Funny, Dark, and Good

Rating: 7/10 (19 November 2005)

Wow, Harry and the gang are growing up. Adults and kids, Potter-philes or not, will love this movie because this is actually a good movie. Radcliffe, Grint, and Watson are developing into good actors, possibly because of the addition of great talents to the Potter troupe, like Gary Oldman, Ralph Finnes, and Brendan Gleeson. Newell's directing is top rate and the special effects are seamless. I actually noticed the sound in this film being something that obviously enhanced the movie.
There is a ineffable quality here that makes this the best Potter movie thus far, and a movie that sets the bar high for the holiday releases. Maybe it is the story (as the 4th book is considered the best) or maybe this one has benefited from the obvious purism of Columbus and the edginess of Cuaron, "Goblet" is a blend of both.
There will be those who want more and complain about what was left out. (Like the 12 year old who exited "Return of the King" complaining about what was left out of the 3.5 hour movie.) However, the story is represented very well. I had a hard time remembering what parts weren't told. Sure, I wanted to see a "Blast-ended skrewt" and a fuller version of the events occurring at the Quiddich World cup, but this movie is 2 hours and 20 minutes and does the job it is asked to do. Besides, maybe in 20 or so years someone will make a TV mini-series out of it and cover everything in the book.
I don't necessarily agree with the PG-13 rating (when the rating was first introduced it was called a "soft-R"). Admittedly, the humor is a bit more grown-up, worrying about getting a date, and how one is dressed, but not too saucy, and Grint's mantra of "Bloody Hell" could be seen as offensive, but nothing that should be considered salacious. The "darker images" mentioned have a nightmarish quality to them, but then that pretty much stays with the story. I would not recommend this for kids under 7. My 8 year old enjoyed it and was on the edge of her seat, but she was never hiding her face or clinging to me for protection.
Overall, this is a superior movie. It goes beyond my classification of a "fun movie", which is one that you over-look the obvious flaws because it is fun to watch. You care about these characters and identify with them, and find yourself wishing you could stay in their world for a while longer.