Goblet of Fire out on DVD today! - Page 5

Prudence · 03-11-2006, 04:53 PM

So I sent BT out this morning to rent the DVD so I could give my two pfennigs.

First - re: "I love magic" - didn't bother me, and if I hadn't been looking for it I wouldn't have noticed it. If I had to assess it, I'd say that Harry's spent most of his life among muggles or at Hogwarts and doesn't see wizards using magic in every day situations that often, unless he's with the Weaslys. Thus, he's expecting one thing when he sees the tents and it turns out to be magic and wonderful and he's reminded that magic is cool.

Again, that's if I had to assess it and was feeling inclined to defend it. Reality is that I wouldn't have noticed had I not been looking for it.

Second - re: Dumbledore - I agree that his potrayal differs from the prior movies, and I'm not sure it's all the actor's fault. This story was condensed so much and the parts with the outside world were mostly cut out. So we don't see the growing tension in the ministry as they try to pretend everything's under control when dark eater signs are appearing and clearly something is wrong. I'm wondering if the change in the movie Dumbledore is deliberate on the part of the director/screenwriter to substitute for the stress the book attributes to other adults. Since we don't really see the ministers, someone else has to provide the sense of "people in charge are really worried, so we should be worried, too." If this is the case, I think it was a mistake to alter a central figure.

Third: pacing way WAY too fast. It really would have been better as two movies - one covering the events leading up to the cup, and one covering the cup itself. We could have learned more about the characters and the tension could have built more realistically.

Forth - re: the trio - I do think it captured some of the teen angst well - not knowing where you stand with your friends, or even with yourself.

Funniest part: Hagrid dancing with Madame Maxime.

Miscellany: not nearly enough Snape. Boo hiss! Meanwhile, I'm developing a fangirl crush on Lucius Malfoy. What is it with me and the movie villians? Also, thought Rita Skeeter was a hoot, even if I did keep waiting for her to shout "Nursie!"

wendybeth · 03-11-2006, 07:23 PM

The funniest part to me is when Snape tugs his sleeves up and smacks the boy's heads together. That, and the Weasley twins- every scene they were in was great.

Ponine · 03-11-2006, 10:59 PM

I agree with both people above on some counts.
I loved it.
I loved Snape.... needed to see more of him. But I lust after Rickman, so there you go.
I love Malfoy, but... I have a fan girl crush on Isaacs... imo, not enough of him.

Dumbledore... he's not Richard Harris. Period. But, I thought he was okay, maybe a bit tired.

I am not a huge Potter geek, but I think the story could have been stretched a bit, and I liked the feeling we left with.
I had read this book, and was sorry we didnt see more of Cho or Cedric.
All in all, I had fun.

oh, and "I love magic"? I was okay with it. I understood what he meant. "I will never tire of magic" , might have been a better line.

innerSpaceman · 03-12-2006, 08:55 AM

Oh please. He's just spend his usual summer with the Muggles. He's spent all of an evening (in the movie) with the Weasley's, and he's had his first happy magical morning in a long time. He says "I love magic." Is there really a problem?

Dumbledore's character change is, however, a legitimate source of ire. It's a big change from the character in the book. Prudence pointed out that the anger in Gambon's performance could have been a deliberate point of story condencing. But what about if it were just a point of editing, and the explanation for it ended up on the cutting room floor?

I've a feeling there's another whole film on the Goblet of Fire cutting room floor.

tracilicious · 03-12-2006, 03:07 PM

Even if some of it were a matter of editing, it can't all be. Think about when Dumbledore was in his chamber with Harry. He flies around the room freaking out, and then sits on the floor in a huff exclaiming that the situation is driving him mad. Dumbledore just doesn't wear his emotions on his sleeve like that. I also missed the kindness in him during the last scene with he and Harry. I don't think he would have so abruptly told Harry that he can't bring his parents back.

Perhaps this is their way of detaching us from him since he dies in book six? Maybe they don't want their audience getting angry about his death?

I'm glad that it isn't two movies. It easily could have been, but I really want to see them make all seven movies. They need to do it as quickly as possible for that to happen.

And just because it's been bugging me, Harry is fourteen in this movie, not thirteen.

lindyhop · 03-12-2006, 04:22 PM

I liked this movie until I re-read the book about a month later. After that all I could think was that only the Cliff's Notes version was filmed. There was just too much great stuff left out.

