Harry Potter and
the Goblet of Fire
And "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" demonstrates that adage quite well. This is the fourth in the series or Harry Potter films and while the second was my favorite, Goblet of Fire is not only banging on the door but has slipped its fingers under the bottom of that door.
The kids Harry, Ron Weasley and Hermione are all Fourth Year Students and have hit that awkward age just between pre-adulthood and locking them in a closet due to hormones age of 14. They have started to look at the other sex as more then just a 'friend'. But that isn't the worst part.
Seems that Hogwart's this year has been chosen to host the Tri-Wizard Tournaments, a competition wherein one school and one victor are chosen for 'eternal glory' as the winner of three of the most dangerous challenges the Wizard world can manage to come up with.
Three students, all last years and all seventeen are chosen. And then Harry Potter is chosen. But, Harry did not put his name in the pot to be picked and wants nothing to do with it. Of course no one believes him, which leads to a lot of friction between him and the rest of the school, but most of all with his best friend Ron Weasley.
Ron feels left out of Harry's life and as a teenage boy he strikes out with anger resulting in arguments and even some name-calling between him and Harry. There are also these nifty badges that say Harry Potter Stinks that seem to be worn by all the students in the school.
But once Harry faces his first challenge and his experiences there, the school slowly begins to turn on his side.
I have to say, that
after waiting almost 2 years for this film I was not disappointed for a second.
And although the three main characters, Harry, Ron and Hermione are actually
older the 14 they are all still young enough to remember what they (and their
friends) were like at that age to deliver on their assigned roles and are very
easy to accept as they learn about their new feelings and emotional drives.
And even though I knew what was going to happen (I have read the books, all of them) the reactions of certain characters during the selection ceremony is great. Watching the looks of amazement and shock from some of them was excellent. Also, the challenges thought up by the committee were dangerous as well as exciting to watch. And yes, I jumped in my seat more then once and felt my nerves on edge during one of two scenes.
The most fun was watching the preparations for Yule ball, especially when Maggie Smith was teaching Ron Weasley to dance. The worst part, emotionally at least, was when Ron simply assumed that Hermione was going to either stay away from the dance or go by herself. He simply could not see that she was turning into a beautiful young woman right in front of him. But, I guess most guys are like that.
Frankly, I think this could turn out to be the best Harry Potter movie in the series. Sure, I have to watch it a couple of more times to make sure, but I guess it isn't much of a shock since each film has gained a higher level of professionalism and style as they came out.
In action, Goblet of Fire is far and away above most of the normal action films. It has tension, excellent special effects and also uses emotion to give a depth to the scenes that your standard film just does not do.
Director Mike Newell moves away from the past mistakes of the third film and applies his genius to some of the most ambitious scenes yet all filled with amazing creatures.
And while the dark background of "The Prisoner of Azkaban" is still in evidence, what with the Death Eaters and the Dark Mark the film attempts to balance the terror with the lighter side of teenage angst. Newell shows the teenagers greatest fear, that of seeing the opposite sex as young women or men, so well you can almost feel the hormones boiling in them.
There's a line in the movie that could explain everything that is happening in Harry's life and the life of every teen in the world during this period. "Difficult times lie ahead, and soon we must choose between what's right and what's easy."
The thing is, that can also be true for 30-year-old women or 49-year-old men. And while it might sound corny it is also the best description for what is going on in the lives of these kids. Newell capturing the human side of Harry Potter and his friends is what makes this film a true winner.
But Newell also made some changes. There are no scenes with the Dursleys home life, and just one scene of Harry and Ron asleep in the Weasley house before going off to a Quidditch match. I sort of missed the Dursleys this time.
I guess it took a British director to get the humor of the characters and the books right with the dry, Brit style of the books, which the other films have sort of missed at times to me.
So, to sum up….
The acting was
excellent, with the young trio doing a job that many older, more experienced
actors might never have been able to accomplish. The addition of Brendan Gleeson
as Mad Eye Moody was a perfect choice. His ability to over-act while controlling
a scene is legendary in my eyes and he comes across as the friend and counselor
just fine. But watch him. Ralph Fiennes as Lord Voldemort is scary and terrifying and proves why Voldemort is so feared in the wizard world. Alan Rickman was used sparingly but his scenes were quite well done.
The film had incredible special effects. I think they were the best I have seen since The Lord of the Rings trilogy and that is saying a lot.
The director Mike Newell did an excellent job with this movie. Right now, he is on the same level of director when I think of John Ford or Peter Jackson. I hope he continues to do this quality of work in all his pictures.
Now, just so you know this film is well over two and a half hours. So go to the bathroom early, and make sure you are all set up with popcorn and soda when you get sat down.
Two more items I would like to mention.
First, I got to see the trailer for Superman Returns coming out next summer. I got goose bumps, and I have to say this looks pretty good so far. Routh looks impressive in the suit and I think he is going to do well as the Man of Steel. In fact, for those of you who missed it you can see the trailer here.
Second, I have found the job I feel I am most qualified to perform. Now, I heard about this from the November 21st issue of the National Enquirer so it has to be true. I mean, they wouldn't publish something that was untrue, would they?
So, it turn out that Catherine Zeta-Jones needs her…. Uhm… nipplage area taped down. She ordered the wardrobe department to keep a supply of surgical tape on hand to cover up her often-erect nipples. Seems she sometimes has to keep them taped under a triple criss-cross layer of tape whenever she is on camera.
Now, I have had years of experience with women's breasts. I have studied them to the point of almost making it a career if I could have figured out a way. Why, even as a young lad I noticed the differences between men and women, and women to other women. I think it is safe to say I am an expert in this area and could certainly…. uhm… handle the job.
Get in touch with me at your convenience. As to pay, I would not be able to give you more than a few hundred a month.