HP & the GoF - Personal Reviews

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Movie) Forum

If you don't want to know certain things about this movie, then DO NOT read out of this thread. It is going to contain movie "spoilers" from those who have seen it!

This is my view of the movie, and the comparison, to some things, in the book. Though, many HP fans have read the books, and most would come as no surprise... unless you're like my partner, who doesn't read the books, and only sees the movies.

But, before I do my movie review, let me say some things up until the movie started....

We got to the theatre... and thanks to Ailene, and her family, for getting there so fricken early. By doing that, we were like the third group in line. Though, by the time we seemed to get in the theatre, there were already a ton of people ahead of us. Go figure. Didn't matter though, because we had great seats, in my opinion.

Sherry showed up, right after we got there, and all eight of us just hung out, for about 1.5 hours......

So, we're all outside, just talking, laughing, and having a good time. There weren't too many "hard core" HP fans there. Then again, you had to WIN these tickets, so Thursday night, at midnight, I think that we will see a TON of people dressed up in the Hogwarts garb. Ailene and I were in our Slytherin garb... because, whatelse would we wear? We are Slytherins, through and through.

The doors finally open, and inside we start going. They took our tickets, and were ripping them in half. Now, there weren't just any ordinary tickets. These were pretty big, with the cast pic on the back, and a bunch of info.. and a cloudy sky, and the WB emblem, on the other. When Ailene and I got up there, we asked if they had to do that. She ended up tearing like one inch off of ours, and taking the big part. Then, we get to the actual theatre (and we're pissed about our tickets) the next person takes the other "half" Now, we're in the theatre, without tickets, to have for a memorable keepsake. Totally fuming here... and Ailene was ready to rip that WITCHES head OFF! Needless to say, a ton of people complained, and they started giving people 1/2, or less, back. So, we got partial tickets to keep. We are writing letters to the radio station and complaining!!!

Okay, enough of that... on to my own little review/view of the newest installment of Harry Potter... Goblet of Fire!!!

The movie started out, just like the book.... until Harry wakes up, instead of at the Dursleys, but in the Weasleys. I knew that they were going to cut out a lot of things, esp if they weren't important. But, it was still strange. Right off, you know that this is going to be a MUCH darker story... very evident in the lighting, and mood setting. PERFECT, in my opinion. Bring on the darkness... delve into the depths of this book, please... I dare you.

We skip right from the boys being woken, to the group heading off to the World Cup Quidditch match. VERY short.... but, after all, you know that the main part is going to be dealing with the Tri-Wizard Tournament. Still, the stadium was amazing looking... and the special effects of the two teams flying in, and the people with the "cards" filling up the stadium, with a moving Krum, was really awesome. You don't see any of that Quidditch match. Nor do you see Winky, the house elf for Barty Crouch. Hmmmmmmm... so, Harry's wand isn't removed from his pocket, nor is it used to put up Voldemorts Death Mark into the sky.

Next, the kids are on the train, to Hogwarts, and Harry is about to die, and goto heaven, from one little encounter with Cho Chang. He's totally infactuated with her. Though, I think that the actress was far too cute for her part. She was "soft" and not at all what I expected. Don't get me wrong... she's a good Cho Chang... but, I'm going to have a hard time seeing her the way that she's portrayed in book five.

The kids are next at the school, and you see the two visiting schools arriving.... and then Dumbledore introducing them. They enter the school... and it all starts. The twins sneaking in, using aging potion, to put their names in the cup was funny as hell. And Hermione, just sitting there, reading, during it all, made me laugh. So typical of her, and it made me love her all that much more. She's just too sweet. And the looks, throughout the movie, that were exchanged between her, and Krum... well, there was a chemistry that was pallable. Great job between those two, pulling that off.

Okay... so, once we get into the meat, and potatoes, of this movie... the tournament, it really gets good. Hermione showing up to the champions tent, to check on Harry, and jumping in his arms, to hug him. You can so see the depth of emotion in that friendship. She loves him like a brother, and it's evident. Though, Rita Skeeter would like to tell it differently. LOL The first task was absolutely AMAZING! They did an incredible job with the Hungarian Horntail. Excellent animation... it was pretty flawless, to tell you the truth. I didn't expect it to be THAT good... but, it was. And it was filled with suspense. Even knowing that Harry is going to get the gold egg, you are still getting nervous as he's being chased, around the castle, and almost killed, more than once, by the dragon.

