Goblet of Fire movie

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is without doubt the best movie of the series, thus far. It seemed everything has fallen into place for this movie. Everything from Steve Kloves brilliant screenplay, to Mike Newell’s inspired direction, to the main trio’s improved acting skills.

Even though the fourth is the longest book that has been filmed so far, the movie is more tightly-woven compared to the previous ones. A lot of subplots were cut, but the result is wholly satisfying. The result is not a story with a lot of cuts, but just one complete story. I think this time around they’d cut in the right places. I still can’t believe that the back-story of the creator of the Marauder’s map which played a significant role in the third book was not touched upon in the third movie. This time around they got it right. They’d cut the right things like Hermione’s S.P.E.W. movement, Percy Weasley, Ludo Bagman, and the Dursleys. It is at once the darkest and at once the funniest movie of the planned seven. I enjoyed this more than any other HP movie.

The three main casts (Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson) have improved their acting skills. More than any other time, it’s hard to imagine any other three actors playing the trio in the remaining three movies. Just last year I didn’t care about the rumors of the trio not returning, but now I do. They should stay. It won’t be the same without them.

I’m not sure if I like Patrick Doyle’s musical score more or less than that of John Williams. Their takes are different from each other, although Hedwig’s Theme is recognizable. Doyle’s take on Hedwig’s Theme is refreshing, though I’m not sure if it’s better than William’s. I’ll leave it to the music experts to debate on that. All I know is that I enjoyed the musical score of this movie.

Steve Kloves who is set to pen the screenplay of the latest book (Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince) is a brilliant writer. He had set the bar high in this movie. It’s kind of sad and worrisome that he isn’t writing the next movie after showing us what he can do, given talented directors such as Alfonso Cuaron and Mike Newell. But I’m confident that Michael Goldenberg (Peter Pan, Contact) will be up to the challenge in writing the script for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. I'm excited to see what Goldenberg will be able to create out of the longest book in the series. Too bad it won’t come out till 2007, but on the other hand it will probably be just in time for the release of the seventh and last book which would make that year doubly exciting.