An entry solely about Goblet of Fire, and the adventures thereat

[cleolinda]

OMG SO AWESOME.

I have observed a lot of people's reactions to the recent movies, mostly because people are still replying to a review I wrote a year and a half ago to tell me how much they hated Prisoner of Azkaban. It seems to me that you can somewhat group fans into two camps: fans who prefer the Christmas-colored, painfully faithful Columbus movies, and fans who prefer the looser, more naturalistic Cuarón and Newell movies. I am in the latter camp; I think Cuarón and Newell have made movies that work as movies, and they are quicker on their feet, easier for non-book fans to watch, and better acted (although this is coincidence; the kids were bound to get better as they got older). Don't get me wrong: I still like the first two movies, and "Christmas-colored" is a compliment. And yes, the last two movies have regrettably dropped some key plot points, and I can sit around complaining that some of those issues could have been fixed with a skillful line insertion here or there, but I like the general mood and spirit enough to overlook that.

Wow, that got kind of serious, didn't it? All that, just to preface OMGCEDRICSQUEE! Man. *shakes head*

Anyhoo, Radcakes was awesome. In fact, I think he was a little too awesome, because he and Emma Watson had so much chemistry that I don't even know how they're going to pull the Ron-Hermione thing off at this point, and I'm starting to see why the hardcore H/Hr fans are so delusional crazed. Fleur grew on me, despite everyone complaining that she's not the raving beauty a part-veela's supposed to be. Krum's okay, but he needs more forehead. I'm not sure what was up with Dumbledore being so, ah, emotive, but that was kind of unusual. Moody was exactly the way I had imagined him (I seem to be the only one in that camp, though). Oh, and there wasn't enough Snape (there never is), but Snape pulling up his sleeves to go after Ron and Harry pwned. And the twins were integrated really well--I guess Ron's old enough now that they don't mind hanging out with him, so we got lots of twins hilarity, but it didn't seem shoehorned in. Also, I seem to be one of the few people who doesn't have a problem with Girl Power Hermione from POA, but I will admit that it lessens the impact of the Yule Ball to have her... not really look any different from normal. If they'd kept the Hermione Hair from the first movie on her all this time, that would have made her appearance at the ball shocking.

I really like what they did with Cho, though--although it did seem to me that Movie!Cho was way less invested in Cedric, who she may or may not have even known very well before the Yule Ball, and actually seemed to be aware of Harry's existence. I'm wondering if that'll facilitate the relationship they have in the next movie--it won't seem so odd, in the boiled-down movie world, that Cho could move on so quickly.

And then there was the end of the movie. For some reason, I wasn't prepared to see Ralphdemort look so... mostly Ralphish. In fact, once you get past the snake non-nose and the weird flowy robe that made him look like he'd just busted out of a hospital, I daresay he was kind of... Hotdemort. Shut up.

As for the last-last part of the movie, I admit that I'm not too hot about Dumbledore's eulogy, but if you didn't cry (or want to) over Harry fighting him for Cedric's body (or Amos keening over it, for that matter), I just... don't know.

But regarding Harry Potter, people's blood seems to run high. I won't be around today to argue anything (it's the Iron Bowl, sigh, and family is coming over), in part because I don't feel like I should have to: I enjoy what I enjoy and you can enjoy what you enjoy. You free to discuss the movies with anyone in the comments, and disagree with anyone or anything you want. However, if things turn nasty? GALADRIEL SMASH.

P.S. I totally forgot to mention that actually hearing Madame Maxime say "Dumblydorr" made my life for some reason, and the one great thing about our audience was the way it would gasp appreciatively when, say, Cedric first appeared, or Hermione showed up at the ball.

My screening was mostly college students--maybe some older high school kids as well--and we got there early enough that we ended up spending more than an hour with them in the theater. I mean, on one hand, we were seated immediately, so we didn't have to dick around in the freezing cold, which was nice. On the other hand, the Knitting Emily and I were surrounded by drama students from our alma mater, and the fact that I know this should tell you how loud they were. Hey, guess what? The girl who turned around and leaned over her seat to talk to the others for a solid hour, and then announced, "Ha, I'm the girl who leans over her seat that everyone hates!" WAS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. Maybe this is a shock to you, gang, but I don't care that you promoted Chicken Little in a big yellow chicken suit in Chattanooga, or that you can't pronounce "Ralph Fiennes" correctly, or that you're convinced Dumbledore is alive and Snape is a vampire. SIMMAH DOWN.

