Our Hogwarts mate Sylvia found another wonderful article about GoF. This one is from The Seattle Times and features the thoughts of some of Harry's most ardent fans. Thanks Sylvia for passing this one on too!!
"The friendship between the three main characters is touching, honest, and stronger. The best part is, I don't think they're acting anymore." - Anne Elizabeth Laurel
"This movie was magical, from the thrilling beginning to the heartbreaking end..." - Emily J. Ralston
"Gleeson played a Mad-Eye that was both frightening and intriguing at the same time." - Maya Inamura
"...the Hungarian Horntail that Harry was battling seemed so realistic. It looked like a real dragon. It sure was scary, with all those spikes." - Ryan Miller
The mermaids and other special-effects were a hit.
Early this week, on a dark and windy night, magic was afoot at a local multiplex, where six young Seattle Times readers - winners of our "Harry Potter" essay contest - joined me for an advance screening of "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire." Each of us had a task nearly as daunting as any in the Triwizard Tournament: to watch the film carefully and to write a review of it for The Times. My review appeared in Thursday's paper; reviews by Anne, Ashlie, Emily, Jake, Maya and Ryan are below. All of us approved of the film, for many different reasons. Read and enjoy these six reviews, all from thoughtful "Harry Potter" experts who know that the pen (or the computer) can be as powerful as any magic wand.
- Moira Macdonald, Seattle Times movie critic (who, it should be pointed out, bears no resemblance whatsoever to Rita Skeeter)
By Emily J. Ralston
Special to The Seattle Times
I am in total agreement with Harry: I love magic. Or in this case, really, really good special effects. This movie was magical, from the thrilling beginning to the heartbreaking end, and it came complete with moving walls, levitating books, magical spells and bizarre creatures.
Although somewhat darker than the previous Harry Potter movies, this only added to the suspense. The dragons were a nail-biting thriller, the underwater challenge challenged your heart rate, and the final test, the maze, was a hold-on-to-your seat ride.
Lord Voldemort is in every way the bone-chilling villain that I imagined, and Professor Mad-Eye Moody is simply a delight, complete with a whizzing glass eye, peg leg and a biting sense of humor.
Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson did a terrific acting job, and they seem very much at home in their roles as Harry, Ron and Hermione, at the ever-changing Hogwarts. So much so that they almost led my fanciful imagination to believe that there really are wonderful places where magical creatures live and magic thrives, unchecked by reality.
All in all, "The Goblet of Fire" has everything that makes a terrific movie: lots of action, a great cast, the best special effects that I've ever seen and a plot that can't be beat. This is BY FAR the best Harry Potter movie yet! (You really should go see it!)
Emily J. Ralston is 12 years old and a seventh-grader at St. Paul School in Seattle
By Anne Elizabeth Laurel
Special to The Seattle Times
Dear Muggles,
I am pleased to inform you that "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" starts out bold and daring, raising questions and captivating you. The new director does not stray from the yellow brick road of J.K. Rowling's masterpiece in any unsatisfying way. In fact, the parts he eliminates pull the story together. All of the strings of the plot fall in place at the just right time, and then you realize just how brilliant it all is, making it worth the lines for popcorn.
I loved it. The fear the Death Eaters instill, the fast pace that leaves you breathless, and the incredible special effects. It makes you believe in magic, if only for the space of 2 ½ hours. The dialogue is better, and there are no poor stumbling children carrying the weight of a full seven-book saga on their shoulders. Now we have true actors. You realize Dumbledore's complicated thought process and the reason for his intensity. The fights between friends become more than just teenage irrationality, but scenarios you can see yourself in, and you understand everything. The dragon (and the fact that in a few years we get to see this gorgeous boy kiss a girl) gave me tingles. Fred and George, with their hilarious one-liners in unison, made me choke on my licorice.
The friendship between the three main characters is touching, honest and stronger. The best part is, I don't think they're acting anymore.
Anne Elizabeth Laurel is 13 years old and an eighth-grader at Totem Middle School in Federal Way
By Maya Inamura
Special to The Seattle Times
If you're like me and know the book "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" back to front and inside out, you're going to be at least a little disappointed with the movie.
