a boring and dull playground for effects-wizards

Rating: 3/10 (12 November 2005)

...saw an advanced screening of potter 4 and have to admit, although not being a fan of the hype, that i was really excited to see it. i liked the third one and when i read, that Mike Newell is going to direct "goblet of fire" my first thought was: what can go wrong? a lot! **Spoilers** at first: it's a non-brainer that within j.k.Rowlings universe always the new characters are the traitors. but it worked in "prisoner of azkaban" (in my opinion the first entry in the series that was not simply a slavish illustration of her overrated books and dared to deal with a unique visual style and to transform the far too long novel into a fastpaced movie), it does not work out here. even though i have not read the book, i could always figure out what happens next. except for some amazing effect-peaces i see no reason to watch this movie, not because i don't like fun, i do! but "goblet of fire" is simply boring. forget the "roller coaster ride" other comments promised, even the big rise of the dark lord feels like a TV-episode. no tension, just blood. **Spoilers end** if you like the wit and precise and hurting psychology of Newells former movies, you'll be very disappointed. and by the way, all the people evoking j.k.rowlings fantastic imagination should try almost any book by terry Pratchett and "neverending story" by michael ende - both of them real storytellers, creating universes full of surprises and traps, and real writers... cheers from Germany