Review of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) by Martin M — 17 Feb 2015

[According to my word processor, I have reached over 30 000 words of movie reviews. Whoa.].

While still a good story, this is my least favourite of the Harry Potter books. It (and, by extension, its film adaptation) has to bridge the gap between the middle-school feel of the first three stories, and the more adult themes of the last two books. The result is a little awkward and disjointed, but there are still some good parts.

There were some pretty major departures from the book here. This is, to a certain degree, understandable, as this book is significantly longer than its predecessors. What I take issue with is the adding in of extra scenes that could have been replaced with more plot-critical stuff. I take particular issue with the Horntail chase during the first task, and that awful mosh pit during the Yule Ball (I have never come so close to wanting to get up out of the theatre during a Potter film as I did here).

As always, we?ve added some new cast members. Probably the biggest new part is Brendan Gleeson as Alastor Moody. He gives the role a certain uniqueness, although he plays it a little too comical (those are not words I would have ever expected to write). We also get Roger Lloyd-Pack as Barty Crouch Sr, who I didn?t particularly care for; he had too many nervous ticks. On the other hand, his son was played by David Tennant, who I could gush about for another 30 000 words (I really like David Tennant, you guys). Pity he didn?t have a bigger part. Finally, I would be remiss if I didn?t mention every woman?s favourite vampire, Robert Pattinson, who played Cedric Diggory. He did solidly, but was underwritten.

The tone of this film is significantly darker, signalling to us that we have left the innocence of childhood behind, and are about to enter a more adult world, filled with moral greys and ever-increasing danger.