harry potter 4
- Thread starter navitas
- Start date
ecarr
Well-known member
i just saw it too. i think it's the best one so far. of course they had to shorten it, and after reading the book it seemed rushed, but i liked it.
*spoiler*
i was disapointed though that we didn't get to see the sphinx in the maze, and only harry fight the dragon. i wonder if they'll have an extended version...
*spoiler*
i was disapointed though that we didn't get to see the sphinx in the maze, and only harry fight the dragon. i wonder if they'll have an extended version...
I tend to disagree... Your all entitled to your opinions of course....and i dont mean to say i'm right or anything, but i really really hated it. I went to the 12:15 show last night and i thought it was just awful. I kinda liked 1 and 2, and i really loved 3....but when i got out of this i was thinking (what the **** were THEY thinking.)
Mike Newell did a really bad job with the adaption....I know i know....of course they can't squeeze everything in there thats in the book....but heres what they could have done.
Instead of adding things to the action....POINTLESS THINGS....and taking away from the story....they could have added MORE to the story....and left the action how it was.
Ralph Fiennes is an amazing actor....but what the hell was up with his performance....Voldemort is supposed to be one of the greatest villians of all time...ACTULLY SCARY....and he was just not right. Thats not Ralph's fault...its Newells....because i know Fiennes is capable of better. (Schindlers List...Red dragon...Etc)
Let the damn thing be three hours long. I dont know why they think that 3 hours is such a crime. I mean King kong will go in at 3 hours and thats not going to hinder it any. Ah but of course....we are dealing with kids for the audience...but remember...these are the same kids that had the patience for 800 some page books.....and they want to see as much as possible. THEY are the ones that go home dissappointed when they dont see thier favorite part in the book.
And whats the deal with trying to make it "hip" and with the non school clothes YET AGAIN. No one wants to see that...who are they trying to appeal to. Certainly not the hardcore fanbase....we want it to go BY THE BOOK. Its ludicrous....and as for the rock band...and the entire dance scene....that all sucked.
Victor Krums charactor was the exact OPPOSITE...of how his charactor was in the book. It was just depressing to see him in this movie....doing whatever the hell he was doing acting like a jackass. He is supposed to be a Shy, slouched, skinny kd who tries to stay out of the limelight. The shithead that played him in this wonderful adaption was not that in any way.
Dumbledores character....whos supposed to be the coolest and calmest of the cool....is always hurrying around looking like he has no clue whats going on.....almost all of the characters recieved poor treatment....except Snape.
And whats with the damn jokes the whole time....little gags to get the idiots in the theater laughing. I HATE when movies put in dumbass little gags to get audience giggles. Is someone who buys that movie and watches it on DVD 40 times gonna laugh when they see that stupid gag...EVERY TIME? or ever for that matter. I mean if your watching something epic...and important over and over.....it doesnt decrease in its greatness...but these small jokes...that were not in the book....for a reason....called QUALITY....are built for theaters...which are a small, small portion of a movies life.
Besides that...the cinematography was very bad in some parts. (particularly near the Quidditch World Cup)...underlit....etc. The directing was very poor. The whole movie had no pace or rythem.
The music was not.....that great. Comparitively, Azkaban was amazing....but this was not the best.
Anyway....that was my take.......as a sad Harry Potter fan who saw his favorite book get slaughtered. I guess they already have another wonderful British director hired for #5.....i can start looking forward to more ****.
Maybe Curagon can get the job on #6 and it wont suck...
Mike Newell did a really bad job with the adaption....I know i know....of course they can't squeeze everything in there thats in the book....but heres what they could have done.
Instead of adding things to the action....POINTLESS THINGS....and taking away from the story....they could have added MORE to the story....and left the action how it was.
