Perhaps it was too long between movies, or maybe I don't really like the book, but I was not particularly enthralled by Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
Just like the book, I believe it only serves to further the story before the exciting events of books 5 through 7. What other films did Mike Newell direct? I'm not a big fan of his, really, although there is only so much you can do to a story with beginnings in a three-inch thick book. This is the movie that I like the least, it has the most disappointments, although it is visually excellent. The Tri-Wizard tasks, the dragons, the Dark Water and merpeople, and the maze were beautifully done. I also liked, with morbid fascination, the scenes of the Death Eaters wreaking havoc on the Quidditch World Cup, as well as the resurrection of Voldemort. I just knew the Death Eaters would look like the Ku Klux Klan, only in black! The Beauxbaton Veelas, though, were particularly disappointing, especially Fleur Delacourt, who looked like, well, Claire-effing-Danes. She's supposed to be almost ethereally beautiful. Feh. They should have used the effect of Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow on the girls. Meanwhile, Viktor Krum was actually handsome, in fact, more appealing at times than Cedric Diggory. Haha!
Watching the movies in succession is like looking at kids' photo albums, those of Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint. You see them graduate from their awkward adolescent phases (were they ever? Maybe only Rupert) into young adults. Ron Weasley now has defined biceps, and Hermione Granger is now a beautiful young woman. In this installment, Harry and Ron's friendship hits a snag, they have their first dates (the most successful being Neville and Ginny's) and they learn the niceties of media and how the press can twist events. (Note: Miranda Richardson as Rita Skeeter was wonderful!)
There are many times I'd rather watch a movie than read the book. Cases in point: Be Cool, The Pelican Brief, Terms of Endearment. Even the Lord of the Rings (because I'm tired of reading "Gimli, son of Gloin..." ad infinitum). But in J.K. Rowling's case, there always seems to be a certain magic (hee!) that she brings to her writing, wry allusions, puns, and trivialities, that make the series fun to read. Sadly, most are abandoned on the big screen because of time constraints and artistic license (hence, no Quidditch matches). Although true to the spirit of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, I'd much rather read the book once more than watch the movie again. Just saying.
PS Whatever you might say about the greasy hair and the somber mien, I still heart Alan Rickman as Severus Snape. Snape in Book 6! Exciting!
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1 comment:
hey ri! it's been a while since i last visited your blog... anyway...
just wanted to share that in my case, i usually like reading the book better than watching the film. i dunno, it's like things look better in my imagination. its not surprising then that i liked the goblet of fire book better than the film, tho the film was real pretty to watch.
have a good day!Ü
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