November 18, 2005
Warner Bros.
Fantasy, Comedy, Drama
DVD
C+
This time the Harry Potter Regulars include (with * for newbies):
- Afshan Azad as Padma Patil* (new to the role)
- David Bradley as Argus Filch
- Shefali Chowdhury as Parvati Patil* (new to the role)
- Robbie Coltrane as Rubeus Hagrid
- Warwick Davis as Filius Flitwick
- Frances de la Tour as Madame Olympe Maxime*
- Louis Doyle as Ernie Macmillan
- Alfie Enoch as Dean Thomas
- Tom Felton as Draco Malfoy
- Ralph Fiennes as Lord Voldemort*
- Michael Gambon as Albus Dumbledore
- Brendan Gleeson as Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody*
- Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley
- Robert Hardy as Cornelius Fudge
- Josh Herdman as Gregory Goyle
- Stanislav Ianevski as Viktor Krum*
- Jason Isaacs as Lucius Malfoy
- Katie Leung as Cho Chang*
- Matthew Lewis as Neville Longbottom
- Angelica Mandy as Gabrielle Delacour*
- William Melling as Nigel*
- Devon Murray as Seamus Finnigan
- Gary Oldman as Sirius Black
- Robert Pattinson as Cedric Diggory*
- James Phelps as Fred Weasley
- Oliver Phelps as George Weasley
- Daniel Radcliffe
- Clémence Poésy as Fleur Delacour*
- Adrian Rawlins as James Potter
- Charlotte Skeoch as Hannah Abbott
- Geraldine Somerville as Lily Potter
- Timothy Spall as Peter "Wormtail" Pettigrew
- Emma Watson as Hermione Granger
- Jamie Waylett as Vincent Crabbe
- Mark Williams as Arthur Weasley
- Bonnie Wright as Ginny Weasley
My review of the book is here: http://rereadingeverybookiown.blogspot.com/search?q=goblet. Like I said, this was at the time my favorite book in the series, and the previous movie entry had set the bar very high. So imagine my disappointment when I saw this mess! OK, the movie isn't terrible-- none of the HP movies are-- but it took me a long time to reconcile myself to this one. Over the years, I've gone back and forth on it, as I have on Chamber of Secrets, but on this viewing the things that have bothered me (and many other viewers) over the past almost decade all stood out. And I'm going to place the blame where I have usually placed it, on director Mike Newell, despite my fondness for Enchanted April.
The biggest flaw is that many of the characters are tonally off. Even with generally solid performances, like those of Fiennes and Gleeson, there are over-the-top melodramatic touches. Newell's biggest miscalculation is with Gambon's Dumbledore, who not only has none of the serenity of Harris's, but also none of the whimsy and dry humour of Gambon in Azkaban.
Oddly enough though, Newell is successful with Wright's Ginny, which was especially important at the time since Half-Blood Prince had come out the previous summer and we now knew she was going to be Harry's love interest. Wright here transitions well from the shyer, quieter Ginny of the first three films to a girl who is plausibly the sister of the Weasley twins. Also, Newell merges the Choir Professor with the already established Flitwick, adding another layer to Davis's character, and leading to some funny jokes in the next couple movies, as well as giving him a look that is more consistent with what Rowling imagined than the bearded gnome of Columbus's movies. Still, this doesn't balance all the characters that Newell gets completely or partially wrong.
The other issue I have with the film, not unrelated, is that there is too much spectacle, particularly in the form of action. (And why have the very un-canonical dragon chase all over Hogwarts, but omit the Quidditch World Cup?) Cuarón and to a lesser extent Columbus were able to offer thrills and chills without losing sight of who Harry and the other characters were. It would be up to David Yates, who directed the second half of the series, to reestablish the importance of emotional authenticity, while still delivering intense chase scenes, fight scenes, and the like. All that said, I can enjoy this movie in bits and pieces, even if I'm sometimes laughing at it. (That it lends itself easily to satire is seen in this still funny Soup clip: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xgzrx_harry-ron-slash-on-the-soup_fun)
Siobhan Ellen Williams is a Hufflepuff Student here but would defect to Gryffindor in the next movie. Sarah Harrison and Paije Richardson would also return in Movie #5, as students of unspecified houses. Natalie Hallam, who plays Professor Sinistra, would also be back. Lisa Osmond is a Quidditch Supporter here, but plays a Gringotts Goblin in both Sorcerer's Stone and Deathly Hallows 2. Paul Davies makes his first of four appearances as a Death Eater.
Lucy-Anne Brooks, a Beauxbaton Student here, was a Factory Worker in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Campbell Graham was Hamish in the Bridget Jones movies and is a Ministry Wizard here.
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