So Much Plot, So Little Time

Rating: 7/10 (8 October 2010)

The sheer size of the Harry Potter books begin to be a problem to the people determined to make them into films in this fourth installment.
"Goblet of Fire" moves at breakneck speed, clearly intent on squeezing in all the main plot elements without testing the attention span of its audience. But even to someone who hasn't read the book (I'm one of them), it's clear that much nuance and character development had to be left out, as well as several details that make the movie downright confusing if you have time to stop and think about them, which you don't until well after the movie's over.
The big additions to the cast are Miranda Richardson, a hoot as gossip columnist Rita Skeeter, but who falls victim to the trimming of the screenplay and has far too little screen time; and Brendan Gleeson, wonderful as Mad Eye Moody.
Grade: B