Time whizzes by and I, I write of glimpses I steal

Thursday, December 01, 2005

Goblet of fire - after the movie

Harry Potter and The goblet of fire rocks. It fared much better than what loyal Harry Potter fans are bound to dread in a big-screen adaptation of what many claim their favourite of the Harry Potters.

The movie did have its disappointing moments. Many disappointing moments.

The first task with the dragons was a major letdown. It was disheartening to see Harry hardly worried about his imminent death in the tasks. It was as if he knew that he was the hero of the story and nothing could happen to him. Where is the shock at being called the fourth champion, where is the fear when Hagrid shows him the dreaded dragons and where is the desperation to find something, just anything to make him survive the nightmare.

Why doesn't Steve Kloves understand that "Cheap thrills maketh no movie good". Harry Potter is not a wizard 'Spy kid' with cool spells instead of cool gadgets (even the 'magic' part of it was not emphasised enough).

Another major grievance; why is it that nobody no longer gasps when Harry enunciates Lord Voldemort's name (Remember even Luciuc Malfoy is scared to utter or even hear his name). Why is there no fear, no terror? And when Dumbledore declares that the cause of Cedric's death was murder, everybody just turns around and say, Yeah Right! Whatever! No Aahs! No tears!

Hermione is right! We don't care about other magical creatures. S.P.E.W. and House-Elves Liberation Front are necessary. What happened to Dobby and Winky? Dispensable, are they? Agreed you have severe time constraints. Still, what happens to Mr. Crouch (Sr.) who is shown unconscious in the forest and then nothing happens. Harry doesn't even mention it to Dumbledore (which is why he comes to his office in the first place). Could have dispensed with it as well.

Criticisms apart, I think the comic moments in the movie were tickling-had the hall laughing loud. The Yule ball was grand, the Quidditch World Cup fleetingly brilliant and Harry's flirting attempts with Cho Chang, amusing. And the confrontation with the Dark Lord was intensely, darkly vivid. Perhaps the best part of the movie.

I am eternally indebted to Ms. T who is the friend of Ms. K, who is the friend of Mr.A, who is my friend, for standing in an interminable queue for an hour to get the tickets. (And for the company - always feels good to watch a HP movie with people who have read the books and enjoy them as much as you do)

Subtlety, that was what the film lacks. And magic.

1 comment:

Ajit said...

hey, i thought the voldemort part was a letdown. on the positive side, i guess there was more 'magic' and less 'evil'!