Ralph Fiennes is an amazing actor....but what the hell was up with his performance....Voldemort is supposed to be one of the greatest villians of all time...ACTULLY SCARY....and he was just not right. Thats not Ralph's fault...its Newells....because i know Fiennes is capable of better. (Schindlers List...Red dragon...Etc)
Let the damn thing be three hours long. I dont know why they think that 3 hours is such a crime. I mean King kong will go in at 3 hours and thats not going to hinder it any. Ah but of course....we are dealing with kids for the audience...but remember...these are the same kids that had the patience for 800 some page books.....and they want to see as much as possible. THEY are the ones that go home dissappointed when they dont see thier favorite part in the book.
And whats the deal with trying to make it "hip" and with the non school clothes YET AGAIN. No one wants to see that...who are they trying to appeal to. Certainly not the hardcore fanbase....we want it to go BY THE BOOK. Its ludicrous....and as for the rock band...and the entire dance scene....that all sucked.
Victor Krums charactor was the exact OPPOSITE...of how his charactor was in the book. It was just depressing to see him in this movie....doing whatever the hell he was doing acting like a jackass. He is supposed to be a Shy, slouched, skinny kd who tries to stay out of the limelight. The shithead that played him in this wonderful adaption was not that in any way.
Dumbledores character....whos supposed to be the coolest and calmest of the cool....is always hurrying around looking like he has no clue whats going on.....almost all of the characters recieved poor treatment....except Snape.
And whats with the damn jokes the whole time....little gags to get the idiots in the theater laughing. I HATE when movies put in dumbass little gags to get audience giggles. Is someone who buys that movie and watches it on DVD 40 times gonna laugh when they see that stupid gag...EVERY TIME? or ever for that matter. I mean if your watching something epic...and important over and over.....it doesnt decrease in its greatness...but these small jokes...that were not in the book....for a reason....called QUALITY....are built for theaters...which are a small, small portion of a movies life.
Besides that...the cinematography was very bad in some parts. (particularly near the Quidditch World Cup)...underlit....etc. The directing was very poor. The whole movie had no pace or rythem.
The music was not.....that great. Comparitively, Azkaban was amazing....but this was not the best.
Anyway....that was my take.......as a sad Harry Potter fan who saw his favorite book get slaughtered. I guess they already have another wonderful British director hired for #5.....i can start looking forward to more ****.
Maybe Curagon can get the job on #6 and it wont suck...
Jeremy Ordan
Major Contributor
I started to write this long review to sort of counter Weston’s points regarding this film, but after seeing such a wonderful magical and captivating movie I really feel just great. This is the movie that Harry Potter fans have been waiting for. I am going to let everything digest and wait for it to simmer before I get into it. I will post a complete review by tomorrow morning. This is a great film.
Final Design Studios
Veteran
I thought that the movie was great. the only points that could have been better were dumbledore (richard harris was perfect, why couldn't he have tried to emulate that?) voldemort (good, but not great, I wanted something a little more calm and collected) and the maze (kinda took all the danger out of it).
But
The movie itself was fantastic, the cinematography while not as inspiring as azkaban, was still good. The pacing and the attention to the characters was fantastic. The meeting of the wands.........wow. loved it although they should have explained it, that does bug me.
Anywho, I'm going to see it again soon.
But
The movie itself was fantastic, the cinematography while not as inspiring as azkaban, was still good. The pacing and the attention to the characters was fantastic. The meeting of the wands.........wow. loved it although they should have explained it, that does bug me.
Anywho, I'm going to see it again soon.
krestofre
Knight of the Holy Order
Weston, you have some good points in there, and admitedly a few things that I didn't notice. Perhaps some of our difference of opinion comes from your statement
I found that interesting because Goblet of Fire has always been my least favorite Potter book, so adapting it they way they did never bothered me. I do think the look of the film is outstanding and I wouldn't be so quick to condem Newell, but I enjoyed reading your thoughs. :thumbsup:
I found that interesting because Goblet of Fire has always been my least favorite Potter book, so adapting it they way they did never bothered me. I do think the look of the film is outstanding and I wouldn't be so quick to condem Newell, but I enjoyed reading your thoughs. :thumbsup:
Ought2bCommitted
Veteran
Having seen it in Imax yesterday I have to say... I was not disappointed in the least.
