2008 Woodie Awards
Goblet of Fire Sets New Potter Standard
Christopher Erat
Issue date: 11/21/05 Section: Entertainment
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Harry sure is growing up. I remember like it was yesterday when he was a wee lad, running around Hogwarts like he was just another wizard-in-training. He knew nothing of Sirius Black, of Death Eaters, or of Viktor Krum.
Fortunately for an ever-maturing audience, the times have changed.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is without doubt the best film in the series thus far. While I was impressed with the dark themes in Azkaban, Goblet delves further into the menacing past, present, and future of our favorite lightning-bolt-scarred friend.
The best part of Goblet is that the film feels important. The ends of the previous films never left me with a feeling that Harry's life was going to be any different after a year at Hogwarts. If anything, Goblet was made to prove one thing: Harry is in trouble, and this is only the beginning.
Also quite impressive is the development of the characters in the film. All of our favorites are suffering in some way, be it Dumbledore, Hermione, or Ron. The result is a somewhat uncomfortable experience - but in a good way. Harry and Ron are beginning to show adolescent angst, Hermione finds herself having to choose between friends and a new-found love interest, and Dumbledore begins to show weakness in his old age. Everything is starting to get exponentially more interesting, and therefore much much better.
As expected, the visuals are absolutely stunning. Would it be a Harry Potter film with anything less? The Triwizard Tournament, the focus of the film, presents Harry with three dangerous and CG-heavy tasks, one of which involves a battle with a dragon. Never once do you question that Harry is actually battling the dragon, or swimming with merpeople, or running from collapsing hedges in a giant maze. It is pretty much guaranteed that Goblet will get at least a nod for Best Visual Effects at this year's Oscars.
The climax of the film is superb for reasons that I will not go into (those who have read the books know what is coming). I'll just say that Ralph Fiennes makes an appearance, and if you have ever seen Red Dragon, the latest installment in the Hannibal Lector series of films, then you know the kinds of ominous characters he is capable of.
So, pick up your Nimbus 2000 and fly to the Roxy to see the latest and greatest Harry Potter installment. I cannot wait till next year when we get to see Order of the Phoenix, and then the year after then when we get to see Half-Blood Prince, and the year after that when we see... whatever the last film is going to be called. Like it matters - we will all love it regardless.
Fortunately for an ever-maturing audience, the times have changed.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is without doubt the best film in the series thus far. While I was impressed with the dark themes in Azkaban, Goblet delves further into the menacing past, present, and future of our favorite lightning-bolt-scarred friend.
The best part of Goblet is that the film feels important. The ends of the previous films never left me with a feeling that Harry's life was going to be any different after a year at Hogwarts. If anything, Goblet was made to prove one thing: Harry is in trouble, and this is only the beginning.
Also quite impressive is the development of the characters in the film. All of our favorites are suffering in some way, be it Dumbledore, Hermione, or Ron. The result is a somewhat uncomfortable experience - but in a good way. Harry and Ron are beginning to show adolescent angst, Hermione finds herself having to choose between friends and a new-found love interest, and Dumbledore begins to show weakness in his old age. Everything is starting to get exponentially more interesting, and therefore much much better.
As expected, the visuals are absolutely stunning. Would it be a Harry Potter film with anything less? The Triwizard Tournament, the focus of the film, presents Harry with three dangerous and CG-heavy tasks, one of which involves a battle with a dragon. Never once do you question that Harry is actually battling the dragon, or swimming with merpeople, or running from collapsing hedges in a giant maze. It is pretty much guaranteed that Goblet will get at least a nod for Best Visual Effects at this year's Oscars.
The climax of the film is superb for reasons that I will not go into (those who have read the books know what is coming). I'll just say that Ralph Fiennes makes an appearance, and if you have ever seen Red Dragon, the latest installment in the Hannibal Lector series of films, then you know the kinds of ominous characters he is capable of.
So, pick up your Nimbus 2000 and fly to the Roxy to see the latest and greatest Harry Potter installment. I cannot wait till next year when we get to see Order of the Phoenix, and then the year after then when we get to see Half-Blood Prince, and the year after that when we see... whatever the last film is going to be called. Like it matters - we will all love it regardless.