While many of the Potter conventions have by now become rather stock (for example, would Harry, at this point, really still be amazed by each magic trick he sees?), there are plenty of new twists and surprises to keep the cliches in check. The heart of the film, in fact, is not at all about magic, but rather about Harry and Co. struggling with adolescent dilemmas such as who to ask to the dance! For the most part, I was pleased with the translation of Goblet of Fire to the big screen. While it isn't as fully realized as Azkaban, it is undeniably entertaining and visually a lot of fun to watch. My complaints center mostly around what has been unfortunately left out of the film in favor of concentrating on Harry's three challenges in the Goblet of Fire tournament. For example, how could they even consider omitting the long dream sequence in which Harry flies to Baltimore to participate in a massive urban renewal project, and falls in love with a brilliant but troubled Black social worker? Or what about the subplot devoted to Ron and Hermione enjoying their first sexual experiences, first with each other, and subsequently in a frankly amazing variety of pairings and group combinations? Rowling's novel devoted eight full chapters to this, and they are among the most highly erotic, yet literate and entertaining, words ever penned. Think of the missed opportunity to show us Emma Watson's succulent chestberries and moist, unspoiled womanfur! Then there is the matter of Lord Voldemort's long-awaited appearance. The film retains much of what happens in the book, but eliminates several key passages, including when Valdemort reveals how Harry's father really died—of angina! I realize that the filmmakers probably do not wish to give away certain details that will factor in more significantly in the upcoming films, but this information is crucial for the audience to understand the full scope of the story! Also, the role of Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) has been reduced, simply, to sour-faced pouting. In the book, Ron plays at least twenty ingenious pranks on his teachers and fellow students, including a particularly hilarious in which Severus Snape's magic wand is inserted into the head of his penis like a catheter, and emits a brilliant fireball each time Snape gets an erection, which as it turns out, is quite frequently, and in some highly unusual situations. Surely this would have provided some excellent comic relief, even if the film hadn't included all twenty pranks. Probably the most glaring cut is Harry's mysterious illness, which in the book is depicted in graphic detail and is ultimately revealed to be progressive scleroderma (the gradual thickening and hardening of the skin, blood vessels, and internal organs). In the book, it is heartbreaking to see Harry become bedridden and his skin become tough and scaly. The epic tale acquires a real sense of tragedy when you realize it is the fantasy of a young man dying of a horrifying and rare disease, just as "St. Elsewhere" gained more gravitas when it was revealed that the entire series took place in a snow globe. I have heard that director Mike Newell did, in fact, film some scenes involving Harry's battle with scleroderma, and that the DVD version will restore these and add an epilogue spoken by Bob Saget, whose real-life sister died of the disease. The expanded storyline should help give Goblet of Fire the gravitas it deserves, while simultaneously raising awareness of this silent but deadly killer.
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