Excellent film and excellent job all around by all involved. The films keep getting better, as do the books.
I'm actually beat (saw Harry Potter and The Woman in White yesterday) so i will write more later because I (big shock, I know) disagree with the above post.
-Robert
PS
The one thing I have to say outright tho---did you not see the jeans and tee shirts and cute modern clothes in Azkaban? Hello?
Excellent film and excellent job all around by all involved. The films keep getting better, as do the books.
I'm actually beat (saw Harry Potter and The Woman in White yesterday) so i will write more later because I (big shock, I know) disagree with the above post.
-Robert
PS
The one thing I have to say outright tho---did you not see the jeans and tee shirts and cute modern clothes in Azkaban? Hello?
i think that they left out explanations because they were counting on people to have read the book. I hated the the pacing. It kept jumping around and i felt like they didn't set a time frame for the movie. It felt like the 3 tasks were back to back. They didn't show Harry's struggle to compete.
overall i loved it but i left the theater dissapointed, wanting more.
overall i loved it but i left the theater dissapointed, wanting more.
krestofire
I agree with you that the look of the film was very good and the effects were also top notch....its the other stuff that really bothers me. I just cant take the poor treatment of certain characters...particularly Krum and Dumbledore in this film.
and to Ought2bcommitted...
I agree with you that the look of the film was very good and the effects were also top notch....its the other stuff that really bothers me. I just cant take the poor treatment of certain characters...particularly Krum and Dumbledore in this film.
and to Ought2bcommitted...
Yes i did notice...in my post i wrote...YET AGAIN...about the non-school clothes. It did bother me in Azkaban too. I had hoped they'd ditch it and get back to the books.
Final Design Studios
Veteran
Just saw it again........man, I miss richard harris.
navitas
Well-known member
Jeremy Ordan
Major Contributor
My nearly spoiler free review (only three days delayed)
When discussing Harry Potter, fans can be divided into three separate categories: 1. Fans of the books 2. Fans of the movies 3. Fans of both.
For me, I originally hated the idea of Harry Potter. I looked at it like this cult sweeping the nation and getting kids to read (who would want that). I saw the first film with some friends and didn't get it. Where was the story? What was this about? I saw the second film, decent, but what's the point?
Then I picked up the first book and read it in a day. From that point I was hooked. Over the next four days I read the first four books. The movies became magical to me, and when Azkaban was released I saw it opening night. I wasn't a huge fan of that book (in my opinion the weakest in the series) and am still mixed regarding the movie (my least favorite of them all, I know, I'm in the minority).
Once I finished reading the books I was angry that Goblet (at this point it was the most recent to be released) was going to be made into a movie. How could three hours do this great book justice? Why doesn't Hollywood just respect the fans of the books and make this into an HBO miniseries a la Band of Brothers?
For a big guy, I have a little voice, and the movie was made and crunched down to two hours and change.
Opening night, having purchased my tickets weeks in advance I went to go see it. The film takes place in the same Hogwarts setting that was used in Azkaban. Richard Harris is still dead, and this new Dumbledore seems to have lost some of the child like innocence that was so fluid in the first two films. The child actors continue to get older and mature, but there is something different in this Hollywood Potter installment than the previous entries. This is Hollywood Potter. Everything is bigger, faster, more out there.
Fans of the books will notice the absence of the Dursleys, changes in the story (no SPEW, no elves at all), and a more abrupt ending that doesn't carry the weight of the books. To associate this film with the book is like comparing apples and oranges. At this point, I will choose to simply talk about the film itself.
