Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

⭐ 6.5/10

(Originally written by Tim)

I don't want to spend more time hating on these (especially since I have more to say about the next movie in the series), but this is a 5 were it not for the amazing finale. My complaints about the other movies remain here - the main characters are not good actors, and I find the story to be kind of all over the place.

But that finale! That's what I think of when I think of these movies, the scene in the graveyard. It is so scary, and every moment plays perfectly. Even just the way Cedric is dispatched of so nonchalantly, feels like the series takes a massive turn right in that moment to something more serious and dark.

I complain about Dumbledore a lot, and he does seem to be a bit out of character in this movie. He seems so angry throughout, not the wise gentle soul I imagine him to be. And I complain that he over-explains stuff to end every movie, but the explaining to end here is completely botched! Harry goes, why did I see my parents when our spells hit (my question, why is Cedric and the dead house keeper guy from the beginning there too??). Dumbledore goes, ahhh, priorium contatum. Ummm... what!? I read the books but don't remember that arcane lore, and they basically lean on book reader knowledge to explain the climax of the movie. Jess explained it to me, but that's just straight up bad writing.

I feel like they have other moments just not explained. Who is the little girl Fleur has to rescue under water? Why do people sit in the stands for an hour to cheer on an event that happens underwater? Everything just feels disconnected to me scene to scene throughout these movies.

I love that the big bad guy is alive and can't wait for some more magical standoffs.