HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE

Director: Mike Newell (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Donnie Brasco, Pushing Tin)
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, many more

As my favorite of the Harry Potter books I had high hopes for this release. As the book weighed in at a chunky 750 pages, however, I knew it would be a difficult story to adapt to the screen. Both my hopes and fears were fully recognized in this fine, but hardly exceptional film. The story was about Harry testing his wits and knowledge of magic in the Tri-Wizard Tournament against competitors of other wizarding schools. It was also about a dastardly, and successful, plot by the evil Voldemort to return to power. In the film nearly all of the joy, and childlike fantasy, and battles of wits that filled the book were removed in favor of pure action. This … is disappointing to me. However, the action worked and I’m willing to accept it for what it was. After a first viewing this is probably my least favorite of the films, but only by a slight margin. This is still a thoroughly enjoyable and notable movie. (November 21)


Standouts: The Potter kids acting. They tackled their first forays into adult emotion very well.
Blowouts: The script. Left out the Winnie the Pooh delight in favor of the Rambo physicality.

Grade: B+

11/22/2005