The second task was great... but, the events of Harry, getting that clue, was good. They didn't leave out things, even though it was changed, here and there. Harry's transformation in this task was brilliant. I loved seeing Moody push him in the water, and the gills, fins, and webbed hands. And when he shoots up, in the air.... with Neville Longbottom in the background, thinking that he's KILLED our Harry, it's just too cute. Harry really shows the man he's coming to be in this challenge. Making his way to the "treasure" and finding all four people, floating... you can see so much emotion in his face. And all he wants to do is save the people, and say "screw it" to the competition. He didn't have to save Fleur's little sister... yet, he did. What a hero! It was a touching scene... and when he came out of the water... shot out like a canonball, and Hermione wraps him up in her towel, it just showed, once again, the depth of friendship between them... their bond. I loved it, tremendously.

The third, and final, task, was, as the first two, brilliantly done. The maze was HUGE, and filled with the fog, and darkness, that only leads you to believe in the danger which lies ahead. They did a wonderful job with Krum's eyes, and showing him under the curse. Taking out Fleur, and moving on. Poor Harry... thought that he was next. The bushes, moving, gave such a sense of uncertainty to things... yet, made you want to speed everything up, to the end. Harry and Cedric, working in tandum, to get to the cup.... and ending up in the graveyard left me anxious. Because I knew the outcome, I didn't want to see either placing their hands upon the cup.

So, they got pulled through, and end up in a graveyard. Seeing Cedric killed, by Wormtail (who's holding Voldemort in his arms, like a baby) with the curse, Avada Kedevra, was so heart wrenching. And Harry, going through that scene, with Voldemort, while the death eaters surrounded them, was also heart wrenching, and emotional. When he ran, and grabbed Cedric, and brough the cup toward him, so that they could have the portkey back to Hogwarts... whewie... my heart was racing, and my blood pumping. I wanted to scream out, and cry, when Harry kept falling on Cedric. He didn't want to be taken away from him.

Okay... that's it on the main parts. Now, for the vegetables in the stew! *wink*

The ball was beyond my wildest imagination. They did an AMAZING job on the scenery, and oh my goddess... Hermione was just breathtaking in that gown. Watching her with Krum... and seeing both Harry, and Ron, reacting to her. Ron, realizing things, a bit late, was a crack up. He sat there, moping, over that fact, yet, in complete denial. The scene, after the dance, between Hermione and Ron, about ripped my heart out. Emma did an incredible job, as a young girl who's pain-stakingly in love with one of her best friends, and trying to get that point across. Yet, there's Ron, as clueless as a can of paint.

Oh, watching Filch, running/hopping into the main room, to tell Dumbledore of the arrival of both schools... that was so funny.

And then, of course, the FUNNIEST scene of the entire movie..... THE AMAZING, TWITCHING, FERRET BOY!!!!! Seeing Draco turned into a ferret, by Mad Eye Moody, was funny by itself. But, watching him "bounce" Draco, up and down, and put him in his buddies pants, and bite the other. Oh goddess... I about wet myself, I was laughing so hard. I LOVE Draco Malfoy... but he so deserved this, because of what he tried to do to Harry.... pulling his wand out, and going to cast a spell/curse, upon Harry, with his back to Draco. UNFORGIVABLE! Yay for Moody!

A few things that bothered me....

The owlery... has it ALWAYS been seperate from the catle? I didn't think that it was. I'm tired of 'em moving things around. It just doesn't flow with my mind. But, it was still cool looking.

Barty Crouch Jr... he's NOT in the "dream" in the book, so, why is he there, with Voldemort, and Wormtail, in the movie? Also, he did NOT receive the dementors kiss, at the end, to have his soul removed, so that nothing else could be 'revealed' by him.

The lack of communication between Sirius, and Harry. The fire scene, it was okay... but, not quite how I expected to see him there.

Krum was a better pick than I initially thought... but, his nose should have been made to look the way the book describes it. And Cedric Diggory is NOT the handsome, breathtaking guy, that the book makes him out to be. Though, he did a great job, in his parts, to be Cedric.

