Magic

Starring:E.J. Andre, Ann-Margret, Brad Beesley, Scott Garrett, Robert Hackman, Jerry Houser, Ed Lauter, Joe Lowry, Patrick McCullough, Mary Munday, Lillian Randolph, Beverly Sanders, David Ogden Stiers, Anthony Hopkins, Burgess Meredith
Studio: United American
Product Type: DVD

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Two-Disc Special Edition) (Harry Potter 4)

Average customer rating:

Hey, good movie!
Amazing book, mediocre movie
! horrible movie - goblet of fire - 1st 2 great 3rd lousy as well
The Best HP Movie Yet!
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Two-Disc Special Edition) (Harry Potter 4)
Starring: Eric Sykes , Timothy Spall , David Tennant , Daniel Radcliffe , and Emma Watson (II)
Director: Mike Newell
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Similar Items:

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Book 7)
The Chronicles of Narnia - The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Widescreen Edition)
Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Two-Disc Special Edition) (Harry Potter 3)
Star Wars - Episode III, Revenge of the Sith (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B000E6EK3S
Release Date: 2006-03-07

Product Description

When Harry Potter's name emerges from the Goblet of Fire, he becomes a competitor in a grueling battle for glory among three wizarding schools - the Triwizard Tournament. But since Harry never submitted his name for the Tournament, who did? Now Harry must confront a deadly dragon, fierce water demons and an enchanted maze only to find himself in the cruel grasp of He Who Must Not Be Named. In this fourth film adaptation of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, everything changes as Harry, Ron and Hermione leave childhood forever and take on challenges greater than anything they could have imagined.
Running Time: 157 min.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com

The fourth entry in the Harry Potter saga could be retitled Fast Times at Hogwarts, where finding a date to the winter ball is nearly as terrifying as worrying about Lord Voldemort's return. Thus, the young wizards' entry into puberty (and discovery of the opposite sex) opens up a rich mining field to balance out the dark content in the fourth movie (and the stories are only going to get darker). Mike Newell (Four Weddings and a Funeral) handily takes the directing reins and eases his young cast through awkward growth spurts into true young actors. Harry (Daniel Radcliffe, more sure of himself) has his first girl crush on fellow student Cho Chang (Katie Leung), and has his first big fight with best bud Ron (Rupert Grint). Meanwhile, Ron's underlying romantic tension with Hermione (Emma Watson) comes to a head over the winter ball, and when she makes one of those girl-into-woman Cinderella entrances, the boys' reactions indicate they've all crossed a threshold.

But don't worry, there's plenty of wizardry and action in Goblet of Fire. When the deadly Triwizard Tournament is hosted by Hogwarts, Harry finds his name mysteriously submitted (and chosen) to compete against wizards from two neighboring academies, as well as another Hogwarts student. The competition scenes are magnificently shot, with much-improved CGI effects (particularly the underwater challenge). And the climactic confrontation with Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes, in a brilliant bit of casting) is the most thrilling yet. Goblet, the first installment to get a PG-13 rating, contains some violence as well as disturbing images for kids and some barely shrouded references at sexual awakening (Harry's bath scene in particular). The 2 1/2-hour film, lean considering it came from a 734-page book, trims out subplots about house-elves (they're not missed) and gives little screen time to the standard crew of the other Potter films, but adds in more of Britain's finest actors to the cast, such as Brendan Gleeson as Mad-Eye Moody and Miranda Richardson as Rita Skeeter. Michael Gambon, in his second round as Professor Dumbledore, still hasn't brought audiences around to his interpretation of the role he took over after Richard Harris died, but it's a small smudge in an otherwise spotless adaptation. --Ellen A. Kim

On the DVD
The highlight of the two-disc set is a half-hour conversation with actors Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint. They discuss their reactions to the film and other topics with British writer Richard Curtis . Then they answer questions from contest-winning fans, such as what are their favorite kids' books (Watson bypasses the obvious answer in favor of Roald Dahl and Philip Pullman) and what scenes are they looking forward to in upcoming films. More routine extras include the "Reflections on the Fourth Film" featurette (14 min.), though it has comments from some of the other young cast members, and "Preparing for the Yule Ball" (9 min.). The 10 minutes of additional scenes are mostly skulking and skullduggery, plus a long musical number from the ball. The remaining material is grouped along the lines of the Triwizard Tournament, with behind-the-scenes looks at each of the competitions (about 22 min. total), two longer featurettes on He Who Must Not Be Named (11 min.) and the workday of the other contestants (Robert Pattinson, Stanislav Ianevski, and Clémence Poésy, 13 min.), and four games, playable with the directional arrows on the remote control, that can be frustrating to figure out. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews:

Hey, good movie!.......2007-07-06

As many other reviewers have said, it would be impossible to fit all of the 4th book into the movie. That being said, I thought the creators did a great job in just sticking to the Tri-wizard tournament, thus establishing a fast-paced, enjoyable Harry Potter flick. This especially made me happy after the third movie, which in my opinion was all over the place in terms of pacing.

Amazing book, mediocre movie.......2007-07-04

There is no comparison to the book. The acting was horrible (kids, Dumbledore) but I assume they were just badly directed - why is Dumbledore raving and out of control? Furthermore, many interesting scenes were cut or shortened - at least give us more world cup quidditch! I love the first 3 movies but this one just didn't measure up. I hope OotP is better.

! horrible movie - goblet of fire - 1st 2 great 3rd lousy as well.......2007-06-30

i have never read any of the harry potter books. the 1st 2 harry potter movies were excellent. you did not have to read the books to follow along and enjoy the movies. most importantly, the movies made sense. i have seen all 4 movies at the movie theater. this movie was horrible. (3rd movie was lousy as well) this movie made no sense. there was no cohesiveness. the movie was all over the place. jumping from scene to scene without correctly explaining the scene that the movie was in. i was very bored. i did not feel a bond with really any of the characters including harry. the guy who plays dumbledorf needs to be fired immediately he has no personality at all. i have tried to watch this harry goblet of fire movie on cable several times thinking maybe i misjudged or overeacted. i was totally 100% accurate. this movie is horribly bad. as other reviewers have said the movie needed to be longer (example stated lord of the rings) i hope harry potter v is much better.

