Ruins the book

Rating: 4/10 (3 August 2016)

The fourth book in the HARRY POTTER series is by far the best, offering up a ton of adventure, excitement, danger, death, and heartfelt emotion and easily surpassing the previous three entries because of its darker, more epic feel. Sadly, GOBLET OF FIRE the movie is a real disappointment, a film that goes through the motions without offering any real heart to the proceedings.
Technically, the film is proficient; the camera angles are off beat and more in line with an art-house movie, the direction is strong and steady, and the special effects surpass themselves on frequent occasions. But Rowling's complex-yet-simple plot line is changed beyond recognition, with key incidents missed out, passed over, or changed completely. I did understand some of the changes made by the film-makers but when it got to the third and final task, I couldn't believe my eyes.
Gone is the danger and magical creatures offered by Rowling; instead there are some moving hedges and blowing leaves. HUH??? What a disappointment! Things get worse with a horribly miscast Ralph Fiennes camping it up as Voldemort; his make-up is certainly good, but his voice is just rubbish, far too suave and upper-class when it should be guttural and evil-sounding instead. The film's pacing is breakneck but restless with it; it seems like Newell is always in a hurry to move on to the next scene yet it drags sometimes too.
The central pair of Radcliffe and Grint are excellent in their roles and have really grown into them, whilst Watson overacts and is a real disappointment. One good addition is Brendan Gleeson as Mad-Eye Moody, the actor has a ball and can do no wrong in this reviewer's opinion. All the other cast members are fine but they only get skimmed-over roles. All in all a quite big disappointment, recommended for those who haven't read the book beforehand.