December 12, 2005: I’ve compliled a list of scenes left out of the “Goblet of Fire” movie (but were in the book) that I believe hurt the overall movie or made it more confusing to non-book readers. Check it out.
December 5, 2005: Did you surf here from Google? Visit my new blog, Fantasy Fiction for Christians. 
Update (11/25): I have seen Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, and my review is mixed. I liked it because it was a Harry Potter movie, but I was disappointed that certain scenes from the book were left out and scenes not in the book were added. Typical books vs. movies stuff. I will write an extensive review in a day or two. (See my Book 6 theories post.)
After the movie I bought a copy of The Gospel According to Harry Potter: Spirituality in the Stories of the World’s Most Famous Seeker, by Connie Neal. I’m sure it will be a fascinating read, just like Looking for God in Harry Potter. I’ll also have a thing or two to say to Christian readers who object to my blogging (and reading) about Harry Potter. Stay tuned.
Update (11/24): The Book of Shadows: “Harry Potter is bad news amongst some Christians. The series has been accused of embroiling innocent young things in occultism, Satanism and witchcraft. Calls have been made to ban and burn the books, and sometimes, the author herself.”
Merc’s Place: “[T]o all you future movie directors and producers out there, don’t worry about how long the movie is – just concentrate on making a great film. If it’s three hours long, then it’s three hours long. No one’s going to complain if it’s worth it.”
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Greetings, Potterheads!
On Friday I’m dragging my mother with me to see Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
Mommie Dearest is the sort of person who can watch sequels without having seen the previous movies. For example, she saw Star Trek: Nemesis with me but hadn’t viewed one scene of Generations, First Contact, or Insurrection, or even one episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, even after I strenuously advised her to do so. Absolutely morbid, isn’t it? I have the first three Harry Potter movies on DVD, but has she watched one? Not even. Oh, well. As long as she enjoys herself…
A few days ago I asked for Goblet of Fire reviews, and you responded. This afternoon I will update this post with a round-up of bloggers’, readers’ and media reviews of Goblet of Fire.
If you saw the movie and have something to say about it, e-mail me or post a review in the comment section here or trackback to a review post on your blog.
“Dark and difficult times lie ahead, Harry. Soon we must all face the choice between what is right…and what is easy.†– Albus Dumbledore
(Warner Brothers image)
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Bloggers
Fausta: “Harry Potter’s themes of loss, yearning to belong, friendship, and helping others, remain constant through the books and the films.”
Mad Minerva: “This movie has been called the “darkest” film so far, and there is merit to this, as the Hogwarts students (and the audience) come face to face with the harsh realities of evil and death. ”
Craig Williams: “As a Christian, one of the things I look for in books and films and music is integrity -not piety…Good is never confused with evil. The children, though wizards and witches, struggle with doing what is right and good.”
Demond Hunter: “I picked the girls up early on Friday and took them to see the new Harry Potter flick. Was the movie worth the 21 dollar matinee price I paid for me and my two brats?”
Jeff Harrell: “Character moments are scarce, but those that are present are just gold. The film’s middle section features a scene where Alan Rickman’s Snape deliciously upstages the three principal actors.”
Sensible Mom: “I don’t think the movie is appropriate for pre-teens, not only because of the Cedric’s death (his eyes are open and staring) but because Voldemort is quite frightening. His evil is captured very well.”
Mom to Mom Connection links to a review and addresses the occult controversy: “We haven’t gotten into the Harry Potter books yet — a Bible Study teacher I had once told us to keep our children away from them because of the wizardry. She used the example of Saul displeasing the Lord by consulting a medium…”
Media
- The Young Wizard Puts Away Childish Things
- Harry Potter IV: A Bright, Steady Flame
- Evil Potter
- Scary Harry
- Roger Ebert
- Hollywood Reporter
- ‘Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire’ is filled with dark enchantment
- ‘Harry Potter’ fans are screaming with delight
- Goblet of Fire movie premiere video
- GIVE ‘EM HELL, HARRY
- At last, a good popcorn movie
- ‘Goblet of Fire’ brews a hotter Potter
- The Pitter Potter of Magical Feats
- Harry and gang stoke fantasy of ‘Fire’
- ‘Fire’ Starters
- Drink it in
- TimesOnline
- Goblet of teen angst
Other
- Harry Potter, Crossing Racial Lines
- ‘Potter’ series casts a spell over entire genre
- Forget Voldemort : “evil” Harry Potter in new joust with US critics
Fan Sites
Have a blessed Thanksgiving!