The Best HP Movie Yet!.......2007-06-26

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was an amazing movie. The effects were astonishing, the action was awesome, and the acting was outstanding!
In his fourth year at Hogwarts, Harry Potter discovers that Lord Voldemort has returned and is trying to kill him. This movie is awesome!

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.......2007-06-16

First off, I thought this movie was quite entertaining and exciting in a thrill-ride sort of way, but it was the weakest film in the Harry Potter series. Many people will disagree with me, but this film lacked in plot and character development. The Triwizard champions had a total of two or less lines in the movie, and they weren't shown enough to grow accustomed to them. Mike Newell might be a great director, but he didn't capture the mood and essence of the Harry Potter world. Every time I was getting ready to settle with a situation or conflict, the movie took me to an entirely different ball park. The film never settled... it was in a constant rush.
Before the movie premiered in theaters, I remember hearing Newell say in an interview that he took out a few unnecessary subplots. He definitely took out many unnecessary subplots, and he replaced them with some other unnecessary scenes. There was a part in the movie where "Karkaroff" (The Durmstrang Headmaster)is shown secretly entering the lonely Great Hall. It's a very suspicious scene that leaves the audience wondering: What happens?... Nothing... nothing happens. That scene was just placed there for the sake of adding suspense to the story. The Beauxbatons champion, Fleur Delacour, was a very intriguing character in the book, and I was very disappointed when her total screen time added up to about three minutes. I had no complaints about her look, because I think she was as beautiful as they described her in the book, yet the director didn't take advantage of her screen time. In fact, the director didn't take advantage of any actor's screen time. Rita Skeeter, the haughty reporter for the Daily Prophet (played by the talented Miranda Richardson), was a very random character in the film, but in the book, she was a very well-developed character.
I'm sorry to say, but I think this movie would've been better off in the hands of another director. I think Alfonso Cuaron and Chris Columbus captured the true spirit of J.K. Rowling's magical wizarding world. Chris Columbus portrayed the world as colorful, yet filled with hidden dangers; Cuaron made the third film dark and more adult, still maintaining a magical tone; Mike Newell... he created a tone that was all over the place.
I am no director, but I can say that Mike Newell definitely needs to work on character development in his films. I heard he made the film "Mona Lisa Smile", and when I saw that movie, I had the same complaints I had for Harry Potter 4: "It just could've been better". Mona Lisa Smile lacked in proper character development as well. I know we live in a society that demands instant action and conflict in its flicks, but there are ways of doing that without rushing plot or character development. I'm just glad he's not doing the next Harry Potter film.
Although I have some complaints about this film, I still have to say that I enjoy watching it because it is entertaining and it is a thrill ride; so I do recommend it for that purpose. Thank You for reading. =)

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Widescreen Edition) (Harry Potter 4)

Average customer rating:

Hey, good movie!
Amazing book, mediocre movie
! horrible movie - goblet of fire - 1st 2 great 3rd lousy as well
The Best HP Movie Yet!
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Widescreen Edition) (Harry Potter 4)
Starring: Eric Sykes , Timothy Spall , David Tennant , Daniel Radcliffe , and Emma Watson (II)
Director: Mike Newell
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Adventure | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

10-12 Years | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Adapted from Books | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

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Fantasy | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

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( H ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Book 7)
The Chronicles of Narnia - The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Widescreen Edition)
Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Two-Disc Special Edition) (Harry Potter 3)
Star Wars - Episode III, Revenge of the Sith (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B000E6EK2Y
Release Date: 2006-03-07

Amazon.com

The latest entry in the Harry Potter saga could be retitled Fast Times at Hogwarts, where finding a date to the winter ball is nearly as terrifying as worrying about Lord Voldemort's return. Thus, the young wizards' entry into puberty (and discovery of the opposite sex) opens up a rich mining field to balance out the dark content in the fourth movie (and the stories are only going to get darker). Mike Newell (Four Weddings and a Funeral) handily takes the directing reins and eases his young cast through awkward growth spurts into true young actors. Harry (Daniel Radcliffe, more sure of himself) has his first girl crush on fellow student Cho Chang (Katie Leung), and has his first big fight with best bud Ron (Rupert Grint). Meanwhile, Ron's underlying romantic tension with Hermione (Emma Watson) comes to a head over the winter ball, and when she makes one of those girl-into-woman Cinderella entrances, the boys' reactions indicate they've all crossed a threshold.

Description

Customer Reviews:

Hey, good movie!.......2007-07-06

Amazing book, mediocre movie.......2007-07-04

! horrible movie - goblet of fire - 1st 2 great 3rd lousy as well.......2007-06-30

The Best HP Movie Yet!.......2007-06-26

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.......2007-06-16

Average customer rating:

Great art, but not completely fulfilling
The Prestige
Awesome Movie
Too much "Gotcha"
Are You Watching Closely?