(Yes, I realized that we're now decrepit old ladies of 27 now, completely out of touch with The Kids Today.)

The sad part is that we didn't even contemplate crochetcular homicide for this group. No, we decided to save the Knitting Needles of Pain for the girls who kept taking blinding flash digital pictures of each other two rows in front of us for a solid half hour. Guess which direction they took the pictures in? That's right, towards the seats. ASSHOLES.

P.S. I've already had a few questions about a Fifteen Minutes for this one. GOF/15M will not be posted online. Make of that what you will...

Comments

[la-petite-singe.livejournal.com]

Definitely agree with the Columbus/Cuaron-Newell debate, and am on the same side as you are.

I'm not sure what was up with Dumbledore being so, ah, emotive, but that was kind of unusual.

Oh, I know. When he was throttling Harry after the fiasco with the name in the goblet, I was like, WTF MATE. [insert bad pun about Dumbledore 'character assassination here']

Hotdemort. *ded* Awesome.

And I had two girls behind me who had clearly never read the book, or anything other than the fall issue of CosmoGIRL, and reacted accordingly. "This meeting is no longer private." *opens door to reveal Harry* "OMG, how'd he KNOW THAT?!" *headdesk*

[la-petite-singe.livejournal.com]

(omg. first comment. life has meaning.)

[stillxmyxheart.livejournal.com]

For some reason, I wasn't prepared to see Ralphdemort look so... mostly Ralphish.... weird flowy robe that made him look like he'd just busted out of a hospital

I totally thought the same thing. I was like, "Voldy... looks like Ralph. Well lookit that."

[elyim.livejournal.com]

Yes, I was expecting him to have a totally CG'd/latex'd face beyond recognition, but it was like "woah, it's just Ralph without a nose! (How did they do that?)"

[wicked-goddess.livejournal.com]

I think I agree with absolutely everything you said. I found this film perfect and charming and jaw-droppingly beautiful. Yeah, I wish they had kept Hermoine frumpy in POA, so that you could see that amazing transformation in this film, but that certainly wasn't the fault of GOF.

Yeah, there were bits I missed, but I thought they did an amazing job of boiling down that immense book into it's essential bits.

I laughed, I cried, I absolutely loved this film.

[cellardoor28.livejournal.com]

P.S. I've already had a few questions about a Fifteen Minutes for this one. A GOF/15M will not be posted online. Make of that what you will...

oooooooooooooh

[allthelivesofme.livejournal.com]

*goes into Brain voice* "Pinky . . . are you thinking what I'm thinking?" ;-)

[wildcatlizzie.livejournal.com]

Voldemort looking like Ralph completely ruined Voldemort for me. Well, not completely, but almost. He looked too human to truly terrify me with his evilness.

There were so many appreciative gasps in my theatre. Cedric, the stadium for the World Cup, Hermione at the ball, Dan with no shirt on... I could go on, but you get the idea.

[thespianlizling.livejournal.com]

I liked how Ralph was recognizable, and I'm not just saying this as a mad drooling Ralph fan (Ralphan?), although I freely admit that I am such a one. First of all, Ralph can be one scary bastard even when he's completely prosthetic-free (Red Dragon, anyone? Schindler's List?), and that came through loud and clear. Also, I think a Voldemort that is definately a real human (as opposed to the CGI Voldemort from SS or an actor hidden under layers of disguising prosthetics -- think orc) is way more terrifying, because it reminds us that Voldemort was really a human who chose to be evil. JKR is all about the choice to be evil or good, I think.

[the-wanlorn.livejournal.com]

POA was my favorite of the bunch; I really wish he'd come back to do another/the rest/at least until Sirius kicks the bucket. If this one fits more towards the Cuarón side than the Columbus side, yay!

I haven't seen the movie yet, but Brendan Gleeson is exactly what I pictured Moody to look like, at least (which is odd, because I'm fairly certain Gleeson didn't look anything like the way Moody's described in the book). I hope is acting matches up. =D

[firei.livejournal.com]

(Yes, I realized that we're now decrepit old ladies of 27 now, completely out of touch with The Kids Today.)

That's okay, I'm 17 and completely out of touch with The Kids of Today - three high school sophmores sat at my table in the library the other day and just started talking while I was trying to work, and I gave them a complete, 'You're a perfect example of the downfall of today's society, I don't understand how your parents raised you, Ugh, kids today' rant, which was lovely and embarassing at the same time.

