Don't expect the whole book just a fun & exciting movie.

Rating: 8/10 (18 November 2005)

Although I'm not sure if realistic is the correct word, this is definitely the most realistic rendition of Hogwarts we've seen on film. The cgi work is a little subdued and blends in with this film in a much cleaner way than one might be used to. In fact Goblet almost makes the first movie (and almost any recent movie that's heavy on sfx) look like Who Framed Roger Rabbit. In fact, I'd say these movies are starting to look as good as Lord of the Rings, but just starting. It really is a beautiful picture to behold. The establishing shots are truly majestic and the tighter settings are well detailed. This is the Harry Potter film that has come the closest to matching what my minds eye pictures when I read the books.
The cast is excellent as usual. Emma will remind you of the Hermione from the book more than ever. Although her previous interpretations worked quite well in the other movies, real Potterheads will appreciate the subtle differences in this performance. You'll get a couple of overacting alerts from Radcliffe and Fiennes but it does fit with the enormity of what the characters are feeling. Unfortunately, fans of Alan Rickman and Maggie Smith will only catch brief glimpses of their great skills with Snape and Minerva.
Of course it wasn't perfect, how can it be without being the length of a mini-series. Even at a running time of 2 &1/2 hours all they were able to fit was the core story of the Triwizard tournament and the return of the nemesis. There are no elves, no Durstleys, no Bagman, no Charlie & Bill, no blast ended skrewts, no trips to Hogsmede, and I'm sure there's plenty more I don't recall right now. On top of that, you only get a brief glimpse of a couple of classes, a short conversation with Sirius, and Rita Skeeter (who's story arc they never really finish) is downgraded to a minor aggravation to the heroes. You do get more of the Twins (the character's I most identify my high school disposition with), more Neville (although they do leave out a couple of major details about him), more Myrtle (maybe a little more than you need but it's very funny), more romance (though mostly teen lust), and more action.
It is a movie that fans (especially fans of the books) will have to relax into. After the first scene (another moment that matched my own vision perfectly) which seems to be rendered directly from the book, you get the feeling that they're rushing you through the story. Although the fast pace of events doesn't stop, the feeling that you're being rushed does subside when the setting changes to Hogwarts. When the tournament starts, your only thoughts are on the action and the seamless visual effects. Overall it's damn entertaining and well worth the price of admission. -G