The Prestige
Starring: Hugh Jackman , Christian Bale , Michael Caine , Piper Perabo , and Rebecca Hall
Director: Christopher Nolan
Manufacturer: Buena Vista Home Entertainment / Touchstone
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Suspense | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

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General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( P ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

The Illusionist (Widescreen Edition)
The Departed (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Casino Royale (Two-Disc Widescreen Edition)
Babel
Blood Diamond (Two-Disc Special Edition)

ASIN: B000LC55F2
Release Date: 2007-02-20

Amazon.com

The Prestige attempts a hat trick by combining a ridiculously good-looking cast, a highly regarded new director, and more than one sleight of hand. Does it pull it off? Sort of. Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman play rival magicians who were once friends before an on-stage tragedy drove a wedge between them. While Bale's Alfred Borden is a more skilled illusionist, Jackman's Rufus Angier is the better showman; much of the film's interesting first half is their attempts to sabotage--and simultaneously, top--each other's tricks. Even with the help of a prop inventor (Michael Caine) and a comely assistant (Scarlett Johansson), Angier can't match Borden's ultimate illusion: The Transporting Man. Angier's obsession with learning Borden's trick leads him to an encounter with an eccentric inventor (David Bowie) in a second half that gets bogged down in plot loops and theatrics. Director Christopher Nolan, reuniting with his Batman Begins star Bale, demonstrates the same dark touch that hued that film, but some plot elements--without giving anything away--seem out of place with the rest of the movie. It's better to sit back and let the sometimes-clunky turns steer themselves than try to draw back the black curtain. That said, The Prestige still manages to entertain long after the magician has left the stage--a feat in itself. --Ellen A. Kim

Description

Award-winning actors Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Michael Caine and Scarlett Johansson star in THE PRESTIGE, the twisting, turning story that, like all great magic tricks, stays with you. Two young, passionate magicians, Robert Angier (Jackman), a charismatic showman, and Alfred Borden (Bale), a gifted illusionist, are friends and partners until one fateful night when their biggest trick goes terribly wrong. Now the bitterest of enemies, they will stop at nothing to learn each other's secrets. As their rivalry escalates into a total obsession full of deceit and sabotage, they risk everything to become the greatest magician of all time. But nothing is as it seems, so watch closely. And be prepared to watch it again and again.

Customer Reviews:

Great art, but not completely fulfilling.......2007-07-06

"The Prestige" is a movie about the rivalry between two magicians, played by Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale, the great feats this rivalry pushes them to do and the terrible ending their rivlalry brings them to. "The Prestige" is about great magicians--what great showmen and artists they are--and "The Prestige" is also successful art, but it has not been completely polished. It both gives away a little more than it should, and never quite explains fully enough. The set/art direction is excellent--the mood has been set well--the cinematography beautiful and the acting is consistently very good. The problem is in the script and possibly the source material of the novel. The narrative structure needs to be as tight as the movie suggests a magic trick is.

The Prestige.......2007-07-06

I didn't think this movie was awesome, but it was okay. Don't do anything else (like sewing) when you are watching it, your eyes have to be on the screen at all times or you will be completely lost.

Awesome Movie.......2007-07-03

I thoroughly love watching The Prestige. Once in a while a great movie will come along that I can watch over and over and be entertained continuously. This is one of those films. Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale are great as the main characters and the plot is just wonderful. I imagine the book is just as great and I think that the film makers did a really nice job with the material. It's innovative, deceiving, thought provoking and overall excellently put together. Enjoy.

Too much "Gotcha".......2007-06-30

This is a movie about revenge. Robert Angier and Alfred Borden are two magicians who work together. When one of them loses a loved one during a performance, the other pursues a lifetime of vengeance. Back and forth it goes, with the only suspense being who is going to get the last word (or revenge) and destroy the other. This unrelenting process takes up most of the movie and is really overdone in my estimation. The movie is dark, (both the theme and the cinematography) and is pretty despresssing. My husband and I both enjoyed "The Illusionsist" much more that this movie.

Are You Watching Closely?.......2007-06-29

Wow! A review of this movie! That's not an easy thing. And the confused beginning and drawn out silences make it difficult to separate past from present from future and determine where you are in the story. But, after Christian Bale is responsible for the death of Hugh Jackman's wife, Piper Perado, the hatred between Jackman and Bale ratchets upward to obsession, with each magician exposing the tricks of the other. Both have found the ultimate trick, the transported man, involving exact doubles. It isn't clear how Bale found his duplicate, nor is it obvious until afterwards that his own personal tragedy, the suicide of his wife, Rebecca Hall, is the result of his double. But the extent of Jackman's obsession is shown by his rejection of his beautiful assistant, Scarlett Johansson, and his funding the research of Nicoli Tesla, a very real and very eccentric scientist of the period played by a stoic David Bowie. And when Jackman uses a duplicate to lure Bale into being accused of murder, and obtains custody of Bale's daughter...well, I've already said too much and the final plot twist should be left as a surprise.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Two-Disc Special Edition) (Harry Potter 3)

Average customer rating:

Different Director; Great Adaptation
Good Movie, but not as good as the first two
Disappointment.
Massive Disappointment
I LOVE Harry Potter!

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Two-Disc Special Edition) (Harry Potter 3)
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe , Richard Griffiths , Pam Ferris , Fiona Shaw , and Harry Melling
Director: Alfonso Cuarón
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

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( H ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

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Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Two-Disc Special Edition) (Harry Potter 2)
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Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Two-Disc Special Edition) (Harry Potter 4)
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Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Book 7)

ASIN: B00005JMAH
Release Date: 2004-11-23

Amazon.com

Some movie-loving wizards must have cast a magic spell on Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, because it's another grand slam for the Harry Potter franchise. Demonstrating remarkable versatility after the arthouse success of Y Tu Mamá También, director Alfonso Cuarón proves a perfect choice to guide Harry, Hermione, and Ron into treacherous puberty as the now 13-year-old students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry face a new and daunting challenge: Sirius Black (Gary Oldman) has escaped from Azkaban prison, and for reasons yet unknown (unless, of course, you've read J.K. Rowling's book, considered by many to be the best in the series), he's after Harry in a bid for revenge. This dark and dangerous mystery drives the action while Harry (the fast-growing Daniel Radcliffe) and his third-year Hogwarts classmates discover the flying hippogriff Buckbeak (a marvelous CGI creature), the benevolent but enigmatic Professor Lupin (David Thewlis), horrifying black-robed Dementors, sneaky Peter Pettigrew (Timothy Spall), and the wonderful advantage of having a Time-Turner just when you need one. The familiar Hogwarts staff returns in fine form (including the delightful Michael Gambon, replacing the late Richard Harris as Dumbledore, and Emma Thompson as the goggle-eyed Sybil Trelawney), and even Julie Christie joins this prestigious production for a brief but welcome cameo. Technically dazzling, fast-paced, and chock-full of Rowling's boundless imagination (loyally adapted by ace screenwriter Steve Kloves), The Prisoner of Azkaban is a Potter-movie classic. --Jeff Shannon