BarTopDancer · 03-12-2006, 05:32 PM

Perhaps Page 596 in Half-Blood Price

Spoiler:

katiesue · 03-12-2006, 09:04 PM

I watched some kind of making of special before the movie came out. The film makers had originally wanted to make it two films but no one could come up with a good place to split the story, so they ended up with the cliff notes version.

innerSpaceman · 03-13-2006, 06:13 PM

Frankly, I think Harris played Dumbledore too kindly and ineffectually. He was a wisp of a man, obviously near death. I sensed nothing but kindness in him as Dumbledore ... no strength, no mystery, no awesomeness.

Gambon is not my perfect Dumbledore either, but I admire him playing it a bit more forcefully than his predecessor did. I, too, think that roughing Harry up was over the line. But I'm fine with him "Silence"ing the assembled students rather gruffly, and being a bit more cantankerous and eccentric all around.

I'm not glad Richard Harris is dead ... but I am happy that he was replaced in the role.

LSPoorEeyorick · 03-13-2006, 07:12 PM

I'm just thinking of the kind of force required for the climax of OotP and there's no way Harris at his age could have had the fire and strength required for that. And the physical demands (and sheer screen-time) of HBP... there's just no way. While I disagree with the *writing* of Dumbledore's character in the later films (frankly, the earlier ones too-- I always mourned the lack of oddment, blubber, nitwit, tweak--) I think that Gambon is playing the role as written in Kloves' screenplay.

Also, I totally love magic, and can imagine myself saying so in the situation (or, in the audience, at that exact moment.) Harry is the eyes of the audience, ergo, it's OK that he said "I love magic" if it's something I'd say. For you, perhaps not. For me, just fine.

