Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
MPAA Rating:
 for sequences of fantasy violence and frightening imagesReviewed by: Sheri McMurray Very Offensive
Moviemaking Quality:
 ½ Primary Audience:
Kids
Genre:
Action, Adventure, Kids, Family, Fantasy
Length:
2 hr. 30 min.
Year of Release:
2005
       Relevant Issues
Is “Harry Potter” Harmless? Answer What is the Occult? Answer What does the Bible say about the occult? Answer An Open Letter to Wiccan Believers - GO What does the Bible say about spirits being left behind on earth after death? Answer Harry Potter, Sorcery and Fantasy Offsite Harry Potter: A Journey to Power Offsite Harry Potter: Seduction into the Dark World of the Occult Offsite Difficult times lie ahead, Harry. Producer’s Synopsis: “In his fourth year at Hogwarts, Harry faces his greatest challenges and dangers yet. When he is selected under mysterious circumstances as a contestant in the Triwizard Tournament, Harry must compete against the best young wizards from schools all over Europe. But as he prepares, signs begin to point to the return of Lord Voldemort. Before long, Harry is playing not just for the Cup, but for his life.” Harry where did you go? It’s like the whole movie is hiding under that stupid invisible cloak. I thought Harry Potter was going somewhere, but this latest installment is hard to follow because it tries too hard to include everybody and everything from the first three. “Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire” spends so much time trying to recapture the success of it’s predecessor’s that it becomes long and often had me wishing it would hurry Harry up and get onto the real action! I must stress these films are getting darker, more sinister and definitely more satanic in nature. In a nutshell, Harry Potter’s world has always been inherently chaotic. He became an orphan when his parents were killed by the evil wizard Voldemort. As the rest of the wizards didn’t want him to grow up under the vengeful eye of Voldemort, they left him on the doorstep of his human relatives, his strict and often abusive Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon and his cousin Dudley. This idea, although meant to shield him from harm, turns out horribly. They make him live in the closet under the stairs and shower his cousin with all the love in the family. He never felt loved or accepted in any way, and he definitely didn’t feel he had any power to change his life. On his 11th birthday, Harry gets a letter explaining that he has special powers he doesn’t know about. He is invited to study at Hogwarts School of Wizardry where, instead of being a 'nobody,' he is well respected. He meets lots of new friends, two in particular Hermione and Ron, who become like a real family to him. There, through all three preceding films, Harry has untold magical adventures. Sounds great, huh? Well, it’s not quite that simple. You see, Harry and all the friends in his imaginary world are witches and wizards. They try to do good things and defeat evil, but in reality, there is no such thing as a good witch or wizard. People who use witchcraft in the real world are not getting their power (if any) from God. The Bible tells us that any power that doesn’t come from God is evil. So, for our own protection, God tells us not to do these things:
The actual Goblet of Fire is a sort of voting box into which names are placed by qualified students (absolutely no one under the age of 17) vying to be chosen from three select groups to be champions in the Tri-Wizard Tournament — a high echelon on the wizardry ladder. The winner takes home the coveted glowing prize: The Wizard’s Cup. Somehow, on the day names are chosen by the Goblet of Fire, Harry’s name pops out as a fourth competitor. Everyone is shocked, especially Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), since he never even considered, much less placed his name as a contender in this grueling, dangerous and often fatal game. There is nothing that can be changed, and Harry, by rules and rights, has to play in the Tournament, as the Magical Contract is binding; once chosen you must play. The rest of the chosen few are robust winners including from Durmstrang, girl-magnet Viktor Krum (Stanislav Ianevski), undisputed Quidditch star — from Madame Maxime’s Beauxbatons, Miss Fleur Delacour (Clemence Poesy) with a knack for casting spells — and from Hogwarts comes Cedric Diggory (Robert Pattinson), upperclassman, and an all-around good guy. 14 year old Harry has some other problems as well—terribly disturbing dreams — he has to convince his best friend, Ron (not to mention other students and faculty), that he didn’t cheat to get into this mess — plus he has to measure up to the task of dancing, as the annual Yule Ball is fast approaching. Harry secretly contacts Sirius Black to find answers to his dilemma. Sirius warns that there are devils within the walls of Hogwarts, and Harry is not safe. The Tri-Wizard Tourney does bring in many new students from around the world. This is a