Harry Potter and Me

So I went to see the new Harry Potter film the other day, number 4 in the series, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. I have to say I had a really good time. Nothing can beat the books, in fact watching the film made me want to go back and read it again which I may do before the 7th book eventually comes out. I definitely want to read Order of the Phoenix again.

Mike Newell, the director, and Steve Kloves the screenwriter, should be commended for trying to wrestle this book to the ground. Everyone who's read it knows that its almost 800 pages and crammed with stuff, most of which didn't make it in to the film. A particular loss was Hermione's sub-plot where she tries to organize the House-Elves. Given that the movie came in at 2 1/2 hours, there was no way to include it. As it is, parts of the plot seem a bit thin. If you've read the books then you know all the nuances of Voldemort and his followers. I also missed the scenes between Harry and Sirius Black. There's only one in the film and very short.

Still Cedric Diggory was yummy. I adored Hermione showing up at the Yule Ball looking beautiful and both Ron and Harry's amazement at seeing their school chum dressed like a lady. Loved Harry and Cho Chang, who had the most adorable Scottish accent. Dumbledore showing Harry the Pensieve, and the return of Voldemort. Ralph Fiennes is only really in the film for a bit at the end but he manages to be incredibly scary. They even brought back Wormtail for a few scenes. Would have loved to have seen more of Miranda Richardson as Rita Skeeter, and more of Alan Rickman as Snape who can do more with silence than most actors. There's one particular scene where he says nothing but he's absolutely hysterical as Harry and Ron are talking during his class.

Oh, here's an intersting tidbit from one of the London Papers:

Harry Potter's £23million Pot of GoldAt 16, actor Daniel Radcliffe is worth an estimated £23million ($39.4 million USD), according to the Daily Mail. He is Britain's richest teenager, knocking Charlotte Church soundly off the top of the list. So, for those keeping track...605 days, 11 hours, 44 minutes, and 30 seconds until Daniel Radcliffe's 18th birthday.

Oy, he's already on the most eligible list and the kid has barely started shaving.