Description

In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry, Ron and Hermione, now teenagers, return for their third year at Hogwarts, where they are forced to face escaped prisoner, Sirius Black, who poses a great threat to Harry. Harry and his friends spend their third year learning how to handle a half-horse half-eagle Hippogriff, repel shape-shifting Boggarts and master the art of Divination. They also visit the wizarding village of Hogsmeade and the Shrieking Shack, which is considered the most haunted building in Britain. In addition to these new experiences, Harry must overcome the threats of the soul-sucking Dementors, outsmart a dangerous werewolf and finally deal with the truth about Sirius Black and his relationship to Harry and his parents. With his best friends, Harry masters advanced magic, crosses the barriers of time and changes the course of more than one life. Directed by Alfonso Cuaron and based on J.K. Rowling 's third book, this wondrous spellbinder soars with laughs, and the kind of breathless surprise only found in a Harry Potter adventure.

DVD Features:
3D Animated Menus
Challenges:Three great interactive challenges! Test your memory with "Magic You May Have Missed", help Crookshanks "Catch Scabbers", and go on an unexpected quest with Sir Cadogan.
DVD ROM Features:Wizard Trading Cards.Hogwarts Timeline.
Deleted Scenes:A selection of mystifying exclusive never-before-seen footage
Featurette:Conjuring a Scene - an in-depth look at the making of key scenes from the filmMeet the animal trainers from the movie in Care of Magical Creatures.
Interviews:Raucous interviews with the cast lead by Johnny Vaughan and the Shrunken HeadCreating the Vision - a revealing interview with J.K. Rowling and the filmmakers.
Other:Self-guided iPIX tours into Honeydukes and Professor Lupin's Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. Choir Practice - sing-along with the Hogwarts choir.Hogwarts Portrait Gallery - get a closer look at the various portraits lining the walls of Hogwarts castle. Electronic Arts game preview.
Theatrical Trailer:Harry Potter 1, Harry Potter 2, Harry Potter 3

Customer Reviews:

Different Director; Great Adaptation.......2007-07-02

The third movie in the Harry Potter franchise brings us a new director in the form of Alfonso Cuaron. While there are some obvious stylistic changes to the movie, it still expertly captures the third book in the series.

This year finds Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) facing a personal threat from day one. Sirius Black (Gary Oldman) has escaped from the wizard prison of Azkaban. His betrayal led to the deaths of Harry's parents years ago. Everyone assumes that Black is heading to Hogwarts to kill Harry and avenge You Know Who's death. Is he out to get Harry? Will he catch up with our young hero?

Naturally, as the books get longer in the series, the films have to cut more out. This one does a decent job by cutting out most of the Quidditch matches and streamlining the plot. The plot loses some of the twists and bumps, but it certainly works. I first saw it without having read the books and really enjoyed it. Only now that I've read the books do I know the details I was missing. While they help, they aren't necessary to enjoy the film.

Having watched the first three films in such close proximity, I really noticed the difference in the films this time. If you are paying attention, it's obvious they've changed the setting for Hogwarts. Even the insides of the castle look different with the Great Hall being less ornate but the halls have many more portraits. These are minor things and didn't hamper my enjoyment of the film at all.

The cast does their normal great job. All three of our leads are growing into fine young actors. Michael Gambon takes over the part of Headmaster Dumbledore, and he does a great job. There is a little difference, but not much. The special effects are once again amazing.

Book purists may be disappointed by the changes made to the story. But I think you'd hard pressed to find a better film version of this book no matter who was involved.

Good Movie, but not as good as the first two.......2007-06-15

This movie was OK. It was good but The Sorcerer's Stone and The Chamber of Secrets were better. Although, something funny was that there was this scary book that went wild! I watched this in class. This was just OK overall.

Note: Rated PG. Parental Guidance Suggested--Some material may not be suitable for children.

Rated PG for scary images, mild violence and brief language. May not be appropriate for children under the age of 8 years.

Disappointment........2007-06-12

After reading the 3rd book, I was highly anticipating the release of the movie. I'm sorry to say that I was extremely disappointed. Alot of people I know loved this movie, but none of them had read the book. The book was AMAZING! It made the movie look dim. There were alot of main points that occured in the story that were not brought out in this movie. The fact that authors have no say in the way the movie of the book they wrote turns out, is ridiculous.

Massive Disappointment.......2007-06-09

I've owned this movie for years, buying it shortly after it appeared on DVD. However, unlike the other Harry Potter movies, after only a few minutes of watching this DVD, I turned it off. Now, it is several years later, and I still have to struggle to get to the end. Basically, it's a bad and boring movie, a tremendous disappointment because this movie should have been wonderful - the story is fabulous.

Many of my complaints have been written before, so I will only echo them here. So much of the wonderful bits of the story are inexplicably missing or botched. Ron should stand up for Hermione when Snape calls her a Know-It-All; both Ron and Hermione should be inside the Three Broomsticks when Harry learns about Sirius Black; Ron and Hermione should be at odds with each other for much of the school year; Hermione's time-turner should be hinted at sooner - she should be tired from all her studying; the Firebolt should arrive at Christmas and not the end of the year; there should be a sense of passage of time. Scabbers and Crookshank should be given more air time. And where is Ron's moment of terror when he says he was attacked by Sirius Black? (Ron's character was particularly short-changed by this movie.) And so on, and so on.

Other items are introduced or dwelled on for no apparent reason. Why does Hogwarts have a choir? Why are we wasting precious movie moments having the Fat Lady sing? I get the joke, but we don't need it here. Why do we spend so much time with the chattering shrunken heads?