valuable lesson in International Magical Cooperation and allows Harry to churn up a crush on a beautiful, raven-haired girl from another region of wizardry. Alas, when he gets up enough courage to ask her to the dance, she admits she likes him too, but has accepted a date from another guy. Harry doesn’t waste much time in asking his second choice and encourages Ron (Rupert Grint) to do the same. Not apparent to many until the night of the Yule Ball itself is that Ron has wanted to ask Hermione (Emma Watson) all along and is extremely despondent when she arrives on the arm of the ace Tri-Tourney jock, Viktor Krum. Harry’s roommate Neville Longbottom (Matthew Lewis) makes a touching entry into adulthood as we watch him change from class nerd into confident dancer and steadfast friend. As for the adults, Michael Gambon’s Dumbledore has a greater presence in this film, but the Draco image is downsized to perhaps two lines while Professors McGonagall (Maggie Smith) and Snape (Alan Rickman) were forced to the back of the line, which was a disappointment to me as these characters always held the cast together. The gentle giant, Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane) indulges in a romance with the even-taller-than-he, Madame Maxime (Frances de la Tour). “Goblet” has two new additions in Brendan Gleeson as Dark Arts professor Alastor “Mad-Eye” Moody (with a marble eye disturbingly rotating while peering out through a make-shift sling — something the younger viewers will probably have nightmares about — and Miranda Richardson as Rita Skeeter, a nosey tabloid journalist that writes all the wrong stuff. The tournament’s three contests provide the excuse for breath-taking CGI “magic,” and it is a visual wonder. The CGI includes a very realistic Hungarian Horntail dragon perched angrily atop Hogwarts' highest spire, an underwater world of beastly mermaids, and a maze of hungry mobile hedges. These are images with perhaps too-realistic staying power, which may keep little ones up all night (so Mom and Dad beware). These special effects aren’t just trendy, as in the horror film genre, but organic to the Harry Potter series' more darkening tone. It is from this point on that “Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire” deals with issues of romance, jealousy, revenge, peril and death with perhaps a heavier hand than some 14 year olds can endure. Shrouded in darkness from within the characters and the bleakly overcast weather without, this Harry Potter takes a grim form. The screen was so dark that I had a hard time telling one character from another. I still do not approve of the PG-13 rating (adventure/fantasy) because of the threatening and malevolent images of violence, blood, emotional distress, death and of Voldemort, the devil himself! Ralph Fiennes plays the evil Voldemort (pale grey, bald, muscular, eerily noseless, and very unpleasant). This beast provides a jolt that promises to last the entire series (wherever that may lead), and to could give some children nocturnal panic. We hear the wail of a grieving father toward the end of the movie, it’s the first genuinely human moment in the “Harry Potter” films, but it is a haunting image and may cause distress in small kids. There is a hint that spirits can be called up from the dead to save characters, and that dreams can be put together to form a bond with others, not like a prophet prophesies, but for conjuring evil. There is also a very dark and satanic comparison between the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ and Voldemort (the devil) in a chant in a graveyard to summon Voldemort’s body from a “grave.” It goes a bit like this: “Bone of the fathers, flesh sacrificed, blood forcibly taken…” I, personally, took this as blasphemy. Not that there isn’t any positive elements in this Potter edition: Harry uses more than magic to solve his problems. He uses his wits and knowledge of good and evil. Harry learns that a friend’s life is worth more than “the prize.” This tournament forces Harry to recognize his strengths, that we all must face our “dragons.” Others also see his “outstanding moral fiber.” This Potter also takes us into the world of the adolescent at the verge of becoming an adult. It deals with and faces the challenge of first love, first date and the angst of the whole process. Dumbledore makes a relevant statement to his charges: “Soon, we must all choose between what is right and what is easy.” In the end they may not wind up happy in the “maze” of life, but they learn that “Although we come from different places and speak different tongues, our hearts beat as one.” As in all Harry Potter films, Ron does utter a few words that are borderline problematic, such as: piss-off and bloody hell. Other than these, I couldn’t put my finger on any real foul language. I was more concerned with the images and all-around unchristian dark mood of this Potter drama. My bottom line is to NOT take any child under 16 to this one, no matter what the rating states. Many parents are