"A Darker Magic"
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What You Need To Know:
In HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE, someone secretly puts Harry's name into the dangerous Triwizard Tournament where three schools compete for a prestigious trophy. Against his better judgment, Professor Dumbledore allows Harry to be a contestant. Apparently, the Goblet's decision is binding. The new teacher of the Defense Against the Dark Arts encourages Harry in the competition, but it eventually becomes clear that something more sinister is afoot when someone is murdered on the school grounds.
HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE is the most entertaining book of the series, but it's not the most entertaining movie. Though it has some laughs and excitement, the movie is sometimes confusing and the climax is not as emotionally powerful as the book's. As usual, however, both the book and the movie promote paganism, rebellion against God's truth, and an abhorrent, evil occult worldview that is dangerous, especially to children and teenagers. In fact, the main websites for the Harry Potter books and movies allow people to experiment with witchcraft and even worship false pagan Gods! Our media-wise resource, FRODO & HARRY, can protect your family from this. Call 800-577-6684 to get a copy
Content:
(PaPaPa, OOO, PC, BB, LL, VV, S, N, A, DD, MM) Very strong pagan worldview with very strong occult content and a kind of elitism, with witches and sorcerers forming their own secret society of witchcraft and magic (including very strong magical thinking that upsets the natural physical laws created by God) and the villains are cruel, power-mad racists with their own secret society within the secret society, plus hero uses witchcraft and consults with the ghosts of two dead people to defeat the villain's attempts to kill him and to resolve the final plot problem in the story's climax, as well as strong moral elements at some points such as positive parental role models, authority figure commends hero for his "moral fiber" when he saves the lives of two people at risk of his own and hero in contest helps another contestant even though he could win the contest by not helping the person, but this is undercut when the action results in the person being transported to a place where the villain can murder him; 16 obscenities (including the English obscenity of "bloody, often used with the "h" word), two light profanities and man says, "I'll show you yours if you show me mine," referring to the secret society serpent tattoo on his arm; very scary violence at times, including sorcerers cast death spells and torture spells, sorcerer casts mind control spell on insect, insect killed with death spell, fire breathing dragons in cages, young teenager fights dragon which damages pieces of a stone castle and a bridge, dragon breathes fire at teenage hero, man cuts off his hand off screen to cast into cauldron, man cuts teenager's arm to cast blood into cauldron, shriveled up human thrown into cauldron for evil spell, older teenager magically creates a shark head on his torso to swim under water, underwater creatures attack younger teenager, people almost drown, magical vines grab two people and try to pull them into scary hedges, and large scary snake; no sex scenes but a few light references and comedy to adolescent romantic and sexual feelings such as teenagers date and dance together and are attracted to one another, teenage boy briefly admires teenage girls' clothed rear ends, references to ghost of teenage girl trying to glance at teenage boy's private parts as he takes a bath in a large hot tub thing with bath bubbles (boy tries to obstruct her view with the bubbles and move away from her), ghost of teenage girl lays her head on teenage boy's naked shoulder in bath, reporter mistakes friendly hug for a romantic hug and publishes romantic gossip in newspaper, and girl says her date is more physical oriented, but she clarifies that statement by referring to his athleticism; upper male nudity and implied full male nudity in bath scene; brief alcohol use and alcohol use turns out to really be the use of a secret potion; no smoking, but sorcerers take potions and herb that change their physical attributes; and, lying and deceit are rebuked, secret societies band together, one secret society even has a secret trial of an evil traitor who works with a another secret society within the main secret society, school authorities put their students into grave danger, and some possible moral relativism.
More Detail:
HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE is the most entertaining book of the series so far, but it’s not the most entertaining movie. As usual, however, both the book and the movie promote an abhorrent, evil occult worldview that is dangerous to both children and adults. In fact, the occult worldview in this movie may be worse, because, at a high point in the first act, the hero exclaims, “I love magic!” On the other hand, the lying and deceit of the children protagonists are not as strong as the first three movies. In fact, the headmaster of his school publicly commends Harry for his strong moral fiber when he saves the life of two people at risk to his own. Thus, even people with an evil worldview such as witchcraft cannot escape the need for moral virtue.
The movie opens with 14-year-old Harry beset by nightmares about the evil Voldemort, leader of a power-mad band of nasty sorcerers, commanding two henchmen, including a younger man Harry doesn’t recognize. Harry is only too happy escaping these disturbing dreams by attending the Quidditch World Cup with his friends Ron and Hermoine, and Ron’s father.
