Group Book to Movie Review: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J. K. Rowling

Harry Potter is midway through his training as a wizard and his coming of age. Harry wants to get away from the pernicious Dursleys and go to the International Quidditch Cup. He wants to find out about the mysterious event that's supposed to take place at Hogwarts this year, an event involving two other rival schools of magic, and a competition that hasn't happened for a hundred years. He wants to be a normal, fourteen-year-old wizard. But unfortunately for Harry Potter, he's not normal - even by wizarding standards. And in his case, different can be deadly. (from Goodreads)

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is the fourth book in the series by J.K. Rowling. Overall, this book is one of my least favorite in the saga. We do  meet even more new characters and some new creatures, and that is always exciting. However, the story felt drawn out to me and downright slow in some places. I felt like the action started, stuttered and then stopped in certain areas. The climax is really what saved this book, in my opinion, from being mediocre to the core. While I did enjoy it overall, it still sometimes felt like a chore reading this book. 

My Rating: 

As much as I thought the book was redeemed by its ending,I found the movie to be beyond redemption almost from the beginning. Brilliant and funny scenes were left out of the adaptation leaving me bereft. Some characters were either completely omitted, changed or downgraded. Whole chapters were glossed over or left out; fifty pages cut down to seven minutes in the film. The replacement Dumbledore, I think, was the biggest letdown for me. I know it was unavoidable, but I just felt this actor came off as creepy in the extreme.  It was disappointing to say the very least.

My Rating:

And we return to the *sigh-time* books.

Would someone please explain this to me? I mean, I realize that the third book blew me off my feet and was very enjoyable and all that good stuff, but seriously? I’ve read four, (obviously) and 3 of them have bored me. This is where I gave up last time I tried reading these, and seriously, if Mel wasn’t telling me book five was good, I’d probably give up again.

To me, there was just so much going on in this book; it’s no wonder Rowling got bored. It’s a 700+ page book, and honestly, a lot of it wasn’t really necessary . . . Just my opinion. Like Rita Skeeter. I know she has her purpose, but with everything else going on in this novel, did we really need to add another person? If she’d have kept it on the Tri-wizard Tournament, I wouldn’t have gotten so friggin’ bored (and she might not have, either).

Another thing; can we stop with the Dark Arts teachers? I understand the point, it’s an easy way to enter new characters, but really… By this time I know they’re either evil or leaving! It’s not really a spoiler at this point—they’re all crazy. The job is cursed. Just give it to Snape, dammit, he actually WANTS it and he could probably handle whatever “curse” was on it. Bah. Why can’t a student be evil? Or the school be attacked? There are a lot of ways to introduce a new villain besides this schoolteacher. It is predictable and predictable is boring…

So, at this rate, my expectations for book 5 are low, again. Watch, I’ll like this one more! Haha

My Rating: 

2.5, really, but we don’t do halves and I’m rounding down today, so…

Now, for the movie. This is kind of like book 2 for me. After Chamber of Secrets, this was my favorite movie in the series. I thought it was traveling darker than 1-3 (and I love dark stuff) and I was startled several times when I watched it.

But I have to mention this. Now that I’ve read the books, I have to know, when did Hogwarts turn into McKinley? WHY does everyone have to sing and dance now like we’re watching Glee? (This coming from the girl who will watch any and every musical on the planet…) First we have them singing, “Bubble, Bubble, Toil and Trouble” and now, Beauxbatons and Durmstrang come in with a performance? Seriously? I love musicals as much as the next person, but really?

And Ron…Dammit, Ronald. THIS is where I truly started hating Ron Weasley. All he does from here on out is pout and whine and cry over a bunch of crap. Sure, he’s upset about Harry getting the spotlight again, but if he had stopped and used the brain that was put up there (for apparently no reason), would he really WANT this? To be the boy-who-lived and be the one everyone looks to when there’s a problem? And instead of ignoring the life out of your date, why not go and ASK HERMIONE OUT IF YOU LIKE HER SO MUCH? I was hoping this was JUST in the movies but no. The only reason I mention it here is because it was very OBVIOUS to me in the movies.

Besides Ron, I really did like the movie…Even if half the book was missing…but really, unless we divided it in two, how do you get 700+ pages into a 2½ hour movie?

So, just looking at it as a movie, it’s a 4.5. Looking at it as a BOOK-TO-MOVIE, it’s a 2…so I’ll go in the middle and say three quills. Seem fair?

My Rating:

In the fourth installment of the series, Harry and his friends face new challenges and some of our beloved secondary characters take on a more prominent role. My personal new favorites are Fleur and Viktor along with their headmasters Maxine and Karkaroff. As well as one of my all time favorite parts of all the books, The Unforgivable Curses.

Rowling magnificently conveys how Harry and his friends are maturing in their fourth year and brings forth some resentments and infatuations. Without giving too much away, I'll just say that Rowling is definitely moving on to more serious matters. Friendships and honor are put to the test as the tension, jealously and anxiety comes to a head.

Rowling's undeniable talent keeps the suspense building throughout the book, I found myself flipping back several chapters to re-read certain things to ensure I was understanding some of the intricately entwined plots correctly. The Goblet of Fire will leave you anxiously awaiting the next installment.
My Rating:

FINALLY! I am not so upset that they left stuff out of the movie, I didn’t have to deal with the Dursleys!! WooHoo!!! I am, however, extremely upset that they boiled several chapters in the book down to 15 minutes in the movie.  Let’s be honest, when you take a 734 page book and attempt to squeeze it into a 2 hour movie, you are bound to miss some of the good stuff! 

I just watched this movie again (for the 51st time!) and as usual, it flows so well and before you even know it, it’s the end.  I can’t get away from the lack of story for Neville in the movies though, he was so much more prominent in the books and his story is almost an afterthought in the movies.

We come to the end of another fabulous Harry Potter movie. Of course, in the end, Dumbledore has the best line! “Dark and difficult times lie ahead Harry, soon we will all have to make the choice between what is right, and what is easy.” Somebody please tell me when Harry has ever been able to take the easy way out???? It was perfectly spoken though. LOVED IT!!! But that’s just my two cents.