I would guess that Harry Potter is an awkward franchise for this blog; the bloggers are too old and their kids are too young to have to pay attention to the movies. Still, I thought it was worth a quick post.
The fourth Harry Potter movie does some things effectively. There are some fine action sequences, particularly the three tests. The claustrophobic underwater scenes of the second test, and the broad expanse of mist hanging over the maze for the third test build tension and give the whole movie a darker feel than the earlier ones. The teenage romance scenes are pretty horrible, but not quite as cloying as I anticipated. You get a good sense of the disgust felt by 14 year old boys at the prospect of having to deal with girls (or at least you get a good sense of the disgust that adults think 14 year old boys will feel). And the adult acting is superb. Brendan Gleeson is excellent, and Ralph Fiennes manages to be menacing without going completely over the top. His nose is the perfect replica of a snake’s.
Continue reading Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire