Movie Review: Goblet of Fire
This was definately the best of the four movies. It would have been real easy for this movie to bog down, but it went at a brisk clip that made you forget it's two and a half hours long. This movie, like the book, is much darker in tone. I'm pretty sure I saw a couple of parents taking their young children out of the theater.
This movie is fairly high on the action quotient, with a healthy dose of humor via teen angst to break it up in the middle (which will probably give a lot of folks flashbacks to high school dances, proms and such). Also, there is a lot of detail that will probably require repeat viewing to catch completely.
The movie focuses on the core trio of Harry, Ron and Hermoine. The others, especially the adults, are supporting cast rather than main players, one of the sacrifices that had to be made to convert a huge book to a movie of non-Titanic proportions. However, this focus is one of the things that kept the story moving instead of being sidetracked by unessential subplots.
The special effects are a little better, but that's to be expected as CGI gets better. The soundtrack was good also, especially considering John Williams didn't do it. (I can't remember the name of who did it :( )
My only quibble is that in paring the movie down, a couple of things were left unexplained, especially for those who didn't read the books. Then again, maybe I noticed because I had read the books.
One of the comments floating about now is that the kids will have to be recast as they get too old for the parts. I don't think so, because with each movie they've become better at their roles and they really aren't much older than the characters. Go back and look at Season 1 of Smallville. Clark was supposed to be a freshman but the actor was in his twenties. I don't think it will be a big deal if the principal actors are 20 when playing 17 year old characters.
My favorite line:
"Professor Moody! Is that a student?"
"Well, technically it's a ferret."
Overall rating: 5 wizarding flying monkeys.
This movie is fairly high on the action quotient, with a healthy dose of humor via teen angst to break it up in the middle (which will probably give a lot of folks flashbacks to high school dances, proms and such). Also, there is a lot of detail that will probably require repeat viewing to catch completely.
The movie focuses on the core trio of Harry, Ron and Hermoine. The others, especially the adults, are supporting cast rather than main players, one of the sacrifices that had to be made to convert a huge book to a movie of non-Titanic proportions. However, this focus is one of the things that kept the story moving instead of being sidetracked by unessential subplots.
The special effects are a little better, but that's to be expected as CGI gets better. The soundtrack was good also, especially considering John Williams didn't do it. (I can't remember the name of who did it :( )
My only quibble is that in paring the movie down, a couple of things were left unexplained, especially for those who didn't read the books. Then again, maybe I noticed because I had read the books.
One of the comments floating about now is that the kids will have to be recast as they get too old for the parts. I don't think so, because with each movie they've become better at their roles and they really aren't much older than the characters. Go back and look at Season 1 of Smallville. Clark was supposed to be a freshman but the actor was in his twenties. I don't think it will be a big deal if the principal actors are 20 when playing 17 year old characters.
My favorite line:
"Professor Moody! Is that a student?"
"Well, technically it's a ferret."
Overall rating: 5 wizarding flying monkeys.
posted by Oz at 5:57 PM
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