And that's all I have to say.

[flower4444.livejournal.com]

haha i'm a high school sophomore:) but doesn't seventeen make you a senior/junior?

[spectralbovine.livejournal.com]

Ooh. Did they already ask you to write another book?!

I still haven't seen the movie. Next week, I hope.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Not as such. I'm just... laying things away for a rainy day. : )

[thesaneminority.livejournal.com]

Cleo, wouldn't you agree that Krum looks like a pit bull?

[xuntamedx.livejournal.com]

My friend swears that Krum looks like the lovechild of an attractive orangutan and Orlando Bloom.

[clovecigarettes.livejournal.com]

Hotdemort! HAHAHA! I know exactly what you mean!

Fleur grew on me, despite everyone complaining that she's not the raving beauty a part-veela's supposed to be.
Gosh, I thought she was a real doll.

Moaning Myrtle is a dirty little ghost! Still, I'd rather Myrtle showed up in my bath than Peeves. I think.

[takarakanashi.livejournal.com]

Well, you know... when you've been locked up in a school for 50 someodd years without any ghostly nookie (let's just assume, shall we?), you're bound to try to look under the bubbles at some live boy parts.

XD

[kashmir1.livejournal.com]

Moody was exactly the way I had imagined him (I seem to be the only one in that camp, though).

*raises hand*

No, no... he is exactly how I imagined him, too. Which is good, IMO, b/c I was worried how he'd (of all the characters for some reason) translate to the big screen. Now in OoTP, I'm a little concerned about Tonks but that is an entirely different subject.

As far as the H/Hr chemistry... Yeah. I'm a bit worried how they'll pull of the R/H now, myself.

Snape pulling up his sleeves to go after Ron and Harry pwned. And the twins were integrated really well

Yes and Yes.

=D

[megmatthews20.livejournal.com]

My mom and I were actually debating when we first heard that Gleeson would be Moody over whether or not he'd pull it off. I can't remember who else I thought should play him, probably Anthony Hopkins or someone, but when I heard it would actually be Gleeson I thought he was perfect. My mom agreed, but only after watching the fourth movie.

Gleeson rocks!

cheers

[believeitup.livejournal.com]

In fact, I think he was a little too awesome, because he and Emma Watson had so much chemistry that I don't even know how they're going to pull the Ron-Hermione thing off at this point, and I'm starting to see why the hardcore H/Hr fans are so delusional crazed.

I was thinking the same thing. I love Rupert and I thought he was just excellent in this but I was a little nervous that I actually left the movie going, "Wow. The Harmonians, they make sense to me now."

if you didn't cry (or want to) over Harry fighting him for Cedric's body

I tried to be subtle about it because I think I was annoying the people around me with my other vocal reactions but seriously, that was such an amazing moment.

Randomly: will you not be putting any more M15M's online at all now, or is GoF just a sort of special case?

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

I *want* to do some more online 15Ms, but time (and before that, exhaustion) is such an issue. Also, I think using DVDs for the book spoiled me.

[fluffy-duck-211.livejournal.com]

I daresay he was kind of... Hotdemort. Shut up.
That seems to be the general opinion, actually : )

I'm on your side of the Moddy debate as well, I never understood the huge problem with him.

[fluffy-duck-211.livejournal.com]

*Moody *can't type*

[mouseykins1.livejournal.com]

I totally agree with you on Hotdemort. And I'm kinda glad it didn't look so incredibly CGI-ed, because Ralph has a pretty evil face anyway. I mean, he's hot, but EVIIILLL hot.
I admit, I'm a movie talker, and I was yelled at by this one lady next to us, but I stopped pretty early on. She got all angry when Moody said, "...and the only person to have survived the Killing Curse is in this room." And I was like, "It's Ron, isn't it!"
BUT, there were these 4 little kids right behind us who would not STFU if we slapped them. When everyone cheered at the 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire' title screen, they yelled, "What? You guys aren't scared already, are you?" And at the 2nd task, when everything was OMGSOQUIET, they were like, "Somethings gonna happen!" "There's gonna be a shark, huh?" "Yeah, yeah, somethings gonna attack him right now!"
Harry fighting over Cedric's body was really heart-renching. I don't cry at movies often (unless it has Johnny Depp in a sad role, I always cry then), but if I did, I would be in tears. And then Amos coming down even made it more powerful. Though, I must admit, I expected him to just be like, "KHAAAAAAAHNNN!"

