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News / Columns / Critics Consensus
Critical Consensus: "Harry Potter," "Walk the Line" Both Certified Fre
by Tim Ryan | November 17, 2005
Discuss Article
This week's wide releases find us within both a goblet and a burnin' ring of fire. We've got legends, both fantastic ("Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire") and musical (the Johnny Cash biopic "Walk the Line"). Will these heavily anticipated films generate warmth, or be scorched by the critics?

As the Harry Potter series progresses, the decision to cast actors who would literally grow into their roles is paying bigger dividends each time out; it's becoming the fantasy equivalent of the "Up" documentaries. "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," the fourth installment, is complete with the sorcery and effects that marked the earlier films, but this time, critics say, it generates the most drama and excitement when it focuses on the characters' (achingly real) adolescent pains. At 87 percent on the Tomatometer, this "Goblet" is on fire, so hot, in fact, that it's Certified Fresh. It's only slightly below the best reviewed film of the series, "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban," which scored a lofty 89 percent. And it's the second best-reviewed wide release of the year, behind only "Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit" (Tomatometer: 95 percent).

There aren't a lot of people who had both the Rev. Billy Graham and Glenn Danzig in their rolodexes. But there weren't a lot of people like Johnny Cash, whose polarities are explored in "Walk the Line," starring Joaquin Phoenix as the young Man in Black, and Reese Witherspoon as his wife and musical partner June Carter Cash. Critics say this one's hotter than a pepper sprout, with great musical and thespian performances, and while "Walk the Line" may fall prey to many of the problems that plague movie biopics, you won't cry, cry, cry about it in a film this well acted. How high's the Tomatometer, mama? Seventy-eight percent, and while the wheat and the oats may be a washout, "Walk the Line's" crop is Certified Fresh.

Harry Potter Movies:
---------------------------
89% -- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
82% -- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
78% -- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)

Recent Biopics:
-----------------
92% -- Capote (2005)
89% -- The Aviator (2004
81% -- Ray (2004)
89% -- Kinsey (2004)
74% -- Auto Focus (2002)

Related Items
Movie: Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
The Up Series
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Kinsey
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Ray
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
The Aviator
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Capote
Auto Focus
Celeb: Johnny Cash
Glenn Danzig
Reese Witherspoon
Billy Graham
Joaquin Phoenix
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Comments (1-9 of 9 posts) | Reply
Nick Hershey
Nick Hershey writes:
on Nov 18 2005 11:47 AM

[b]good weekend for movies[/b]
Seems like a good weekend for opening movies for a change. I'll check out both of these.

BTW, nice 'Cash' references Mr. Ryan.


(Reply to this)
Biggestgeekever
Biggestgeekever writes:
on Nov 18 2005 12:47 PM

Goblet of Fire is now as fresh as Azkaban!

(Reply to this)
lovelykeira
lovelykeira writes:
on Nov 18 2005 12:47 PM

Both of these movies look tight.

(Reply to this)
hippiekiller
hippiekiller writes:
on Nov 18 2005 05:14 PM

harry potter = gay

(Reply to this)
KosherMatix
KosherMatix writes:
on Nov 18 2005 07:03 PM

good constructive criticism hippie! *cookie*

(Reply to this)
IMAmoose24
IMAmoose24 writes:
on Nov 18 2005 08:40 PM

Just Got Home From "Walk The Line" and it is one of the best films of the year no doubt. Too bad its gonna bomb thanks to Harry Potter.

(Reply to this)
Twirlnhurl
Twirlnhurl writes:
on Nov 19 2005 08:06 AM

In reply to this comment (#827878)
When is the last time you saw a kid reading Harry Potter while listening to Johnny Cash? The two movies attract compleatly different audiences, and Harry Potter will have a very small effect on Walk the Line's draw.

(Reply to this)
-mango-
-mango- writes:
on Nov 20 2005 08:06 PM

If anything it gives the parents something to watch while their kids are in Harry Potter.

(Reply to this)
Killandra
Killandra writes:
on Dec 05 2005 10:06 PM

[b]Well, I'm 29...[/b]
and I read harry potter all the time while listening to Johnny Cash.


(Reply to this)
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