MuggleNet | Goblet of Fire Film Reviews

Dark and difficult times definitely lie ahead for Harry Potter.

The beginning: I thought that it was very well-done. Yes, it was fast, but we didn't want the entire movie to be taken over by the Riddle house, did we? They added Barty Crouch Jr. in there with Wormtail and Voldemort to make it clear that he was one of the antagonists. You could see Voldemort's hand, and it looked very alien-like, but that's how it's described to be.

The Quidditch World Cup: They never actually showed the game, most likely to meet time constraints. However, you see the walk up to that hill, the Portkey, the campsite (which I loved, the music was awesome), as well as the very beginning of the game and the introduction of Viktor Krum. After that, everyone is back in the tent, and Ron is talking about Krum like he's divine. Ginny says, "I think you're in love, Ron!" I thought it was hilarious! Next you have explosions in the background, and Mr. Weasley leaves to find out what they are. He comes back looking worried, and tells the kids to run into the woods. The Death Eaters were quite scary, dressed in black with skull masks. The kids run, but Harry gets separated and falls to the ground. He is trampled on and knocked out. When he awakens, it's very dark and the campsite is burned. He sees Barty Crouch shoot off the Dark Mark in the distance. Ron and Hermione come to find him, and all of a sudden, people apparate to the seen and shoot off stunning spells, trying to catch who set off the Dark Mark.

The foreign guests: From there, it goes right to the Hogwarts express. The people from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons arrive to the school at the same time that the Hogwarts students do. Their entrances are very graceful, and at some parts incredibly funny (Ron's reaction to the Beauxbatons girls is great). Dumbledore explains the task, and the Goblet of Fire. Fred and George Weasley have a great scene where they take the aging potion and try to cross the age line. They get flung away from the Goblet, and grow beards, just like they do in the book! I really loved how there was much more of Gred and Forge in this movie.

Moody's entrance, and his first class: Moody is perfect! His entrance was creepy. His class, creepier. He called on Ron for the Imperious Curse, and we all know how Ron hates spiders...but what I liked was how he called on Neville for the Cruciatus Curse. Moody tortured the spider right in front of Neville, and it really seemed to affect him. He was shaking like mad, and Hermione tells Moody to stop it, because it's obviously bothering him. Moody then turns on Hermione and brings the spider to her. He asks if she can tell him about the third Unforgivable Curse. She shakes her head and looks like she's about to cry. Then, Moody kills the spider right in front of her.

Choosing the champions: I really liked how they did it. Viktor Krum, Fleur Delacour, Cedric Diggory, and finally Harry Potter. The only think that irked me was how violent Dumbledore was...he's so calm and benevolent in the books, definitely not the type to grab Harry and almost smash him into a wall. However, the book describes his eyes at that part, and in a movie, I don't see how it would be possible to focus on his eyes without confusing viewers.

Ron and Harry's fight: I liked this, too. It wasn't a long fight, but it started and ended at the same places that it did in the book. Ron also tells Harry to piss off. In the midst of the fight, we see the ferret scene, which was amusing. Draco was in Crabbe's pants at one point!

The First Task: I'm not really a fan of incredible action, but I know that this scene will please a lot of people. The dragon detaches itself from the arena and chases Harry around the school for an added effect. After the task, Ron apologizes to Harry. I thought that the scene was cute!

The Yule Ball: I thought it was great, except for Hermione being very dramatic...I suppose it was exaggerated for the movie, though. Hermione's entrance was lovely, in my opinion. The music and the dancing were very fun! Ron and Hermione's fight was more intense than I thought it would be, but I think that's a good thing. Ron upsets Hermione, then they are interrupted by Harry, who looks confused. She tells both of them to go to bed, and collapses on the stairs, crying. I wanted Ron and Hermione to apologize to each other and hug. But we all know that doesn't happen...yet. Also, before the Ball, there was a scene with McGonagall teaching the students to dance. Fred, George, Ron, and Harry were really funny. It was also great when Ron received his ever-so-lovely dress robes.

The Second Task: I was really fightened by Ron, Hermione, Cho, and Gabrielle floating! They looked like they were dolls tied to stakes, but they were actually attached to the bottom of the lake by ropes. I liked Harry's Gillyweed transformation; it was exactly how I pictured it. The Bubble Head Charm and Krum's shark transfiguration were cool, as well. Harry, trying to be the hero, of course, almost drowns trying to save Ron and Gabrielle.

The Third Task: There weren't many obstacles in the maze that we saw. The biggest obstacle was Krum under the Imperious Curse, and the walls of the maze closing in. Either Harry or Cedric knocks Krum unconscious (I'm not sure which) and then they fight to get to the Triwizard Cup. Cedric is attacked by branches, but Harry saves him, and they take the Cup together.

The Graveyard scene: I loved it because it was almost exactly like it was in the book, just more fast-paced, like the entire movie. Harry recognizes the graveyard as the one from his dreams, and sees Voldemort's father's gravestone. He tried to tell Cedric that they have to get back to the Portkey and get away from there, but Cedric is killed by Wormtail. Wormtail then pins Harry to the Gravestone, and continues to resurrect Voldemort almost exactly like he did in the novel. When Voldemort rises, he's very frightening. The only things I didn't like were that his eyes weren't red, and he didn't appear to be as old as he should. However, everyone has different character views, don't they? Priori Incantatum was my favorite part, I liked the fact that they did have Harry's parents talk to him, just like in the book.

The end: Dumbledore didn't really explain Priori Incantatum, or why it happened, but I didn't really care. It was enough that they put it in there, that really made me happy! He says, "Dark and difficult times lie ahead. Soon, we must all make the choice between what is right, and what is easy." He doesn't mention "the old crowd." After that, the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students prepare to leave. Harry, Ron, and Hermione find each other and Hermione says, "Everything's going to change now, isn't it?" Then, Harry puts his hand on her arm and simply says, "Yes." Hermione then asks both Harry and Ron to write, and Ron says he won't ("I won't. You know I won't). Hermione says, "But Harry will, won't you, Harry?" Harry sarcastically says yes. They walk off and watch the delegates from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang leave Hogwarts. The scene fades to black, and the credits roll on burned parchment.

All in all, I liked it. I'm going to see it again, without a doubt. I can't wait to see it again! It was what I thought it would be, no better, no worse (but I had high expectations, you see). I loved it. Some of the only down sides were that it was very quick, and the scenes jumped around. It was almost like they made clips of different chapters and just put it all together in the end, but to me, it made sense. And I loved dressing up as Fleur for a night! (My friends and I went to a midnight show.)

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