Harry Potter 4 review

Yesterday, I finally saw Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Here is my review:

This movie could have been worse, but it could have been better. Director Mike Newell made the movie about as mature as the book on which it is based. He could have Disneyfied it to make a much better movie, but on the positive side, he didn’t add in many things that weren’t in the books.
The look and feel of this movie were about as good as they were in Prisoner of Azkaban, which is not a compliment. The film is extremely dark, and it seems to be either raining or cloudy most of the time. The sky is almost always dark, even if it isn’t nighttime, and when it is light, everything seems washed out. The camera angles are jerky and confusing so that the viewer can’t focus on anything long enough to get a clear picture of what it looks like. However, the largest flaw in the film’s look and feel is the pacing. The movie jumps hurriedly from one event to the next, and by its end, it does not seem like a school year has passed. The pacing is far too rushed, especially in the beginning, when Harry wakes up, runs to the woods, touches the portkey, is transported to the Quidditch World Cup, goes into the Weasleys’ tent, sees the beginning of the game, is back in the tent, and suddenly runs away in panic in what feels like about two minutes. Many viewers who have not read the book would be thoroughly befuddled and would have extreme difficulty understanding the movie.
Yes, I understand that Rowling’s book was almost 800 pages long, but I had a few minor complaints about things that were left out:
The Quidditch World Cup: none of the actual game was included, making it bizarre when the Weasleys, Hermione, and Harry were seen goofing around in the tent immediately after the pre-game festivities
It was not clear that Draco had come up with the idea for the “Potter Stinks” badges
There weren’t enough classroom scenes. Although classroom scenes may not be essential to the plot, they are charming and vital to the fun, boarding school feel of the movies.
Many things weren’t explained properly and would puzzle people who hadn’t read the books. For example, it was unclear what the voices in the egg meant, what Gillyweed did, and that Moody had taught Harry the Summoning Charm.
This isn’t exactly something that was left out, but in the book, Durmstrang and Beauxbatons were co-ed schools. In the movie, Durmstrang is all boys and Beauxbatons is all girls.

The Dursleys, Mrs. Weasley, Narcissa Malfoy, Pansy Parkinson, and the house elves were left out, but I have no complaint about this because it was necessary in order to keep the movie a reasonable length and prevent it from being even more choppy than it was.
Another one of my pet peeves about movies is when it is clearly a struggle to condense the book into a movie of reasonable length, and sometimes the most charming, glorious parts are cut out, but the director decides to use that precious time to put in things that weren’t in the book. Fortunately, Newell only did this once: he added a scene in which Professor McGonagall taught the Gryffindors to dance, which in my opinion does not seem to fit with her strict personality.
Also problematic is the fact that the kids are growing up in this movie. The following things, although most of them apply to the book as well, should have been eliminated:
Swearing: although there wasn’t much more swearing than in the first three movies, it no longer seems childish and cute, but obnoxious and teenager-like.
The goofing around (especially with Fred, George, and the other Weasleys) is not as clever or amusing as in the first two movies
There was a great deal of romance that could have been avoided or toned down: for example, Hermione and Krum, Ron’s crush on Hermione, Harry and Cho, Hagrid and Madame Maxime, and Myrtle spying on Harry in the bath.
Harry, Ron, Fred, and George, all have hair that is too long.
Harry and especially Ron look too old for their parts. It is extremely irritating that the people who make the Harry Potter movies are unable to put out a movie each year. Because of this, the actors, some of whom were older than their characters to begin with, are aging at a faster rate than their characters, which greatly detracts from the innocent appeal of the movies and is bound only to get worse.
The clothing is too teenagery and often too revealing. Hermione, especially, seems to wear the latest styles, which detract from the magical, old-fashioned atmosphere that the films should have. Additionally, almost all of the dresses at the Yule Ball are too revealing, and the school uniforms are messy and sloppy like they were in the third movie.
Here is a rundown of the actors:
Tom Felton as Draco Malfoy – absolutely outstanding. In my opinion, he is the best part of the movie and even though he doesn’t have a very big part, he steals every scene he is in. In a strange way, he steals the entire movie. His comments are always funny and clever and his mannerisms are perfect. His facial expressions are excellent, especially the scowls when Harry is successful in the tournament. I loved the black suit that he wore at the World Cup and the furry hat that he wears at the first task (he wore the same hat in the third movie).
Jason Isaacs as Lucius Malfoy – excellent. I loved the part at the World Cup when he hits Draco with his stick and sneers at the Weasleys.
Alan Rickman as Professor Snape – excellent
Michael Gambon as Professor Dumbledore – not as good as Richard Harris. Too loud and forceful, not as subtle or wise.
Maggie Smith as Professor McGonagall – excellent, but the dancing scene does not fit her character. However, this was the director’s or writer’s fault, not hers.
Brendan Gleeson as Professor Moody – okay, but not great
Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter – fairly good, was much better at crying than he was in the third movie.
Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley – slightly annnoying, seems too old for his character
Emma Watson as Hermione Granger – also slightly annoying. She does not fit her part because she is too teenagery and stylish, and she has an annoying habit of shouting things out, such when she orders Professor Moody to stop using the Cruciatus curse on the spider.
Bonnie Wright as Ginny Weasley – good. She seems young and innocent, and her clothing is attractive and fits with the magical world better than the other kids’. Her Yule Ball dress is one of the few that isn’t too revealing, and I especially liked an outfit that she wore that included a knee-length purple skirt, maroon tights, and tan boots.
James and Oliver Phelps as the Weasley twins – funny and charming
Katie Leung as Cho Chang – good. Fairly childlike and innocent.
Robert Pattinson as Cedric Diggory – good, but not great
Clemence Posey as Fleur Delacour – good. Dignified, and rather prim and proper.
Stan Ianevski as Viktor Krum – good, but not great