naively unaware of the dangers of witchcraft, because they don’t know what the Bible says against it. Some Potter fans say these stories are not satanistic, but I do not agree. If it’s not from Satan, then who is it from? It’s definitely not from God, and that’s according to scripture. I found in the World Dictionary the word “Wicca” which was connected with the word wicked, meaning evil, and also the word “witch.” So, as for the school of Hogwarts, I see it as a school of witchcraft. Sorry Potter fans, I know the books and these great movies are interesting and fun to watch or read, but we gotta call a duck a duck, no matter how the feathers are concealed. There’s this other dictionary, The Holy Bible, that has a lot to say against the practices of witchcraft that includes, sorcery, mediums, wizards, magic, etcetera. According to Webster’s New World Dictionary, a female sorcerer is a witch. According to Gal. 5:19-21, referring to those who practice sorcery it says. “Those who do such things shall NOT inherit the Kingdom of God.”
My prayer is that anyone who becomes interested in witchcraft by watching or reading the Harry Potter series, will search the Scriptures first. Many of us, especially children and young teens, are unaware of the Biblical warning in Revelation 21:8 and 22:14-15 which includes the sorcerers. The verses end by saying, “all these shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” And again: “The blessed will have the right to the Tree of Life, but the lost, and the sorcerers and all those who have done wicked things, will have no part of Heaven.” Even though I may not have approved of “Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire” on a Christian level, the Potter fans in the audience of this sold out theater gave it applause, cheers, and some a standing ovation. We must remember this and never disobey God by experimenting with witchcraft and magic. May God’s Law prevail in every heart and win! Harry Potter’s imaginary world may be exciting, but there is a real-life adventure that’s even more wonderful. It’s an adventure that God designed, and it’s waiting for you! Violence: Moderate / Profanity: Minor / Sex/Nudity: Minor See list of Relevant Issues — questions-and-answers. Year of Release — 2005 / USA release: November 18, 2005 (wide) REVIEWS OF OTHER HARRY POTTER MOVIES
 Negative - The evolution of Harry Potter has taken the world by storm and its pubescent look into the world of adolescent wizardry and witchcraft. The recent adaptation Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is the latest book to hit the screen in yet another attempt to not only monopolize the franchise but also to induct a whole new generation into the cinematic versions of the books. The Goblet of Fire is attempting this time to reach the teen age crowd by thrusting the once 'family' movies into being strictly for the above 13 genre. Neutral - Goblet of Fire was ok. Better than the first two, not as good as the third. The third was thrillingly different; it was artistically directed and unique enough to make it a stand-alone adventure. It transcended the genre of 'kid’s movie' and was gripping for adults, too. This fourth installment harkens back to the first two. It has amazing special effects, but they mask the obviously weak story. Negative - I wanted to add a comment on the series' offensiveness that I haven’t seen mentioned. I decided to read the books in order to have an educated opinion on the subject. My initial objection to witchcraft is still valid, but I found something much more practical in our everyday lives. Everything these 'heroes' do is based in rebellion. They are constantly breaking rules to do their 'good' They never just go tell an adult, like I would prefer for my children to do. Apparently, the message that JK Rowlings wants to spread is that adults cannot be trusted, therefore, breaking the rules is the only option. Do you really want to let your children lose themselves in this world of Harry Potter? Is fun a good reason to do something that could be damaging? Consider the maturity of your children and their ability to see this from outside if you want them to watch it. As a 28 year old, I felt I was ok to view it. Is your 12 year old? Or are they still young and impressionable? Positive - This was a very good movie, excellently done, although it did deviate from the book a bit. The CG effects were absolutely amazing, and it was really wonderful to see how Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson have matured over the years. The visuals were stunning, and I couldn’t take my eyes off the screen for a minute. That’s my view as a moviegoer. Now, as a Christian, I have always been able to discern truth from fiction, and have had no interest in joining the occult or in spell-casting, even after reading the Harry Potter books and seeing the movies. However, if your child has shown any signs of wanting to become a wizard or a witch, I highly recommend keeping them from reading the books or seeing the movies, at