After the big game, which is held in a huge, visually stunning stadium crowded with sorcerers, a sinister group of Voldemort’s followers, called the Death Eaters, makes their first public appearance, destroying the campsite full of quidditch fans.
Back at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Prof. Dumbledore announces that Hogwarts will host the Triwizard Tournament, an exciting but dangerous competition involving three magical tests. Hogwarts will be one of three schools sending a contestant. Although the three contestants are limited to students 17 and older, someone puts Harry’s name in the mysterious Goblet of Fire, which picks the contestants.
Against his better judgment, Dumbledore allows Harry to be the fourth contestant. Apparently, the Goblet’s decision is binding. The new teacher of the Defense Against the Dark Arts, Alastor “Mad Eye” Moody, encourages Harry in the competition, but it eventually becomes clear that something more sinister is afoot when someone is murdered on the school grounds.
There is an exciting dragon fight in the new Potter movie. And, lots of laughs are provided when Harry and Ron have to find dates for the Yule Ball. Ron can’t deal with his newfound feelings for Hermoine, who gets tired of waiting for Ron to ask her to the ball and accepts a date with Viktor Krum, one of the three other contestants who was also the star of the Quidditch World Cup.
The fourth movie is strongly faithful to the book, but the final scary confrontation between Harry and Voldemort is not as emotionally powerful as in the book, which provided a harrowing, poignant glimpse into Harry’s state of mind during the battle. Also, the explanation of how Harry gets out of trouble in his duel with Voldemort is hard to follow at one point, as are some of the other important plot points earlier in the movie. People who haven’t read the book may get lost, and people who have read the book already may be disappointed. Finally, the filmmakers should have heightened the tension and jeopardy in the story by bringing in Voldemort and his henchmen into the Triwizard Tournament more directly. This is a structural problem in perhaps all of the Harry Potter books. The author fails to provide a single antagonist for Harry and his friends throughout each story. She keeps pushing Voldemort and his henchmen into the background. That problem aside, the Harry Potter stories follow archetypal story and fairy tale patterns with a villain committing an act against the heroes family, the hero undergoing a series of tests where he gets help from others, the hero eventually confronting his nemesis, and the hero undergoing a final surprise test that adds new depth to his heroic journey.
Unlike the first two Harry Potter movies, this movie is not really designed for children 12 and under. It’s even darker than the book, though not by a whole lot. The filmmakers also seem to have put in more foul language than the book. Ron’s character often says bloody he–, for instance. MOVIEGUIDE® doesn’t recommend HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE to any audience, however, because of its evil, abhorrent pagan and occult worldview.
Although it may be argued that the Harry Potter books and movies are just fantasy stories having nothing to do with reality, they still entice impressionable young children, teenagers and even adults with am elitist worldview full of occultism and paganism. This fact is clearly demonstrated by the movie’s story, where Harry not only uses witchcraft to defeat evil and to gain happiness but also consults with the ghosts of his dead parents. This fact is also clearly demonstrated by the publisher and film studio websites for young fans of the series, where children can experiment with witchcraft and even worship pagan Gods (see the MOVIEGUIDE® resource written by Dr. Ted Baehr and Dr. Tom Snyder, FRODO & HARRY: )! If Harry Potter is so innocent, why do these evil, heretical websites exist?
What may be even worse than Harry Potter itself is the fact that some Christians encourage other Christians to read the books and see the movies. There are even some Christian publishers promoting books written by self-proclaimed Christians that promote Harry Potter and, by implication, the occult, pagan worldview in Harry Potter. By doing this, these people are turning their backs on Jesus Christ. They are promoting heresy and rebellion against God, which is the Bible’s definition of witchcraft and sorcery. They are also promoting the worship of false gods. These people have become dangerous wolves in sheep’s clothing. Please visit www.movieguide.org or call 1-800-899-6684 to get a copy of FRODO & HARRY at a special discount of $8, to protect your family and children from the evil paganism and occultism in Harry Potter as well as in the entertainment media.
The Good News is, however, that there is, in the words of the great Christian sage C. S. Lewis, a “deeper magic” than witchcraft. That “deeper magic” is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which saves people’s souls from sin and grants them eternal life by the death and resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ, through the redemptive, baptismal power of the Holy Spirit.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only incarnated Son, so that whoever believes in Him shall have not perish but have eternal life” – John 3:16.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
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