Ahead of dark and terrible times — fifth part. Since the fourth book is my most read, one might even say my favorite of the series, I just couldn’t pass up the chance to comment on the film. Everything I have already said means, most likely, that I will be biased towards this film in my review, and will evaluate every little thing that I found, but perhaps someone will agree with me.
The further into the series, the more flaws. Naturally, no one will literally film the novels, but still personally I would like to at least strive for this and make mistakes, but do not have much impact on the narrative. Therefore, I will try not to be petty and highlight only the important aspects of the problem with the script.
Uneven narrative. The very beginning made me very happy, as it was not so close to the book, but similar to my vision of the episode. But what happened next threw away all the good things I saw and flipped through a good fifty pages of the book. And then history repeats itself: all the same carefully illustrated a couple of dozen pages and a collapse of a good dozen.
Of course, I understand that the film will survive without the moment where Harry is taken from the house of relatives, but the absence in the film of two important for the concept of the plot, I can not understand. And I'm talking about Ludo Bagman and the house elf Vinki, although we won't see Dobby either.
But it is not clear what guided the writer, making Sharmbaton a school only for girls and Durmstrang for boys. Not to mention the fact that for the presentation of these schools fiction was also enough, so we will see acrobats and artists. Why was it necessary to spend valuable screen time on such things remained a mystery to me.
Another dark moment. For what reason should Hermione's appearance at the Christmas Ball be fanned to hell with what? Very often at this moment the word “Cinderella” knocked in my head.
And I also want to notice the quarrels of Ron and Harry, which were distinguished by their dampness and underdeveloped in almost all aspects.
Separately, perhaps, I want to notice an episode with a demonstration of forbidden spells, which, in general, suits, but if you look at the little things... The expression of the main character when showing the spell “Imperio” I consider almost inexcusable, and this hero is shown in all his slackness, unbalance and promiscuity, it remains only to ask whether it is Grum. I would also like to note that the special effects were poorly combined with the “live” picture, which in our time is considered unconditioned.
Michael Newell is a pretty weak director. Therefore, I will put on his conscience such details as the stupid appearance in the film by Cedric Diggory, the fact that almost all males in the teenage lineup have quite long hair, the change in the newspaper, the owl sitting on the train with the main characters outside the cage, the familiarity of almost all teachers, a lot of lyrical, after all, a bunch of moments in which Radcliffe and his unexpressive eyes are shown in close-up.
Let's get to the scenery. First, about the good: satisfied the camp of Quidditch fans, an abundance of beautiful landscapes (although this is, of course, a waste of time), and, probably, Dark Lake. What upset me was the ship and the carriage. And now the cemetery. It seems to me that it could at least be made darker, especially since there was absolutely no sense of the book cruelty about which so much was said, but only fatigue from spending a little more than an hour and a half.
Special effects, as usual, about and without. For starters, Portal. I imagined it in a completely different way, and what kind of portal is this, when people for more than half a minute spin in a whirlwind, and then just decide to uncouple and start, who falls, who walks through the air to the right place. I also want to note that although the championship itself was not, but the money in computer terms was spent on it, and, in my opinion, so in vain. But let’s say I liked the black mark. I like it, and I like it so fast. Tails and other dragons, perhaps, is the only aspect, against the masterpiece of which I do not argue, but still believe that to spend on it most of the budget, at least foolish.
I think Voldemort should be included in the special effects. I liked it, but what I didn’t like was my eyes, I thought they were red.
Music, as for me, not only does not fit the image, but also does not fit with the concept of “Harry Potter”. The melody, which everyone considers to be the logo of these films, in a little Turkish-Asian interpretation, is no longer happy.
About Daniel Radcliffe fundamentally new I can say little, perhaps, only that in some moments of the film he not only played terrible, but also looked disgusting.
Michael Gambon is bullying, nervous, making himself look a little wild. In general, Dumbledore will not be seen in this film.
The film allows Rupert Grint to walk around with his seemingly familiar face. Emma Watson struggled to play, but in the end it turned out only grimaces. The boy who plays Neville, of course, does not shine with talent, but plays better than the inseparable trinity. Perhaps the best actors in the teenage cast in this picture are twins, although there are moments far from pleasing.
Timothy Spall plays a familiar role, but there are still comments about makeup. The Malfoy family was pleased, as usual. But Crouch senior came out strange and completely unlike his book prototype, especially surprised by the moment with a story about the Tournament, where his hands did something incomprehensible to me. Surprisingly, the poor spell teacher is being given more and more responsibilities in the film, since now Flitwick is not just the head of the school choir, but also the conductor of the school orchestra. Miranda Richardson was pleased in the image of Rita Skitter, the role for her, in my opinion, is suitable, although the character for the whole film did not say a single book phrase.
About the rest of the newcomers in this field will not talk, as they more or less coped, and if something is wrong, then, rather, claims to the director. I will only say that while in my hit parade on the choice of actors leads Chris Columbus.
I would like to mention Alan Rickman and his mistake. In each new film, the Potterians regularly reduce the role of the person who, almost alone with his charisma and dedication to the role, attracts, I think, more people than the title of the picture itself.
As a result, the film was not without drawbacks, including major, but, however, quite watchable, perhaps once it can be seen without much boredom even for film fans.
6 out of 10
Original