least until they realize that, while the books make for a good read, and the movies are fun to watch, real 'magic' is of the OCCULT and is very, very dangerous for humans to get involved with. Positive - INCREDIBLE. With the past few Potter films, I have been relatively unimpressed. They were fine entertainment, but nothing that special. The first two meandered about, and though the third entry, PRISONER OF AZKABAN, came close to greatness, it just didn’t reach the heights of what it could have been. Negative - …I just want to comment on how much this series has negatively affected my child. I let my son read the first book and took him to the movie. I didn’t much care for the movie but didn’t realize how much it made my son want to be a wizard. He started carrying around a stick and trying to cast spells on things. I thought, 'oh this is just a phase. He’ll grow out of it.' Then he tried to fly with my broom…off the roof of our house. He broke both of his legs because he is possessed by this book. I haven’t let him read or view any of the other ones, and I won’t but he is clearly possessed because he keeps asking me if he can ,and he still wants to be a wizard, and he doesn’t want to go to church anymore.… Neutral - To be honest, I have grown tired of the formula of the Harry Potter films. The usual 'Harry stuck at Dursley’s, uses magic to make them mad, gets out and goes to Hogwarts, plays quidditch, fights badguy, goes back home' is getting tiresome. This movie, however, is quite different than the previous Potter installments. It has its slow moments, but is still a movie worth seeing and has some good action sequences. Positive - On a first, non-biblical note, parents are strongly advised to not take their children to this movie if they have any doubts as to their child’s ability to take in disturbing images. As far as story goes, the film is faithful and presents Voldemort in a unsettling and frightening way. Also, the challenges that Harry faces are actual life-and-death matters; he is seriously in mortal peril for long stretches of time. I don’t think that younger viewers can handle that. Positive - …The movie is easily far and away the best of the four. It was terrifically fun, funny, suspenseful, and well-done. We’ve only read about 180 pages of the book -- which translated to perhaps the first 15 minutes of the movie! …Rowling bends over backwards to depict her magical world as NOT AN OPTION for ANY of her readers.… How so? Her world is divided crisply into two species, as distinct as Valar and Hobbit in Tolkien. They are 'muggles' and witches/wizards. Muggles cannot do magic, period. All of Rowling’s readers are, by that definition, 'muggles,' and magic is not an option to them. (Additionally, she depicts the magical world as pretty ugly and gruesome, not terribly romantic at all.) Negative - Why would I, or any Christian, think about watching this movie. We read in the Bible God’s command to avoid witchcraft, witches, soothsayers et al. and yet feel that if there is a lesson to be learned or an entertainment to be had we can put asides God’s law and decide for ourselves what is good for us to do. Should we commit adultery because it helps us love our husbands or wives better? Should we steal because it helps us put our children through Christian school? Why can’t we all just obey God and not second guess what He has said is best for us. The reward is far greater than what titillation such entertainments can offer, and these titillations are certainly not worth losing our reward. Positive - …the best installment yet. Watching a movie has nothing to do with your faith. Only when you start practicing witchcraft and making that your religion is when you are going against your beliefs. At least, that is how I feel on the matter. Positive - I really loved this film, my only real complaint is that I wish it could have been about 30 minutes longer which, I believe, would have given it a little more depth. Having read all the books, Goblet of Fire is actually my favorite, as there’s just a lot to capture the imagination, with the Tri-Wizard Tournament and all, and I was completely engrossed from the very first page. Having said that, it can be difficult to put any book, especially one that long, into a movie, so I am very aware that it’s never going to be exactly like the book, and it really was a well-made movie. Negative - I cannot believe that there are Christians who would actually view this movie, especially parents who would take their kids. It is blatant witchcraft. The bible says 'the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for whom he may devour'. Let’s wake up!! The enemy is targeting our kids, our next generation. The bible also says this (please get this next point, it is crucial). In Matthew 24 the bible says this,
I want you to notice that last verse, 'Because lawlessness will abound the love of many will grow cold'. Did you know that the word 'lawlessness' is translated from the Hebrew to more accurately mean the word, 'witchcraft'?
