| Suspense, Dark Hues Embody “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” |
By: Health Leitch, Columnist, “Kids and Entertainment”
On 1/25/06
At 2 _ hours long, “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” is an emotional and physical rollercoaster ride. The action and drama does not let up for the entire movie, and I left almost physically spent. This was partly because I spent a good part of the movie leaning over reassuring my daughter as she alternated between staring rapt at the screen and recoiling in anguish.
Rating:
4 of 5 ice cream cones! |
I offered to take her home several times, but each time she insisted on staying, her eyes glued to the screen the whole time.
The action starts with an opening nightmare scene in which Wormtail (the rat guy from Harry Potter 3) and Voldemort confer about Harry’s demise. From there it’s non-stop stomach-clenching action from the return of the death eaters at the Quidditch World Cup to the harrowing challenges involved in the Triwizard challenge.
“Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” keeps a tightly wound, wrenching, engrossing pace. Even a lavish Yule Ball is fraught with conflict as we sit in the audience willing Harry and Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) to quit bumbling and find dates already.
Part of the reason for the furious pace is director Mike Newell’s charter to fit JK Rowling’s 700-page book into a feature-length movie. This is the fourth installment of the series, and Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) is now 14 years old. At the beginning of the movie, Harry accompanies the Weasley family, along with Hermoine (Emma Watson), to the Quidditch World Cup. This is a detailed feast for the eyes, and parts of this scene capture JK Rowling’s book perfectly. The protagonists arrive at a campground crawling with witches and wizards and their families. Pup tents dot the landscape, but when Harry goes tentatively into the two-person tent with the rest of their large party, he finds a huge lavish room inside.
After the Quidditch World Cup, we get to return to Hogwarts, always a treat. In this installment, the operatic setting of the Hogwarts castle is enhanced by the entrance of enchanting witches from the Beauxbatons Academy and brooding boys of Durmstrang Institute. Dumbledore, the Hogwarts headmaster (played by Michael Gambon) announces that Hogworts has been chosen to host the Triwizard Challenge. The three schools will choose one participant each to compete.
Harry wants to steer clear of the dangerous competition, which doesn’t seem to be a problem, as the Ministry of Magic requires that the competitors be at least 17. Harry’s fate takes a turn for the worse when his name is chosen as a surprise fourth competitor. His face is a mask of stark terror when his name is called and he does not seem to want to move.
The rest of the movie follows the Triwizard Tournament’s grueling frenetic competitions. Alastor “Mad-Eye'' Moody (Brendan Gleeson), the school's latest Defense Against the Dark Arts professor acts as Harry’s coach throughout the tournament. With a rotating mechanical eye, a face contorted by scars, and a manic, mad demeanor, Gleeson offers a multi-textured complex performance as the latest in the revolving and pivotal teaching position.
Radcliffe conveys a more mature, tormented, world-weary Potter in this movie. His torment and anxiety are mirrored in the movie’s darker hues and frenetic pace. Newell did a masterful job capturing the increasingly dark tone in the Harry Potter series. With the return of Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes, looking beastly, ethereal, and terrifying), the relatively peaceful times are at an end. You get the feeling that no one can let their guard down for long. There were details from the book omitted that I missed, such as Velas dancing, Doby helping find the Dark Mark. The main story line from the book is represented, though, and it is this sacrifice of detail in favor of central action that gives the movie its the breakneck pace.
Violence: This is a violent, suspenseful movie. Harry Potter is in one battle after another throughout the movie. In comparison to other movies, it is less violent than Star Wars, but more violent than Disney movies such as “Mulan.” My eight-year-old didn’t hesitate to go, but my six-year-old wanted to wait until he’s older.
Profanity: Very mild (damn, hell)
Sexual Content/Nudity: None.
Discussion Topics: One major theme running through the series is the awkwardness and self-doubt inherent in adolescence. In one angst-ridden moment when he and Harry are trying to find dates for the Yule Ball, Ron says to Harry “You slayed a dragon. If you can’t find a date, there’s no hope for the rest of us.” Few things capture the stress of a first dance better than that line.
Magic and the use of magic in stories is always a good topic after a Harry Potter movie. My kids and I like to talk about what we would do if we had magic powers. The epic battle of good versus evil is more present than ever in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. In this movie, not only good versus evil but also the pull of the dark side is depicted. At one point in the maze, Harry has to choose between saving a fellow competitor and going for the prize. He hesitates, drawn by the lure of power. His better nature prevails, but we see his vulnerability.
Rating:
4 of 5 ice cream cones! |
Worth the price of admission: Absolutely. The Harry Potter movies are definitely worth seeing on the big screen. I’d even go see this one at an IMAX theater so I could really feel like I was in the middle of the action.
Very good! 4 out of 5 ice cream cones!
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