But don't worry, there's plenty of wizardry and action in Goblet of Fire. When the deadly Triwizard Tournament is hosted by Hogwarts, Harry finds his name mysteriously submitted (and chosen) to compete against wizards from two neighboring academies, as well as another Hogwarts student. The competition scenes are magnificently shot, with much-improved CGI effects (particularly the underwater challenge). And the climactic confrontation with Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes, in a brilliant bit of casting) is the most thrilling yet. Goblet, the first installment to get a PG-13 rating, contains some violence as well as disturbing images for kids and some barely shrouded references at sexual awakening (Harry's bath scene in particular). The 2 1/2-hour film, lean considering it came from a 734-page book, trims out subplots about house-elves (they're not missed) and gives little screen time to the standard crew of the other Potter films, but adds in more of Britain's finest actors to the cast, such as Brendan Gleeson as Mad-Eye Moody and Miranda Richardson as Rita Skeeter. Michael Gambon, in his second round as Professor Dumbledore, still hasn't brought audiences around to his interpretation of the role he took over after Richard Harris died, but it's a small smudge in an otherwise spotless adaptation. --Ellen A. Kim
I was fortunate enough to see this film on its opening day of November 18, 2005, and to this day, five years on, I still think it is one of the best out of all the films and my favorite movie out of the whole series. As a humongous fan of the books and the first two films, I wasn't going to miss seeing this one, and was given a pleasant surprise upon discovering how good it was.
It's no easy feat adapting a hulking 734-page novel to a workable two-and-a-half-hour production that doesn't lag nor run by too quickly and feel rushed, but the filmmakers did a splendid job in balancing things out so you don't feel as if the whole thing has been butchered. It keeps moving, but does not go at such a break-neck speed as films five and six do that there isn't time to relax and enjoy things like the music, the scenery, or the more intimate interactions between characters.
Obviously, with a book that large, you're going to have to cut out something, and I for one feel that the proper choices were made in doing away with several rather pointless sub-plots (Hermione's S.P.E.W initiative, for example, which I was glad was cut because it made her seem a little childish and annoying; or the inclusion of Ludo Bagman, which made the it longer than it should have been) to cut out some time. Even with cuts, it stays surprisingly faithful, so it won't disappoint fans, and it successfully retains the novel's spirit while also managing to remake itself into a film that flows nicely and may even rival the book.
Nothing can be entirely flawless, but "Goblet" comes close. Everything was done right, from the pacing to the casting to the music to the directorial decision. In short, one couldn't ask for a better film. The director, Mike Newell, as well as the screenwriter Steven Kloves, really chose to emphasize the real feeling of a British boarding school, as well as increase the drama of the darkness concerning Voldemort's return to power. The TriWizard Tournament is expanded to heroic proportions, and is one-hundred times more exciting than what was originally written, which makes watching this film even more interesting to anyone who is already familiar with the book.
The visual look of the film is amazing, and even better than what I could have imagined. Hogwarts has this golden glow to it, and feels incredibly warm and cozy, the kind of place you always imagined it to be, but up till this point had never seen before in any of the previous films. The cinematography is beautiful, and the special effects are perhaps the most effective we've seen in any of the films.
The music Patrick Doyle has written is breathtaking. With this score, he's created another gem. It is right up there with John Williams in the magic department, but is more tuneful and romantic. Let's just say you might be humming the songs right out of the theatre.
As far as acting goes, everyone, the adult actors included, are better than ever. After five years, everyone seems to have really slipped imperceptibly into their characters, so that it's difficult to separate the performance from the reality. The younger actors, particularly the three main stars, have really improved in the capabilities, and give astounding performances that are filled with insight and pathos.
Daniel Radcliffe especially has come a long way from the wide-eyed little 11-year-old he was when the series started. I thought his performance in "The Prisoner of Azkaban" was a little stilted and lacking, even in comparison with the first two films, in which he was very good. Here, he brings a sensitivity and courageousness to Harry that even J.K. Rowling hasn't been able to put across as well. Harry still has his flaws, but he is easier to relate to. He is also a bit smarter, which was a great improvement; he's too dull in the books and gets on your nerves after a while because of his sheer stupidity!
Ralph Fiennes gives a chilling performance as Lord Voldemort, and if you aren't as creeped out as I was seeing him in full regalia, then you'd better go back and watch the scene in the graveyard a few more times.