Moreover, there are numerous changes from the earlier movies. I, too, don't care for the lack of school uniforms, the dark dinginess of the castle, the inexplicable restructuring of the landscape, especially Hagrid's cabin. This movie lacks the charm of the earlier movies - and the charm of the movie that has since followed, Goblet of Fire. Much of the acting also strikes me as poor - but it may be that the actors had no choice, either because of the screenplay or the direction.

In writing, there is something known as showing versus telling. Writers are probably telling too much when they use too many adverbs, or when they write sentences such as: "Joe felt sad." The same can happen in a movie. Instead of the dialogue in which the characters touch each other emotionally and thus the readers/viewers as well, Cuaron "tells" us how we should feel by using, for example, either scary or haunting music. He would have done better to stick with dialogue. A number of other reviewers have enjoyed the movie version of Prisoner of Azkhaban, saying that Cuaron brings forth the darkness of the story. I don't agree. By making the whole movie dark, Cuaron detracts from dark's contrast with light. Compare this movie, for example, with Goblet of Fire. When Harry returns from the graveyard with Cedric's body, there is a moment where he is in utter despair - he's wailing his heart out - but the circus-like music keeps playing. I have trouble watching this scene of Goblet of Fire, but for a very different reason: it is so good that it hurts. With Prisoner of Azkhaban, the scenes are so boring as to be downright embarrassing.

I'm not quite sure how this travesty happened. I expect it is mostly due to Cuaron, who moved things around the Hogwarts grounds for no reason, and who was, perhaps, trying to give it his own artistic stamp - why, in a series? But there seem to be problems with the screenplay as well, so perhaps Steven Kloves deserves some of the blame. Evidently JK Rowling approved everything, too, which I can't understand, although I guess it would be impolitic of her to come out and say that she hates the movie (and of this I have no idea).

A great disappointment. Unfortunately, we have no time-turners ourselves, so we can't go back in time and do this movie right.

I LOVE Harry Potter!.......2007-04-18

Its my little secret. I dare not tell any of my friends. Shhh!
This movie is my favorite of the Happy potters. Snape seems nicer, and there is a twist! Ron's rat turns out to be something its not. And someone is a warewolf! Guess who!
This movie is the greatest, I'm going to buy all of them!

Average customer rating:

Who is the REAL Illunonist?
Calling All Duchesses
Superb and SMARTLY written!!!
Excellent mix of old and new
Love it

The Illusionist (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Edward Norton , Paul Giamatti , Jessica Biel , Rufus Sewell , and Eddie Marsan
Director: Neil Burger
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000K7VHQ4
Release Date: 2007-01-09

Amazon.com

First screened in Europe and scheduled for limited release in the U.S., The Illusionist offers welcome proof that "arthouse" quality needn't be limited to the arthouses. Set in turn-of-the-century Vienna, this stately, elegant period film benefited from a crossover release in mainstream cinemas, and showed considerable box-office staying power--granted, teenage mallrats and lusty males may have been drawn to the allure of Seventh Heaven alumna Jessica Biel, who rises to the occasion with a fine performance. But there's equal appeal in the casting of Edward Norton and Paul Giamatti, who bring their formidable talents to bear on the intriguing tale of a celebrated magician named Eisenheim (Norton) whose stage performance offends the Crown Prince Leopold (Rufus Sewell), a vindictive lout who aims to marry Duchess Sophie (Biel), Eisenheim's childhood friend and now, 15 years later, his would-be lover. This romantic rivalry and Eisenheim's increasingly enigmatic craft of illusion are investigated by Chief Inspector Uhl (Giamatti), who's under Leopold's command and is therefore not to be trusted as Eisenheim and Sophie draw closer to their inevitable reunion. Cleverly adapted by director Neil Burger from Steven Millhauser's short story "Eisenheim the Illusionist," and boasting exquisite production values and a fine score by Philip Glass, The Illusionist is the kind of class act that fully deserved its unusually wide and appreciative audience. -- Jeff Shannon

Beyond The Illusionist

"Eisenheim the Illusionist" and Other Stories

Paul Giamatti in a More Loveable Role
Magic Kits & Accessories

Stills from The Illusionist

Description

Unlock the mysteries of the year's most spellbinding film from the producers of Crash and Sideways! Oscar(r) nominees Paul Giamatti and Edward Norton lead an all-star cast in this "stunning" film (USA Today) that conjures an exhilarating blend of suspense, romance and mind-bending twists. The acclaimed illusionist Eisenheim (Norton) has not only captured the imaginations of all of Vienna, but also the interest of the ambitious Crown Prince Leopold (Rufus Sewell). But when Leopold's new fiancée (Jessica Biel) rekindles a childhood fascination with Eisenheim, the Prince's interest evolves into obsession...and suddenly the city's Chief Inspector (Giamatti) finds himself investigating a shocking crime. But even as the Inspector engages him in a dramatic challenge of wills, Eisenheim prepares for his most impressive illusion yet in this "mesmerizing" (Entertainment Weekly) and "beautifully acted" (Good Morning America) film that "teases you until the very end!" (The New York Times).

Customer Reviews:

Who is the REAL Illunonist?.......2007-07-05

Loved this movie. The ending was really messed up, but was good. These two old friends go to great lengths to better their magic shows, while at the same time trying to trick the other into different circumstances. I was expecting real Magic to be involved, but Science is the key factor here, as is most Magic Shows. The love story and how they intertwine with each others lives was complicated and takes a few minutes for you to get a good grasp on at the end. You finish the movie, thinking "Did he really do that?", "How was that possible?", "Which one is he?"...You'll understand at the end of the movie.