God has called us to be on fire, not lukewarm, not cold, but passionate and on fire. So when looking at this Harry Potter series, can you not see that the enemy is trying create a generation of kids that will practice witchcraft and have their love grown cold?? If your kids are christians, protect them. It’s not just a movie, it’s an assignment from the enemy. Positive - This movie was excellent visually. However, I think it spent too much time on the action and not enough on developing characters, like Rita Skeeter, Cedric, Snape and Malfoy who, in the book, play bigger roles. …It doesn’t necessarily focus on him doing a 'good' spell and winning that way. HP wins because good wins over evil. You can see HP is a moral guy. He does what is right — saves Cedric in the maze, saves Fleur’s little sis for example. Dumbledore tells him he has the choice to do what is right and what is easy. And what does HP pick? What is RIGHT. He fights Voledemort. Mind you, I don’t feel the books are as dark as this movie was… Positive - …As parents, our job is to 'train up a child in the way he should go' while being ' in the world but not of it'. How can we protect them from all of the evils in this world? The answer is WE CAN’T. They are going to be exposed to swear words, cruel friends, angry adults, immoral pictures, violence and witchcraft SOMETIME as they grow and it is our job to filter out what we can, and deal lovingly and biblically with what we can’t. It is not the responsibility of a movie or a book to teach my child morals and values, it is mine. Harry Potter is great reading and a great movie. It is a Fairy-tale or Fantasy and that means it is, NOT REAL, and it should be an opening for discussing with our children what is real—THE BIBLE and who has the ultimate power-JESUS! Positive - This movie was awesome! Hands down, the best one so far. It definitely deserved the PG-13 rating, however, and I was a bit surprised to see so many young children in the theater. This is not a kid’s movie! That being said, considering how much material they had to cut out from the 700 page book, the filmmakers did a remarkable job. One word on Harry Potter: I am a devout Catholic and have no problem with Harry Potter (none of my other Christian friends do either)… Positive - …very, very good. Exciting, funny, but very scary. NOT for kids, very entertaining for adults and mature teens. Comments from young people
Negative - …a new impressive way the devil snares children and those who truly don’t know the dangers of witchcraft and sorcery. …these movies promote sorcery and witchcraft. …Though the movie was pretty good in film making and cinematography, I still see a satanic element in it. Especially when one character is cutting Harry with a dagger to extract blood to put in a pot for some sort of concoction to raise 'Lord Voldermort'. Positive - I love the Harry Potter movies, every one of them. This was the best one so far in my opinion. In response to another rating that I read, children do take movies seriously, especially ones about make-believe and magic. My advice is watch your children and don’t let them end up on a roof with a broom! Talk to them about how the movie is just make-believe BEFORE you go see it. They may take it too literally. Being a teenage christian, the violence is not intended for small children, and I can’t speak for parents, but I don’t think the violence will alter your 8 year old too terribly. GREAT MOVIE!! Positive - …This movie is clearly the best so far. …This movie is rather violent, so its smart also to make sure you’re not taking them to a movie just to drag them out halfway through. We see all of the characters maturing and the climax is amazing and worth waiting for. Even if it’s not the happy ending you pictured. If you’ve read the books like me, you’ll probably nitpick over scenes taken out, just remembers its already two and a half hours long. All in all, everything was awesome. Positive - I really loved this movie!! It had action, mild horror, and laughs too. …Yes, it does introduce witchcraft and wizardry, but it is the person’s choice whether or not to fall into it and want to become a wizard. I am a strong Christian, and I adore these books and movies. I try my best to go see the movies on the day they come out. But, I am not negatively affected by them. It just depends on the person. Neutral - Goblet of Fire was pretty darn good!! It was my favorite book out of the series, so I was really excited to see the movie, but I wished they had put a few more things in like SPEW and the begriming with the Dursleys! The characters were a lot better, and they did a great job of playing up the awkwardness of teenage years. Ron