03-11-2006, 04:53 PM	#41
Prudence Beelzeboobs, Esq. Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Gavel - I haz it Posts: 6,287	So I sent BT out this morning to rent the DVD so I could give my two pfennigs. First - re: "I love magic" - didn't bother me, and if I hadn't been looking for it I wouldn't have noticed it. If I had to assess it, I'd say that Harry's spent most of his life among muggles or at Hogwarts and doesn't see wizards using magic in every day situations that often, unless he's with the Weaslys. Thus, he's expecting one thing when he sees the tents and it turns out to be magic and wonderful and he's reminded that magic is cool. Again, that's if I had to assess it and was feeling inclined to defend it. Reality is that I wouldn't have noticed had I not been looking for it. Second - re: Dumbledore - I agree that his potrayal differs from the prior movies, and I'm not sure it's all the actor's fault. This story was condensed so much and the parts with the outside world were mostly cut out. So we don't see the growing tension in the ministry as they try to pretend everything's under control when dark eater signs are appearing and clearly something is wrong. I'm wondering if the change in the movie Dumbledore is deliberate on the part of the director/screenwriter to substitute for the stress the book attributes to other adults. Since we don't really see the ministers, someone else has to provide the sense of "people in charge are really worried, so we should be worried, too." If this is the case, I think it was a mistake to alter a central figure. Third: pacing way WAY too fast. It really would have been better as two movies - one covering the events leading up to the cup, and one covering the cup itself. We could have learned more about the characters and the tension could have built more realistically. Forth - re: the trio - I do think it captured some of the teen angst well - not knowing where you stand with your friends, or even with yourself. Funniest part: Hagrid dancing with Madame Maxime. Miscellany: not nearly enough Snape. Boo hiss! Meanwhile, I'm developing a fangirl crush on Lucius Malfoy. What is it with me and the movie villians? Also, thought Rita Skeeter was a hoot, even if I did keep waiting for her to shout "Nursie!" __________________ traguna macoities tracorum satis de
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03-11-2006, 07:23 PM	#42
wendybeth Nevermind Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 7,847	The funniest part to me is when Snape tugs his sleeves up and smacks the boy's heads together. That, and the Weasley twins- every scene they were in was great. __________________
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03-11-2006, 10:59 PM	#43
Ponine Virgin Ears Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,075	I agree with both people above on some counts. I loved it. I loved Snape.... needed to see more of him. But I lust after Rickman, so there you go. I love Malfoy, but... I have a fan girl crush on Isaacs... imo, not enough of him. Dumbledore... he's not Richard Harris. Period. But, I thought he was okay, maybe a bit tired. I am not a huge Potter geek, but I think the story could have been stretched a bit, and I liked the feeling we left with. I had read this book, and was sorry we didnt see more of Cho or Cedric. All in all, I had fun. oh, and "I love magic"? I was okay with it. I understood what he meant. "I will never tire of magic" , might have been a better line. __________________ There's something strange, There's something wrong. I see a change - It's like when love dies.
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03-12-2006, 08:55 AM	#44
innerSpaceman Kink of Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inner Space Posts: 13,075	Oh please. He's just spend his usual summer with the Muggles. He's spent all of an evening (in the movie) with the Weasley's, and he's had his first happy magical morning in a long time. He says "I love magic." Is there really a problem? Dumbledore's character change is, however, a legitimate source of ire. It's a big change from the character in the book. Prudence pointed out that the anger in Gambon's performance could have been a deliberate point of story condencing. But what about if it were just a point of editing, and the explanation for it ended up on the cutting room floor? I've a feeling there's another whole film on the Goblet of Fire cutting room floor.
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03-12-2006, 03:07 PM	#45
tracilicious avatar transition Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: in-between Posts: 2,487	Even if some of it were a matter of editing, it can't all be. Think about when Dumbledore was in his chamber with Harry. He flies around the room freaking out, and then sits on the floor in a huff exclaiming that the situation is driving him mad. Dumbledore just doesn't wear his emotions on his sleeve like that. I also missed the kindness in him during the last scene with he and Harry. I don't think he would have so abruptly told Harry that he can't bring his parents back. Perhaps this is their way of detaching us from him since he dies in book six? Maybe they don't want their audience getting angry about his death? I'm glad that it isn't two movies. It easily could have been, but I really want to see them make all seven movies. They need to do it as quickly as possible for that to happen. And just because it's been bugging me, Harry is fourteen in this movie, not thirteen. __________________ And now Harry, let us step into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure! - Albus Dumbledore
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03-12-2006, 04:22 PM	#46
lindyhop Swing Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Long Beach Posts: 997	I liked this movie until I re-read the book about a month later. After that all I could think was that only the Cliff's Notes version was filmed. There was just too much great stuff left out.
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03-12-2006, 05:32 PM	#47
BarTopDancer Prepping... Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Here, there, everywhere Posts: 11,405	Perhaps Page 596 in Half-Blood Price Spoiler: occurs because of the disdain of Gambdon as Dumbledore. I think he is fine as an actor and plays Dumbledore the best that he can but he is no Harris. __________________ Spork is the new MacGyver Postcards From My Edge
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03-12-2006, 09:04 PM	#48
katiesue Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 4,678	I watched some kind of making of special before the movie came out. The film makers had originally wanted to make it two films but no one could come up with a good place to split the story, so they ended up with the cliff notes version.
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03-13-2006, 06:13 PM	#49
innerSpaceman Kink of Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inner Space Posts: 13,075	Frankly, I think Harris played Dumbledore too kindly and ineffectually. He was a wisp of a man, obviously near death. I sensed nothing but kindness in him as Dumbledore ... no strength, no mystery, no awesomeness. Gambon is not my perfect Dumbledore either, but I admire him playing it a bit more forcefully than his predecessor did. I, too, think that roughing Harry up was over the line. But I'm fine with him "Silence"ing the assembled students rather gruffly, and being a bit more cantankerous and eccentric all around. I'm not glad Richard Harris is dead ... but I am happy that he was replaced in the role.
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03-13-2006, 07:12 PM	#50
LSPoorEeyorick scribblin' Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: in the moment Posts: 3,872	I'm just thinking of the kind of force required for the climax of OotP and there's no way Harris at his age could have had the fire and strength required for that. And the physical demands (and sheer screen-time) of HBP... there's just no way. While I disagree with the writing of Dumbledore's character in the later films (frankly, the earlier ones too-- I always mourned the lack of oddment, blubber, nitwit, tweak--) I think that Gambon is playing the role as written in Kloves' screenplay. Also, I totally love magic, and can imagine myself saying so in the situation (or, in the audience, at that exact moment.) Harry is the eyes of the audience, ergo, it's OK that he said "I love magic" if it's something I'd say. For you, perhaps not. For me, just fine.
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