All in all......

I for one find that this movie is worth the $10 ticket price that I've paid, to see the movie, once again, at the midnight premier, at the end of this week. Goblet of Fire is, by far, the best movie of the Harry Potter movies, to date. The special effects were great. The scenery was amazing. The costumes were brilliant. It was the PERFECT movie... and was worth waiting for. Thank you, J. K. Rowling for giving us Harry Potter, and this world in which he lives in.

And just for the record.... Sherry did NOT pull a wand on my this time, boys!

They did a great job on the movie. The special effects were great. All the tasks were very well done.

One thing that did irritate me is that Barty Jr. looks NOTHING like he should look. Crazy casting people.

The ball was wonderful. I liked Hagrid dancing with Maxime, and her moving his hand up to her back. The scenes with those two are very funny.

the scenes before the ball are great as well. They have one where the boys are whispering in a room with Snape. He keeps coming over and wacking them on the head, and they still keep talking, so he pushes up his sleeves then goes and pushes their heads on the desk. It was neat to see some humor with Snape.

Cho was waaaaaay to nice to be Cho. The kid that played Cedric did a great job, as did Krum. Cedric was not as handsome as he should have been, but he had that nice boy charm so it worked out.

Ralph Finnes was alright as Voldie, but he looked too much like himself as Voldie. I thought they should have given him the red eyes.

Okay... here's something from my livejournal account, from my experience of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, last night, at the world premier.


Seeing the Goblet of Fire last night was incredible, once again! This time, I was able to focus more on the movie, instead of being in AWE that I was actually sitting in the theatre, five days early, seeing the newest Harry Potter movie... and I was totally nit-picking it too.... comparing it completely to the book. This time, I merely watched it, as a movie, with no comparisons, and it was so much more enjoyable. And once again, the Draco turned into the ferret scene, was, by far, THE best moment. Though, Hermione at the ball, and yelling at Ron, at the end, was also another "moment" for me. *sigh* What a great movie... and such a wonderful way to start off a three day weekend.

Lets see, what else to say!!!!! Oh, standing in line, outside the theatre, was a MUCH different experience than seeing it at the advanced screening. People who showed up, for the midnight show, were the FANS! On Sunday, it was fans, but people who won the tickets, for a free movie. This time, the real fans came outta the woodwork, and were so pumped up about it. We got there early, and saw Liz, in line for an early screening of Rent, and talked to her up until a few minutes before she went into that movie. It was a VERY LONG time in line, for Shannon and me. We got there at 6pm, and didn't get to go to the bathroom until Ailene, Kadie, and Mel all got there. So, by almost 8:30pm, we were on full bladder alert! LOL Really enjoyed meeting Mel.

Okay, so once Liz got out of the movie, and everyone "did their thing" with getting dinner, and walking around, etc... (Oh, my mom was there too... oops, can't forget her too. Good thing that she's not online here) anywho, where was I... oh yes, we all just talked, and looked at others, dressed up in Hogwarts uniforms, for classes, professors, Quidditch players, etc... and I think that Mel took a ton of pics (gotta get her to e mail them to me). I spotted "Draco, and his boys" Mel and Ailene ran after them. These three really did "represent" Draco, Crabb, and Goyle. Impressive.

They let us in the theatre about one hour early. It was wild. But, fun! We all talked, and Ailene yelled out, at 11pm, "One Hour" People were allllllll screaming. At 30 min, they weren't too "with it" Then, at 15 minutes before the movie, our entire group yelled it. But, the big one was at midnight, we all yelled, "One minute until Harry Potter" The entire theatre went BONKERS, screaming, and stuff. It was so awesome to have such excitement, filling this place, for something that we all LOVE!!!