was hilarious, Harry seemed a lot more like a real teenager, Hermione was still herself but in a more grown up way, and Fred and George were hilarious as always! Positive - This move was very well done and Harry’s decisions are very moral and on a Christian’s path, if you will, although they left out some key things from the book (and I’m not talking about the Dursley’s) made me a little disappointed but, the story, acting and message behind it is great. Negative - Horrible movie(s)! Harry Potter has changed the younger generation for the worst! Children are obsessed with Harry Potter and it is becoming more and more spiritual! When you read these books and watch these movies, it opens the door for evil to come in even if you are a Christian and you think nothing bad could happen to you. I do not read or watch Harry Potter because of the effect it has had on my best friends. My best friend was the sweetest person in the world. She loved everyone and would never swear or do anything bad. She was a strong believer in Christ. Once she started reading and watching Harry Potter, her life changed. Every other word out of her mouth was a swear word. She started saying spells that were in Harry Potter and acting just like Hermione. She started to smoke, drink and do drugs in 7th grade! She cut herself and turned gothic and before I knew it, she was wiccan. She believes wiccans aren’t bad witches, but in reality, all witches are the same.…(Just so you know, we are all in 9th grade right now.) These movies effect your children at a young age! Don’t take your children to see them! Keep the doors closed to witchcraft!! Positive - …I found this movie keeping me on the edge of my seat and amazing music and picture! The only thing that I didn’t like about this movie was the fact that they did a lot of skipping! Positive - Since I am just 13, and have read all the books and watched all the movies, I must say that this new one is awesome. As a teen, I say that the movie doesn’t ask us to become witches or wizards. I think it’s just for our entertainment. The Bible tells us that we should not practice witchcraft. And I agree with that. I watch the movie for my entertainment, NOT to learn witchcraft and such. I advise that if parents are going to take kids to watch the movie, they should first make sure that the children aren’t going to make the movie their idol and that they know it’s just a make-believe movie and not real. Positive - I loved this movie. I felt that it portrayed the book wonderfully in the amount of allotted time. I own all 6 books and have read them numerous times. I also own the first three movies on DVD which I have watched plenty of times. I am also a Free Will Baptist Christian. However, I do not believe that the Harry Potter series portray any sort of santanistic beliefs. Harry Potter Series are just books based on imaginary things and places. These books are extremely well written and have caused many children to read more. All in all I feel that there is absolutely nothing wrong with anything Harry Potter and that the Fourth Movie was absolutely wonderful. Positive - I personally really enjoyed this movie. The acting and special effects were just great and it was 10 times better than any of the other movies. The three young actors/actresses have really grown up not only physically but in their acting abilities. …These stories are about a teenage kid and his life. He goes through tough times with the loss of loved ones, bullies, making friends, going out for the team, and that sometimes life can be cruel. …I do agree though with some of the other commenters on this movie that it is very dark and little kids should not see it. Parents should tell there kids that believing in magic is not a good thing and to let them know how God feels about the practice of witchcraft. Neutral - Personally, I have nothing against this movie. I do agree that it is, of course, very wrong to practice witchcraft and magic. But Harry Potter is not a satanic… …Of course, you can rest assured it’s not from God, but it isn’t from the devil either. Some things are just of the world. …It’s good entertainment, end of story. The movie was somewhat disappointing though. Many scenes were cut and it got very rushed towards the end. But Cedric’s death was good. It is an improvement from the other movies, but there should have been quidditch. …The PG-13 is somewhat warranted, it can get creepy for little kids. But seriously, teenagers handle worse stuff than this. It’s hardly offensive. Basically, it’s an average movie. Positive - …I was very pleased with it. I have read all 6 books, and seen all 4 movies. …On an artistic level, this installment in the series