Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Combined Rating: 75% (S:70%; P:82%) - The
Harry Potter movies, with the semi-exception of the more free-flowing Prisoner
of Azkaban, never quite come into their own. They are entertaining to be sure,
but this one proves that they sacrifice a bit of coherence for the sake of being
faithful to the source material. The movies are engineered for readers of the
book, and I could imagine that people who haven't read the novel might feel
rather confused during parts of this adaptation. With so many grand, CGI-laden
adventures to orchestrate in so little time, Newell inevitably misses some of
the charm and the amusing subplots and style that enhanced Rowling's novel.
However, The Goblet of Fire has gotten the big, dramatic ideas of growing,
uncertain darkness and the sometimes funny, sometimes scary way adulthood sneaks
up on kids faster than they may like down pat. It also has moments of vibrancy
and palpable dread, and even sporadic flutterings of magical humour, that are
some of the most emotionally rich in the whole Harry Potter series.
Harry Potter movies, with the semi-exception of the more free-flowing Prisoner
of Azkaban, never quite come into their own. They are entertaining to be sure,
but this one proves that they sacrifice a bit of coherence for the sake of being
faithful to the source material. The movies are engineered for readers of the
book, and I could imagine that people who haven't read the novel might feel
rather confused during parts of this adaptation. With so many grand, CGI-laden
adventures to orchestrate in so little time, Newell inevitably misses some of
the charm and the amusing subplots and style that enhanced Rowling's novel.
However, The Goblet of Fire has gotten the big, dramatic ideas of growing,
uncertain darkness and the sometimes funny, sometimes scary way adulthood sneaks
up on kids faster than they may like down pat. It also has moments of vibrancy
and palpable dread, and even sporadic flutterings of magical humour, that are
some of the most emotionally rich in the whole Harry Potter series.