The New Road

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Lori and I spent almost $100 on a movie, dinner and babysitting last night. We went to see the latest Harry Potter movie.

It was an almost packed house. We ended up waiting in line before a middle aged couple who seemed nice and funny. We entered the theatre and ended up sitting together. As the previews came up they talked a little during them, just as Lori and I did. It seems to me that as a society we accept people talking during the previews. I mean, you gotta figure out if you want to see the movies, right?

Then the movie came, and the guy asked the lady a few questions, which she answered. Simple questions, who are these people, what are they doing, what did they just say. That sort of thing. Ok, a couple of points here. First, you can't reasonably expect to see the fourth movie in a series with a long arc and expect to just pick it up from the beginning. And, really, in the movie, during the movie, in a crowded theatre, is not a time to get caught up on the series.

Second, unless you are seeing an art-house film the movies usually will wind themselves up really nicely. In particular these Harry Potter films tend to be very clear cut. Why? Because they are for kids. And because they are designed just like sophisticated Scooby Doo movies. "Harry, who is the evil wizard?", "It was the greenskeeper who wanted to chase away the tourists to get the insurance money, Scoob."

The problem was that this went on, and on, and on, through the entire movie. I was getting the picture, the sound, and a running commentary. Now I normally shut that crap down with the young kids. But with these folks it was clear that the guy was either hearing impaired or, well, impaired in some other ways. Now in this theatre you can get hearing apparatus to help you if you can't hear the 100dB soundtrack.

Of course, it could have been the movie. But no, this move, on a technical level, was a success. It was mic'd properly and the music and lines were enunciated clearly. What was wrong with the movie was everything else, the pacing was way off, and the editing was a disaster. Great scenes likes the World Quiddich Cup were cut abruptly short. While other meaningless comedy scenes, like a scene with Harry and a ghost in a tub, were played uncomfortably long. I would have given anything if several minutes of the tub scene were cut in favor of several more minutes of the World Cup.

From what Lori tells me this will be an ongoing problem with movie versions of the Potter books. They are getting longer and longer and the movies remain the same length.

I suffered through the first two Potter films. I really liked the third movie. But this fourth movie was just flat. Of course, it could have been the commentary running in the seat next to me. But really, this wasn't a good movie. Certainly nowhere near as good as the excellent third installment. Here is hoping for a better fifth movie.