The premiere of a
Harry Potter movie doesnt stir quite the same frenzy as the release of the latest
Harry Potter novel, yet its still quite an event. Tonight at one minute past midnight fans can catch the first showing of
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire , the fourth of J. K. Rowlings books to hit the screen. KPBS film critic Beth Accomando consulted some local experts for her report on the
Harry Potter phenomena.
CLIP Dumbledore: "Now the moment youve all been waiting for"
Thats right, its time to unveil the latest Harry Potter film. To help me evaluate the fourth big screen adaptation of J. K. Rowlings wildly popular Harry Potter books, Ive assembled an expert panel.
RYAN SMITH: "Im Ryan Smith and Im 12 years old. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire rocks."
LINDSAY TILFORD: "Hi Im Lindsay Tilford, Im 12 years old, and Harry Potter is the best movie ever. They are so cool and this was the scariest one yet."
NEIL GILLESPE: "Im Neil Gillespe and Im 11 years old. Its a really good movie and a really good book, and I like the special effects and stuff."
KAITLAN REYNOLDS: "Im Kaitlan Reynolds and Im 14 and the movie was just great."
Okay, so maybe my experts dont have PhDs but they know a good Quidditch player when they see one, and theyve been following Harry Potter since his first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. In fact, some fans have grown up along with the characters.
ROSE MEZA: "Im Rose Meza and Im twenty years old. Ive been reading the books since I was fourteen when they first came out. I love the change in the films. I think each one keeps getting better, I love the cinematography as the films progress they get darker and darker."
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is the darkest one yet as Hogwarts hosts the Triwizard Tournament, an exciting and potentially lethal competition for young wizards. The enchanted Goblet of Fire picks three students, one from each of the best schools of magic, to compete in the event. But this year the Goblet spits out one extra name
CLIP Dumbledore: "Harry Potter."
Not only is it the first time four names have been chosen, but its also the first time a student as young as Harry has ever competed. That novelty draws media attention.
CLIP Reporter: "Tell me Harry whats it like to compete against three students not
only vastly more emotionally mature than yourself but who have mastered spells that you wouldnt attempt in your dizziest daydreams?"
Twelve-year-old Ryan Smith likes the way Harry has to keep facing new challenges.
RYAN SMITH: "I really like how J.K. Rowling has Harry Potter develop, and he doesnt stay the same in each book, he gets more mature and can do more magic."
But Harrys magic is severely tested in The Goblet of Fire as he fights a Hungarian Horntail dragon and must unravel the mystery of a golden egg.
CLIP: HERMIONE: "You are trying to figure this egg out arent you?"
HARRY: "Whats that supposed to mean?"
HERMIONE: "Just means that these tasks are meant to test you in a way thats almost cruel and Im scared for you."
Young audiences also fear for Harrys safety as the aspiring wizard faces even more daunting challenges outside of the competitionincluding the return of the evil Lord Voldemort. Fifteen-year-old Anna Lin appreciates the way the filmmakers are cranking up the suspense but still maintaining a sense of humor.
ANNA LIN: "They had a lot of comedy. It really lightened the mood because its getting darker as the story progresses. I like the designs of the animals and the special effects it really brings the story to life."
Anna is not alone in her appreciation of the films special effects. Most of the kids flocking to the films are fans of the book and delight in seeing the written word brought to visual life. The Harry Potter films cater to these fans and know they want to see spectacular magic and fantastical creatures. But the films provide little guidance to anyone unfamiliar with the books. Theres not even a recap to bring viewers up to date with the story. Those familiar with the books are the ones filling the theater seats, yet even these fans have come to accept that the films simply cant allow them as much time with the characters as the books do. Ryan Smith has read each of the books fourteen times.
RYAN SMITH: "I think the movies are really good and they got great actors for it, the only thing that I dont like about it is that they have to crop out so much of the details."
Seven-year-old David misses those details too. He needed both arms to hold tight to his 900-page volume of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix , as he offered this comparison between the books and the films.
DAVID: "I like to read about when he goes to Hogwarts and when he does magic. I like the books a little bit better."
But fans like David willingly accept the shortcomings of the films in order to see their beloved Harry Potter come to cinematic life. And maybe the best way to look at the films is as a kind of elaborate visual dictionary for the books. They show us exactly what a massive Quidditch stadium would look like or what its like to grow gills and fins. The Potter films work best as companions to the books rather than as stand alone works of art. And even the kids realize that. The Harry Potter films entertain but they fail to capture the full magic of J. K. Rowlings books. And Rowling does indeed possess magicany author who can make a seven year old stop watching TV or playing video games long enough to read a 900-page book, must know a little something about casting spells.