Everyday I get closer to that big 30 mark, and this movie made me feel like a twelve year old again. I was cheering Harry on, intoxicated by the evil forces around him, and spell bound by the tale that I had read at least a half dozen times. The music is flawless and while most of the reviews talk about the acting, after ten minutes you've grown so accustomed to it, you suspend your disbelief and fall so completely into the story, that even when you're watching underwater scenes you subconsciously hold your breath as you cheer for Harry to emerge victoriously.
This is one of those films that I believe people who are not fans of the series can get behind. It is a Hollywood Harry action movie that maintains the sensibility and heart of the material it is based on. As a fan of the book who actually goes at midnight to purchase each of the new installments, I cannot help by regret what is missing, but as a fan of the films, I think that the adaptation of such a massive text into an entertaining movie that moves a viewer is worthy of Oscar consideration.
That being said, I did have a couple of problems. As others have noted, many of the adult roles (Rickman and Fiennes) are completely wasted. Voldemort's return, which is this momentous moment in the book that as a reader actually makes you grip the text tighter is not as much of a massive apex of excitement. The character development of maturity is an afterthought rather than a true subplot.
That being said, all of this is overlooked and left along the wayside. I was a happy passenger in this great ride and easily say that it is by far the best of the films in the series. It will be the only movie this year I will see twice in the theatre. Highly recommended for fans of the books or movies, and a must own once it comes out on DVD.
EDIT:
2 disclaimers to my above review:
1. I am a fan of the series, this will skew my opinion regarding the material and my ultimate feelings about it. I admit this freely and openly.
2. I'm sorry for the all over the place review, after reading it, yeah, I'm wordy, but wow... That is just rambling.
When discussing Harry Potter, fans can be divided into three separate categories: 1. Fans of the books 2. Fans of the movies 3. Fans of both.
For me, I originally hated the idea of Harry Potter. I looked at it like this cult sweeping the nation and getting kids to read (who would want that). I saw the first film with some friends and didn't get it. Where was the story? What was this about? I saw the second film, decent, but what's the point?
Then I picked up the first book and read it in a day. From that point I was hooked. Over the next four days I read the first four books. The movies became magical to me, and when Azkaban was released I saw it opening night. I wasn't a huge fan of that book (in my opinion the weakest in the series) and am still mixed regarding the movie (my least favorite of them all, I know, I'm in the minority).
Once I finished reading the books I was angry that Goblet (at this point it was the most recent to be released) was going to be made into a movie. How could three hours do this great book justice? Why doesn't Hollywood just respect the fans of the books and make this into an HBO miniseries a la Band of Brothers?
For a big guy, I have a little voice, and the movie was made and crunched down to two hours and change.
Opening night, having purchased my tickets weeks in advance I went to go see it. The film takes place in the same Hogwarts setting that was used in Azkaban. Richard Harris is still dead, and this new Dumbledore seems to have lost some of the child like innocence that was so fluid in the first two films. The child actors continue to get older and mature, but there is something different in this Hollywood Potter installment than the previous entries. This is Hollywood Potter. Everything is bigger, faster, more out there.
Fans of the books will notice the absence of the Dursleys, changes in the story (no SPEW, no elves at all), and a more abrupt ending that doesn't carry the weight of the books. To associate this film with the book is like comparing apples and oranges. At this point, I will choose to simply talk about the film itself.
Everyday I get closer to that big 30 mark, and this movie made me feel like a twelve year old again. I was cheering Harry on, intoxicated by the evil forces around him, and spell bound by the tale that I had read at least a half dozen times. The music is flawless and while most of the reviews talk about the acting, after ten minutes you've grown so accustomed to it, you suspend your disbelief and fall so completely into the story, that even when you're watching underwater scenes you subconsciously hold your breath as you cheer for Harry to emerge victoriously.
This is one of those films that I believe people who are not fans of the series can get behind. It is a Hollywood Harry action movie that maintains the sensibility and heart of the material it is based on. As a fan of the book who actually goes at midnight to purchase each of the new installments, I cannot help by regret what is missing, but as a fan of the films, I think that the adaptation of such a massive text into an entertaining movie that moves a viewer is worthy of Oscar consideration.