Calling All Duchesses.......2007-07-05

Film gets better and better as it goes along, after a bitter beginning in which the scratches and breaks of primitive cinema are aped to give that old time patina, or lustre, to persuade you that you are watching a documentary from that era. (When is the era, anyhow? Though Eisenheim uses actual firepots to illuminate his act, it must be set somewhat after the age of electricity, for Paul Giamatti's police constables produce from nowhere a fully operative movie projector and switch it on!) (And on an adjoining screen we see a sophisticated, and Technicolor moving image years before Technicolor was actually invented!) Like Coppola's DRACULA, or like the recent musical MOULIN ROUGE, director Neil Burger brings in the flaws and cracks of silent era film, and instantly takes us back to the day, though it's not 100 per cent convincing. Nor is his use of Prague for Vienna of all places, when the two cities are so radically different, but Prague must be fantastically cheaper to film in. But that's standard movie practice today, the way that, if one's only exposure to New York City was through the cinema, you would be forgiven for thinking it looks exactly like Toronto.

Anyhow I soon found myself caught up in the story, and to my surprise, Paul Giamatti was much better than he's been in years, and as for Jessica Biel, well, she has a new spring in her step, and she repays the confidence Burger placed in her, for her part couldn't have been an easy one and yet she's truthful and honest in nearly every scene. Does Ed Norton ever hold a ball of light as he does on the DVD cover and poster? I don't think so, but the one pose Eisenheim falls into, arm extended, fingers charging the air around his hand with electricity, is a commanding, Universal horror one. It might also have been invented by Karloff or Lugosi, and yet Norton carries it off.

Who was that actress from Canada who used to be in every other spooky sort of art movie, like Cronenberg's CRASH or Fincher's THE GAME--and she looked like a prototype for Jessica Biel, with the same unseeing eyes and fat, bruised lips? I know, I know, Deborah Kara Unger. She wouldn't have been bad either. She's so great and I haven't seen her since WHITE NOISE.

In THE ILLUSIONIST, is it just me, or how bad is Burger's dialogue whenever Jessica Biel is addressed? She's playing Sophie, the Duchess von Teschen. Does this mean that fellow noblewomen will be saying, "Your dress is so pretty, Duchess von Teschen!" The best is when she goes missing and the Vienna Woods swarm with volunteers all calling out, "Duchess von Teschen! Duchess von Teschen!" No wonder she's not responding, boys.

Superb and SMARTLY written!!!.......2007-07-05

Whoever wrote this movie was definitely in a zone to which every writer should aspire but few truly reach. I was admittedly bored with the pace of this story from time to time, but the brilliant acting of Edward Norton and Jessica Biel (to say nothing of Paul Giamatti and others) was positively enrapturing! I couldn't have turned this movie off if I had tried. I kept wanting to know what would happen next.

I'm usually very good about seeing an ending coming. I can honestly say I did NOT see this ending coming. Anyone that did is a much better movie watcher than I! Or maybe you're just psychic. Either way, my enjoyment of this movie reached its peak when I was slapped in the face by this wonderfully surprising ending.

I do think they could have developed some characters a bit more, but perhaps the mystery was part of the point. MAYBE that's what allows the viewer to become such a prisoner to this movie. So I'm torn. But I was also completely entertained! I knew NOTHING of this movie before viewing it but wow! I'm glad I did!

Excellent mix of old and new.......2007-07-04

Old time drama comes alive with this exceptional performance of magic and love. The actors are exceptional and make you believe you are really back in the day of magicians and when people truly believed witchcraft may be at hand.

I will not spoil the ending, because it is a good one. The progression of the movie included a demonstration from Ed Norton to Paul Giamatti on how a simple magic trick is really done. This sets you up to wonder about the rest of the magic. Is it so simple or is Norton MORE than an illusionist?

The romantic side of the story has been done so many times; childhood boys loves girl, meets her later in life, still loves her. However, it is integrated in this movie so well that it makes the movie into a romance you really buy into.

This movie is worth beyond a rental, because I am making a bet, you'll lend it to someone else raving over how good it is!

Love it.......2007-07-03

This is a great film! Edward Norton is incredible as usual. A lot of people have been comparing this to The Prestige since both were released around the same time and are about illusionists, but that's about it. I think both movies are excellent but each has a life of its own. The Illusionist is a modest yet extraordinary love story that happens to be centered around true magic. Definitely worth a look. Enjoy.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Full Screen Edition) (Harry Potter 4)

Average customer rating:

Hey, good movie!
Amazing book, mediocre movie
! horrible movie - goblet of fire - 1st 2 great 3rd lousy as well
The Best HP Movie Yet!
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Full Screen Edition) (Harry Potter 4)
Starring: Eric Sykes , Timothy Spall , David Tennant , Daniel Radcliffe , and Emma Watson (II)
Director: Mike Newell
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000E6EK38
Release Date: 2006-03-07

Amazon.com

Description

Customer Reviews:

Hey, good movie!.......2007-07-06

Amazing book, mediocre movie.......2007-07-04

! horrible movie - goblet of fire - 1st 2 great 3rd lousy as well.......2007-06-30

The Best HP Movie Yet!.......2007-06-26

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.......2007-06-16

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Two-Disc Special Edition) (Harry Potter 2)

Average customer rating:

My favorite movie!
If You Liked The Book, See The Film!
Despite Warnings, Harry Returns to Hogwarts
Pretty Cool!
Liked The First One Better

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Two-Disc Special Edition) (Harry Potter 2)
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe , Rupert Grint , Emma Watson (II) , Richard Griffiths , and Fiona Shaw
Director: Chris Columbus
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Book 7)
The Chronicles of Narnia - The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B00008DDXC
Release Date: 2003-04-11

Product Description

The next installment in the Harry Potter series finds young wizard Harry Potter (DANIEL RADCLIFFE) and his friends Ron Weasley (RUPERT GRINT) and Hermione Granger (EMMA WATSON) facing new challenges during their second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as they try to uncover a dark force that is terrorizing the school.
Running Time: 161 min.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com

