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| Homer Yen... |
 Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 3:48 pm |
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Drink from the "Goblet"
by Homer Yen
(2009)
Looking for a more character driven Harry Potter film? Then, this 4th
installment will slake your thirst. Dark and difficult times lie
ahead for our young wizard. Death Eaters have re-appeared signaling
the possible return of the evil Lord Voldemort. A dangerous Olympic
magic event puts various contestants' lives at risk. And most fearful
of all, Harry Potter will have to *gulp* ask a girl out to the Yule
Ball!
"Goblet of Fire" is a more up close and personal look at our favorite
boy magician. And why not? Harry is starting to enter the most
terrifying phase of his young adult life. That's called puberty!
And, we see that he's starting to age slightly while his voice is
beginning to deepen. And so to is the depth of the storytelling and
the character development. Harry has so much to learn. And, in this
fine offering, identities are unmasked while secrets are revealed.
Let's just call this The Education of Potter.
This film is certainly more ambitious than the others. Most notably,
it has many more characters. The new professor this year is the
mad-if-not-calculating professor Moody (Brendan Gleeson). He seems
willing to push the envelope in every area from disciplining unruly
students to teaching the young students the dreaded unspeakable sins.
And yet, given all of the gorgeously eccentric educators that have
taught in the past, this one (with an artificial roving eye) seems
right at home. In addition, there are three new young adults that are
introduced who have come to compete in the thrilling but dangerous
Tri-Wizard Challenge.
With all of this going on, the first 30 minutes is basically a revved
up introduction of all the colorful characters. And there are many.
It felt cluttered with special effects with nothing substantial in the
foreground. Add all of this to the existing world of Potter
familiars, and this seems like it will be a long movie.
The weakest point of the story, I believe, is the reintroduction of
the evil Lord Voldemorte. Ralph Fiennes, who plays him with kooky
creepiness, seems to fall a bit short in terms of how menacing he
should be. He needs to take a lesson from the Sith Lord in the Star
Wars films.
Meanwhile, the Tri-Wizard contest is a triumph of imagination and
brutality. Potter competes against three other contestants. One is
daring, another is an athletic machine, while another is a graceful
beauty. They have mastered spells and are far more mature. Potter
does get lots of help. But goodness, it's crazier than Survivor and
perhaps a bit too tense for the youngest viewers.
But all that is not nearly as scary as asking a date to the Yule Ball.
Oh, was I the only one who took forever to muster enough courage to
ask someone to the Prom? Ah, the coy human nature and the cute
relationships. Heck, even the burly but lovable Haggard finds a
doting mate.
Is it the best of the series so far? Yes, in many ways. It is more
magical. It has more characters that populate the world. And, most
importantly, we get a more intimate look at what makes Potter the
doe-eyed but well-meaning school boy that he is. The 3rd installment
(The Prisoner of Azkaban) with its time-traveling construction had a
much more intriguing story arc. But in this one, the sparks fly.
And, we look forward to his 5th year at the Hogwarts School of Magic.
Grade: B+
S: 0 out of 3
L: 0 out of 3
V: 1 out of 3 |
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