The Other Side of "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire"

Kudos to Alexa DeGennaro for a rousing review of the latest Harry Potter movie "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire". Director Mike Newell managed to squeeze every vital detail possible into this non-stop, roller coaster tense, ride through a wizard's England. From ghastly cemetery skeletons and murder to world cup soccer stadium-like Quidditch to mass hysteria and barbaric flagration, the first few minutes fairly steal ones breath away. And it doesn’t stop for two and a half hours. The sexual innuendos are no more obvious than with any group of teenagers, but dark and dangerous it is to be sure.

Adults who love the books, may miss Ludo Bagman’s good natured, yet often misplaced financial ventures, as well as his waspish reminisce about England’s Quidditch glory days. Children who love the books, may miss Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes, the blast-ended skrewts, meeting Padfoot at the cave, and the warm comfort provided by the Weasleys during this most trying of Harry’s years at Hogwarts. Empathetic advocates of all ages will miss Hermione’s campaign for S.P.E.W. (Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare). Without these lighter moments, the movie oppressively weighs on one’s psyche.

It is understandable that Mr. Newell had to leave much of our beloved text out of the movie for the sake of time, presentation, and consistency of story line. He did keep Harry’s flirtation with Cho Chang and Hagrid’s flirtation with Madame Maxime. Sex and violence sell well in today’s video market. Yet, one cannot fail to wonder how much a novice will understand of the story told by the movie “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”.