First sequels are the true test of an enduring movie franchise, and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets passes with flying colors. Expanding upon the lavish sets, special effects, and grand adventure of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Harry's second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry involves a darker, more malevolent tale (parents with younger children beware), beginning with the petrified bodies of several Hogwarts students and magical clues leading Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert Grint), and Hermione (Emma Watson) to a 50-year-old mystery in the monster-laden Chamber of Secrets. House elves, squealing mandrakes, giant spiders, and venomous serpents populate this loyal adaptation (by Sorcerer's Stone director Chris Columbus and screenwriter Steve Kloves), and Kenneth Branagh delightfully tops the supreme supporting cast as the vainglorious charlatan Gilderoy Lockhart (be sure to view past the credits for a visual punchline at Lockhart's expense). At 161 minutes, the film suffers from lack of depth and uneven pacing, and John Williams' score mostly reprises established themes. The young, fast-growing cast offers ample compensation, however, as does the late Richard Harris in his final screen appearance as Professor Albus Dumbledore. Brimming with cleverness, wonderment, and big-budget splendor, Chamber honors the legacy of J.K. Rowling's novels. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

My favorite movie!.......2007-06-30

This is my favorite movie and whenever I get to pick the movie for movie night, I pick this one. This is the best movie I have ever seen and the acting is truly amazing. You don't have to wait forever for it to get to the plot (like most movies), and the the director definatley didn't have a budget when it came to special effects. I recommend this to any Harry Potter fan!

If You Liked The Book, See The Film!.......2007-06-27

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Book 2) is probably MY favorite book in the series (besides Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Book 3) because, in my opinion, they are both equally fantastic). However, I have to admit that this movie is an amazing interpretation of the book. Usually, I dislike the idea of books being brought on to the big screen because most of the time, the book gets ruined with a horrible interpretation. Well, it's not so with this book/movie! Every single deatail from the Dursleys to Dobby to Gilderoy Lockhart to The Flying Car to Moaning Myrtle to Tom Riddle's Diary to Aragog to The Basilik are completly amazing and just how I pictured them when I read the book. I have to say that watching this film will get you the same as reading the book because every page from J.K. Rowling's great work is portrayed incredibly without a single detailed spared (almost)! Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Book 2) is one of the best books I ever read, and this movie is one of the best that I've ever seen! It gets you hooked instatly. I highly recommend buying this, whether or not you've read the book. This is GREAT for mystery lovers. ***Oh, yeah! The plot: Harry Potter is a young wizard who goes to a school called Hogwarts that helps him develop his magical abilities. During his second year there, someone has opened The Chamber Of Secrets, and has released a great evil that is turning the students to stone!

Despite Warnings, Harry Returns to Hogwarts.......2007-06-26

All that is keeping Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) going through the summer is the thought of returning to school. Once again, his relatives are treating him poorly. And now that he knows he's a wizard, Hogwarts is the only place he feels at home.

But he almost doesn't make it back. First an elf appears and warns him to stay away. Then the entrance to the train platform is sealed to him.

Things quickly turn serious once he does show up at Hogwarts. Harry keeps hearing voices in the walls that no one else can hear. And then there is the warning written on the wall in blood. What is the chamber of secrets? Why can only Harry hear the voices? Are the students safe?

As with the first movie, this one brings Harry's world to life beautifully. And once again, the movie sticks very closely to the book. Since I liked this book better then the first one, I like this movie better, too. The cast from the first movie returns and hits all the right notes with their characters. Joining the cast this time is Kenneth Branagh as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, and he's a riot in the comic relief role. Unfortunately, this is Richard Harris' last performance as Dumbledore. I loved his grandfatherly take on the character.

Over the course of this movie, Harry faces a family of giant spiders and a giant serpent. These scenes are a little scary and could frighten small children. If your kids scare easily, you might want to view the film first.

Fans of the books will be delighted with this film. It perfectly captures the book on which it is based.

Pretty Cool!.......2007-06-13

I liked this movie a lot. I watched it in class. It was good, other than the violence. Dobi was pretty funny. He was the alien creature that appeared in Harry's room. I watched this in class, too. It was funny when there was a shadowy girl floating in the bathroom! It was a fun movie.

NOTE: Rated PG. Parental Guidance Suggested--Some Material may not be suitable for Children.

Rated PG for scary images, mild creature violence and some brief mild language. May not be appropriate for young children under age 8.

Liked The First One Better.......2007-05-25

I liked the first one better, probably because everything was new. But this one is really good too. You need to read the book though, that's why I'm really posting this, to tell people to read the book. It has so much more.

Average customer rating:

I Love Chocolat!!
Tempted by the Bittersweet Treat
Chocolat...DVD
bittersweet 'Chocolat' for me.....
Chocolat

Chocolat (Miramax Collector's Series)
Starring: Juliette Binoche , Alfred Molina , Carrie-Anne Moss , Judi Dench , and Antonio Gil-Martinez
Director: Lasse Hallström
Manufacturer: Miramax
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005K3OT
Release Date: 2001-08-07

Amazon.com

With movies like Chocolat, it's always best to relax your intellectual faculties and absorb the abundant sensual pleasures, be it the heart-stopping smile of chocolatier Juliette Binoche as she greets a new customer, an intoxicating cup of spiced hot cocoa, or the soothing guitar of an Irish gypsy played by Johnny Depp. Adapted by Robert Nelson Jacobs from Joanne Harris's popular novel and lovingly directed by Lasse Hallström, the film covers familiar territory and deals in broad metaphors that even a child could comprehend, so it's no surprise that some critics panned it with killjoy fervor. Their objections miss the point. Familiarity can be comforting and so can easy metaphors when placed in a fable that's as warmly inviting as this one.