[rebel-waltz.livejournal.com]

omg Kahn *chokes*

[kittenkatt.livejournal.com]

I was amazed that though my audience (at Universal CityWalk in Orlando) was made up of screaming-queen locals, tourist fratboys, and a chunk of punk rock theatre students from VCU... we had the gasps and oooohs and aaaahs in the right places. At the beginning of the film a frat boy stood up, pumped his arm in the air and screams "Yaaaaah! Go Harry POTTTTTTTTT-AAAAARRRRR! Woooo!" and it wasn't the least bit ironic giggled at.

Liked it. Couldn't stop being like "Hey! That's not right... but wait. 'What are you, new?'".

[soleta-nf.livejournal.com]

Oooh, I would have loved being at your theatre. I was one of the few people even wearing a scarf.

[corkdorkdan.livejournal.com]

I think Cuarón and Newell have made movies that work as movies

Exactly! Good movies aren't made by simply translating a book page-by-page. A movie is supposed to capture the themes and essence of a book and present them as larger-than-life. I thought the Columbus movies were ok, but now watching them I can really see the parts that were put in solely because there was a chapter in the book, not because they enhanced the movie at all. Still, he did a great job setting the look with the actors and Hogwarts and such.

As far as Raldemort, he was a little too... giddy? The dancing around in the graveyard bothered me, cause I didn't get that from the book.

[galaxianomiko.livejournal.com]

As far as Raldemort, he was a little too... giddy? The dancing around in the graveyard bothered me, cause I didn't get that from the book.

Him nancying around bugged me, too, even though I thought it was kind of hot--it was less triumphant and more "Hee hee!" Also, I was sad to not see him lecturing the hell out of the Death Eaters.

[elvensapphire.livejournal.com]

I absolutely and completely loved this movie. It was wonderful for what they had to work with. Sure, they cut things out, maybe even a few important things (Snape's "mission," for example and I wanted MORESIRIUS!), but...it's so good that it makes up for that.

Moody was exactly the way I had imagined him OMG! How perfect was Brendan Gleeson? And the ferret scene! I have to admit, the face he made at McGonagall was priceless.

I sobbed at the end. Sobbed. I expected I would cry, but Harry clinging to Cedric's gorgeous body and Dumbledore trying to pry him off broke my heart.

...I could write forever, but mostly I just wanted to say - lovely comments, Cleo. :) So much love for this one.

[falco-conlon.livejournal.com]

hotdemort = best of my life and so TRUE

emotional!Dumbledore was something my friends and I had a big discussion over. I think that and the way they did Sirius's one scene was the only part I didn't like. Dumbledore just doesn't get angry like that! Especially not with Harry. Just wouldn't happen.

I thought Daniel Radcliffe did a fantastic job, especially when you compare it to the last movies. My friends were crying when cedric died but I didn't actually shed a tear until Harry fought to stay with Cedric's body. And then I REALLY cried when Amos was sobbing. Arg. Sad.

The last thing I really would have enjoyed would be if they had added the whole:

Dumbledore: To Cedric Diggory
students: to cedric diggory

thing at the end of his eulogy. I think it would have been extremely powerful, especially if it had been when they were panning up to the ceiling like that.

I am definitely in the latter camp when it comes to the style of the movies so I think this one was my favorite so far. So. Dark. Loved it.

Although Moody was just as I pictured him, except for the eye.

[sefkhet.livejournal.com]

I think it would have been extremely powerful, especially if it had been when they were panning up to the ceiling like that.

See, on the one hand, I think that you're right and I have told many people that I think that this was one of the most heartwrenching things in the book and I would have loved it to be in the movie. On the other hand, I think that this was one of the most heartwrenching things in the book and I do believe that this would have transformed my quiet messy muffled sobs into really loud embarrassing howls.

[leucocrystal]

Yeah, I got a weird vibe (just a little) from Dumbledore, too. But it was redeemed, at least for me, with that little scene between him and Harry in the Gryffindor boys' dorm room at the very end. I just really liked how that played out.

Radcakes was awesome. I was so impressed.

[ayn-rand-fan-13.livejournal.com]

I loved this film so much.
I never cried during the book when Cedric died, but I was positively sobbing during the scene when Harry brought Cedric's body back.

[mybelle1975.livejournal.com]

Ditto! I don't recall how many times I've read the book and never cried at that scene, but I had tears in my eyes as soon as the boys landed in the graveyard, and was positively BAWLING through the rest of the movie.