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Questions -
14 year old girl dating 17+ maybe 18+ year old boy?
14 year old boys dance?
Girls don’t understand 14 year old boys don’t dance.
Death eaters attack a huge camp and don’t get smashed?
Everybody runs away then the elders come back to fight? Why is everybody running it isn’t like they are unarmed. They have their wands. Don’t these people have any back bones?
Don’t get me wrong it’s a great film.
But MORE 14 year old girls looking at dating 17+ year old men?
Of course it is understandable most 14 year old boys aren’t really human they are close but no girl would want to date one. May be a year or so older but not 3+ years.
Best line – ‘How do you get one alone. They are always in groups!’
I think my favorite part of the books is the theme of “doing what is right not what is easy”.
Thanks for the round-up. Have a great thanksgiving, LaShawn.
I was passing when I noticed this hot topic! I like this article as well! http://thebookofshadow.blogspot.com/2005/11/some-christians-read-harry-potter.html
Christians want to burn the author? that is extremem and i havent heard of that. again i say in the uk the pagan society hasmore children drawn to them because of the books. its all apart of the way all evil and sin is being marketed as normal. w hen y ou children start being into wicca dont be suprised.
LaShawn, excellent work here on this blog, and I am so glad to see other Christians reacting intelligently and responsible towards the Harry Potter series. I’m looking forward to digging into all the theories listed here. In interacting with John Granger and others, I think the “stoppered death” theory that you mention may have some merit.
In any case, the movie rocked, aside from the fact that Gambon doesn’t get Dumbledore. I wrote an initial review of the movie.
Thanks for visiting LBC, Travis. What brought you here? A search on HP theories? I’m still getting hits from that post.
John Granger and I have exchanged e-mails, and I’m very impressed with his extensive research and current projects. I’m also very interested in your site and will review it in detail. I’m creating either a separate domain or subdomain of this site that will focus on fantasy fiction for Christians, and your blog will definitely be linked.
I found you on a technorati search. When your new fantasy site is launched, I’ll definitely link from SoG.
My son found this to be his favorite of the Harry Potter films, though HP and the Chamber of Secrets remains his favorite book of the series.
What made the film so compelling for me was its “British-ness.” Finally, that elusive quality was captured in the film series. The terrific Mad Eye Moody, Miranda Richardson’s quick quote quill toting freelance reporter, the painfully awkward pairing up of the main characters for the Yule Ball, all are captured in that understated manner that is just so British. A look or a mumble is sometimes all that is necessary. This bodes well for the humor in Book 6 in my opinion. However, the contrast with the action sequences is a little unnerving, but at the same time the pacing of the storyline worked. I found that my imagination had created a much scarier graveyard scene, as had my son’s, and we were not overwhelmed by the ending.
Oh, I completely agree that Gambon is terrible as Dumbledore. That character needs to be rethought and quickly, before they film Book 6. I would prefer casting someone else who is more compelling… larger in stature. Richard Harris was so perfect. I was thinking that Christopher Lee would be great, actually. He has amazing eyes and great presense.
Who else?
Imelda Staunton is going to be Professor Umbridge in Five and I can’t see Gambon competing on screen with her.
I was disappointed in this movie.
And that is my review.
Oh yeah, the new Dumbledore is horrible, the ‘hey I hit puberty and I like girls now’ factor was disturbing and.. why were 5 year old kids allowed to see this?
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