The missed theme

Rating: 7/10 (20 November 2005)

Let me first start out with a confession: I am a 47 year old Potterhead, who has read all of the published the books way too many times. My four kids, ages 11 thru 18, come to me for answers to their Potter trivia. I'm just this side of obsessive.
Weeks before the Goblet of Fire (GOF) premiered I was surfing the web for clips and tidbits, feeding the burning excitement to flame. I re-read the series to be fresh for my two and a half hour ride with a barrel of popcorn and a free-refill soda. The Saturday morning after opening I serenely hunkered in my favorite theater. It was time! The movie had an excellent opening. Sure I missed the Durseleys and the house elf, but hey- it's a 734 page book! I could deal with most adjustments, and there were quite a lot of them, and most worked quite well. The young actors had matured so nicely, all of them. I loved the way they brought truth to their relationships, in particular Rupert Grint's Ron and Dan Radcliffe's Harry. New additions to the student cast were also top notch.
We were introduced to students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, rival schools with Hogwarts in the Triwizard Tournament, a dangerous wizarding competition in which one wizard from each school is chosen to take part. I thought their entrances were a little silly, even out of place, but I didn't mind that too much, nor was I overly concerned with Professor Flitwick's ridiculous new look. But when under-aged Harry Potter's name came out of the Goblet of Fire, a magical device that chooses the champions under a magically binding contract, something went horribly wrong with the movie.
Dumbledore threw a hissy fit, slamming Harry against a wall! Dumbledore, who is gracious yet firm, protective, loving, full of humor, would never manhandle his students -especially Harry. Michael Gambon seems to have no idea as to who this most remarkable wizard is, yet I don't put the blame on him alone. Director Mike Newall had the responsibility to block that scene. Or was it written that way? There were certainly things written for Dumbledore that shouldn't have been, especially in the scene when he confesses that he is so confused that he doesn't know what he is doing. Bad business, that. Instead of inserting doo doo like that the writers should have expanded his speech at the end to set up the split between the ministry of magic and those who would follow Dumbledore. We never really saw Dumbledore in GOF.
In addition, Voldemort's return in the graveyard was much like a poorly done community theater with somewhat cool computer graphics. Ralph Fiennes must never have heard that stillness is strength; he was flopping all over like it was his first acting class scene. He was trying too hard, but again I blame Newall. His Wormtail and Deatheaters had no real fear of Voldemort, with Lucius Malfoy almost defiant with him instead of reverently fearful. The costumer couldn't seem to find a robe that made him look like a Lord, and his eternally shiny skin looked a bit fakey, as well. The scene was rushed, devoid of suspense, and left me cold when I should have almost wet myself, what with a free refill soda already in my bladder.
By the end of the story we should have felt Harry's sense of isolation from a happier school full of students who had never been in the graveyard, but again, Newall fails to give us this. It seemed that he started to, but changed his mind mid-scene. We should be left with anticipation for the next movie, for the beginning of the war between good and evil to come, not just by some vague lines, but by a troubled Harry and his concerned friends, trying hard to smile but not truly succeeding.
While GOF was technically beautiful and astounding at times, and while the teens going through their hormonal madness was enjoyable, it failed miserably in making us, along with Harry, love Dumbledore and what he stands for,and fear Voldemort, hating what he stands for, the major theme of the Harry Potter series.