Mixed Reviews for New Potter Film

Critics around the world have had their first look at the new Harry Potter film, Goblet of Fire, and they've given it a shaky thumbs up.

The news was mostly good, with US magazine Variety describing it as "excellent", with "a climactic scene that does not disappoint".

But Screen Daily said the "solid but mostly uninspired" movie only raised "wonder and dread" in its final scenes.

You can make your own mind up when the film is released on 18 November.

A review on the Times website praised Daniel Radcliffe's performance: "For the first time we sense what makes Harry tick under pressure."

It also said new director Mike Newell was well up to the task of Potter: "His considerable triumph is to keep the thrills up to exhilarating scratch."

And, if you're wondering how Ralph Fiennes will cope as Lord Voldemort, Variety seems to think he's pretty good.

"Ralph Fiennes makes the series' villain-of-villains a distinctive monster, remorseless and cunning, in a climactic scene that does not disappoint and will, like the dragon, prove frightening to impressionable youngsters," it said.

(SOURCE: CBBC NEWSROUND)

A Darker Departure

The Chicago Tribune's Kids News section has an article about Goblet of Fire and its darker turn. Here's a piece of it:

Hard-core Harry Potter fans may have years to wait before the seventh book is published. But the fourth movie, "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," opens in theaters this week.

The new movie finds Harry in his fourth year at Hogwarts, competing in a dangerous wizard tournament. Evil Voldemort returns, but the story also brings in new characters, such as a crush for Harry and a date for Hermione.

"Goblet of Fire" is said to be darker and scarier than the first three Potter films--it's the first to be rated PG-13 instead of PG.

To read the full article, go to the Chicago Tribune's website (registration is required).

(SOURCE: THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE)

50 Fun Harry Potter Facts

With just four days to go to the hugely anticipated opening of blockbuster movie Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, The Sun in the UK cast a know-it-all spell to discover 50 fascinating and little-known facts about the wizarding world.

(SOURCE: WIZARD NEWS)

Potter Interviews on MSN, Mini Bios on MSNBC

To keep you excited for the release of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, MSN continues to post additional interviews and clips from the cast on set of the movie. Today they've added video clips of Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Ralph Fiennes, and Miranda Richardson. You can check out the additional footage at this link.

Additionally their sister site, MSNBC, has put a mini-bio page dedicated to the leading characters from the past four Harry Potter films, as well as those with limited screen time such as Lily & James Potter and Bill & Charlie Weasley. You can check out this page here.

(SOURCE: HPANA)

Dan's Aussie Spell

Earlier today, Australian news-site thesundaymail.com posted an article about Dan and his new role in the movie December Boys. Dan, who will play Maps, discusses working in a film outside Harry Potter, using an Aussie accent and his future as an actor. On doing the HP films:

"I certainly have gotten a lot more confident during the process of making these films," he said. "On the first film I was sort of a young kid on a film set and just loving the experience. I was taking it seriously, but not as much as I am now because I know now that I want to be an actor.

"While I'm still having fun on the films I've now learnt that the most important thing you should have when you're actually on the set is a huge amount of focus."

(SOURCE: MUGGLE NET)

Goblet of Fire Gets US Premiere

Thousands of Harry Potter fans were waiting as early as 4am outside the US premiere of Goblet of Fire in New York.

And they weren't disappointed as all the stars of the fourth Potter film took their turn on the red carpet.

Daniel Radcliffe was amazed by the fans, saying: You do a film for 11 months and then all these guys turn out to support it. It's fantastic."

He also said he doesn't get bored of playing Harry because he changes so much between each film.

He added: "it's almost like playing a different character each time you come back to it."

Rupert Grint and Emma Watson were also in New York for the premiere, with Emma talking about how this fourth film is more grown-up.

She said: "I think a lot of people are really nervous about the fact that it's going to be much darker, which it is. But I think they'll be surprised by how funny it is.

"I think that Mike (director Mike Newell) has really managed to bring out the humour more than any other director has been able to before."

And the reason for much of that darkness, Ralph Fiennes who plays he-who-must-not-be-named, was at the premiere as well.

He said he loved his costume for Lord Voldemort, which was based on one of the most famous cinema villains ever, vampire Nosferatu.

(SOURCE: CBBC NEWSROUND)