[missdiane.livejournal.com]

I was curious if the Dumbledore emotathon was his idea of Dumby starting to crack at the edges from all the strain.

As far as the Harry/Hermione chemistry, I actually thought the opposite. I didn't think it was steaming hormone chemistry but love-ya-like-a-sister sort. Probably just me, though.

And I ain't a complainin' about Hotdemort...ooooh no. ;)

[anne-jumps.livejournal.com]

Not just you. I see no romantic chemistry between Harry and Hermione at all, certainly not in the books. Unfortunately, there wasn't much chemistry between Ron and Hermione in this one, other than the yelling stuff, which while it was pretty much supposed to be a lot of frustration, didn't quite make it for me.

[bigfatgreek.livejournal.com]

A GOF/15M will not be posted online. Make of that what you will...

What if I were to offer you monetary bribes or sexual favours? Would that entice you to write one?

Do keep in mind that I'm extremely obese and have quite the Mediterraenean body hair feature.(Back and shoulders not to be excluded)

[sailor-icon.livejournal.com]

*to the tune of "Little Bunny Foo Foo"*
Little greasy Snapey, stalking through the Great Hall
Glaring at the students and boppin' 'em on the head!
And down came the Headmaster and he said;
"Little potions master, I don't want to see you
Glaring at the students or boppin' 'em on the head!
I'll give you one last chance, and then I'll turn you into a Gryffindor."
But the very next day;
Little greasy Snapey, stalking through the Great Hall,
Glaring at the students and boppin' 'em on the head!
Down came the Headmaster and he said;
"Little potions master, I don't want to see you
Glaring at the students or boppin' 'em on the head!
I gave you one last chance, so now I'll turn you into a Gryffindor!"
Poof! And the greasy little potions master never again bopped a student on the head.


*thought you might enjoy that. all credit goes to easternelflady on greatestjournal... hehe. hope you like*

[lacrimaeveneris.livejournal.com]

Arg. Now I have to wipe chai off my keyboard. >.< Heh.

[thesarcasma.livejournal.com]

P.S. I've already had a few questions about a Fifteen Minutes for this one. A GOF/15M will not be posted online. Make of that what you will...

Squee! You know what this means! Cleo is going to write the GOF/15M and then mail signed copies to whomever wants it! So much better than posting online.

So first time poster, long time reader.

The only thing that bothered me about the movie was the Quidditch World Cup (such a tease! At the very least I wanted to see the leprechauns and the Veela fighting on the field) and the maze (I don't like how the maze itself was the difficult task and not all the monsters inside).

Other than that I can forgive the changes.

[fallohidepride.livejournal.com]

THANK YOUUUUU! That was SUCH a cop-out. I was so excited for the game after those awesome shots of the stadium, and then -- BAM! Cut to afterwards OMGWTFBBQ?! >_

[iamthemoon.livejournal.com]

I thought Moody was acted well...I particularly appreciated the part with the Imperius curse, how quickly he went from "LOL! THE SPIDER IS SO FUNNY IT R0XX0RS" to "Shall we have her throw herself out the window? Drown herself?" and how quickly he showed the kids that life/death situations can happen in the blink of an eye. Very well-played.

Uhm...am I the **only** person who noticed Bellatrix Freaking LeStrange and had a spaz in the theatre over her!? But isn't she still in Azkaban in the fourth book?? Confused. Anyway, just watch in the Graveyard scene, where it shows Hotdemort and his followers behind him: next to Lucius is this lean, depraved-looking woman with black hair. Who else could it be!??!? I mean, come on!

Also, yes: not enough Snape. Though, Snape climbing a ladder...I can see that in about 10,000,000 Snarry fanfics...Harry checking him out as he climbs. *shudder* And where was the Snape/Karkaroff blasting bushes at the Yule Ball!? WTF!?

Also, is it just me, or did the Great Hall get ITTY BITTY in this movie? The Yule Ball afterwards, the rave, it seemed so SQUISHED! OH! And! I WANT SPHINX!

[mysticowl.livejournal.com]

Uhm...am I the **only** person who noticed Bellatrix Freaking LeStrange and had a spaz in the theatre over her!? But isn't she still in Azkaban in the fourth book??

OMG you saw her too?! I wasn't imagining things! She is still in Azkaban, but we do see her in the fourth book during her trial, which they cut out. Hm.