Driven by fate, Vianne (Binoche) drifts into a tranquil French village with her daughter Anouk (Victoire Thivisol, from Ponette) in the winter of 1959. Her newly opened chocolatier is a source of attraction and fear, since Vianne's ability to revive the villagers' passions threatens to disrupt their repressive traditions. The pious mayor (Alfred Molina) sees Vianne as the enemy, and his war against her peaks with the arrival of "river rats" led by Roux (Depp), whose attraction to Vianne is immediate and reciprocal. Splendid subplots involve a battered wife (Lena Olin), a village elder (Judi Dench), and her estranged daughter (Carrie-Anne Moss), and while the film's broader strokes may be regrettable (if not for Molina's rich performance, the mayor would be a caricature), its subtleties are often sublime. Chocolat reminds you of life's simple pleasures and invites you to enjoy them. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Nominated for 5 Academy Awards(R) including Best Picture, Best Actress (Juliette Binoche -- THE ENGLISH PATIENT), and Best Supporting Actress (Judi Dench -- SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE), CHOCOLAT is the beautiful and captivating comedy from the acclaimed director of THE CIDER HOUSE RULES! Nobody could have imagined the impact that the striking Vianne (Binoche) would make when she arrived in a tranquil, old-fashioned French town. In her very unusual chocolate shop, Vianne begins to create mouth-watering confections that almost magically inspire the straitlaced villagers to abandon themselves to temptation and happiness! But it is not until another stranger, the handsome Roux (Johnny Depp -- SLEEPY HOLLOW), arrives in town that Vianne is finally able to recognize her own desires!

Customer Reviews:

I Love Chocolat!!.......2007-06-28

This movie is visually and mentally appealing I could almost taste the chocolate.

The message is as good as chocolate!

Tempted by the Bittersweet Treat.......2007-06-27

About a year ago my very Italian husband came home and announced that we were going to "as a family" now make chocolates in the shape of icosahedrons, tetrahedrons, dodecahedrons and octahedrons and MORE. This to be a part of his largely then mentally imagined company, Math Through the Ages. (Now it is very real and I will be launching many projects around it...and he has shown me I need to shut up sometimes.)
And what this candy would be, was a tasty treat aspect to the wares for families and kids. They would play and eat to better know and work with Math conceptually. In ways designed to develop math proofs with actual doing, something that is always actually our orientation in teaching in schools. " The platonic solids, Sarah", he said, "Are our answer."

(I might add this was somewhat better received on my part than when after my second baby he announced I should in my maternity leave run a 12 baby daycare because he "always wanted this".)

But I looked at him dumbfounded because he followed this with, "What do you know of chocolates and candy making". Well I knew this movie. And I can make something called a "Buckeye" which is peanut butter, powdered sugar and dipped in chocolate.

So it would seem that we had some point of connection as he was hoping for Juliette Binoche to step forward and begin a rich Latin chocolate cooking experience. I would say for a fantasy that's a fair one. Or for a kind of sensual pleasure this movie would awaken most men and women to the luxury of food, the pleasure of watching her on-screen and relating to Depp is lovely. But dressed in an old t shirt, too chubby, covered with Elmer's glue, glitter and ambivalent about how many minutes it would be before we argued over any process we started together I made the mistake of a guffaw. Men generally presenting their fantasy dreams do not appreciate this response. It's a cooling kind of thing. I have learned this. But...perhaps I could start by explaining my life might more closely resemble Green Acres.

I was very ill when I first watched this with peritonitis, again, and about a week from a month in the hospital some three or four years ago, actually doubled over the next day and in some rigid pain this day and I still found it a wonderful escape. Which is why Jack went out and got it. I'd just finished an angiogram in Anaheim(no it wasn't the heart, it was cancer) and right after that everything really went to hell. The storyline of the movie, I'll leave for others having recently been told about my spoiler nature. (Yes secrets are difficult for me sometimes) But I will say this story was beautifully filmed, set into a kind of place not unlike the Secrets of Roan Innish, a mystical realism.

I like magical tales and the weaving of this suited me when a magical escape was something I needed. If you are a woman or man that likes love stories I think you'll like this movie a great deal. If you have been on another planet you'll hear it here first. Shortly afterwards it was Dilaudid for me and then that might have heightened my recall of it as so very magical (or whatever they called the tripping pain med.)

So to be a bit more self-referential my husband would like, I think, to have our home be like this kitchen, filled with these wonderful treats that bring alive libido and sensual passions created by this magical maker. Me too.

I fumble around with cobblers and country fried steaks and the occasional pound cake. It is also true I am too plump for the fantasy. But I could play the diabetic sweet treat loving older lady, a sage dying so meaningfully especially in the party scene. One of the things that is so nice about this movie is Judy Dench and how her character serves to speak of a very powerful older woman, her complexities of feeling and her decisions regarding her health and her being in the living world, and her death, and how she choses to go. In a way this serves to ground you in living your life on your own terms and realizing you probably will in many ways mess up most of it. I would interject the movie suggests to live for love. The way her story is woven into the tapestry of the lives of the characters, the magic of these (filmed) days when life went upside over as a part of the construct of a home the candy maker builds in her wind blown life is fascinating. I'll spoil it to tell it and sound ridiculous not telling it.But Binoche serves as someone who forces other to deal with their heart. And is finally served the same by way of the vehicle of the chocolates and what they evoke from the characters.
The ins and outs of everyone's revelations spring out,their deeply held secrets revealed, their facing truths and it would seem their coming out of cowardice into the power of love, into a wind which blows it all upside down and right again. Too good. Oh, I wish it were so. I can think of this in relationship to several stories I do love. Their connection through the chocolates/shop/this powerful woman shaman is so cool. Facing their foolishly going wrong lives amazes me. The construct of her blowing into communities, making connections moving on, needing to find the home, to finally stay somewhere and the tension between moving on and admitting the need to have a place for love to matter hits you. Yes I'll stay in that village. Sure. I really like the plot line, can you tell?

It is a kind of story line that would appeal to my husband. And I'm almost afraid to think about that anymore right now.

No I am not wrapped up in the creation of chocolates yet though he has a mold maker and has brought in many chocolate molds.Really. I'm not capable of really