That being said, I did have a couple of problems. As others have noted, many of the adult roles (Rickman and Fiennes) are completely wasted. Voldemort's return, which is this momentous moment in the book that as a reader actually makes you grip the text tighter is not as much of a massive apex of excitement. The character development of maturity is an afterthought rather than a true subplot.
That being said, all of this is overlooked and left along the wayside. I was a happy passenger in this great ride and easily say that it is by far the best of the films in the series. It will be the only movie this year I will see twice in the theatre. Highly recommended for fans of the books or movies, and a must own once it comes out on DVD.
EDIT:
2 disclaimers to my above review:
1. I am a fan of the series, this will skew my opinion regarding the material and my ultimate feelings about it. I admit this freely and openly.
2. I'm sorry for the all over the place review, after reading it, yeah, I'm wordy, but wow... That is just rambling.
Sedonafilmer
Active member
I saw the movie....I really like it but...
I wish they could have put more of the book in there. I understand they need to make cuts and get it down to the story. But i felt i was raced through "Goblet of Fire" SPEW being cut out was fine, but i really like the Dursleys scene in the begining. That should have stayed. Also the "Quidditch Cup" they had a huge elaborate opening...THEN DIDNT SHOW THE MATCH!! whats the point!
Im going to have to agree that Voldemort and Dumbledore were not given justice. I miss Harris he really had dumbledore down, he was queit...but had alot of power! And Voldemort was creepy but not nearly scary enough.
The cinematics and SFX were great, and the kids acting is really coming along.
I enjoyed it! but when that DVD comes out, it better be packed with deleted scenes! I need another hour of stuff, at least!
I wish they could have put more of the book in there. I understand they need to make cuts and get it down to the story. But i felt i was raced through "Goblet of Fire" SPEW being cut out was fine, but i really like the Dursleys scene in the begining. That should have stayed. Also the "Quidditch Cup" they had a huge elaborate opening...THEN DIDNT SHOW THE MATCH!! whats the point!
Im going to have to agree that Voldemort and Dumbledore were not given justice. I miss Harris he really had dumbledore down, he was queit...but had alot of power! And Voldemort was creepy but not nearly scary enough.
The cinematics and SFX were great, and the kids acting is really coming along.
I enjoyed it! but when that DVD comes out, it better be packed with deleted scenes! I need another hour of stuff, at least!
Jeremy Ordan
Major Contributor
Here's the question though...
Is the only way that justice could have been done to this film for it to have been an HBO miniseries? I think so
Is the only way that justice could have been done to this film for it to have been an HBO miniseries? I think so
ProfessorChaos
Active member
well IMO, it was hollywood's best movie of the year...there wasn't much this year in terms of big budget films anyways.
the acting in this movie was far superior to the previous HP's probably because of maturity. i agree though that voldemort wasn't freaky enough...as "the dark lord" one would expect to see something that is extremely scary...his voice wasn't scary either...just seemed kind of bland.
and the fact that the actor who plays victor krum looks 30 and instead of following the book...he was very arrogant and self-confident...
other than that, no real complaints, great all around movie, had many nice CGI shots courtesy of ILM, basically all the tournament scenes and some other ones were blue screened, though they made hogwarts school extremely nice in cgi and the graveyard aswell some nice CC in that scene
the acting in this movie was far superior to the previous HP's probably because of maturity. i agree though that voldemort wasn't freaky enough...as "the dark lord" one would expect to see something that is extremely scary...his voice wasn't scary either...just seemed kind of bland.
and the fact that the actor who plays victor krum looks 30 and instead of following the book...he was very arrogant and self-confident...
other than that, no real complaints, great all around movie, had many nice CGI shots courtesy of ILM, basically all the tournament scenes and some other ones were blue screened, though they made hogwarts school extremely nice in cgi and the graveyard aswell some nice CC in that scene