Finally, the violence at the end is not as scary as I thought it would be, although many young children would be frightened. Wormtail is not actually shown cutting off his hand. I thought that this was on the borderline of PG and PG-13, and that the movie could have gotten a PG rating if the director had tried a little harder. Overall, I would give Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire a seven out of ten.

Happy birthday, Rommel!

Field Marshal Erwin Rommel was born on this date in 1891. Rommel served heroically in World War II as the leader of the 7th Panzer Division and, most famously, the Afrika Korps. If he were still alive, Rommel would be 114 years old! Happy birthday, Rommel!

A-Rod wins AL MVP

Today, Alex Rodriguez became the American League MVP, defeating David Ortiz. As a Red Sox fan, I wanted Ortiz to win, but congratulations to A-Rod anyways. Also today, President Bush delivered new criticism of war opponents, calling them "irresponsible" and (truthfully) accusing them of "rewriting the past." Good job, Bush!

Pope approves document

Pope Benedict XVI has approved a document that bars anyone who practices homosexuality or supports the "so-called gay culture" from the priesthood. The Imperial Leader applauds the Pope's decision. Also, on this date in 2004, Scott Peterson was convicted of murdering his wife Laci and his unborn son Conner. In my opinion, this conviction was unjust. Killing a fetus cannot logically be considered murder, because a fetus cannot think, feel emotion, or have moral beliefs. Also, on this day in history, Leon Trotsky was expelled from the Communist Party in 1927, the Battle of Guadalcanal began in 1942, and Japanese premier Hideki Tojo was sentenced to death for war crimes in 1948.

Happy Veterans' Day

Happy Veterans' Day, everyone! On this date in 1918, an armistice was signed between the Allies and Germany, ending World War I. Also, the Mayflower Compact was signed on this date in 1620. The compact was the first document of self-government in America. Additionally, Nat Turner, the leader of a violent slave uprising, was hanged on this date in 1831, and Germany finished conquering France on this date in 1942.

Also, yesterday governor Mitt Romney of Massachusetts gave an excellent speech against the judges of the Supreme Judicial Court who legalized gay marriage. Romney said that the judges' actions created a "great peril to the culture of our entire land." How true. There are many people who, instead of being glorious and patriotic, aim to turn America into a communist country where people can be as immoral as they want and not only be accepted, but actually be rewarded by the government by forming un-individualistic, undignified relationships! Even more excellent was the fact that a man named Gerald Walpin, who introduced Romney, praised the governor for fighting against the "modern-day KKK...the Kennedy-Kerry Klan"!

Today President Bush gave a great speech as well. He defended Operation Iraqi Freedom and spoke out against its critics. Hooray for Bush! On this Veterans' Day, the last thing America needs is annoying, unpatriotic criticism of the war.

This Day in History - 2000 Election

On this date in 2000, voters went to the polls to elect George W. Bush as president in the most disputed presidential election in US history. Congratulations to President Bush! In my opinion, he is a good man and a great president.

Welcome to the Imperial Bulletin

Greetings, and welcome to the Imperial Bulletin. I call myself the Imperial Leader, and my blog will contain posts on a variety of topics, such as politics, sports, movies, books, and history. I may also give my opinions, which are often unusual, but hopefully interesting!