Written by: Steve Kloves (screenplay), J.K. Rowling (novel)
Directed by: Mike Newell
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Ralph Fiennes, Robert Pattinson, Michael Gambon, Alan Rickman, Brendan Gleeson, Robbie Coltrane, Jason Isaacs Maggie Smith
Rated: PG-13
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Plot
In his fourth year, Harry finds himself competing in a hazardous tournament between rival schools of magic, but he is distracted by recurring nightmares of Voldemort.
Verdict
The Harry Potter movies went downhill after this one, but at least this was a great send off. This has a lot of touching moments as the kids continue to grow up. We get to see Harry becoming a hero even if he is reluctant. This movie provides more spectacle as the movies were becoming more popular, and the stakes are much higher. It's darker, like the third, but that's inevitable when the most evil wizard is close to a return. The nice thing about this movie is that the driving force, the tournament, isn't a bad guy after Harry. This movie isn't about escaping evil, but developing his abilities.
Watch it.
Review
This was my favorite of the first four movies when I first saw them, though now that's distinction belongs to Prisoner of Azkaban. Both are very good.
The third movie was darker in tone, and this continues. One of the first scenes involves Voldemort killing a minor character. At Hogwarts the big event isn't a killer basilisk or a fugitive, it's the Tri-wizard Tournament. Finally something positive, at least it should be.
Albus Dumbledore |
This movie does have a few gaps in the magic. There were, as in every movie, a few instances that I questioned why magic wasn't used. Then again magic is often used as a curiosity in the movies, not always as a well reasoned addition to the world.
Emma Watson as Hermione with Krum |
We see none of that, only Harry's perspective. That makes it easy to root for Harry, when he's the only competitor we see. Despite that, the story is a great way for Harry to be in danger without re-treading too much ground from the previous movies.
Harry has more than a few heroic moments, but it's a bit of manipulation as the characters he's saving, other than Ron or Hermione, aren't developed.
Rupert Grint and Daniel Radcliffe as Ron and Harry |
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