Hermione's dress robes aren't periwinkle. Ludo Bagman doesn't show up. And there's no mention of Dobby or Winky, the house elves. But if you're like me, you're going to appreciate the movie anyway.
Harry's three Triwizard Tournament tasks were heavily emphasized. Most of the PG-13 moments lie here. Voldemort's rise to power was gruesome, and the Hungarian Horntail dragon was certainly frightening. While these particular scenes were done well, I felt that some other parts of the movie deserved more attention - for example the Quidditch World Cup. Disappointingly, the match itself was not included which would have been very interesting to watch.
Brendan Gleeson portraying Mad-Eye Moody was certainly convincing. While far from the mental image of Mad-Eye I had, Gleeson played a Mad-Eye that was both frightening and intriguing at the same time. However Michael Gambon's performance as Dumbledore was thoroughly disappointing. While Richard Harris' portrayal of Dumbledore [in the first two movies, before his death in 2002] was powerful yet benevolent, Gambon's portrayal is powerful and frightening, quite different from the Dumbledore in the book.
My dreams would come true if the producers did the movies exactly like the books. But I know this is impossible, so I appreciate the movies the way they are. "Goblet of Fire" is a gripping movie and I highly recommend it to everyone, Potter fans or not. Mischief managed!
Maya Inamura is 13 years old and a freshman at the Lakeside School in Seattle
By Jake Pruchno
Special to The Seattle Times
I liked "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" because there were good action scenes like at the graveyard, sad moments and cute times like at the Yule Ball. Voldemort may have been a little freaky, but it was a good movie. I would recommend this to anybody who likes Harry Potter and action.
A few times the movie didn't give all the information, like when Harry is figuring out how to get past his dragon or when he asks Pavarti to go to the ball with him. I would advise you to read the book first so you don't get confused. There were also a few ripoffs, like there is no Ludo Bagman and you don't watch the Quidditch World Cup.
One of the funniest parts was when Fred and George have beards.
All in all, this was a really good movie that you would want to see.
Jake Pruchno is 9 years old and a fourth-grader at Lakeridge Elementary on Mercer Island
By Ashlie Humphries
Special to The Seattle Times
Lord Voldemort is alive, very much alive in this movie. Harry gets an inch from death and an innocent person dies. Also the unexpected happens. So come with Harry, Ron and Hermione into the world of Hogwarts.
This movie is a thriller. It keeps you on the edge of your seat. I strongly say they took too much out of the movie in the beginning, like the Quidditch World Cup. But everything they did have was amazing, like the rebirth of Lord Voldemort and the mermaids. Also Hagrid's old baby dragon that gets turned into a giant fearsome horntailed dragon.
I trust you will join Ron and his Yule Ball dress robes for "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire."
Ashlie Humphries is 10 years old and a fifth-grader at Sunny Hills Elementary in Sammamish.
By Ryan Miller
Special to The Seattle Times
I really liked "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire." I think it was a very cool movie, especially the Triwizard Tournament. It was great to watch Harry go through the tasks.
During the first task, the Hungarian Horntail that Harry was battling seemed so realistic. It looked like a real dragon. It sure was scary, with all those spikes.
The second task was totally awesome, but it was kind of weird when Harry sprouted gills after eating gillyweed. He was writhing around in the water, like he was in great pain. The lake task was my favorite. I liked the underwater scenery. The maze, in the third task, was huge. I found it kind of creepy, how the hedge's roots tripped the contestants and pulled them towards the tall bushes that made up the walls. It didn't seem like the Triwizard cup was hidden very deep within the maze.
Later, Harry and Cedric Diggory, another Triwizard champion, found themselves in a graveyard, where they meet Lord Voldemort. Then something tragic happens, but I'm not going to tell you about it. Harry and Voldemort battle, with unexpected results. Who would have thought that Harry, with a wimpy beginner's spell, would be a match for Voldemort's killing curse?
This movie is scary, cool, and not for little kids or kids who are easily scared.
However, I enjoyed it so much that I can't wait until I get to see it again. If you're a Harry Potter fan, you'll love this movie, too.
Ryan Miller is 9-year-old and a fourth-grader at Whittier Elementary in Seattle.
Copyright © 2005 The Seattle Times Company
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