is way beyond the previous ones. It is very well-made. The cinematography and directing is definitely beyond any of the others. Lastly, the content is somewhat intense, and a short section contains some pretty violent material. I would not advise taking young children to this movie. As for anyone else, if you want a movie with good morals (selflessness, love, friendship, doing what’s right even when it’s difficult), no sex scenes, and no heavy language, go see 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.' Positive - This movie was pretty good. There are a lot of funny parts! Everybody at the theatre, including me, laughed. It had a great story to it, and it was better than the rest of the series. I will have to warn you though that this movie should only be viewed by ages 9 and up. The movies are getting more violent. There are some creepy parts, I was even creeped out a little. It only gets creepy when it comes to the part where Harry and the rest of the wizards/witches in the triwizard tournament enter the maze. From there to the end, it was creepy. Also, there were parts where somebody said God’s name in vain, and there were parts where Ron kept on saying bloody h***.… Positive - This movie was spectacular! The main actors - Daniel, Rupert, and Emma - have really grown and matured and improved in their acting. The other actors - all of the teachers except Dumbledore and Moody, students, Sirius Black - had smaller parts, which was sort of disappointing but understandable (the movie can only be so big), but the people playing them performed very well and to the best of their ability. The special effects were simply brilliant; the filmmakers, while not as good as those of Pirates of the Caribbean, definitely did a superb job at the dragon, the maze, the lake, the graveyard, the brief shot of the Quidditch World Cup, the Goblet itself, and loads of others. The costume designers were brilliant, also - when I first saw the Death Eaters, chills went down my spine and just the thought of imagining those people dressed and sounding like that breaking into my home - well, needless to say, the costume designers definitely put the point across that these people were *meant* to scare you. Actually, they were just as scary as Voldemort! (Ralph Fiennes did an excellent job as him, by the way! Matched all of my imaginations expectations, minus that he didn’t have red eyes). Positive - I myself am a huge Harry Potter fan, I’ve read all the books… It was easily the best movie yet, and possibly one of the best movies of the year. Yes, there was swearing, and some suggestive innuendos, but that doesn’t really bother me because I’ve read the books and I know why they’re doing/saying what they are. …it really does depend on how mature the kid is that’s watching the movie. I really don’t think you should see this movie if you haven’t read the book, because they left a lot of things out. All in all, I really liked it and I would go see it again if I got the chance. …please don’t bring your little kids to this because there was this little girl sitting behind me and she talked through the entire movie. There are some scary moments, but it’s not really THAT bad. If your kids are sensitive, and don’t know right from wrong, then don’t take them to this movie. It’s that simple.… Positive - Excellent movie! the acting was amazing as well as the special effects and story line. Many christians are worried that Harry Potter changes kids and lead them to Satan. But in Harry Potter, magic is looked on as an organized society of witches and Wizards, NOT as a religion of blood-drinking Satan worshipers! In the magic world, there are still rules that need to be followed and punishment occurs when the rules are broken. And remember, this is fantsy! Witches and Wizards have been in children’s literature for many years! Look at the “Wizard of Oz” and “Fantasia.” br /> Movie Critics
“…Darkest yet… As I looked around the theater and saw little children dressed as wizards, watching one horror after another on the big screen, my heart broke for the sheer lack of parental discernment.…” “…Darker magic… strong pagan worldview with very strong occult content…” “…glamorizes witchcraft… it gets harder to make light of the sorcery when a potion requires that a man hack off his own hand, borrow a bone from a rotting corpse and drain blood from Harry’s arm…” “…oddly less scary in some ways than last year’s “Prisoner of Azkaban”… the movie verges on overlong…” “…If “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” isn’t the best in the (so far) four-film franchise, it’s certainly the most entertaining.…” “…indisputably the best movie in the franchise thus far…” |
