showtime.fxzone.netHarry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Grade: 3.5/5 stars
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Ralph Fiennes
Directed by: Mike Newell
Now playing at: Esquire, Galleria 6
It must be hard to make a movie like Harry Potter. You are expected to be true to the original work, to remain consistent with the previous movies and also to create a vision that is your own. Director Mike Newell (“Four Weddings and a Funeral”) picks up where Alfonso Cuar¢n left off, creating a darker version of the Harry Potter world than the earlier Chris Columbus movies portrayed.
The movie follows book’s plot relatively closely, so Potter-heads out there should be pleased. The fourth year at Hogwarts brings the Tri-Wizard Tournament, a competition for three older students from three different wizarding schools. One of the schools is Eastern European and all-male and the other is French and all-female – and that simple explanation is essentially all the character development attached to the members of these schools. The tournament presents a series of progressively challenging tasks, where death is a very real possibility for the unprepared participant. Harry is under the age limit but is mysteriously entered into the tournament (of course).
The source material for “Goblet of Fire” is the longest and darkest of the Potter books yet converted, but the movie is neither the longest nor the darkest. The movie is approximately the same length as the others, but it feels much more rushed. Major characters are given less background information than pieces of chocolate were given in the first movie. This is all the more shameful because several new characters are forced to make the ultimate sacrifice, and the audience spends more time wondering who the person is and why they should care as opposed to actually feeling for the characters.
Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint all do wonderful jobs, and they seem to have grown up comfortably with the roles. God only knows if they will ever be able to outlive their Harry Potter characters, but at least they will never have to be embarrassed by their past. Harry Potter newcomer Brendan Gleeson does a good job as “Mad-Eye” Moody, the newest in a long line of Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers, although he, like so many others in this film, is not given adequate screen time.
The movie is certainly enjoyable, coming close to the great heights of “Prisoner of Azkaban.” The only real complaint is that it just feels far too rushed. Two and a half hours to cover 800 pages is just not enough – an extra half hour could have done so much to support all of the new characters and show all of the action that was only hinted at. It might be unreasonable to expect children to sit through a three-hour movie; however, the movies are quickly leaving the realm of children’s fantasy and entering the darker realm of regular fantasy, as was clearly evidenced by the multitude of screaming children at my screening.
If you are a fan of Harry Potter, you have surely already seen the movie – and for those of you who haven’t yet, “Goblet of Fire” is an entertaining film and should be at the top of your list.