It's rare that we hear venomous arguments over the soundtrack and composer of a film, but when that film is the latest in the Harry Potter franchise, I suppose it's believable. Beloved composer John Williams (the man behind such classic music as the themes from Star Wars, E.T., and of course, the first three Harry Potter films) bowed out for this film and Patrick Doyle, an Academy Award-nominated composer, stepped in to take the musical helm.
Doyle had the chops to handle Potter — no one could have argued that. He's worked on such disparate films as Sense and Sensibility and Bridget Jones's Diary, and if there was a movie based on a Shakespearean play, odds are that Doyle's name is on the music. He's also worked on a number on fantasy titles, such as A Little Princess (one of my favorites, and also directed by Prisoner of Azkaban's Alfonso Cuarón) and Quest for Camelot. Perhaps these two weren't record-setters at the box office, but they were both solid family films, and at least in the case of the first, truly stunning examples of film — both visually and musically.
Still, it's hard to follow a legend, and there are plenty of rabid Potter fans who are cursing the day Patrick Doyle was born — and that's a shame. He's done a tremendous job here of taking the music to a darker place for Goblet of Fire. The opening track, "The Story Continues," interweaves Williams's signature Potter theme with an ominous sound that sends shivers through the audience and establishes that this will be a Potter film like no other. Rita Skeeter's theme suits that character, brought vividly to life by Miranda Richardson, though her scenes were woefully short. The theme is playfully sinister, evoking the the journalist with the acid quill. "Potter's Waltz" brings the film back up, shining the light on a more innocent moment — the Yule Ball and the distractions of youth even amidst a life-threatening tournament.
Article comments
1 - Aaman
pretty cool review, while it's unlikely one will ever get the soundtrack album, you've done a fine job of putting the pieces into context.
I think every Potter film henceforth will be more of the same - a mishmash of plot devices, no stronger than the next, and full of sound and fury, etc.
2 - Sam Jack
That's true Aaman, I don't think any of the films to follow will match the unity of Cuaron's work. But these books are harder to movie-ize.
Rowling puts all kinds of stuff in books 4 - 6 that really could've been cut, but no one complains, because we enjoy living in the Potter universe for a while longer. I think the movies are the same way.
-Sam
3 - Alisha Karabinus
I don't know... I think the fourth is unique in that so many things happen that are very, very important. The fifth book is just as long, but a lot of it is Harry yowling because he's 15 and angsty -- and that can be trimmed down to a look at his face and the set of his shoulders now and again. And the sixth book has a lot that can be trimmed, too. The fourth book was, I'm sure, very difficult to squeeze into one film. They should have Kill Bill-ized it.
Anyway, thanks, Aaman. :)
4 - daz
harry potter is ggggggggggggggrrrrrrrrrrrr8888888888888ttttttttt
5 - Bennett
Great
6 - This Girl
I love Harry Potter books. I hate the fourth movie. The first movie was very good, as was the second; the third not quite so much, though the music shone through. The fourth is supposed to be so dark and scary that it ends up being pathetically funny. Same for the soundtrack, though I liked the Quidditch Cup track. He does experiment with John's leitmotifs, but they come out anything but well. My mother knows I'm a confirmed John Williams groupy, and she tried to talk me into watching the movie with that. I resisted, saying I would buy the soundtrack. I'm so glad I didn't. After listening to the music once, I can tell that I don't need to watch the movie for it, nor will I listen to it for pleasure as I listen to Williams.
7 - stevyn ironfeather
great commentary of the soundtrack, thanks.
8 - someone
I luv the Harry Potter books and Movies!!!!!! I think they're really great. I luv the first three soundtracks, which I have, and all the movies up to the latest one that was out. My favourite soundtrack and movie would have to be the 3rd, for both of them. Next friday I'm gett'in the 4th soundtrack, which IIIIIII think will be absolutley wonderful!
Well, see ya'll later!