Like I said, the movie was just so much better last night... and I can't wait till it's out on dvd, already! tee hee hee Two more years until the NEXT movie (and that's only months after we FINALLY get the last book in the series). *sigh*

I enjoyed the movie for a movie, although thinking to the film i was slightly disapointed in parts and bewildered why they were doing somethings ... for instance when dumbledore gets the truth from barty jr why did he say "ill show you mine if you show me yours" did that mean that harry may have the dark mark now?

no big spider at the end of the maze, wasnt harry not ment to be able to talk underwater?

although voldy coming back was quite spectacular, and the damstrungs entrance was neat.

a bit of child abuse in the film, dumbledorer asking harry whether he put his name in the cup, and expecially when snape hits ron and harry in the libary

Great film, I was so annoyed that they didn't have the quidditch world cup. You saw the teams fly on, and then nothing! But the tasks were great, the first was better than expected, but what is with making Harry fly all over the castle? They do it in all the films! But it makes good cinema, so it doesn't really matter .

The second task was good, as was the third. But he didn't have to fight anything in the maze, it was simply the maze twisting and changing. Cedric dying was a bit heart wrenching, though I didn't expect it to be. And the Yule Ball.....well that was emotional! Emma did great in my opinion, and it was so sad!

Both Crouch's were good, a bit strange putting Crouch junior in so early, and some of the cuts were a bit obvious where the story didn't make sense. It was pointed out to me that it was never explained why Crouch snr was found dead and who killed him. We all know from reading the book, but otherwise it wasn't very obvious.

Great special effects, good choice of cuts, except the quidditch bit . And Kris you're right, why do they keep moving the set around?

Oh, and the entrances of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang were good. And Ron, as usual, was hilarious.

First off: Funniest. Harry. Potter. Movie. Ever. I laughed my bottom off all the way through the movie.

It didn't feel as thrown together as Azkaban did, and as such made you feel like the story was entirely there, even with some obvious omissions from it. All the new characters were cast quite well, despite my earlier complaints. Cedric was awesome in the movie, and Cho's accent was the bomb.

So the first scene, involving the Ridley house and the grounds-keeper, was just as I imagined it; which is something I'm not used to in these movies, but I loved it. The Quiddich World cup looked great, despite the fact that we didn't actually see much Quiddich.

The dark mark was certainly dark and Harry being lost among the ruins was great. I expected there to be many more Death Eaters, however. I guess the number they had was more reasonable, but heaps of them would've been freaky.

Moody using the unforgiveable curses was awesome.

The Yule Ball was nice. Hermione was great in her scenes, and the dancing scenes were just extremely fun.

I felt a little weirded out by Dumbledore's reaction to Harry's name being in the Goblet of Fire... Pushing him against the wall and asking if it was him, I mean. I guess he was just scared, or at least that's what I'd like to think.

The Triwizard tasks were pretty cool. The dragons looked great... the underwater scenes were filmed fantastically... and the maze at the end was outstanding!

The ending was tense... beyond tense, I was scared witless and almost certain that Harry wouldn't get through that alive... I was shocked that Cedric died so quickly, I would've wished it to be drawn out a little longer... but what the hey...

Anyway, that's all I can think of to say. Its my favorite Harry Potter movie so far, and I'm just hoping we get a lot more of this kind of movie out of the future directors.

It would have been basically fine, if only we'd seen the softer side of this Dumbledore first... we haven't really. Not yet at least.

True. He has been kooky and mad. I want that Dumbledore that cares about our poor little orphan Harry. *snif

I just realized that they never "intro'd" Bagman... hmmmmmmmmm, another character left out.

the dark mark was ment to be done with harrys wand, jr was ment to be using an invisy cloak, and no house elves

Correct, I stated that in my review.... I was a little disappointed that they didn't include that part in the movie. So, I guess there won't be the whole "house elf" thing in the fifth movie, eh?

That means that without bagman, there is no Weasleys without their life savings, and no Harry giving them the money. No Weasley shop.

I did too! It was just a very un-Dumbledore moment. Why would he choke Harry, when each time he meets Voldemort he is totally calm? Crazy directors and actors.

Saw it. It was good. Emma Watsons acting has improved a lot. I liked all the humor

I dont think Dumbledores behavior was all that out of line. He wouldve recognized immiadately that if Harry hadnt put his name in the goblet, it mustve been one of a select few powerful wizards that want to do Harry harm (Voldemort), and that being in the tournament will make it difficult to protect him. Being calm when facing Voldemort shows confidence in his abilities, but being calm when Harry is in danger would lead a movie audience to believe he is apathetic