|
Movie Review - Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
|
|
|
|
|
(What this rating means)
|
|
| |
|
| Director: |
Mike Newell |
| Starring: |
Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, and Ralph Fiennes |
| Rated: |
PG-13 (for sequences of fantasy violence and frightening images) |
| Length: |
157 minutes |
| Genre: |
Adventure/Fantasy |
| Tagline: |
Difficult times lie ahead, Harry. |
| Studio: |
Warner Bros. |
| Website: |
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire |
| Release: |
November 18, 2005 |
|
PLOT
|
Professor Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) announces that Hogwarts will host the Triwizard Tournament, a
competition that affords the wizarding community the opportunity to display its magical skills. The three
largest wizarding schools each send one competitor. The goal? Win the Triwizard Cup. The press notes
tell us that it's quite coveted, so I shall take their word for it.
Despite the fact that Harry Potter is three years too young to enter the competition and Hogwarts already
has a representative, the Goblet of Fire spits out his name. Young Harry uses bird-like squawks to indicate
that he didn't enter his name nor does he have any desire to compete. However, much like NASA's opinion on
failure, defying the Goblet is not an option.
Who enters Harry's name, and why? Does someone wish danger upon the lad? My constant dozing off serves as
proof that I didn't much care, but fans of the series certainly will. More power to you. Another really
long Harry Potter movie ensues.
|
|
JOHNNY'S TAKE
|
"Come on Potter, what are your strengths?"
When Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody, the eccentric new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, poses this question to
young Harry, the young wizard's silence tells the viewer all he needs to know. "Neither acting nor an
ability to display depth or emotion," would have been the honest answer, but Harry's an uncommunicative
type. He's scared and more than a little vulnerable. Fans spanning the universe love this about J.K.
Rowling's hero.
Given the fact that despite reaching the ripe old age of 14, Harry Potter's onslaught of puberty fails to help
him resemble anything other than Rachel Dratch's lesbian sister, it makes sense not to portray Harry as a
tough guy who instinctively knows how to take care of business. However, my movie tastes are tailored in
such a way that I find it hard to root for the little dork. Give me a hero carved in the Han Solo and Clint
Eastwood mold.
It may have been easier to accept Potter as a non-traditional hero had he not removed his shirt. Sure, a
gaggle of teenage girls in the audience "ooh-ed," but the fact that Radcliffe's pasty white chest is
sculpted with the musculature of a hummingbird only strengthened my opinion that he's not the type of
"hero" I love to cheer.
Now don't get me wrong; I'm not claiming this is a bad movie. It accomplishes exactly what it sets out to
accomplish. The Harry Potter series just doesn't do it for me. My friends tell me that if I read the books
and watch all the movies in context then I might appreciate everything more, but I don't really buy into that
line of thinking. I have neither the time nor the inclination to start reading the books, so I'm
more than happy to step aside and let the fans enjoy these movies to the fullest.
I will admit that there are moments that I enjoyed. "Mad-Eye" Moody (whose eye is indeed mad and funny to
boot) and his irreverent brand of tough love causes a healthy chuckle when he transfigures a bratty student
into a ferret. And the scene where Harry must fight a Hungarian Horntail dragon in an arena carved into
the rocky Scottish landscape is a visual treat.
However, none of these was enough to keep me from rolling my eyes as we watch Harry and his friends stumble
awkwardly into puberty. If you've been dying to watch the ever-annoying and always dumb-founded Ron
and Hermione acknowledge a change in their feelings for each other, and if your idea of "cute" is watching
Harry Potter dance badly then you will enjoy this much more than I did. Just try not to be creeped out
when Hermione's date to the Yule Ball is the 30-year-old Viktor Krum. What in the world?
Another scene I enjoyed was Voldemort's return to human form. The screen oozes atmosphere, but alas,
it ends way too soon. It has been 13 years since Voldemort killed Potter's parents and he's been
working very hard to regain his power. Couldn't he have had a few more minutes of screen time?
However, if he knew he'd return in the form of Michael Jackson then he probably would've opted out.
Look at his nose. You'll see what I mean.
So what are Potter's strengths? He knows how to please his target audience. He won't win many new
converts, but this 4th installment in the series will make an insane amount of money, it will send
the majority of its fanbase home smiling, and J.K. Rowling will continue to wipe sweat from her brow
with $100 bills (or whatever the British equivalent is) while not losing a single wink of sleep because
of Johnny Betts and his little jokes.
|
|
ODDS & ENDS
|
- Director Newell refuses to reveal how Moody's mechanical eye was created. He says such a revelation would
take away the magic. I say he's just too lazy to go into technical detail.
- Although the Horntail dragon was mostly computer generated, a 40 foot long animatronic beast with a fully
operational flamethrower (it has a range of 30 feet!) was built.
- A water tank measuring 20 feet deep by 60 feet square was used for Black Lake.
- Daniel Radcliffe spent a total of 41 hours and 38 minutes under water over a three week period of filming.
One dive alone lasted 75 minutes.
- Over 300 costumes were prepared for the Yule Ball.
- A team of 100 dressmakers and wardrobe artists handmade the girls' dresses.
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is being released in IMAX theatres worldwide.
- Azkaban grossed $14 million worldwide in IMAX box office.
- Daniel Radcliffe was in The Tailor of Panama with Geoffrey Rush who was in Mystery Men with Ben
Stiller who was in Flirting with Disaster with Josh Brolin who was in Hollow Man with Kevin Bacon.
|
|
MAMA'S APPROVAL
|
I suppose this might be a little scary for the really young kids. There are times when the atmosphere is
a bit dark, and one character cuts his hand off. There are also a few instances of language that parents
might not want their children repeating ("p*ss," "bloody hell").
|
|
TRAILER COMPARISON
|
Did you like the trailer? You'll love the movie.
|
|
THE GIST
|
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire gives its fans exactly what they want. However, if the series
hasn't impressed you thus far then this latest installment most likely won't change that.
|
|
