Newell deliberately chose to "put aside" all elements of the novel which were not directly linked to Harry's journey, and the result is that the film remains a generally focussed effort, despite being the second-longest at 157 minutes. Goblet of Fire was the point at which the Harry Potter books began to grow in size, which in turn meant that the filmmakers had to cram a lot more into the adaptations. Newell's versatility as a director is evident throughout Goblet of Fire, in that he is required to pull off many different kinds of scenes and handle several key emotional developments in the characters. But whatever misgivings one may have about his back catalogue, the appointment paid off, with Goblet of Fire matching its predecessor in many respects and possibly even improving in others. With Alfonso Cuarón electing not to direct a second film, and moving on to Children of Men, the job was given to Mike Newell, best known for the Oscar-nominated comedy Four Weddings and a Funeral. With the brand now seemingly more important than any form of directorial stamp, it is more usual for different hands to come in and do things their way, albeit within clearly set parameters.Īll of which brings us to Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the halfway point of the Harry Potter series.
Even in a series as long-running as James Bond, it was quite common for directors like Guy Hamilton and John Glen to helm several consecutive stories. It has become increasingly common for different instalments of a film franchise to be helmed by different directors.
+More mature and powerfully written than previous entries This is one of the better films, by a good margin. Not to mention the fact that there's a dragon, a bada** maze, and one unsettling resurrection towards the end. That in itself makes it an important installment in the series. Although you don't have a ton of time for Cedric to develop, his death altered the course of the series and the mindsets of those at Hogwarts. In many ways, The Goblet of Fire is the turning point in the franchise, and the first time you see someone of importance get hurt in a grave way. Some of it plays for comedy, but did I really need to see EVERYONE at Hogwarts, and I mean everyone, share the dance floor or have a scene with a love interet. It's admittedly the next logical step in these teenagers lives, but sometimes it can be a bit overboard. Weirdly enough, this film made those scenes mostly deal with romance at the Yule Ball involving the three schools. Most of the film involves Harry competing in the various events of the tournament (which ends up feeling a whole lot like a Hunger Games), but there's always time for some quality trio scenes.
No matter, The Goblet of Fire is full of fresh adventures for the trio of Harry, Ron, and Hermione. I mean, why wouldn't he be an interesting character? He's just the 4th straight new defense against the dark arts teacher to be hiding something in one way or another. Looking back, it's difficult to assess how much I enjoyed the character considering he was kidnapped for nearly the entire length of the film, but his impact on Harry's tribulations throughout the film are felt. Most notably, Brendan Gleeson's Professor Alastor 'Mad¬Eye' Moody. Goblet certainly brings some new characters along with its different identity. I've seen the film several times, but there's nothing quite like watching the Triwizard Tournament with someone who has no idea what they're in for.
Of course, part of the fun nature of this film is its mysteriousness and the unpredictability. It comes right out and states that this franchise is no longer just a fun adventure, there are dangerously high stakes involved here, and Voldemort is a part of them. The Goblet of Fire opens with a pretty terrifying dream sequence involving a deformed Voldemort, which may very well be my favorite opening to any of the films in the series.
Yes, Prisoner of Azkaban has its dark moments, but the grave sense of danger and threat isn't really present until the 4th film. But Goblet of Fire is the turning point in the franchise for me.
Up until Goblet of Fire, the Potter franchise is a load of fun with some creepy imagery and dark concepts mixed in.