions are chosen by the goblet of fire: Cedric Diggory (Robert Pattinson) for Hogwarts, Fleur Delacour (Clémence Poésy) for Beauxbaton and Viktor Krum (Stanislav Ianevski) for Durmstrang to participate in three contests which will give the winner eternal glory. Yet a last name makes an unexpected entrance: Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe). An evil scheme is clearly behind this naming, maybe even having to do with a dream Harry had about Lord Voldemort and his plans to finally get at him this year. Harry and his friends Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson) will then have to find a way to keep Harry alive, while hormones start kicking in.
Steven Kloves was given the task once again of adapting the longest existing Harry Potter book into a doable screenplay. Fans of the book will notice that a lot of meaty stuff was left out, but I personally think Kloves did a fantastic job in cramming so much (it is a very dense and convoluted movie as it is) and having everything make sense at the end. Watch closely and you’ll realize there’s not one unimportant scene, for even the most meaningless piece of dialogue or situation will have something to do later on in the movie.
For the curious, here are some of the things left out: an entire subplot involving Hermione, Dobby and a liberation front for house-elves; a lot of emotional scenes involving Mrs. Weasley; a much longer unleashing of events during the Quidditch World Cup and what really happens when someone unleashes the Death Eaters sign; a much longer third task, which also involves giant and menacing creatures inside the maze; a back-story of Hagrid and his origins as a giant, a race widely considered as utterly savage; a more detailed back-story of Neville and how he came to live with his grandmother after his parents were murdered; an entire subplot regarding a reporter who was murdered for evil purposes; and a lot more prominence in subplots regarding Ron’s older brothers Percy and Charlie.
Much has been said about the darkness of this installment, but still I was surprised when I saw the movie and realized how literally dark it is. Judging from this movie, Hogwarts is just not fun at all anymore! It must be a burden to be Harry, actually, but fortunately we know things haven’t been always like this. There’s actually a lighter section involving the Yule Ball, a dance for which all students must choose a partner, which actually is my favorite bit in the movie (it shows the kids are growing up with all the awkwardness inherent of puberty). But even then Harry goes through hell! And the final sequence in the cemetery is appropriately scary. I was afraid they wouldn’t nail it, but I’m happy to say that even though it doesn’t match the horrifying vibe that reading the book and using your imagination gives you, it is as well done as a visual media could give you.
Sporadic scenes I enjoyed include Harry asking Cho for the ball, Ron dancing with Mrs. McGonagall, Harry and his encounter with the delightful Moaning Myrtle in the bath, the corny entrance of the Beauxbaton students to the common room, the impressive ship which the Durmstrang students use to travel, every scene involving Hagrid and Madame Maxime, as well as those involving Ron and Hermione fighting and realizing they may just like each other.
Casting-wise, the movie does a splendid job. All the usual suspects are back. I still don’t like Daniel Radcliffe that much, but he’s Harry and I wouldn’t have anyone else in the role at this point. Rupert Grint and Emma Watson are delightful. Michael Gambon is back as Dumbledore, with more screen-time yet a less playful attitude. Alan Rickman and Maggie Smith continue to amaze me as to how perfect their casting was; I just love them in their parts. They both have a couple of scenes in which they shine, but unfortunately not much character interaction overall. Brendan Gleeson is a new addition as Professor Mad-Eye Moody and he’s excellent, creating a wonderfully wacky character. Only his scene at the classroom felt a little off to me. Another great casting choice was Katie Leung as Cho Chang. Can’t wait to see more of her in the next installment! The three champions, Pattinson, Poésy and Ianevski, are spot-on, as is Miranda Richardson as nosy reporter Rita Skeeter. And last but not least, Ralph Fiennes, who commands the screen and leaves an indelible impression.
As for the technical side of the movie, I missed John Williams’ more grandeur work, but Patrick Doyle does a good enough job. Roger Pratt’s cinematography is another character in the movie altogether, having a prominent role to play in the movie’s tone. The production design and costumes are top-notch as always, although the movie is less stylish than the third installment, something I did miss. And British director Mike Newell should be congratulated for successfully taking the reigns of the franchise and delivering such a strong film. Small quibbles aside, he’s good, and the movie speaks for itself.
I usually end a review with a quote from the movie itself, but this time I’ll do something half-different: the following quote is from fellow critic Roger Ebert, for he put masterfully into words something I also felt while watching the movie...
“Well into Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Albus Dumbledore intones as only he can: ‘Dark and difficult times lie ahead.’ What does he think lay behind?”
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