There is absolutely nothing I can find that I didn't like about this film, except the inclusion of the heavy rock numbers during the Yule Ball scenes (I found them terribly out of place, even though the Weird Sisters band were included in the novel; but then again, I'm not one of those people who enjoys that sort of music), but aside from that, everything else was perfect, and I highly recommend this film.
Did anyone else notice some deeply imbedded cultural stereotypes? - Igor Biryukov - New Haven, CT
This is the only Harry Potter film with an "international" twist. Watching and analyzing the film we can get insights on how the English-speaking world relate to the other three great European cultures - the German, the Russian and the French. While the French in the movie are not disguised, the German and the Russian cultures are "magically" fused into one - they are thinly veiled as the Bulgarians of the Durmstrang Institute. I am referring to the central event of the movie - the so-called Triwizard Tournament which is a magical contest between the wizarding schools of Europe - the Hogwarts, the Durmstrang Institute of "the North", and Beauxbatons Academy of Magic.
The Beauxbatons Academy of Magic represents the Francophone culture in the Harry Potter Universe. They have a soft touch and a certain "je ne sais quoi". Their Headmaster is Madame Maxime is very tall and looks vaguely like Charles de Gaulle. The name "Beaux bâtons" is French for "beautiful wands". But with the other school - the Durmstrang Institute - things are more complicated.
The name indicates "Sturm und Drang", a German term for "emotional turmoil", a codeword for the German romanticism. The students are all boys with military-style buzzcut, apparently meaning to represent the Prussian militarism during Word War I. The names like Viktor Krum are Germanic. Bur their headmaster's name Igor Karkaroff is undoubtedly Russian. He is portrayed as an unpleasant and brutish character with bad teeth looking like someone who just walked out the "Ivan the Terrible" movie try-outs for the mad Tsar Ivan. The Prussians and Russians are fused together in an unpleasant cocktail.
The Durmstrang's coat of arms features a double headed eagle, indicating that the school may be located in the Russian or Austro-Hungarian Empire. Victor Krum attended the "Yule Ball" with Hermione Granger looking like the young Wilhelm II wearing the Austrian hussar regiment uniform. Kaiser Wilhelm's middle name was Viktor, by the way.
We are shown how the "Anglo-Saxons" successfully compete with other cultures. How they do it? Well, with their honesty, pragmatism, and principle of "fair-play" boosted by Harry Potter magical powers. They overcome the "la finesse" of the South and "la ruse" of the Northerners - the Russo-Germans. They triumphed because the others are lacking some ingredient or another (for example, intelligence). It's all "de bonne guerre", good fun, and "Karkaroff" is a clever though nonsensical name for a Russian ("Kar-Kar" is a sound made by "Russian" crows, as opposite to "Caw-Caw" in the English-speaking countries). But stereotypes are easily discernable. You ask, so what? My point is that the ideology, which goes hand in glove with cultural stereotypes, is everywhere. Even in movies for kids.
Deatheaters and *gasp* Dates! - Kona - Emerald City
Now in his fourth year at school, Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) becomes unwittingly involved in the infamous "Tri-Wizard Tournament," wherein champions from Hogwarts and two visiting wizard schools face frightening challenges in the hope of winning eternal glory. With help from his buddies Ron and Hermione, Harry battles dragons, survives underwater, and faces a terrifying maze. Equally scary for him: He must choose a date for the Yule Ball. He has his eyes on the lovely Cho Chang but is too shy to ask her. Lord Voldemort and his Deatheaters play a prominent part in this installment as Harry faces a life and death duel.
The movie is very well written and the acting is good, too. The three kids are now playing 14-year olds and are showing a greater range of emotions. There is much humor when it comes to dealing with the opposite sex, a talent the usually capable Harry seems to lack. Watching the three at the Yule Ball is sweet and awful, as these things tend to be at that age.
The soundtrack and special effects are wonderful as usual and the suspenseful story is acceptable and enjoyable for children over eight as well as older audiences. If you're a Potter fan, you're sure to enjoy "Goblet of Fire." This is the best of the series so far and definitely lives up to all expectations.
How is the an ultimate edition if NO EXTENDED version?!? - klovess -
Like many of you who purchased the first two ultimate editions at a pretty penny, i was expecting extended editions of movies 3 and 4. What a disappointment! Were the big wigs at WB thinking that their fans would triple dip editions when they bring out all films in one super ultimate collection? I already owned all of the HP on Blu, but sold them when i started buying the Ultimate editions. I will NOT be purchasing 3 and 4. Very poor on WB's part to say its ultimate, and include 8 hours of bonus materials, but not the few extra scenes that regularly show on TV. Very poor indeed.
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